Heavy fundraising to pay for the move brought new tension with the organization's graduate board. Some students feared the alumni would demand too much control in return for the money.

Financially strapped, the station cut programs in rap and folk music, displeasing many staffers. Students saw racial tension developing over the cuts.

Then the station was accused of broadcasting at an illegally high wattage, though student members deny WHRB broke the law.

In May, the reeling station was threatened with a shutdown by College officials.

Staff members made two holes in the walls of the old WHRB offices in Memorial Hall, one while moving boxes and one during a party.

The station had to negotiate with Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III to stay on the air, and "nonessential personnel," happy hours and parties were banned from its offices.

Then, the new offices weren't ready in time for the station to move, and WHRB stopped broadcasting. Barylski says the lull is not unprecedented in the station's 54-year history.

"We've been off the air over the summer in the past," the president says. "We've done summer air but it was never of the same caliber."

WHRB lent its dial frequency to WUMB of the University of Massachusetts at Boston for the duration of their summer hiatus, says Jeremy A. Rassen '95, comp director and former chief engineer for WHRB.

The End of the Tunnel?

But the three-month histus was probably the low point for the radio station. Now firmly ensconced in the new offices, staffers say their organization is on the way up.

And indeed, visits to several packed WHRB open houses this week bear out their comments.

Rather like an underground hospital, the new offices are white-painted and spotless, with no windows and gleaming equipment. Some back areas are still not completely finished, with tools lying around and sawdust on the floor.

"The new location has less character and is more antiseptic," says jazz comp director Duane Plaks '96. "But it's cleaner and our technology is so much better now. Our programming sounds much more professional."

The studio is 25 percent bigger than the Memorial Hall offices and boasts a greater portion of usable space, "which is good because we were cramped," Rassen says.