Down in the sub-basement of the HUB lives an entity unto its own.

A crew of dedicated individuals keeps it alive with tunes, talk shows and most importantly technology.

No, it's not a monster of modern time; it's the next best thing: the UW's own Internet radio station, RainyDawg Radio.

Started in 2003 and operated as a part of ASUW, RainyDawg is a place for students to listen and be heard. It's also a hot spot for up-and-coming independent artists to showcase their work for the UW community. Music director Phil Neff is very proud of what RainyDawg brings to campus and the area at large when it comes to music.

"For a big campus like the UW and for Seattle's music culture, college radio is a great place to listen to many talented independent artists," he said.

Neff, a senior who has been with RainyDawg for more than two years, gets to hear these artists first-hand. It's his job to listen to the CDs that are played on air and to write reviews for the DJs.

"It's the best job ever," Neff said. "I get paid to listen to music."

Prior to his music director position, Neff was also a DJ. He describes the DJ scene at RainyDawg to be one with the utmost freedom.

"The DJs have a lot more freedom than the other mainstream DJs do," he said. "The possibilities are pretty much endless as to what they want to broadcast."

This is a fact that sophomore Matt Dundas, who hosts "Don't Listen To This Show," a largely politically-based radio program, can attest to.

"The best aspect of my job is that I get to tell the truth as I see it without fearing denouncement from my superiors. While some may disapprove of my ideas, I feel only encouragement to freely express them," Dundas said.

Dundas' show covers topics from the UW's political groups to election coverage to events that effect all, such as global warming. Dundas is thankful that RainyDawg allows him to cover all this and more without the presence of censorship.

"The support for free speech has been largely eradicated from the mainstream media, which is why opportunities like RainyDawg are so precious," he said.

Along with the ability to say anything, music selection is open-ended as well. Graduate student Chris Ashley, who has been a DJ for RainyDawg since it began, hosts a variety music show entitled "Into the Maelstrom." It features everything from indie rock to hip hop to Americana. Ashley says if he were DJing on any other station, this autonomy to choose music would not be possible.

"Simply put, there is no other station in Seattle that provides the breadth of content we do ... none. We have the loosest form of a "rotation" possible, and 75-85 percent of all songs played on any given show are chosen entirely at the DJ's discretion," Ashley said. "No matter what you are told, there is no other station in Seattle that allows for that amount of freedom."

Ashley also speaks highly of the fact that RainyDawg gives every single student on campus the ability to get involved and get experience in the music industry.

"RainyDawg provides an opportunity for students who are interested in music, broadcasting, audio production and editing to get hands-on experience, training and air-time. I would imagine the majority of radio personalities out there got their start at some college station," he said.

RainyDawg has even spawned some of their own celebrity DJs and radio personnel. Some local DJs who started their experience at RainyDawg have moved on to bigger stations, such as The End, and KEXP.

Junior Allison Lazar, who is a radio personality for RainyDawg, is also interning at KEXP as a programming intern. Her responsibilities at the radio station include maintaining the concert calendar, creating the weekly playlist and the Top 90, and coordinating other interns.

Her experience at RainyDawg contributed directly to her landing the internship.

"RainyDawg managers get industry openings with radio stations and national magazines not normally publicized to the public. I found out about the position this way, and applied," Lazar said.

KEXP even has old links to the UW. It began its broadcasting history on campus, Lazar said.

"KEXP actually started their broadcasting as college radio programming with their transmitter located on the top of McMahon Hall in 1972," she said.

After a falling-out and a name change from KCMU to KEXP in 2001, KEXP no longer holds active influence on UW events or on campus. Many students, however, listen to and follow news on the once UW-based radio station.

That's where KEXP's influence ends and RainyDawg Radio begins. Getting involved is super easy, Neff said.

"Simply go online and fill out an application for a DJ, a freelance writer or anything that is available," he said. "You can also volunteer, if you'd rather do something around those lines. Or just listen, and support the station through listening."

However one chooses to support RainyDawg, Ashley wants to make one thing known: RainyDawg rocks.

"From a music addict's standpoint, this is the best darn radio station in existence ... no questions. We play more of a variety than anyone around," he said. "If you are a student and care about music in the slightest, please get involved. We thrive on diversity and can only grow as large as our support allows."

Reach reporter Stephanie Small at stephaniesmall@thedaily.washington.edu.