Interview with John Scott Cain, June 3, 2009

Partial Transcript: --ormally what I do is I start out by, um, you know, saying that this is a continuation of this oral history project of the embryonic stages of WRFL, the University of Kentucky student radio station.

Segment Synopsis: In this opening segment, Cain introduces himself and talks about his career since he graduated from the University of Kentucky. He then goes back to talk about coming to the university from a small town, getting acclimated to the campus, and having some interesting experiences with his roommate.

Keywords: Connected; Involved; Involvement; People; Persons; Small

Subjects: Business education; College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Musicians; Radio; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What was it--what was the, what was the sort of environment like?

Segment Synopsis: Cain talks about the political environment and religious communities at the University of Kentucky at the time he went to school. He also discusses how working with the student communities helped educate him in a way that the academic environment could not.

Keywords: Cindy Weaver; Environment; Natures; Organizations; Religious

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1929-1968; King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968; Politics and government; Reagan, Ronald; Religion; Republican Party (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, well so you were, you were, you were a busy guy, John.

Segment Synopsis: Cain talks about some of the aspects of student government. He explains how student government was run as well as some of the differences between student government and actual government.

Keywords: Aspirations; Budgets; Communities; Exchanges; Friends; Kakie Urch; Meetings; Money; People; Senates

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Politics and government; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: Let's talk about, um, let's talk about the radio station a little bit and the movement to start the radio station.

Segment Synopsis: Cain talks about how he got started with RFL and his role in creating the radio station. He was good friends with Theo Monroe and Kakie Urch before the development of RFL. Cain helped them out by being a voice for RFL that could advocate for the organization in student government.

Keywords: Friends; Help; Kakie Urch; RFL; Theo Monroe; WRFL

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: You were sharing some of your recollections of Theo.

Segment Synopsis: Theo Monroe, Kakie Urch and Mark Beaty were all prominent members of RFL. Cain talks about their various personalities and the qualities that each person had.

Keywords: Anti-establishment; Articulate; Mark Beaty; RFL; WRFL

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Newspapers--Kentucky.; Newspapers.; Radio; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Kentucky Kernel.

Partial Transcript: Yeah, but I seem to remember him--I actually served on the board for about a year after I left the university.

Segment Synopsis: Cain talks about his interaction with Otis Singletary and how he was able to present an argument to the president of the university for why the University of Kentucky should have a student run radio station. Cain credits Singletary with providing validation for RFL and with helping the radio station receive some of its funding.

Keywords: Boards; Dollars; Meetings; Money; Spaces; Started; Talks; University presidents

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Radio; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; Singletary, Otis A.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Administration

Partial Transcript: Um, so which, you know, its interesting you mentioned not a word had been broadcast.

Segment Synopsis: Cain talks about his expectations for the radio station before the station aired. He fully expected that the radio station would come into being. His hope was that the radio station would provide an opportunity for students to get involved in the station, a hope he feels like is being exemplified today.

Keywords: Airing; Alternatives; Experiences; Faith; Opportunities; RFL; WRFL

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Music; Radio; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And that brings me to kind of an interesting question, which this may or may not apply to you as SGA president...

Segment Synopsis: Cain talks about how the students at the University of Kentucky were able to get the station up and running. Cain says that there were a number of things that made the process of getting the station smoother and simpler than it would have been otherwise. Cain also talks about the people who helped lead and inspire the radio station, from faculty, to advisers, to other students.

Keywords: Advisors; Andrew James; Articulate; Boards; Embryonic; Faculty; Motivations; People; Talks; Thoughts

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Entrepreneurship; Radio; Radio broadcasters--Interviews; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; Singletary, Otis A.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Kentucky Kernel.

Partial Transcript: 'Cause, you know as, as much as I enjoy the R--uh, RFL, uh, contribution, it wasn't a huge part of, of my life.

Segment Synopsis: Cain talks about his role on the University of Kentucky campus throughout his academic career. Cain claims that RFL was not his passion but he was excited to see RFL get started. Cain talks about another initiative he started called the Student Development Council and about his reasons for student involvement.

Keywords: Campuses; Enjoyment; Involvement; RFL; WRFL

Subjects: College students; College students--Kentucky--Lexington--Societies, etc.--History.; College students--Social life and customs; Radio; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky.; Radio stations.; Radio--History.; Singletary, Otis A.; University of Kentucky