Dear Friends of WQHS,

The University has just informed us (with no advance notice) that we will not have access to our radio station located in the Hollenback Center on 30th and South Street from April 2023 - April 2024 due to renovations of the building. Rather than helping us find a temporary location or offering any other accommodation, we were told that relocation is "not a feasible option since there is no comparable space, and it is cost prohibitive."

WQHS is not just a club, it is a community. As one of the only non-selective and all inclusive clubs on campus, we have over 100 members who rely on WQHS as a social and educational outlet. Many members rely on this space for creative expression and for an escape from the pressures of Penn. Without a location for our group to meet, the bond of our group will subsequently deteriorate and our membership will decrease.

We have thousands of CDs and vinyls in our collection that can be damaged in the moving and storing process (which we are not allowed to be a part of.) This library was started in 1945 and has continued to grow due to numerous alumni donations, music submissions, and extensive purchases by our station members.

Additionally, as a broadcasting station, we have invested in elaborate and expensive technologies that are used and stored in the station. We need access to these at all times. 

As for our listeners from all around the globe, taking away a location from us to broadcast from will create a barrier from accessing WQHS. We are more than just a music station. Many of our members provide public affair and news programming. WQHS also offers service for the local West Philadelphia community and to the greater Philadelphia area. We have donated thousands of dollars over the years to social justice and environmental protection organizations after hosting numerous fundraising events on-air.  

We are mainly funded by alumni donations. The University only funds a part of our operation. Alumni will openly express disappointment in the shutdown of their legacy at Penn.

It is disappointing knowing the University does not see value in public broadcasting and is unwilling to make the necessary accommodations for our members. This is not a matter that should impact us in such ways— the University has taken away our station access for a year and we should not be the one’s responsible for finding a new location or changing the structure of our organization. 

Thank you,

WQHS Board