The call letters "WSOE" were originally held by the Milwaukee School of Engineering, but were acquired by the new Elon radio station when their charter was granted. WSOE was the 21st attempt to gain call letter approval from the licensing department of the Federal Communications Commission. The callsign is now used as an abbreviation for "the Wonderful Sounds of Elon". Since then, the station has broadcast to the Elon/Burlington area under the management of students and a faculty mentor. In 2000, WSOE became a member of College Broadcasters, Inc., being one of the first stations to do so.