Middlebury Student Spins on Local Radio Frequency

Author: Megan O'Keefe

It is not often that Middlebury College students tune into the Champlain Valley's local radio stations. While over 15 FM radio stations broadcast within the greater Burlington area, few signals audibly reach Middlebury. Additionally, Middlebury College's small size and the even smaller number of radio listeners mean that the College is not a prime market for local radio. It should not come as any surprise that, with the exception of the College's own WRMC 91.1 FM, local radio stations target Vermont residents. Car radios may be tuned in during frequent Winter Term drives to the Snow Bowl and WXAL 93.7 FM (better known as Alice) may blare in the Fitness Center, but MP3 players get a lot more play than local radio on the College campus.
There is, however, one Middlebury student who has local radio on his mind. Conor Sheldon '05.5 cannot escape local Vermont radio. It's his job. As a DJ on Alice 93.7 and 103.3 FM, Sheldon broadcasts a radio show from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weeknights.
Sheldon began his career in radio as the host of a show that aired on WRMC on Friday mornings, but stepped into professional radio during a Sophomore Externship sponsored by the Middlebury College Career Services Office over fall break. Shadowing WFAD 1490 AM morning host Jerry Germaine, Sheldon went on the air as "the Shadow" and quickly become more involved at the shared WFAD and WXAL.
After successfully completing production work that involved editing sound clips to create teasers for station advertisements, Sheldon caught the attention of the producers at Alice. After taping a show with Jerry Germaine, Sheldon was asked to become familiar with the sound equipment and complete a sound test. He was stunned to receive a job offer as a weeknight DJ.
Sheldon and the producers developed the on-air name CJ Cruze and Sheldon began his show on Dec. 2. Before taping his shows each night in the Alice studio on Exchange Street in Middlebury, Sheldon preps for his show by reading Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly.
While Alice is a Top 40 station targeted at mid-to-late 20-year-olds in the Middlebury and Burlington areas, Sheldon has some control over music selection. Taking requests, choosing songs from selections of recent music and entertaining audiences during music breaks, Sheldon says he enjoys "performing and thinking on my feet." And to producers Conor Shedlon is not a Middlebury College student. He says: "I am CJ Cruze to them. It's a job."
Sheldon is on the air weeknights from 7 p.m to 10 p.m on Alice 93.7 FM. For song requests call 1-888-356-1033.