Radio engineers are showing support for Kevin Sterne, the 22-year-old engineer at Virginia Tech radio station WUVT(FM) in Blacksburg who was injured in the shootings on that campus and whose photograph was carried in numerous media outlets.
SBE Treasurer Barry Thomas says Sterne is recovering from being shot in the leg; he was able to use an electrical cord as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
In talking with the station business manager this week, Thomas learned how SBE members and others can donate to help with a transmitter replacement; that information has been disseminated to SBE chapters and others.
Clear Channel also is involved and is trying to help Sterne with a five-year effort to move the station’s 3 kW transmitter and antenna off the roof of a dorm and up onto a mountain. Due to antenna problems and the lack of AC in the transmitter room, an elevator penthouse with motor heat, the station is running at half-power, said Thomas.
“We wanted to show our support and introduce him to the large group of broadcast engineers that work to support each other,” said Thomas. Sterne and his family have asked that recognitions and donations be made to the station. Donations should be noted as for “Kevin” or “transmitter.”
Mail donations and items to:
WUVT
att: Kevin -OR- Transmitter (your choice)
350 Squires Student Center
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0506
Or donate online. Choose Donate from the menu, and in the space for “Show/DJ/Time Slot to Credit” enter Kevin or transmitter.
