Broadcast: News items

Off the Record: 50 years of University Radio Falmer

An exhibition celebrating five decades of student broadcasting at the University of Sussex is now open in the Library Gallery.

Off the Record: 50 Years of University Radio Falmer runs from 20 February to 21 March in The Gallery, University of Sussex Library, and is open Monday to Friday, 1pm to 4pm.

For 50 years, University Radio Falmer (URF) has been powered by students with something to say. What began as a small group with a few microphones and plenty of enthusiasm has grown into generations of presenters, producers, DJs, technicians and organisers. Late night playlists, last minute show prep and the quiet buzz of the studio have been part of student life at Sussex for decades.

For many members, URF has always been more than just a radio station. Some remember it as a quiet studio and an hour of calm in the middle of busy student lives. For others, it was a microphone, a mixing desk and the chance to be loud and properly heard. It has been a place to test ideas, share the music you love and find your community.

Across five decades, URF has also played an important social role on campus. Friendships have formed in the studio and lasted long after graduation. Some members even met future partners while hosting their shows together.

Fifty years of student radio means thousands of voices, countless playlists and a legacy of creativity that stretches far beyond the university.

The exhibition brings together artefacts, memories and stories from across URF’s history, capturing how student radio has shaped generations of Sussex students.

Off the Record: 50 Years of University Radio Falmer is free to visit in the Library Gallery at the University of Sussex, Monday to Friday, 1pm to 4pm, until 21 March.