Flap over ASU bus radios ends in silence

A battle over which radio stations to allow on Arizona State University shuttle buses has left riders in silence. After a student complained twice about hearing KTAR (92.3 FM), a talk radio station, bus drivers will not be allowed to play the radio at all anymore.

Following the complaints, ASU and Coach America, the company operating the buses, banned the playing of KTAR. The ban led to protests from students and the radio station, claiming it violated their First Amendment free-speech rights.

The solution ASU and Coach America settled on was to leave station choices up to the passengers.

"Rather than get in the middle, we decided to just let students and faculty choose their own form of entertainment," said Steve Kuenzi, safety manager at Coach America.

Instead of the radio, passengers will now have to listen to their own MP3 players or portable radios if they want music or talk shows on the bus.

Russ Hill, director of news, talk and sports programming for KTAR, called the situation "unfortunate" and a setback for free speech and public discussion.

"It's not a small situation," Hill said. "It's not about a bus. It's a situation where one element of society dictated to society what they can consume."

Hill said radios should not be "completely turned off on all buses" - particularly government-run buses - just because one student complained.

"We don't think this has anything to do with KTAR," he said. "It has to do with freedom of speech" and people engaging in conversation rather than just shutting off opposing views.

Some also think the radio ban doesn't make much sense.

"I don't get it," said Willie Grothman, 21, an ASU student. "I think it should be up to the passengers what they listen to on the bus - they're taxpayers."

Grothman said that if someone is offended by what's on the radio, the driver should change the station.

"I like to listen to something on the bus," Grothman said. "I don't want anyone to be bothered by what's playing, but I don't think the answer is 'no radio.' "

Many regular passengers agree with Grothman that the situation could have been handled without a complete ban.

"This is one of those times when I don't get why people can't just be reasonable," said Bret Lawrence, 31, a Tempe resident.

"It seems like this is the way it always works: One person who's not happy messes things up for everyone else."

Lawrence said that the ban bothers him in principle more than in practice, because it affects bus drivers more than it affects him.

"It might make bus drivers pay more attention," Lawrence said, "but if it helps them get through their day, I say give it to them. They're the ones who have to deal with people all day long."