In a welcoming address to a full house of enthusiastic compers, WHRB President Alexander S. Barylski '96 presented his station this week as an "independent corporation not funded by Harvard at all."

Not quite.

In fact, WHRB used Harvard money to pay for its recent move to gleaming new studio space, despite an earlier dispute with College officials over damage to the station's old digs.

Harvard says the money is only a loan, to be paid back out of revenue as previous alumni pledges pour in over the next few years.

But it was only the rare funding deal that put WHRB in its present comfortable spot and resolved a year of financial and political problems for the station.

How Much?

Neither College officials nor WHRB leaders will talk about the amount of the loan. Faculty Director of Planning Philip J. Parsons says the University neither loses nor makes any money on the loan, because the station is paying Harvard's standard interest rate.

Harvard helped the station because it was the University that forced the move, Parsons says.

"Because of construction on Memorial Hall, WHRB had to meet our schedule. It was in our interest, therefore, to make them a loan," Parsons says. "We're acting as a bank for the station till their fund money comes in."

The pact is an uncommon one, Parsons says. In fact, he's never seen Harvard lend money to a student organization before, he says.

It probably won't happen again, either.

"Loans are something which we would prefer not to do," Parsons says. "This should not be seen as a precedent or a case of special treatment. Since we precipitated their situation, we felt we should help."

Barylski says the radio station will definitely pay back the money. The University will exert no power over WHRB broadcasting, he says.

"Harvard is giving us a loan which will be paid back by revenue and alumni donations," Barylski says. "We have a solid payment plan."

A Bad Year

The loan bails WHRB out after a year of financial and internal strife. And the new offices have allowed the station to begin broadcasting after a summer off the air.