Unraveling the 'conspiracy' at WOBC

This week, Arts editor Rumaan Alam met with juniors B.J. Renteria and Katie Boyer, the hosts of WOBC's popular talk show "The Hand Conspiracy." Howard Stern may be the self-proclaimed king of all media, but these two are Oberlin's reigning monarchs, giving a truly mixed media interview over e-mail and even live broadcast.

Rumaan: Ok, guys. Why are you "The Hand Conspiracy?'

Katie: Two words...breast sex.

B.J.: Yeah Katie, you never told me where his hands were.

K: You see, we were very unclear about where the guy puts his hands when he has breast sex with a woman.

B: We actually re-enacted this scene on the floor of the station.

R: So why do you talk about sex so much? Are Oberlin kids sex maniacs? Or is it just you?

B: Everyone is a sex maniac. We just talk about what we think about all day long.

K: It's fun. The talking I mean. And the sex.

B: I think that Oberlin is a little more open about sex in general than most other places. Where else can you take a class about how to fist someone?

K: And where else can you get callers to talk about bestiality on the radio?

R: So what do you think of talk radio?

K: I've always liked talk radio. In high school I'd always listen to the talk stations in town instead of the music ones. It's the only really original form of radio.

R: Are you the most popular show on WOBC?

B: I don't know if it's the most popular show, but I think that we're one of the most entertaining. We'll talk about anything from necrophilia to crushes and racooning.

K: We do get a lot of callers, which is great. We've been really lucky in that respect. But some are a little creepy...

R: You mentioned stalkers when we were on the air before. How do people know you?

B: I think that people know us because we're always telling people to listen to the show.

R: Do you want to keep your anonymity, or do you want people to be able to attach a face to the voices?

K: I like being a voice on the radio. I'm not sure if our general listening audience knows us by sight.

B: Anonymity isn't such a a big deal. I kind of like it when people come up to me and say they listen to our show.

K: I like the anonymity. I think I'm deluding myself. If anyone who wants to figure out who we are hasn't already... How many other six foot tall blondes are roaming around campus?

R: So are you Oberlin's answer to Howard Stern?

K: Aren't we?

B: Last I heard we were.

K: Howard Stern can be entertaining, but he's a pig in ways we aren't.

B: Equal exploitation for men and women. That's the way it is on our show.

R: So will there be a "Private Parts"- like film in your future?

K: If someone wanted to make a movie about us, I don't think we'd turn it down.

B: Who would play me?

K: Probably Gary Coleman. How about me?

B: Monica Lewinsky? Anna Nicole Smith? No-that bitch from Titanic.

K: Kate Winslet? People have told me I look like her. Tori Spelling and Drew Barrymore, too. Some more complimentary than others.

B: Can you imagine Anna Nicole and Gary Coleman having sex?

K: I thought we agreed never to talk about that.

R: What do you say to the fact that Katie is in fact, despite what people may believe, Canadian? Is this legal?

K: I'm a dual citizen of Canada and the US. It's legal.

B: I think that Katie brings a certain exotic flair to the show. I'm glad she's Canadian.

R: So, WOBC. Does it rock or does it suck?

K: A little of both.

B: We should be nice so we can keep our show.

K: It's a great resource to have on campus, but I sometimes get a little frustrated.

B: I think a lot of people expect it to be really professional, but it's just run by students who do it because they love it.

R: So why radio? Where did your passion come from? Are you naturals, or maybe you just talk too much...

K: I know we talk too much. I convinced B.J. that it would be fun-that was at the start of our sophomore year. Three semesters later, we're still having fun.

R: So, you're not involved? B.J. did call himself Katie the other night on the air. You are, in fact, two different people?

B: Does showering together every morning freshman year count as being involved?

K: I mean things go on in the station that don't make it on the air.

B: Despite our obvious physical differences, people often mistake us for one another.

K: We know how each other's mind works. I know what he's thinking, and can anticipate what he's going to say. I think that's important in radio, especially since our show takes bizarre turns sometimes, and we need to keep on top of things to keep the show going.

Hand's on: Behind the scenes at WOBC's the Hand Conspiracy, juniors Katie Boyer and BJ Renteria field calls. (photo by Heidi Good)