Okay. I’m not going to get all 19-yr-old-emotional-college-vegetarian-tom’s-of-maine-john-cage-peace-t-shirt-activist about this — Rice University selling off KTRU (student-run station) to KUHF.  But, Alma Mater, please — that was a little bit tacky.

I have, til now, had relatively few pangs of nostalgia for my college days — which I recall being sort of exuberantly stressful, exciting, and confusing.  But the recent announcement about KTRU reminded me of some real good old days behind a microphone in a musty studio lined with cd’s and records by bands whose names often involved jungle animals or some extraterrestrial metaphor.  I was possibly the least knowledgeable dj to walk through its bumper-sticker-smothered doors — but I did leave there with some vague knowledge of a vast array of composers/bands/artists.  Like Steve Reich. I only later learned that “that endless piece with people tapping on wood” (my parents often listened in online to my Saturday afternoon show) was something famous, called “Music for Pieces of Wood”, written in 1973. And like Bang on a Can.  And Gavin Bryars.  And Brian Eno.  And Pauline Oliveiros, John Zorn, Louis Andriessen, Lou Harrison, Ingram Marshall — and lots of Harry Partch.

I also remember playing, late at night during my rookie graveyard shift, several tracks of what was known at KTRU as “the balloon music cd” — one guy, one tenor balloon, one hour of melodic flatulence.  Hm…  In retrospect, that was probably a little too experimental for 50,000 watts of power, broadcasting to millions across the Houston metropolitan area…

Just found all my old playsheets, still online!! Amazing! Apparently the first track I ever played was “Little Atlas Heavyweight” by The Ex, on their album Dizzy Spells… What?

If anyone associated with Rice admin happens upon this post — please don’t sell that broadcast tower. I know you will anyway, but please don’t be so tacky about it, telling me it’s to fund “a new food service venture”. KTRU is a really meaningful project, to many people — and I would rather have Harry Partch than a better salad bar. Love, Caroline ’04

Speaking of cool new music in Houston, happening this Saturday Best wishes, Ted — and thanks for giving us all such a great work.

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