CKLN in turmoil, police called
Ryerson’s campus community radio station is in major turmoil for the second time this school year.
Within the span of a week locks and card readers have been changed, assault charges have been laid against a student rep at the station, police have been called in, the station has declared itself cash-strapped and live programs have been replaced by two weeks of old shows.
A letter posted on the door of CKLN last Friday and signed by the station’s vice-chair and acting chair, Mercadez Otway, said, “circumstances beyond our control” have led to the temporary lockdown of the station.
“The doors are temporarily locked because people have been coming in and screwing up the system,” said Otway. The station is currently airing a reel of already taped shows until the key access cards are changed.
On Friday, the station also dismissed station manager Sam Snapp, the last paid staff member.
“We have no money . . . we can’t afford (paid employees). We’re planning to go down to the Ryerson liaison and try to appoint someone from the student body for the positions,” Otway said.
When Snapp left he reportedly locked the door of the studio.
On Sunday, Otway was informed by Ryerson security that two individuals had barred themselves inside the radio station. Former CKLN programmer Daibhid (David) James and Paulette Hamilton, who sits on the station’s board of directors as a volunteer rep, were arrested. Following a police investigation they were both released without charges.
The school’s security supervisor, Imre Juurlink, said there were “signs of forced entry” into the studio.
Attempts to contact James for comment were unsuccessful.
Earlier in the week another argument between Peter Toh, a student rep on the board, and Josie Miner, a volunteer and host of CKLN’s Big City Opry, escalated to police pressing assault charges against Toh.
“The minute I lay assault (charges), Peter Toh and Mercadez cut off my access card,” said Miner.
Despite its cash-strapped status the station should be back up and running within the week said Otway.
“When the door is fixed, everyone can come in and do their show,” said Otway.
She added that a forensic audit has shown the station has not paid its taxes in two years.
At the beginning of the school year in September there was also a great deal of upheaval over the firing, hiring and dismissal of various staff and volunteers.
The board of directors has been in conflict for a number of years; the recent infighting within the board has stopped the RSU and Ryerson from funding the radio station.
“There are a handful of people claiming they are board members. Just because someone claims to be part of a board of directors doesn’t make it so,” said Miner. CKLN is suing the RSU and Ryerson University for $550,000 for withholding the station’s membership fees. Each student contributes about $9 annually towards the station.
The lawsuit doesn’t sit well with Otway.
“I never knew about the lawsuit. All I got was a message saying there was a lawsuit. How could I be vice-chair and not know about it?” said Otway.
Otway says the suit was initiated by program director Tony Barnes and Mike Phillips. But Phillips was removed as CKLN chair last February in a board member vote. According to CKLN’s bylaws the vice-chair in the absence of the chair “performs the duties of the chair.”
Differing interpretations of what it means to “perform” the duties have caused arguments about Otway’s authority.
The board of directors is made up of the station manager, program director, one former staff member, two community members, two volunteer staff, four student reps and one RSU representative, Toby Whitfield.
“Right now there’s a dispute so we’re trying to figure out how to resolve it,” said Whitfield.
“There are two groups claiming to be the board of directors.”
Whitfield says about nine dollars from each student’s tuition goes to fund CKLN. But until the station sorts out its differences, the money will remain with the RSU.
Otway has called an election for the board of governors that she said will be held later this month. She hopes a new election will solve the dispute.
“On March 22 I am inviting everybody to come out and vote for who you want. If you want to remove me that’s fine.” 