CitrusTV

CitrusTV is the completely student-run television studio of Syracuse University and SUNY ESF in Syracuse, New York. It was founded in 1970¹ and has more than 350 student members. The organization is not a station, network or channel and does not broadcast its own programming, except for online streaming. Instead, CitrusTV provides programming, both live and taped—primarily to its website, YouTube, and the Orange Television Network, which is the university-controlled cable network available in all campus buildings on channel 24.2.

CitrusTV is the completely student-run television studio of Syracuse University and SUNY ESF in Syracuse, New York. It was founded in 1970 and has more than 350 student members. The organization is not a station, network or channel and does not broadcast its own programming, except for online streaming. Instead, CitrusTV provides programming, both live and taped—primarily to its website, YouTube, and the Orange Television Network, which is the university-controlled cable network available in all campus buildings on channel 24.2. ==History== ===Synapse era (1970–1977)=== The organization was founded in 1970 as the Syracuse University Union student-run video program through its kickoff event "Alternatives in Communications Media" featuring a lecture by Marshall McLuhan, a concert by the Jefferson Airplane, and its main event, the "Multimedia Phenomenon" in Manley Field House. In 1972, University Union was granted the former Watson Dormitory dining hall as an interim UU center, with funding to construct a theater, the Community Darkrooms, and the first color television studio on the SU campus, edit rooms, and offices to teach and promote portable video production. Students designed and built the cable television system connecting large TV monitors in most campus buildings. They named the program Synapse, and soon began looking for funds to sustain the students, many of whom were now graduating. They secured a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts to run the Artist Visitation Program where students could work with video artists from around the state exploring the nascent use of video technology as a formal art medium. By the mid-1970s, the Synapse Artist Visitation Program expanded into the new Newhouse Communication Center, working at night and mostly on the 2" video tape machines editing artistic works shot on small format recorders. In 1977, Synapse ended its use of the Watson studio and formalized its association with the Newhouse School continuing its NYSCA post-production program following a National Endowment for the Arts grant to control 2" video editing by computer. Watson studio and the cable television system were now run again only by students as UUTV. UUTV and Synapse were conceived as a center for experimental video productions using the "portable" video equipment that was just becoming available in the early 1970s. By current standards, the "portable" equipment would be considered ludicrously heavy and bulky, and barely portable at all. During these years there was a continuing debate between those who favored more conventional approaches to programming and those who envisioned more experimental and creative approaches. In 1971, cables were run across the campus to various locations where students could watch the programming, including dormitory lounges, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and the basement of the E.S. Bird Library. At its peak, the system had over 100 monitors able to receive the programming. Early founding members included Carl Geiger and Bill Viola, who helped build the cable system. In 1972, Synapse began operating in Watson Hall. A color three-camera television studio was built. Visiting artists who recorded material at the studio included members of The Firesign Theatre. Operations were managed by Gail Waldron, Bob Burns and Lance Wisniewski. Synapse recorded music concerts and prominent speakers on campus. Synapse had a portable system which was used to record the feelings of inmates at Attica Prison following the Attica prison riot. In 1973, Henry Baker organized remote coverage for Richard Nixon's second inauguration and the demonstrations in Washington. In 1974, wishing to expand its offerings, Synapse sought and received outside support from the New York State Council on the Arts. Artists in a visiting artists program visited Synapse and used the facilities for the production of video art pieces for several more years. Other projects included Carl Geiger designing and building new electronic image making tools and producing an elaborate experiment called “Multi-Origination Dance Piece." Synapse maintained master edits and a tape collection with copies of works produced through the programs. They actively encouraged wide distribution of the produced work, especially broadcast. In 1977, Synapse left Watson Theatre, leaving behind the color production studio and campus cable system. Synapse forged an association with the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, with which it shared its production equipment and studio facilities, and continued one of its functions as an independent production house for experimental video, allowing access to the community and to video artists, as well as producing some of its own productions. In 1981, SU had become dissatisfied with the curricular component of their relationship with Synapse. While executive director Henry Baker made a proposal that redefined the educational aspects of the Synapse Program, SU rejected the plan and elected to terminate the program. Synapse moved off campus and closed in November 1981. ==References== ==External links==

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