KCSB is Up for Reaffirmation!

 

UCSB STUDENTS!

KCSB-FM is up for reaffirmation and seeking a fee increase this year. We are a college and community radio station located on UCSB’s campus, directly under Storke Tower. KCSB trains students and community volunteers in broadcasting every quarter. As a student-led campus radio, we are proud to employ student staff members who learn a range of broadcasting skills.

We love being a 24/7 student-run, independent, and alternative radio station that amplifies underrepresented voices and local musicians in our community. 

Vote on GOLD soon!

Below are the Pro Statements we submitted for the election supplement:

REAFFIRMATION STATEMENT 

 

KCSB-FM is a student-led, independent, non-commercial media outlet serving the campus and the larger 805 community. We are the first UC radio station, started in the early 1960s by eager students in Anacapa Hall. With diverse programming made in-house by our student and community DJs, KCSB has stood the test of time as a crucial platform for truth and creative expression.

 

Independent media plays a vital role in strengthening democracy. In a time of widespread misinformation and attacks on free speech, KCSB remains a trusted and reliable source for independent journalism. Students gain hands-on experience in broadcasting, reporting, editing, and audio production — skills not found elsewhere on campus.  These opportunities train the next generation of reporters and media professionals, with many KCSB alumni going on to careers in media.

 

Beyond the airwaves, KCSB puts on many free events for the campus throughout the year. These include concerts, merch pop-ups, speaker events, and film screenings. From amplifying emerging artists to creating space for campus dialogue, KCSB events foster creativity, expression, and the search for truth. 

 

Radio is crucial in moments of crisis. KCSB provides timely updates during floods, wildfires, and other publicly safety concerns. Reaffirming KCSB ensures the student body will continue to have access to this invaluable campus resource — one rooted in public service and student activism. 

 

Invest in free expression, local storytelling, and the right to be informed. Keep media in the hands of the students. 

 

Vote YES to keep student voices on the airwaves.

 

FEE INCREASE STATEMENT 

 

KCSB is the first UC radio station, operating from within a student-owned building that represents freedom of press and speech on this campus.

 

KCSB has always prioritized student media development and leadership. As UCSB’s only student-run, non-commercial radio station, we put the power in the hands of students, and are a platform for uplifting and amplifying our local communities. This increase will sustain our mission and allow us to build on our record of success during a challenging time for US universities and public media entities. 

 

The fee increase will support student wages, expanded training opportunities, and broadcasting infrastructure that will fortify KCSB’s student-led broadcast media mission at UCSB and throughout the Tri-Counties.

 

We live in a time of rampant misinformation, with corporate media dominating the field. Every day, marginalized voices are getting pushed farther to the sidelines. Now more than ever, it’s important to support and uplift local, independent, reliable  journalism, and prioritize platforms that are accountable to you, with a mission of service to listeners. 

 

KCSB has been and will always be that platform. 

 

We haven’t seen a funding increase since the AS student-fee initiative passed in 2006. As costs and living wages rise, our current lock-in isn’t sufficient to cover our operations. Without additional support, we risk losing the ability to serve our community effectively. 

 

Voting YES will increase our lock-in from $3.40 to $4.88 (FWS) and from $2.45 to $4.45 (Summer).  Invest in student power and protect a platform made by students for YOU.