Fresh Air, the Edinburgh University radio station, is to shut off broadcasting one week early to ‘clear up’ the studio. This comes after a series of thefts and ‘hobo’ incursions into its Pleasance studio, as well as some strict new rules for the broadcasting talent.

Fresh Air, the Edinburgh University radio station, is to shut off broadcasting one week early to ‘clear up’ the studio. This comes after a series of thefts and ‘hobo’ incursions into its Pleasance studio, as well as some strict new rules for the broadcasting talent.

Student has received a leaked email from the Station Manager, which indicates that due to staff ignoring ‘pleas to tidy up’ the Pleasance based studio, the entire programme output of the station will cease on Friday 12 December. This date is one week before the previously intended close down for the semester. This early bow out is to allow staff to ‘clear up and sort the equipment out’, which apparently has been left in an ‘awful condition’.

The station manager apologised to ‘those who have kept things neat’, but hoped that this blanket ban would teach people to have ‘a little more consideration’ for the studio.

In addition to this self-imposed radio silence/scrub down, the email also outlines several new security rules, designed to combat a wave of thefts and ‘hobo’ loitering which the email claims ‘have been a massive problem this year’.

According to the email, Fresh Air has had a CD deck stolen from their studio, and Pleasance staff have repeatedly had to ‘shoo away’ vagrants that have wandered into the complex. Recipients of the email are advised to remain vigilant and report any ‘hoboish’ activity.

This stern warning comes with a vow to ‘come down more harshly on those evading studio rules’. To this end, a list of ‘show penalties’ is included. An infraction such as a presenter accidentally taking the Fresh Air studio keys home would result in their show not being broadcast for one week, while a more serious crime like ‘speaking about sponsors/advertisers on air’ or ‘being on drugs in the studio’ incurs a ban for the rest of the semester.

Even though the email assures recipients the shut down and new rules are only prompted by the ‘antics of a small number of people’, Student’s informant described the station manager’s actions as ‘draconian’ and ‘hilarious’.