Jackie Sommerman has been a positive presence on the Hollins Campus for as long as I can remember. Before I knew her as an innovative artist, thoughtful intellectual and ballin’ MC (she was one of the two presenters at this year’s Miss Hollins Pageant), I knew that she sang a lot in the dining hall and asked questions at Senate. She sat down with me in Moody to discuss Hollins Entertainment Radio, sisterhood and how to bring brilliant ideas to life.
Amber Rambharose (AR): What is HER?
Jackie Sommerman (JS): HER is Hollins Entertainment Radio. We are a fun-loving group of music lovers and our main goal is to bring different genres and different venues to the campus. It’s for everybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, what kind of music you like, we want to bring you your music. We want you to be involved, we want you to like what you hear! And so if you have any song requests send them in and if you want to be a DJ, get in touch because that is totally open to the public too.
AR: I know that you have a bunch of different DJS, what kind of shows do you have right now?
JS: When we first started out, we had like three metal shows which I think was really cool. But our turn-out has been everything from work out tunes that work for the gay man population, as the DJ describes, to sex advice late at night with sultry readings.
AR: That’s so cool!
JS: I know! We’ve got some pretty crazy things out there. We have life advice that one of our DJ gives and…just everything. Anything you can think of, we probably have it.
AR: Do you have a schedule up somewhere?
JS: Yes, we have it on our website: www1.hollins.edu/radio.
AR: Perfect. I’ve listened a couple of times. It is…good jams.
JS: We’re really eclectic, and when we don’t have a show going on it’s on shuffle so whatever is in our music database is playing.
AR: Which is great because it kind of reflects the Hollins community, there’s something for everybody and it’s really a great addition to our artistic community.
JS: Absolutely.
AR: You’re the founder, correct?
JS: I am one of the founders.
AR: So what gave you guys the idea to get HER started?
JS: The original idea was between me and Ember Fulsen, our sophomore year. We were driving around in the car and I was like, ‘we should have a radio!’ and she was like, ‘yeah we should have a radio!’ but that kind of got dropped. Then my junior year, I mentioned it again to my friend Mac Goad, who is the co-founder and I said again, ‘ I wish we had a radio,’ and she turned to me and I turned to her and we were both like ‘YES.’ So there was no turning back.
AR: What other sorts of things are you involved with on campus?
JS: Well, I’m one of the co-captains for the lacrosse team, I’m a Studio Art major so I spent a lot of time in the Vac. I’m also the President of NEFA so that takes up a lot of time in my day, because I just love the girls. But I just hang out mostly with my friends, I chill, try and get work done but whenever people want me to be involved, I get involved.
AR: Yes! You are always vocal in Senate and I love that.
JS: I really love Senate. It’s actually a great venue and it’s really important to ask questions and know what’s going on on Campus.
AR: Absolutely, I totally agree. So, why Hollins, way back when, when you were picking colleges?
JS: Once upon a time, I had no idea what Hollins was and my admissions counselor called me up because she met me up at our high college fair and she met me and she was like ‘YOU, you of all people need to come to Hollins,’ and she kept bugging me about it and then I finally came for a visit and that was it. That was all I needed and as soon as I stepped foot on campus I knew that I belonged here, that this was where I needed to be. I stayed at NEFA as a perspective so
AR: It was meant to be.
JS: It was meant to be. A match made in heaven.
AR: What is your favorite Hollins tradition?
JS: That’s a tough one, I have a lot of favorite Hollins traditions that mean so much to me. I think it’s sisterhood, I know that’s very broad but I think that fuels every tradition that Hollins does. Like Ring Night, Ring Night is about sisterhood and First Step is about sisterhood. It’s about coming together as a community, as a community of women, of strong women and supporting each other I think that’s why I stayed at Hollins, because we need each other so much and we love each other and we’re here together and that’s my favorite tradition.
AR: Excellent, I love that. That makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside.
JS: It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
AR: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
JS: I think the one thing that I would like to add is…love everyone. I was trying to think about why you chose me as a Campus Celebrity and I know that I’m out there and vocal but I’m out there and vocal for you guys. I’m here to like, love and spread that message.