FACE THE MUSIC
SENIOR SAM VELAZQUEZ BRINGS A UNIQUE SOUND TO IU CAMPUS THROUGH WIUX PURE STUDENT RADIO BY HOLLY WAMPLER Velazquez balances the administrative duties of his manager position with his creative broadcast passions while recording a spot promoting a WIUX event on the air
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BLOOMINGTON MUSIC
Sam Velazquez, senior and journalism Sam began his journey at WIUX two major at Indiana University, is a storyyears ago with the intent to involve teller by nature. He has an instinctive himself in the rich culture of Indiana knack for uncovering a plot in a single University as well as gain professional song lyric or pinpointing a emotion in a experience for a prospective career in simple bar of music. But most importhe journalism industry. tantly, he has a gift for inspiration. As the current general manager of the As graduation nears and Sam reflects WIUX Student Radio station, he has on his journey, he could have nevboth the responsier anticipated how bility and privilege profoundly his time at of telling the stories WIUX has impacted of 40,000 students the IU community as “WIUX GIVES through the Bloomwell as his developSTUDENTS A VOICE AND A ment as an individual. ington airwaves. SPACE TO With a multitude of EXPRESS THEMSELVES” diverse broadcast Sam’s WIUX story programming and begins during his campus events, sophomore year as a WIUX prides itself DJ on the B-Side, the - SAM VELAZQUEZ in being “pure station’s online broadstudent radio” that casting committee, is run by students in an effort to expand for students in an his comfort zone. As effort to foster and cultivate the diversi- a music aficionado and talented guity of perspectives and interests within tarist inspired by legends such as Eric the Indiana University student commu- Clapton and Bruce Springsteen, music nity. Through a bystander’s perspecis deeply intertwined with the very core tive, the WIUX station may simply be a of his being and continues to influence quaint duplex house on East 8th Street his life. Sam wanted an outlet for his that one may pass on a stroll to class passion and creativity, but also a platwithout a second glance. However, it form where he could positively contribis a place where Sam Velasquez has ute to the student culture. found both his purpose and home at During his year on the B Side, Sam Indiana University. spent countless nights losing himself in new playlists or scribbling an BLOOMINGTON MUSIC
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