College radio is a signal of a vibrant community across campuses everywhere. For KPOET Broadcast Manager Paige Meyer-Draffen ’26, walking by the station for the first time motivated her to join the club.
“I thought it was the coolest thing,” Meyer-Draffen said. She designed her own major in radio and television broadcasting through the Whittier Scholars Program and was inspired by "Weird Al" Yankovic’s time as a college radio DJ. “I knew that was where I wanted to be.”
By students and for students, KPOET DJs broadcast sets online and fill the airwaves in the Campus Courtyard with diverse genres of music, in addition to movie and music reviews. KPOET also presents live shows of local bands, student performers, and open mic nights in venues such as Club 88. This upcoming year, the club plans to have programming akin to NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series.
KPOET is the pulse of student life. The station assists other clubs during events throughout the semester, whether by providing curated playlists or live entertainment. Its readiness to partner is why it won this year’s Collaboration in Programming Award.
“We're always working with other organizations, and it’s really awesome how we get to connect with everybody on campus,” Meyer-Draffen said. “It gives us the opportunity to go to these events that maybe we otherwise would not have.”
To learn more about KPOET, get involved, or listen to the station, visit the office underneath the Campus Inn or check out @KPOETRadio on Instagram.
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