A group of ISU radio station staffers are feeling the effects of the terrorist attack on New York City, though they could have been directly involved in the tragedy.

Five student representatives from KURE 88.5, Iowa State’s student-run radio station, were set to fly to New York City yesterday morning to attend the College Music Journal’s (CMJ) Music Marathon in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Just yesterday CMJ officials announced that the conference has been postponed from this weekend to Oct. 10 through 13.

CMJ is a contemporary music magazine that industry pacesetters use to track up-and-coming college and mainstream musical artists. Each year the magazine organizes the massive Music Marathon, a conference which brings close to 1,000 bands and music-related speakers to Manhattan venues for four days.

KURE General Manager Shar Macatangay said she and the four other students were scheduled to fly out of Des Moines at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Missing the Music Marathon won’t affect KURE’s operations, she said, but the five students that were set to attend the festival will miss a great opportunity.

“I’m not disappointed about missing the marathon at all,” Macatangay said. “Most of what I’m feeling is concern for everybody in New York. I have lots of friends in New York. I’ve been trying to find out if my friends are alright. My friend, my old college roommate, Conor Bezane, works in Manhattan.”

Bezane was arts and entertainment editor for the Iowa State Daily last year. According to his parents, Bezane called from New York at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to report that he was safe.

Darryl Moton, KURE music director, said the whole experience has been humbling.

“I was packing my bag for the trip when my girlfriend called and told me to turn on the TV,” said Moton, senior in English. “It’s scary to think that if these guys would have waited one more day, my friends and I could very easily have been involved in this.”

Moton concurred that he is in no way disappointed about missing the music festival.

“What I’m disappointed about is the fact that these people decided to take out their frustrations about our government on everyone. The effects of this disaster will be felt not only by people in New York, but by everybody,” he said.

Sean McWhorter, a KURE employee who goes by the name DJ Toasty, refused to comment about his feelings toward the terrorist attack and the cancelled Manhattan trip.

This year’s Music Marathon, scheduled to begin today and end Sunday, booked artists like Coldplay, Oysterhead, Ben Folds, Mix Master Mike and hundreds of other bands to play at over 50 venues in Manhattan.

Macatangay said in past years the Music Marathon has been a great way for people from all levels of the music industry – from college students to professionals – to come together and see what is new in music-related areas.

“With all the planning and scheduling issues that go into this concert, almost 1,000 bands and 60 venues, I don’t see how they can reschedule it,” she said.

The Daily’s arts and entertainment department was also planning to cover the event. Two Daily staff members were scheduled to fly to Manhattan this morning.