WRDL’s 60th anniversary recognized by Sen. Husted
ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University’s student-run campus radio station, WRDL 88.9 FM, has been celebrating its 60th anniversary of being on the air throughout 2026, and it recently received a unique gift – an official commendation from Sen. Jon Husted.
At a campaign event this summer in Medina, Ohio, Husted took the time to highlight WRDL and the power of public radio, while presenting Aidan Haggard, a junior at AU and on-air personality on WRDL, and Derek Wood ‘17, a faculty member at AU as well as the general manager of the radio station, with a formal award.
“I want to congratulate Ashland University’s WRDL radio station (for) celebrating freedom and the First Amendment. It’s so important to have open discussion and dialogue. And, congratulations on 60 years of success,” said Husted.
Haggard, who helped coordinate the meet-up, was very pleased that the senator took an interest in WRDL.
“I mentioned to (one of) his staffers that we’re having our 60th year on the station. Senator Husted seemed really interested. He had a lot of questions. He made some statements in support of us, and … just very thankful for him willing to support public radio,” said Haggard.
Wood added that Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel was at the event and also spoke well of AU and WRDL, which has a strong reach. The 3,000-watt station can be heard in 10 counties across north-central Ohio and anywhere in the world via wrdlfm.com or on the free WRDL app.
“Everybody had very kind words about AU. The AU name is out there publicly with elected officials, and they (know about) the Ashbrook Center and our commitment to free speech and having civil discussions and public debates on campus. The 60-year commendation certainly shows that WRDL is committed, and obviously grounded in the First Amendment,” said Wood.
For Wood, the commendation was particularly meaningful because it recognizes a core value that has been part of WRDL since the station first went on the air in 1966.
“We’ve been providing support to a variety of voices on a variety of issues all this time, and it’s not just playing music. It’s giving somebody a chance to exercise their freedom of speech and go on the air and feel like they can share whatever they want to share. We’re still very much in line with those beliefs that were established 60 years ago,” said Wood.
That commitment to giving people a voice extends beyond what is said on the air. It also shapes who gets the opportunity to say it.
At AU, any student who has an interest in radio can earn a spot on the air, not just students in the Journalism and Digital Media department.
Haggard embodies that philosophy. An Ashbrook Scholar majoring in political science with a minor in classical learning, he has used WRDL as a place to develop his public speaking skills.
“Yeah, ever since freshman year, I was given a wonderful opportunity to be on the air. I have my own show called ‘The Public Forum.’ I talk about mostly state politics on there … and I appreciate the latitude that I’m given in regard to that,” said Haggard.
Wood concurred, “Aidan’s not a ‘JDMer’ in the traditional sense, but he’s as much of a contributor as anybody else. That’s what makes AU so special (and) what makes JDM really special is we’re open to anybody on campus that wants to come on the air and talk about things.”
That accessibility sets AU apart and Wood has seen more and more students take advantage of the opportunity, resulting in a wider range of shows.
“It’s been a focus of ours in the last five years to expand programming offerings at WRDL beyond just music and sports. (Students) have the opportunity to go on the air and talk about those issues, whether they be something grounded in public affairs or be something more entertainment-based,” he said.
For Haggard, who is planning a career in law or politics, the opportunity is both personal and practical. It is a chance to develop skills that will serve him well in the future while contributing to a station with a growing record of recognition.
“Someone who is going into the skill of oration, being able to practice that on the air is very significant. I mean the benefits are just outrageous. The coverage that we get and the awards. That we get to show off our opportunities and our talents is really impressive,” he said.
WRDL has been honored by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System with 40 awards since 2016, according to Wood, and earlier this year, it received a new recognition for best audio production from the International Student Broadcasting Championship.
After 60 years on the air, Wood is confident WRDL will continue to raise its profile and evolve with talented students.
“It’s a rich history of tradition that has been built in this department over 60 years, and WRDL is still showcasing that all these years later and changing with the times as needed. And, we’ll continue to provide both campus and the community tremendous programming that is focused on their interests and always free and created by humans in an era of artificial intelligence,” said Wood.