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WTOP HD Upgrade Blog
Hello future, current, and former ‘Toppers! Everyone here at WTOP hopes that you will enjoy our series of blog posts over the upcoming weeks. We will be giving you updates throughout the semester on our HD upgrade. Buckle up folks, it’s gonna be a fun ride!
Getting right into it- as many of you know over the summer we started our transition to high definition. So what exactly does this mean? Well, it means we are getting an infrastructure and equipment upgrade. This allows us to go from standard definition to high definition. We will be getting new HD cameras, a new Ross Xpression graphics system, Ross Carbonite 2ME switcher, along with new playout and automation servers. Eventually we will add a sliding door area in the control room in order to create a separate audio area for our A1.
Aside from that, we will also have wireless microphones and wireless IFB’s. All of this will mix with our new WSI meteorology graphics that were purchased last year.
General Manager, Justin Dobrow says this upgrade will benefit students that come through WTOP’s doors for years to come. “It [the upgrade] adds industry standard high definition equipment that really will improve our production quality and proficiency. That will follow ‘Toppers for years to come as they go on their journey”.
Dobrow also couldn’t help but comment on the remarkable situation that he encountered during the upgrade process. “One unique aspect of the HD upgrade is that a former GM (Peter Kurys, ‘98) who works for our integrator (the people who are designing and building our upgrade) was a previous GM of WTOP!”, he exclaimed.
One barrier that comes with the upgrade is that members have to learn all of the new equipment being installed. Installers will be running a training course to teach management how to use all of the new technology before everyone else get to start using it. None the less, it will be a transition for everyone; one that Dobrow does not see a problem with. “I believe the transition will take some getting used to, I don’t think we will struggle learning the new equipment. In our industry we need to be able to adapt to changing technology, and this gives us a chance to really hone in on those skills”, said Dobrow.
On September 12, 2016 we held our general interest meeting. The crowd got a chance to hear a little bit about how the HD upgrade was going to affect the production schedule. Public Relations Manager, Arielle Schunk says she doesn’t think the delay in production will affect involvement in the slightest. “After such a huge turnout at the general interest meeting on September 12th, I can already see how great of a semester it’s going to be even though we are starting productions a little late”. The turnout for the General Interest meeting was one of the biggest yet, filling the auditorium with over 220 toppers.
We would like to thank the Oswego Alumni Association, the Student Association of Oswego and all of the generous alumni who have helped to fund our transition to HD! In addition, we want to thank the support we’ve gotten from all of the faculty and administration during this whole process.
We all can’t wait to get to work!
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Mumps outbreak spreads at Syracuse University
By Jamie Aranoff
SYRACUSE, N.Y.– Syracuse University reported that there are now 22 confirmed cases of mumps on the campus. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, another 19 probable cases were reported since the outbreak began in September.
The Centers for Disease Control states that symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite and swollen tender and salivary glands under the ears or along the jaws. It is contracted through saliva and respiratory sections and has been showing up across college campuses nationwide.
The University has quarantined students who have been diagnosed and who are suspected to have the disease. to attempt to contain the illness. Several of the students were put up in local hotels by the University. Many of the confirmed cases are coming from the Men’s Lacrosse, and Women’s Lacrosse teams. As a result both lacrosse teams have been shut down for the Fall semester.
According to the CDC, Mumps can be contracted even if patients were previously vaccinated. The University reported that a majority of the infected students had been vaccinated.
For more information about the Mumps outbreak at Syracuse University, visit http://health.syr.edu/news/mumps-and-vaccinations-.html
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Phat Kat Foods
by Madison Doner, WTOP10-TV
Phat Kat Foods has been in Oswego and in business for only nearly a month and business is booming. The food trucks are owned and operated by veterans Ben Booney and Arthur Webb.
There are currently two food trucks on the road; the taco truck and the sausage truck. By the end of the year they are expected to have a total of four food trucks and an expantion into Onadaga County.
The idea to open a food truck business came to the two after Arthur’s step son had come back from French culinary school in San Jose. They wanted to open up a brick and martar but food trucks are a big thing in the West coast so they just took that idea and ran with it.
Their menu for Phat Kat Tacos varies from fish tacos to beer braised carnitas all no matter the taco all are spicy and great. The Sausage Truck menu has everything from a hot dog to what they call a Kat Nip sandwich which contains pork sausage stuffed with bacon and cheese.
Booney was the brains for the name of the food trucks Phat Kat Foods. It evolved from fat guys to fat boys, he went with the PHAT Pretty Hot And Tempting, the Kat came from when they woked at Novellas Booney called everyone Kat.
Their motto “feed the beast” is aimed at delivering quality food at a reasonable price to feed the hungry beast in you. Their location changes everyday so check out their Facebook page for their daily location and updates!
