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Show May 1, 1992 MEWS The Signpost MTV VJ OK at WSU Quinn says MTV introduced Americans BY MICHELLE L. BRAUER Staff writer of The Signpost The MTV generation flocked to Convocations Thursday to hear thelifeand timesof MarthaQuinn, oneof theoriginal MTV video jockeys. Quinn auditioned for the job on MTV after graduating from NYU in broadcast journalism. "I would love to have checked my horoscope on that day," she said. 'That's the day that changed my life." MTV began Aug. 1, 1981 with only 130 videos to fill 24 hours of air time. One of the problems the station faced was getting the cable operators to carry them. "It was rather like in the 1950s, convincing record stores to carry this new music, rock'n' roll. They d have to cut down the Perry Como section, Quinn said. Quinn reminisced about the early days before MTV was popular. People would ask her what she did, "I'd cringe and say 'I'm a VJ" she said. 'Then I'd brace myself for 'what's a VJ?'" In the beginning, the bands were doubtful too, Quinn said. 'They were like, wait and see." At first, Bruce Springsteen wouldn't appear in the videos his record company gave to MTV. Quinn met Springsteen in a restaurant where he asked her, "Hey, don't I see you on MTV?" Quinn answered, "Yeah, that's more than 1 can say for you!" After his "Born in the USA" album came out, Springsteen had changed his tune. "I like to think that was my doing," Quinn said. MTV was essential in intro- v uuu tVVM KJTTT mm m . . II,. Martha Quinn, an MTV video jockey, addressed WSU students at Thursday's Convocations. She said music groups were hesitant to air videos before MTV was popular. ducing the American audience to the British post-punk scene. "It was a marriage made in heaven," Quinn said. Groups like Duran Duran, U2 and INXS got their start by making videos' for the station WOMEN OF COLOR m. ZETA PHI BETA COMING TO WSU SOON! 1 I I II. .W.I..11I..1.TWTTT, CHUCK BOWHAYTHf SIGNPOST and gaining exposure. But it was the "I want my MTV" campaign that changed the station's position in the market. The campaign was primarily to convince the cable operators to supply MTV. mm A1TTWAW .. I to punk rock MTV is dividing into three different channels in 1993, Quinn said. "Fiber optics is making it so they can squeeze more channels from the satellite to the cable operator and from the cable operator to you," she explained. One audience member questioned Quinn on the commercialization of MTV, and the deviation from it's original ability to introduce new music to the public. "I disagree with you on that," Quinn said. She explained MTV was instrumental in the introduction of rap music to popular culture. "It's not the white rockers, anymore," she continued. "I say, break open the barriers." On the issueof animal cruelty, Quinn explained her views while applying non-animal tested lipstick. "I'm a total cruelty-free person," sheexplained. That includes not eating meat and not wearing leather. "If you had a choice between a household cleaner, one that was tested on animals and one that wasn't, wouldn't you pick the one that wasn't?" she said. Quinn said sometimes thebest videos are the simplest. For example, Van Halen's "Jump" video, which Quinn said, "legend has it, they spent more money on beer than they did on the shoot." Working her way throughcol-lege, Quinn worked on commercials. "I was the first person to launch the McDonald's Chicken McNuggets campaign," she said. Her line consisted of. You II go nuggets for McNuggets." Currently Quinn is attending acting school three days a week. Her new movie "Bad Channels" will begin this summer. "X T'S H O T ! Schedule of Events Friday. May 1 Runs all day: Sand Volleyball Tournament 10:00 pm Outdoor Amphitheater Late-Nite Movie "The Blues Brothers" Saturday. May 2 Sand Volleyball Finals All day's events in the Wildcat Stadium: 10:00 am Carnival 4 11:00 am Concert "Killer Tomatoes" ,n" 2:00 pm Purple & White Football Game -Halftime: Tan Contest- 4:00 pm L.A. Comedian Bobbie Kosser Sponsored By: CAB's Super Evenis Committee Please. NO ALCOHOL! ALUMNI (continued from page 1) show prospective donors what they were contributing to." The Alumni Association is planning to raise the remaining $150,000 balance within the next two years through continuing the T3uy A Brick' campaign and rental fees assessed for the useof thebuild-ing. "After having our offices spread all over campus, it is nice that we are in one location that people can identify," said Edie George, WSU Alumni Association executive director. Construction of the building actually began April 1991, said sight construction supervisor Hank Thropp. "Originally the project was expected to be done in November, but due to changes in architectural plans and inclement weather, it was delayed until February 1992," Thropp said. Due to construction delays, landscaping will begin in June. Selections of the furnishings include an 1840 vintage cabinet which is believed to have been owned by Brigham Young, an oak table once owned by President Abraham Lincoln's eldest son and an oak bar that was part of a saloon located on 25th St. in 1890. "We want, to be like a good grandma, helping students, past, present and future, stay in the family, whether it be by sponsoring class reunions, homecomings or working with career services," George said. The center has three full time staff members, two part time student employeesand approximately 150 volunteers who donate their time to the Alumni Association. p r j v flits' 'JM4'W'iimvv-JiJ:mMfwMiM-iti-'V-ttt' m?t vt t? m t ; 1 1, 1 1 V? ffl ,ittttmMtmwtmMmwmim;Mmmimmtt;'K!ituitnti;iiiU'; ilI.IHHII.tiMll.lll.) ' VI TT H VTTT . AA.WTT I W WTT ! 1 I. TTT I 11 H' I 1 I - ' |