WWCU 95.3 is a student-ran radio station that serves the Western North Carolina region and provides a variety of programming.
“Our main goal is to increase our visibility to not only the broader Jackson county community, but to the student body and staff at WCU,” said Halle Stanley, general manager of 95.3. “We’d like to have something for everyone to tune into, whether that be public affairs programs, power hours, sports radiocasts, remotes, or simulcasting with other student media.”
In the past year, radio has been essential in providing emergency management and relief information, and continues to be a source for entertainment broadcasts as well.
“In my personal opinion, I think people should listen to the radio because the radio is fun and informative,” said Stanley. “The student programs that we have on air have taken a lot of time, resources, and people involved to make these productions come to life. More so, they are collaborative, and it shows how a lot of student media is codependent on one another.”
Since the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year, the station has increased the amount of remote broadcasts they typically produce. And have a collaborative relationship with Whee-TV to create more simulcasts.
This semester the station has many opportunities for programming. They will have a Power Hour every other week. In February, there will be a Valentines themed show on the 10 and a Disco theme on the 24.
There will also be a remote on February 28 for Stray Cats, the last of the radio sportcasts with Whee-TV, as well as an Open House remote.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday join the Mountains in the Mornings with Stanley and Ryan Creel, programming director, from 7 to 9 a.m.
Other programs include Whee Life, a radio news magazine that will be every Friday starting at the end of February. Tracking the Cats, a talk show featuring Western Carolina alumni Bob Sabin & Steve White as they interview guests about Western Carolina Sports. On Sunday’s there is Mark Couture’s Morning classic music program, every week from 10 to 12 p.m. And a remote at Greening Up the Mountains.
If interested in getting involved, students should join the radio club and connect to the GroupMe to get updates on all meetings.
“We’d like for people to get more involved with the Power Hours, as well as help produce the remotes we will have throughout the semester,” said Stanley. “They can also tune in anywhere from their phones by going to TuneIn. We usually meet every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the radio station.”
GroupMe: GroupMe – Join the group for 95.3 WWCU
Tune-in: WWCU, 95.3 FM, DILLSBORO, NC | Free Internet Radio | TuneIn