The Founding Students of KVSC (1968)
KVSC 88.1 FM—Your Sound Alternative—is a non-commercial, educational college radio station licensed to St. Cloud State University and serving central Minnesota. Broadcasting from St. Cloud at 16,500 watts, KVSC reaches a 70-mile radius and streams worldwide, extending its impact far beyond campus. Staffed by student employees and community volunteers, the station is known for eclectic music programming, public affairs, live music, and one of the nation’s longest-running collegiate trivia contests.
The roots of KVSC stretch back to 1960, when St. Cloud State students formed a radio guild to explore broadcasting despite having no on-campus outlet. Their pre-recorded programs aired weekly on WJON-AM, but creative limitations and growing student interest soon revealed the need for an independent station. In 1966, the university received FCC approval to construct a broadcast facility, paving the way for student-run radio at SCSU.
KVSC officially signed on the air on May 10, 1967, broadcasting at 88.5 FM as a 10-watt Class D station. The call letters—KVSC—were chosen to represent The Voice of St. Cloud. Funded by student activity fees and the Mass Communications Department, and supervised by faculty members E. Scott Bryce and Garry Hawkins, the station was led by its first student general manager, Andy J. Marlow.
In its early years, KVSC operated limited hours during the academic year and featured a predominantly classical music format, with jazz, folk, pop, musical theater, and spoken-word programming woven throughout. The station also aired documentaries, news, sports coverage, and rebroadcasts from the Golden Age of Radio. By the mid-1970s, KVSC evolved alongside national college radio trends, adopting a progressive rock format and expanding summer broadcasts.
KVSC also became a statewide leader in public and educational radio. During the 1970s, station leadership helped lay the groundwork for what would become AMPERS—the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations. When AMPERS was formally established in 1977, KVSC became a charter member, and the station has since played an ongoing role in shaping Minnesota’s non-commercial radio landscape.
After years of effort to expand its reach, KVSC received approval to increase power in 1981. On February 8, 1983, the station moved to 88.1 FM and boosted power to 5,200 watts, adopting the slogan Your Sound Alternative. Interference issues with local television forced a temporary power reduction, but long-term solutions followed, including relocating the transmitter away from campus.
Programming changes during the early 1980s sparked intense campus debate. In 1984, station leadership briefly shifted KVSC to a Top 40 format, leading to internal conflict, staff resignations, and loss of identity. In spring 1985, university administration intervened and restored the alternative and progressive format that defines KVSC today. The station soon stabilized and recommitted to creative risk-taking and musical diversity.
Professional staffing followed in 1986 with the creation of KVSC’s first full-time position. Kevin Ridley was hired as Station Manager, strengthening operations and advocacy during a period of growth and challenge. In 1991, community support proved decisive when thousands rallied to save KVSC from proposed budget cuts. That support helped secure a major milestone in 1992, when KVSC increased power to 16,500 watts and relocated its transmitter near Interstate 94 and Highway 15.
KVSC began broadcasting 24 hours a day in 1994 and launched its website in 1995. In 1999, the station introduced live internet streaming, allowing alumni and listeners worldwide to reconnect. Under longtime Station Manager Jo McMullen-Boyer, KVSC expanded its community partnerships, public affairs programming, and technological infrastructure. She served until 2023, leaving a lasting legacy of stability and outreach.
Today, KVSC broadcasts on analog FM, HD Radio subchannels, and digital platforms, including Twin Cities simulcasts and global streaming. Signature programs such as Monday Night Live, Granite City Radio Theatre, and the annual 50-hour Trivia Weekend showcase student creativity, local artists, and community engagement. More than half a century after signing on, KVSC remains proudly student-powered—honoring its history while continuing to evolve as a vital voice for St. Cloud and beyond.
