One of the main complaints about radio today is that it's boring. It's nearly impossible to find any challenging music on today's radio. Every station sticks to its playlist, which only features established artists or whatever artists the major labels have decided are good enough to promote. But on this campus, we have a group of students dedicated to changing that.

The Student Radio Initiative (commonly abbreviated SRI) is an organization of students who run an internet radio station at http://sri.uwec.edu. Every day, different DJs take the air for 2 hour blocks, starting at 2 PM and running until midnight. The station is free format, so the DJs play a large variety of music, ranging from rock to jazz to hip hop.

However, the radio station is not the only thing SRI does. Every year, SRI runs a used CD sale. This year's will occur the week before finals. On Monday and Tuesday of that week, SRI will be collecting CDs to put up for sale. SRI takes a small cut of the profit, but the majority goes to the person who put it up for sale. Then from Wednesday through Friday we will be selling the CDs. Location is yet to be determined, so be sure to keep an eye out for information on that.

Also, SRI puts together concerts from local and regional artists. The upcoming concert is on Friday, November 21 at Higherground, which is above the Crest Wellness Center on upper campus. It will feature Andrew Broder (of Fog), Until Tomorrow, and Box Social. Doors open at 8:00 PM and the show starts at 8:30. Cover is only $3, so check it out. Another interesting project SRI has going is an actual radio show on Wolf 108 (107.9 FM). Wolf 108 is a local low-power FM station, one of the few non-corporately owned radio stations around, and thus, one of the few good ones. The show runs from 10pm to 2am on Sundays. Like the station, the show is free-format, so no matter what your musical tastes are, they are probably represented.

SRI has a reasonable number of members, but is always willing to accept more. They meet Sundays at 8 PM at Higherground, (on upper campus, above the Crest Wellness Center). All show times are currently taken, but some may open up soon. Also, make sure you show up for the first meeting next semester, which will be posted very soon on the website.

I encourage anyone who loves music to check SRI out. Just check the schedule and find a show that interests you, and then listen. You'll probably hear some of your favorite music, and maybe even find some new favorite music. SRI is one of the best places to check out new tunes. Give it a listen.

Matt Biedermann's show on SRI runs from 2PM to 4 PM on Fridays.