The general manager of CKLU said he's “still positive about everything” after Greater Sudbury city council deferred a decision Tuesday on the station's request for $25,000 to stabilize its finances.
The matter will return to council Dec. 10, giving CKLU the chance to explore other funding options.
Rob Straughan, the station's general manager, said council didn't outright say no to the request at the Oct. 29 meeting.
“We left there feeling good about everything,” he said. “So far so good. It wasn't a yes or no, but it wasn't a no, so that's good.”
Earlier this year, the Doug Ford provincial government introduced the Student Choice Initiative, allowing university and college students to opt out of paying certain non-tuition or auxiliary fees.
As presented to council by CKLU board member Tannys Laughren, the new rules mean the radio station expects to lose much of its funding.
The station projects funding from student fees will drop from $45,670 in 2018 to $3,000 in 2019.
The station has laid off its eight paid staff — including Straughan — most of whom still work at the station as volunteers.
Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan, who moved the motion to provide the $25,000, said he hosted a show on CLKU for five years.
The $25,000 would be used by CKLU “to collaborate with downtown businesses or an organization like the Downtown BIA to develop a 'Downtown Sudbury Community Radio Marketing Program,' which will utilize studio and on-site broadcast resources to promote downtown businesses and activities,” Kirwan's motion reads.
Three years ago, CKLU moved into Laurentian's architecture school in downtown Sudbury.
Ward 12 Coun. Jocelyne Landry-Altmann wondered whether CKLU had approached the Downtown BIA for money yet, and suggested deferring the motion to give CKLU time to explore other funding options.
Straughan said he does plan to approach the BIA for funds, as well as explore other fundraising opportunities. “We knew the BIA would be at least approached at some point,” he said. “We just weren't sure when and how.”
Asked why Laurentian wouldn't fund CKLU itself, Straughan said he doesn't think that's an option.
He said no university administration in the province has yet stepped up to help any student organization affected by students opting out of providing funding.
If Laurentian stepped up to help CKLU, every organization would say “OK, why did you help them out and not us?” Straughan said.
And then there's the case of James Crispo and Dominique Ansell, a Sudbury couple embroiled in a property dispute with Laurentian.
Straughan confirms they did offer the station $25,000 in bridge funding — if Laurentian resolves the property dispute.
“That goes way above any of our heads, really,” he said, adding he's not sure how CKLU would be able to influence a property dispute.
The station politely declined the offer, saying the couple would be welcome to donate if there were no strings attached.
Straughan said CKLU is “trying to stay positive” about the station's ask to Greater Sudbury city council.
“If we're granted this money from city council, it buys us the time to figure out a long-term plan financially, and get new partners, wherever that may be,” he said.
Like CKLU and many other campus media organizations across the province, Laurentian's campus newspaper, Lambda, also expects to be negatively impacted by the new provincial funding rules.
Lambda's editor-in-chief, Shanleigh Brosseau, said she expects to have to axe the newspaper's monthly print issue, focusing instead on on the publication's web presence.
“Going forward, it's unlikely that we'll be able to continue to afford to have a print issue,” she said, but adds perhaps focusing more on the Internet will be a positive move anyway.
While Lambda's writers are currently paid, Brosseau said she thinks they'll have to move to a volunteer model.
Brosseau points out Lambda has broken many news stories, including the case of a NOSM medical resident who claimed she was suspended for reporting sexual harassment.
It also covers topics such as Laurentian's budget that directly impact students.
While there are informal Laurentian social media message boards, Brosseau said Lambda takes the time to find out both sides of the story.
“I just hope that moving forward for students, if students have not opted into Lambda, I hope in the future they'll reconsider,” she said.
