WRPN

The Ripon College FM radio station, WRPN, just celebrated its 49^th anniversary last week on February 15^th. The school had previously had an AM station which began broadcasting on September 25^th, 1957 and experienced a number of technical problems. These were sorted out over the next few months and the college began broadcasting regularly a few months later on December 2^nd. The campaign to acquire FM equipment and establish the FM station was led by William Jochimsen, Class of 1961.

Some of the programs during that initial year may have looked like the following:

Sunday schedule:

12:00-2:00 Noon Musicale w/ Paul Apman

2:00-5:00 A Sunday Afternoon w/ Dick Johnston

5:00-6:00 Off the air

6:00-7:00 Spin Cushion w/ Darryl Johnson and Dick Brian

7:00-9:00 Double Talk w/ Bill & Peter Jochimsen

9:00-10:00 Library of Music w/ Larry Egdahl

10:00-11:00 Jazz Contemporary Style w/ Cam Clapp

11:00-1:00 Invitation w/ Bob Krauss

Ice skate to class!

For those of you in Ripon or have been in town during the past few months, you may have seen the new ice skating rink adjacent to downtown and the campus. The rink is located on land owned by the college and is managed by community volunteers including Howard and Bear Hansen (no relation to the Speech professor), Brandon Haas and Craig Tebon.
The photo above shows that ice skating is nothing new to campus as two students ca. 1940s skate to class. If you can identify these students, please email me at prellwitza@ripon.edu

Ripon College Speech Department

Pictured above is Prof. Howard Hansen, '37 (far left) leading a Speech class outside of Lane Library. Prof. Hansen taught from 1955-1964 at Ripon College and established the major in Speech, which is now the Communication Department. Ripon has a lengthy tradition of being strong in speech, forensics and debate. During his tenure, Prof. Hansen continued that tradition while serving as coach of the debate team and developed several outstanding teams. At the time of his death in 1964, he was President of the Wisconsin Speech Association.

Ripon College's commitment to excellence in Speech continues n February 9th, when Ripon will be host the 2010 Forum on Ethics and Oratory with keynote speaker Kathryn Olson presenting on Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth.