QUESTION 1:
If an on-air dj made a negative comment about me or where I live I’d probably be pissed. I don’t think there is much to do but, complain. But, everyone is entitled to their own opinions about where people live and about people in general. As Americans we are allowed freedom of speech. While, I do believe the Randy’s comments where ignorant he could have been joking around. People have a tendency to act dramatic to certain things, and I think this was one of the cases.

Randy should have though twice before he made that comment. From looking at his MySpace page he is very open about his sexuality and while the comments he made doesn’t have to do with it but, he should think would I want someone to say slanderous comments about my sexuality. I do understand they are two different things but, he should think before he talks sometimes.

While reading the Newsday article about Randy’s apology a comment made by someone struck me:

"They went after Imus for basically the same thing -- and Imus didn't attack an entire tri-hamlet," said Zeleny, referring to the firing last April at another radio station of shock jock Don Imus for disparaging Rutgers' women's basketball players.

Correct me if I’m wrong but, what Imus said was WAY worse than what Randy said. Imus got fired for his comments and Randy getting suspended for two days w/ dock pay because of comments he made about a trailer park. I don’t see how the two are the same?

Also, I do believe that the media pulls out things that they want us to hear. For example they have that Randy said:

"Did your pipes freeze under the trailer, or do you have that stuff down there to keep them warm?"

We don’t know how Randy said it. He could have been joking around or the caller could have been rude. If someone listens to say like Elvis Duran and the Z Morning Zoo the DJ’s sometimes go back at a rude caller. It’s all about how it was said on air. On paper anything can sound rude and nasty.

I actually believe that Randy’s punishment was too harsh. At first the radio station wasn’t going to make a big deal about his comment. It wasn’t until the media picked up the story and ran with it. Suspending someone for two days and docking their pay in my opinion unnecessary. The area that Randy was talking about is known for having sex offenders. I bet if he said a nasty/rude comment about the sex offenders this wouldn’t be a problem.

Question 2 & 3:

In my opinion I don’t know if he should be expelled. While, he did break the school rules there is also responsibility on the college radio station department. If they knew what was going on right away it should have been pulled. Someone could have gone in the studio while the show was on telling him to go to commercial or a song then pull the plug on the show. In response to the college DJ trying to compare himself to Howard Stern I think that’s the dumbest thing ever. Stern isn’t a college radio station but, when he was on syndication with Clear Channels he had to follow the same FCC rules.

According to Albany.edu some FCC rules for college are:

“College radio is free format and non-commercial but what can be said and played is still restricted by the FCC. Obscene language or the use of the 7 dirty words (you know what they are) cannot be used at anytime. Music containing obscene language or content can only be played within the areas of 10pm and 6 am. This time period is called safe harbor. Obscene language still cannot be used, but songs with obscene language or content can be played.”

But, the rules have nothing about college radio and sexual acts. But, I think that’s probably because the colleges themselves have rules against that.

According to NorthJersey.com the DJ’s for this show also had video on a website of a man writing in whip cream on a naked girl.

“Some of the raunchy videos — which apparently date to a broadcast of the Randy Rogers show in February — were posted on one of the disc jockey's Web sites Friday and were not removed until The Record tried to contact the DJs. One of the videos featured a man writing Rogers' initials in whipped cream on the body of a naked girl in what appears to be the FM radio station's studio.”

I do believe this is probably the reason they got pulled and will be expelled. While the DJ’s in a follow up article said “there were no incidents involving sex acts or nudity.” There is no way of proving that especially now since there have been videos showing lap dances and the whip cream incident in the radio station on the radio. The college has to do what’s right and the DJ’s should have been following the rules but, there is also a big problem with the lack of responsibility from the people who work at the college radio station. The plug should have been pulled on this show as soon as the first incident happened. If that happened the college station would not be in this much trouble.

If the FCC does take action against the students it might teach them a lesson that they can’t get away with this type of action. I think the FCC should fine the college too. The college failed at their duties as a radio station. It’s suppose to be a professional environment and every college station should have to follow the FCC rules because it prepares the students who want to get into radio for a career and they will know what can and can’t be done. But, also these college DJ’s are not Howard Stern. I feel like they knew what they were doing from the start. If the college gets fined maybe this will cause them to be more hands on with the station. But, also at the same time I feel bad for the DJ’s who didn’t do anything wrong and they are getting punished for the actions of one show.

The show title alone “The Kinky Olympics” should have been a heads up to the people running the college radio station. Shows like this shouldn’t be allowed on radio at all. Today college radio is available online just like any other radio station (like Z100 and 101.9) so considering any age could be listening the FCC rules need to be enforced. Aside from the FCC rules a person should use moral judgment in saying anything or doing anything that might offend a person. In this case it was the exotic dancer’s mother after she saw the video online.