Senior Spotlight: Tuning in with KPoet General Manager Tobit Raff

Angel Gonzalez, dynamic, issue 15, Features - By Angel Gonzalez on Thursday, January 27, 2011 - 04:02

Full name. Tobit Raff
Major: Math
Minor: Scientific Computing
Hometown: Santa Fe Springs
First-year dorm: Commuter all four years
Favorite class: Intro Cryptography, Films of Clint Eastwood
Favorite KPoet memory: Family weekend when we brought our couch out and were playing music

When did you first start working at KPoet?
“I started working here freshman year, first semester. I was a technician.”

How did you first hear about KPoet?
“I first saw it at the freshman weekend activities, the summer before I accepted to come. It looked like they were having a lot of fun and I decided it looked like a really cool job.”

What position do you hold now that you are a senior?
“I’m the General Manager now. I manage all the managers; I assist and deal with the school in relations with LEAP and the radio station. I basically make all major decisions and lead everyone, make our goals.”

How have you seen KPoet grow?
“I think we have done most of our growing in the last year. We were definitely at a rocky start. We were [formerly] in the Hoover basement. We had old outdated equipment and it was harsh down there. In 2008, we moved down here to the Campus Center when it opened. The location transition was rocky but it was for the best. We were all worried about our equipment. Some of the stuff was ancient but I definitely think it was for the best. Now we have four rooms: the productions studio, the lobby, the studio and the offices. Our broadcast is not disturbed and we do not disturb [others] because in Hoover we had classrooms next door. Now we have enough space to get our work done. People know we exist.”

What does KPoet mean to you?
“KPoet is my entire social life on campus. I’m a commuter student and this is my home. Whether I’m on the clock or not this is where I come to be with my friends, have a good time and listen to music.”

What people have you met through KPoet?
“I don’t know if we met anyone famous while I have been here. When we go to the conferences we meet other radio stations. It’s really cool to meet other radio stations and see how they are handling different issues. I know before I got here we almost got Cold War Kids to play here. Delta Spirit also played here for a meal at The Spot.”

What do you think of the college radio station industry?
“Listenership is definitely very difficult. That has to be our number one. Students have to know that we exist. As a whole I think college radio is doing great in the scope of things. It is doing very well since we all are primarily music fans, we are doing our radio shows with music we like to listen to. We are just music lovers and like spreading music and introducing people to different bands. I think the music industry looks up to colleges. Nowadays it’s really easy for small bands to have great success.”

What do you foresee for KPoet after you leave?
“I really hope that KPoet maintains the growth we have seen in the last year. We really push through in the quality of our broadcasting. I want to see KPoet become a popular thing on campus. I want the students to know we exist and give us a shot. KPoet can establish itself as a learning lab for students interested in the music industry, and continue to be a haven for people to continue finding new music. The last two managers we had have successfully gone into radio industry.”

What would you like to tell your fellow Poet peers?
“Tune in all the time, if you don’t like what you are hearing come do a show and give us feedback. We want to know what you want from us, we want to be Whittier College’s radio station.”