Environmental issues, human rights, international issues. At the Moment has it all.

Sharon Benzoni graduated December 2007 as an environmental science major. She co-hosted a science show, and then was offered her own at KRUI. And she dived right in.

“My idea for At the Moment came about when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to focus on,” Benzoni said, adding she wanted to get into a little bit of everything going on “at the moment.”

Hence came the name.

KRUI has aired three episodes of Benzoni’s At the Moment thus far, starting with an interview June 14 with Sunday Goshit, a native of Nigeria, about Nigerian e-mail scammers. The following week she had an interview with Fatemah Keshavarz, an Iranian writer, about the recent tumultuous election in Iran. And most recently had an interview with an expert of climate change.

Upcoming interviews include one with a renewable energy officer from Samoa, whose name she wished to withhold for now, an interview with Professor Burns Weston, the founder of the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, and she is in the planning process of a discussion about the Iraq education initiative.

“I want to let Iowa City and the university community know about some amazing work going on here,” Benzoni said.

She added, “I love the radio as a medium. Weaving human stories and intellectual ideas together with the exploration of interesting concepts” is really engaging.

Check out her blog at http://atthemoment-krui.blogspot.com/ and don’t forget to listen to At the Moment Sundays at 3 p.m. at KRUI 89.7 FM.

written by Alina Rubezhova

The KRUI Online Giveaway is currently underway. The 25th, 26th, and 27th people to tweet the phrase “Listen to KRUI now at www.kruiradio.org/listen” will win a KRUI Prize Pack. The prize pack includes: a KRUI T-shirt, a KRUI poster, and KRUI stickers. KRUI’s twitter can be found at: www.twitter.com/krui.

KRUI will be hosting an online giveaway via Twitter this weekend. Participants will be required to tweet a specific phrase in order to win a prize pack from KRUI. Prizes include: KRUI T-shirt, KRUI poster, and KRUI stickers. In order to be able to participate you must be following KRUI on Twitter. KRUI’s Twitter page is available at www.twitter.com/KRUI.

KRUI is back on for Summer Programming.  You can view the new schedule at kruiradio.org/schedule.

Throughout the summer we’ll be having bands stop by.  Here is the schedule of upcoming in-studios:

The UI’s student-run radio station, KRUI-FM, has an immediate opening for IT Director. The position provides valuable, real-world experience. The position is responsible for overseeing the station’s technical operation, and duties include working with Java, MySQL, and web design.

Job Description can be found HERE.  The online application is HERE.

Please Note: Position listed as “Webmaster” on the application.  Please select “Webmaster” if you intend to apply for the IT Director position.

Applications are due May 6th, and interviews will be held May 7th. Applicants must be a University of Iowa student (undergrad or graduate). Directorships are year-long appointments, and run from May 2009-April 2010. Please direct any questions/concerns to krui@uiowa.edu.

The Cool Kids will be playing a FREE concert for KRUI’s 25th Anniversary Party at the Iowa Memorial Union on Saturday, April 4th. The Chicago-based, retro-rap duo consists of Antoine “Mikey Rocks” Reed and Evan “Chuck Inglish” Ingersol.  Rolling Stone named The Cool Kids as one of their ten artists to watch in 2008 and they have since gone from an underground sensation to opening for M.I.A. on tour and having their song, “Mikey Rocks,” featured on the hit comedy Entourage. With their retro-electro beats and influences of 1980’s and 1990’s rap, The Cool Kids have earned the title of “the black Beastie Boys.”

This show is presented in conjunction with the University of Iowa Museum of Art, with production by SCOPE Productions.  Additional support is provided by The Late Night at Iowa Program and the University of Iowa Student Government.  The concert is a part of the Mission Creek Music Festival.

Click HERE for more information on KRUI’s week-long celebration.

March 28th is KRUI’s 25th anniversary!  Yes, 25 YEARS of providing Iowa City a Sound Alternative for Music, News, and Sports.  The whole staff is excited about the milestone and feel a celebration is in order.

KRUI is teaming with a bunch of organizations to provide some cool events!  Events include alumni guest DJs, a movie at The Bijou Theater, and concert on Saturday night.  Below you find a full schedule.

If you are a KRUI alumnus and would like further information, you can contact us at krui.alumni@gmail.com.

Tuesday, March 31st
Brighton, MA and Fourth of July at The Mill
Presented by Mission Creek
Promotional support provided by KRUI
FREE PIZZA!!!!
Free

Wednesday, April 1st  
The Bijou and KRUI Present: Guča
Bijou Theater, IMU
7pm and 9pm
$2

Thursday, April 2nd  
CAB and KRUI Present:
Comedian Lachlan Patterson
River Room, IMU
9pm
Free

Friday, April 3rd
Shorts Burgers and KRUI present: a Meet and Greet with Nate Kaeding (kicker, San Diego Chargers)
Shorts Burgers
5-7pm
Free

Saturday, April 4th
FREE Concert with The Cool Kids
Presented by KRUI Radio, UI Arts Museum, SCOPE Productions
2nd Floor Ballroom, Iowa Memorial Union
10pm
Free

To celebrate KRUI’s 25th Anniversary, there are plenty of on-air events going on.  Here’s a complete list of guests this week:

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 :: 4 PM - Brighton MA

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 :: 3:30 PM - On-Air Forum with Harry Allen

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 :: 5 PM - Cartright

Thursday, April 2, 2009 :: Noon - The Bowerbirds

Thursday, April 2, 2009 :: 5 PM - These United States

Friday, April 3, 2009 :: Noon - Roommate

Friday, April 3, 2009 :: 3 PM - The Parlour Suite

Friday, April 3, 2009 :: 4 PM - Polite Sleeper

The Lit Show - hosted by Brian Dau - now has it’s archived shows available to download!

