Student Programming Council Television broke from its regular programming schedule Friday night as its directors and producers ventured in front of the camera to celebrate a milestone.

About 30 SPCTV workers, alumni and lovers gathered at the Student Center Video Lounge to help SPCTV celebrate its fifth year anniversary. The celebration was broadcast live and simulcast on campus radio station WIDB and the Internet.

The night started with an interview with SIUC Chancellor Donald Beggs, who applauded SPCTV’s efforts and accomplishments. Interviews with SPCTV alumni, reviews of the best and worst of SPCTV independent student films, and previews of SPCTV independent videos and first-run movies also were featured.

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The host was Jeremy Corray, a junior in cinema and photography from Highland and a director at SPCTV. Corray said a big part of SPCTV’s success can be attributed to increased student awareness.

A big problem before was awareness, Corray said. Now a lot of students on campus know about us. This awareness had lead to more student involvement which has led to new talent, more shows and a larger variety.

The increased awareness of SPCTV can be attributed to the collaboration between SIUC University Housing, SIUC’s Residence Housing Authority and SPCTV.

Last year the organizations worked together in testing channel 24 for an audience. To perform this test, they bought the right to air three first-run movies a day on channel 24.

The response was overwhelming, the audience demanded more, said Morgan Grammer SIUC radio and television and SPCTV alumnus. Now each year University Housing fronts the money to show three first run movies a day, Residence Housing Authority puts together the fliers and SPCTV airs the shows.

Grammer, a charter member of SPCTV and an assistant engineer with Zimmer Broadcasting Company, graduated in May but often returns to give the SPCTV crew a helping hand with technical advice.

He’s like Batman, we throw up the signal and he comes running, Corray said.

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To honor Grammer, SPCTV crew members presented hugs, kisses and a plaque to him in the middle of the show.

Grammer graciously accepted the award, but said he was indebted to SPCTV and WIDB

I owe my job to SPCTV and WIDB. They’re my saving grace, Grammer said. In SPCTV you get the practical knowledge of the radio/television program with more freedom.

There is no doubt in my mind that the people from SPCTV will go on to do bigger and better things.

Grammer said a lot of what he and other alumni are doing in present jobs are jobs they also did at SPCTV and WIDB. He is convinced the hands-on knowledge gained from these two campus organizations are key parts in the success of SIUC students entering the radio and television fields.

The awards, honors and praises kept rolling Friday night at the Student Center Video Lounge but peaked when host Jeremy Corray announced a piece of crowd pleasing news.

College Campus Television, a network of college television stations, has presented SPCTV with an invitation to both donate and receive original programming which will be aired on participating college campus television stations around the nation.

We were shocked SPCTV is going national, said Chad Smart, former SIUC student and SPCTV consultant. It feels good that someone wants our stuff. Now it’s possible for people all over the country to know who SPCTV is and what the talented students at SIUC do.

A nationwide audience offers SPCTV more exposure and SPC executive director Luis Murralles, a senior in Spanish from Chicago, said more exposure is one more reason why more students should get involved.

Its awesome. he said. I’ve watched SPCTV grow by leaps and bounds and now is the best time to get involved. This high exposure opens the door for SPCTV to go anywhere. And it’s important to have a large diverse voice to appropriately represent SIUC through SPCTV.

The celebration ended with the cutting of SPCTV’s half vanilla, half chocolate fifth year anniversary cake, and a request by Corey for channel 24’s student viewers to get involved.

SPCTV approves 99% of the shows presented by SIUC students, he said. We want more. You do not have to work for SPCTV to present independent films and everyone is welcomed to come and work.

The stuff we do up here you can learn in the classroom and what you do learn in the classroom you enhance in here. Our biggest improvements have come hand and hand with increased student involvement.