WPCR Spotlight: Nick Clifford & Nick Einstman

CLOCK PHOTO/EMILY DUDEK

Like a couple of deck hands, Nick Clifford and Nick Einstman lounge on the worn out couch surrounded by endless rows of CDs in the WPCR studio. They are PSU’s hosts on WPCR’s Pirate Radio, a show that’s meant to take listeners back to their roots through bands such as Pink Floyd and The Eagles. And hey who knows, Sinatra might even make his way into the play list. “I was raised on classic rock and so it’s nice to go back to my roots,” says Einstman, the Assistant General Manager of the station. “If there’s one show that I’m going to do that’s very freeing and relaxing, it’s playing the stuff that I grew up on,” said Clifford, the station's Training Manager. Doing a show with friends adds to the relaxing environment created during their show. Einstman went on to say that it’s nice to have someone to banter back and forth with.  “Spontaneous,” Clifford calls it. 

These mates have had their fair share of airtime, and both continue to hold at least two or three shows each throughout the week. “I feel comfortable in this place. Everyone has their niche in this school, this is mine,” Einstman said. “I just love music. I love spreading the love of music. Radio is a dying industry and it's something that can still thrive. People still have an interest in it,” said Clifford. “We’re competing with the aux cord, everyone gets in the car and plugs in. We want to give people something diverse to listen to. Our top policy is don’t listen to Top 40. We just want to give people the option of listening to something different but that can still be enjoyed by a majority of people.” Said Einstman.

Continued interest is something the station has thrived on, gaining at least 20 new people to the station this year. Einstman and Clifford said that they want people to join the radio and furthermore want people to take something out of it, just as they have. One of their main desires is to make the radio station a communal and comfortable place for everyone who wants to get involved. Both can be spotted in the station, along with the other executive members, at all different times of the day and want to continue that presence so people can relax in the place they’ve found a home in. Both execs are also working to bring the comfortable and friendly nature of the organization outside of the station by promoting themselves more on campus. Clifford, has made efforts in forming a training process that is attainable and more guided so no one feels lost upon getting on the air.  As AGM, Einstman has worked heavily on creating more promotional activity such as highlighting the station on social media and getting more recognition from the school, specifically when it comes to touring.

All of this adds up to WPCR bringing more involvement to campus with the benefit of more members joining the station. They all know students pass by the station at least once a day anyway.