Past shows include: Ben Hale (fiction) and Tim Johnston (fiction).  You can listen to the archive at litshow.wordpress.com/schedule.

Upcoming Guests:

March 1 - Andrew Wells, poetry

March 8 - Jenny Zhang, non-fiction

Mason Jennings KRUI will be giving away 4 VIP passes for Mason Jenning’s exclusive in-studio concert February 20th. Listen in all this week from 4-6 got your chance to win!

GIVE-AWAY: KRUI will also be giving away tickets to Mason Jenning’s concert February 20th at The Englert Theatre. Giveaways are scheduled for Monday, February 16th from 1-2:00 PM and Wednesday, February 18th from 1-2:00 PM.

See the KRUI Blog for a complete list of upcoming in-studios.

KRUI will host a student media, on-air forum with biologist Dr. E.O. Wilson Wednesday, February 11th at noon.  Dr. Wilson, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, will deliver a lecture at the Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm.  The forum can be streamed online at www.kruiradio.org/listen.  For more information on Wilson’s lecture, see the University of Iowa Lecture Committee website at lectures.uiowa.edu.

The UI’s student-run radio station, KRUI-FM, has an immediate opening for Underwriting Director.  The position provides valuable, real-world experience.  Responsibilities include overseeing the KRUI Underwriting Staff, creating and developing relationships with local businesses/organizations.  Application and further job details can be found at http://www.kruiradio.org/apply/director-descriptions.

Applications are due Friday, January 23 at 5 pm. Applicants must be a University of Iowa student. Please direct any questions/concerns to krui@uiowa.edu.

Starting Friday, December 19th at 5 PM, KRUI will be off live programming due to the University’s Winter Break.  There will be an interim schedule; more information on that soon.  In the meantime, if you are bored — check out the KRUI Blog at krui.wordpress.com or complete KRUI’s Year End Survey - which can be found HERE.  We’ll be back full force for the start of the Spring Semester (Tuesday, January 20th).

Happy Holidays!

What was your favorite Iowa City show?  Have a favorite album of 2008?  Let us know!  The KRUI 2008 Year End Survey is now up.  Please take a few seconds and fill it out.

The survey can be found HERE.

Thursday, December 18, 2008 :: 4 PM - Haley Bonar MYSPACE

Haley Bonar, a St. Paul, MN. based singer-songwriter, will be playing with Pieta Brown at The Mill Thursday, 12/18.

Do you have a passion for music, news, or sports?  Entering its 25th year of operation, KRUI 89.7 FM is now hiring staff members for the Spring 2009 Semester.  Available positions include: on-air DJs, sports analysts and news reporters, music reviewers, and production/marketing assistants.  Positions are fun, and serve as a great way of meeting people on campus.  No prior experience necessary.  Apply today!

Spring Semester Application Deadline: Friday, December 19 at 5 PM.

Click HERE to apply.  Questions: krui@uiowa.edu

Every Monday at noon, Only Science can be heard on Your Sound Alternative - KRUI 89.7 FM.  Below is a list of upcoming shows.  Be sure to tune in!

Monday, Dec. 15th: Only Science will be airing its 2nd Fiction Special!  Properly entitled The Country Western Science Fiction Holiday Extravaganza, this is simply one show you will not want to miss.

Only Science is a weekly talk radio show hosted by Erik Nylen, a UI graduate student in biomedical engineering.  The program is geared for members of the university community who are interested in hearing about recent issues and discoveries in science not only at Iowa, but across the nation and around the world.  For more information, see the show’s site at thisisonlyscience.blogspot.com.

Keep up to date with Your Sound Alternative by joining KRUI’s Mailing List - This Week at KRUI.  By joining, you’ll get info on upcoming events at the station - including ticket give-aways and in-studios, along with other cool stuff.  Also, word on the street says that there will be exclusive content as well.

Signing up is easy.  All you have to do is click HERE, and fill out all the relevant info.  Please email krui@uiowa.edu with any questions or concerns.

UI alumnus Brett Dolan, a play-by-play radio announcer and color analyst for the Houston Astros, will visit campus Friday, Nov. 14.

KRUI Sports Director Jordan Loperena will interview Dolan at noon on 89.7 FM.

The public is invited to a question and answer session with Dolan at 2:30 p.m. in Room 101 of Becker Communication Studies Building. Dolan also plans to speak to broadcast journalism and communications classes during his visit.

Dolan, a native of Casey, Iowa, earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the UI in 1992. He worked at KRUI as a student and worked his way up as a broadcaster in the minor leagues before joining the Astros in 2006.

Sponsors of Dolan’s visit are KRUI, and the UI communication studies and sports studies departments, both part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Come to the FREE Iowa City premiere of CHRISTMAS ON MARS this Thursday at the recently re-opened Bijou Theatre in the IMU!!!

Trailer: LINK

Facebook Event: LINK

We’re going to be giving away a bunch of Flaming Lips swag like CDs and posters this week on-air and at the screenings!!

Christmas on Mars will show at 7pm and 9pm THIS THURSDAY 11/13 and it’s FREE!!

Eat your own spaceship.