Some Well Deserved Press

Thanks to Rachel Williams and The New Paltz Oracle

If read the article after the jump.

DJ Scully talks about “nothing.” At least that is the word Scully, a fourth-year media management major, used to describe the content of his weekly talk show on the Edge. That, and “hilarity.”

On the contrary, Scully, production director at the Edge, actually finds a lot to talk about.

“We discuss whatever is worth talking about that day, maybe personal stuff,” said Scully.

Scully co-hosts “Smartass Radio” with New Paltz graduate Roy Verspoor, who teaches English. Tune in Thursday evenings, and you may hear Scully’s account of leaving a lady friend waiting at the bar for hours, because he fell asleep watching Power Rangers, or Verspoor challenging Chris Brown to a wrestling match for the love of Rihanna.

Starting at 8 p.m., Scully and Verspoor chat about the happenings of their week, current events and play music that spans different genres.

“Last week we played ‘Single Ladies,’” said Scully, referring to the Beyoncé hit.

At 10 p.m., Verspoor leaves the studio and DJ quiets his microphone, playing some of his favorite metal music for the last hour.

For Scully, the Edge is a great medium for personal expression.

“Radio, for me, is consistent, easy and fun. Oh, and being live, we get some great calls!” said Scully.

The Edge received its FCC license in 1989, and broadcasts throughout the Hudson Valley on 88.7FM WFNP, as well as on Campus Channels three, six and eight and live on the Internet. According to Scully, listeners, who can either call in to the show or text from an AOL Instant Messenger account, span from college students to truck drivers and prisoners in correctional facilities.

“This one woman called whose husband was in prison, and said that they listen all the time. She asked if we could play her son’s band,” said Scully.

But the campus radio station wasn’t always such a pleasure to tune in to.

“The past couple years, the e-board was a mess, and there wasn’t very good management,” said Scully.

However, in the past year, the Edge has become more focused, with better programming, better content and a better sound.

“When people tune in, they stay and listen. It sounds like a real radio station,” said Scully.

Some students, like Samantha Henkin, third-year public relations major, tune into the Edge only when prompted by friends.

“My friends used to have a show Thursdays at 1 a.m. I sometimes hung out at the studio, and even guest DJ-ed,” said Henkin.

Others use it as background noise, like second-year public relations major Arantza Urruchua, but again, usually when friends are broadcasting.

“I usually put it on the television in my room while I’m doing homework,” said Urruchua.

However, there are many students that are enjoying the revamped content of the Edge.

“I always listen when I am driving around New Paltz. I love Rico on Party, Party, Party,” said Scott Broskie, fourth-year public relations major, in reference to one of the Edge’s other shows.

Scully is planning on taking his college interest and hobby and turning into a paid profession.

“I’m sending some of my best work to Virus on XM, WRRV and PDH,” said Scully.

On top of three years of content from working at the Edge, Scully also has taken “Smartass Radio” to the Internet, in an entity separate from the Edge. SmartassRadio.com contains humorous blog posts, pod casts, streams for the live radio show, as well as archives of music interviews and reviews. Content on the Web site is updated daily by Scully and a team of contributing writers.

You can catch DJ Scully and Roy Verspoor on “Smartass Radio” every Thursday at 8p.m. or tune into some of the other great broadcasts on the Edge Monday-Friday, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., and weekends, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on 88.7 FM WFNP.