Repository: UIHistories Project: UIS History 1969-1995 (Sangamon State Univ) [PAGE 48]

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arately or the telescope which had been purchased earlier from both university and donated funds. ^P«ctruction was completed, the telescope was installed, and the first photographs were taken through ^scopeinA^stof1991 1 WSSR/WSSU April 1973, the university requested approval from the Board of Regents to allow space to be "nstructed in Building "L" for public radio broadcast facilities. According to the President's Report, I W j973f "consistent with the role of the university in public affairs, the first priority of the Broadcast efvices area of Sangamon State University will be to seek out and to communicate material of special . t ^ d importance in the area of public affairs." The university proposed that space for this radio oadcast facility be housed in Building "L" and that eventually it would be relocated to the Public Affairs Center. At the time it was also proposed that television broadcast facilities be requested at a | J and housed adjacent to the radio facilities. Construction of Building "L" began May 1973. when the building was bid, an alternate bid was taken and subsequently accepted to construct the • jjiN ^ t h a larger than initially required loft space (or floor to roof height), so that sometime in the fi ture television studios with a 12' ceiling height could be constructed in the building. where to put the broadcast antenna was also a major concern. Several on campus locations were 5 however, it was decided that a 520-foot high tower would impinge upon the aesthetics of m « irrou nding community and therefore the site in Mechanicsburg was selected. Other similar towers re located in Mechanicsburg and so the erection of another would have no substantial impact on rroundine property. In June 1973, land was purchased and final plans were made for construction f the transmitter tower and adjacent building. Initial planning targeted the station to begin broadcasting October 15, 1974; however, because of late delivery of equipment and construction delays, WSSR signed on the air January 3, 1976. The strong personal initiative of the initial Director f Broadcast Services, Dale Ouzts, his station engineer, Jim Newbanks, and others enabled the radio station to get started, to establish good community support, and to continue its operation in a highly professional fashion. During summer 1987 an addition was constructed to the transmitter building. This addition houses a new transmitter and an improved air conditioning system for the entire transmitter building. The old transmitter remains in place and acts as a backup in case of equipment failure. At the time the university applied for its call letters, WSSU was already taken by a radio station in Wisconsin So WSSR was selected. Then in 1989, the Wisconsin radio station changed its call letters and "WSSU- became available WSSR became WSSU January 29. 1989. In 1992 a grant was received to construct a repeater station to extend WSStfs public radio signal coverage w e * from Jacksonville, Illinois, to include approximately 80 square miles in west central Illinois. This facility was completed and signed on the air January 4,1993. I Exterior Monumental Sculpture

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