WP Professor Rob Quicke Organizes International Show of Support for Students in Ukraine

Thanks to William Paterson University communication professor Rob Quicke, people across Ukraine are hearing college radio station-broadcasted messages of support from students around the world.

Quicke is co-founder of College Radio Day, an annual celebration of college radio that has grown internationally since it launched out of WP’s Brave New Radio in 2010. Approximately 600 stations from more than 30 countries took part in 2021.

Tapping that network, Quicke asked college radio stations to send him recorded messages of support for students in Ukraine. In less than 24 hours, more than 50 stations from around the world responded, including Brave New Radio—“an incredible show of solidarity,” Quicke says. “It was truly an international coalition of love and support.”

Quicke compiled their submissions, which hailed from such places as Spain, Italy, Canada, Sweden, Greece and Slovakia, and sent them to StudRadio at the National University of Ostroh Academy in Ukraine.

Students there can’t currently access their studios, but with Quicke’s help, they used cellphones—some in bomb shelters—to produce a broadcast piece that they aired and then shared with other college stations in Ukraine. The piece has been airing across the war-stricken country all week.

“In this difficult time, we really need to know that we are not alone and we have support. We hope that your words will calm people’s hearts,” StudRadio wrote in an email to Quicke. Station representative explained that their university is hosting classes online right now, and that professors and administrators are keeping in touch with students through the tumult. “The only thing left for us is to remain calm … Thank you on behalf of all Ukrainian students.”

Sending a sort of virtual hug in response, a group of William Paterson students gathered with Quicke for a photo wherein they show thumbs up and stand in front of a whiteboard with the message, “To StudRadio: We stand with Ukraine.”  StudRadio posted the photo to its Instagram account and publicly thanked WP.

“I am very moved by the bravery of the students in Ukraine to keep going and to make the effort to send a message to the world in such difficult circumstances,” Quicke says. He underscores the importance of college radio for providing “an authentic narrative that connects students with one another and with the community.”

03/03/22