Student DJs play that FUNC-y music on renewed Furman radio station

From their microphone to your ears, Furman University students have taken their broadcasts online and resurrected student radio as FUNC Radio.

Students have the chance to have their voices heard and share their musical tastes with listeners across campus and anywhere in the world since FUNC started airing in late October. Eric Neumann ’26 wanted this outlet his first year on campus, but learned that Furman’s previous student radio station, WPLS, dropped its FM license years ago.

In that vacuum, Neumann knew he had the chance to build something students like him would value.

Dials on a soundboard in the FUNC Radio recording studio in the Communications Lab in Furman Hall. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.

“It’s a unique outlet for students to be able to express themselves, the music they listen to and the ideas they have,” he said.

Listening along is easy: Visit FUNC Radio’s Instagram page and click the Live365 link to tune in. Shows run every hour from 3 to 8 p.m. weekdays.

Media specialist and instructor Mary Sturgill helped him navigate getting an online station off the ground. She runs the university’s broadcast studio and digital lab equipment, with experience as a former news anchor and reporter. For her, facilitating this student-led learning experience is why she teaches.

“It’s not something they had to do for a class, they took the initiative,” she said.

As Neumann spearheaded the initial efforts, other students started to hear about the up-and-coming radio station and joined in on the work. They explored online streaming platforms and found one that offered the best value while offering the flexibility students needed.

Polaroids featuring FUNC Radio DJs and their show segments are taped on the wall of the recording studio in the Communications Lab in Furman Hall.

“I love music and I thought the idea of being able to create my own show and share it with students on campus was super cool,” said Riya Lala ’27.

Lala, co-manager of FUNC Radio with Neumann, said recruiting DJs was exciting. They weren’t looking for one type of person or show, but a diverse catalog. “Jazz Study Hour” offers blues-y music 5-6 p.m. on Mondays, with the “Pop Girlie Power Hour” 3-4 p.m. Fridays exploring women in pop music throughout the decades, from Cyndi Lauper to Charli XCX. Neumann said he enjoys “Let’s Go For a Drive” from 7-8 p.m. Thursdays; it’s a kitschy, 1970s-style late-night broadcast featuring psychedelic tones.

“We have an incredible variety of shows,” Neumann said. “There are people that will find our music suggestions and ideas new and interesting, and that’s really exciting.”

Aside from the fun of producing their own shows, Sturgill said students learn project management and coordination skills when they manage their show schedule. They are also getting a practical education in audio production, branding and advertising, along with increased confidence as they practice public speaking and presenting on-air.

“I think it’s something that’s implicitly empowering. You’re curating the music you think best conveys what you’re trying to share with listeners over an hour and trying to create a cohesive show,” Neumann said.