And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 14:56:45 -0700 (PDT) From: susan coonan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To Ishgooda or Editor of Native News; Please post Chii Meegwetch, Susan Coonan Press Release - Monday October 4th "Moccasin Telegraph", the Indigenous Cultures and Issues program usually heard from 6-8pm on CIUT-89.5FM, the University of Toronto Campus/Community Station, will be off air for Mondays October 4th and 11th and may never return! This is due to U of T's Student Administrative Council (SAC) take over of the management of the station. They have locked out all volunteer programmers, broadcasting instead only dead air and dance music. Today SAC and new Program Director Nilan Perera announced the revised schedule which will begin on Tuesday October 12th. Moccasin Telegraph is the oldest Native Spoken Word program in Toronto and the only Native program which broadcasts throughout the Golden Horseshoe (Barrie to Buffalo, Kitchener to Coburg). We have been part of CIUT's programming for over 12 years and have now been reduced from 2 hours to 1 hour and the time slot has changed from 6-8pm to 1-2pm Monday to begin airing again on Monday October 18th. However, I can not promise to return myself for a number of reasons: - it is hard to get guests to come in for live interviews and listeners to tune-in during regular business hours - it is difficult to hold a full, comprehensive discussion of issues in our community within only 1 hour, many panels I have held in the past have taken the full 2 hours - programmers are being asked to sign restrictive contracts limiting our ability to produce the program in a way which truly reflects the needs and concerns of the community and the show's listeners. For example: we will be requested to have 50 out of 60 minutes as Spoken Word, which means we would not be able to do a show which features Native musicians. For the music we can play, we will be expected to play 30% Canadian Content when we do not recognize the border. - I can not in good conscience work with SAC and paid staff who: - put financial security through corporate sponsorship above the needs of the listenership - disrespect the listeners by removing the programming they love without warning or explanation. There is currently no announcements on air to explain what is happening and inviting listeners to tune back into a revised schedule on Tuesday October 12th. - believe it is their right to arbitrarily, disrespectfully and outrageously slam the doors on dedicated volunteers who have spent up to 10 years or more serving their respective communities - to silence the ‘voices of the voiceless' by limiting Spoken Word (Talk, issue-related) programming to before 3pm and reducing the total amount of air-time - to completely remove from the schedule certain programmers who have been vocal and active in their attempt to help put CIUT back on track (over a number of years of mis-management by staff and Board of Directors) Before making a final decision about my personal involvement with CIUT and Moccasin Telegraph, I need input from our listeners and the community. Do you feel Monday 1-2pm is a time-slot in which you will be able to listen? If you have been interviewed in the past, would you be able to make it in during the afternoon? Do you feel the time reduction to 1 hour is an insult to the community? Do you feel the Native community should participate in a station which shows no intention to include the off-campus communities in decision making and which has no respect for a democratic and cooperative management process? I must make my personal decision by noon Friday, October 8th but would appreciate all comments no matter when you make them. Please indicate if I may pass on your comments to other CIUT volunteers, CIUT management, SAC and the CRTC. Please forward comments to: Susan Coonan, Producer-"Moccasin Telegraph" c/o ANDPVA 37 Spadina Road, Lower Level Toronto, Ontario M5R 2S9 Fax: (416) 972-0892 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone Message: (416) 703-2164 For more info look at the WebSite of Volunteer Programmers (Volunteer Action Committee) at http://www.tao.ca/~vac/ or e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CIUT's WebSite: www.ciut.utoronto.ca ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ UPDATES: CAMP JUSTICE http://shell.webbernet.net/~ishgooda/oglala/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&