This month we are delighted to feature WXAV 88.3FM as our College Radio Station of the Month! Located on the Saint Xavier University campus on the south side of Chicago, WXAV is a student-powered station dedicated to giving aspiring broadcasters, journalists, and content creators real-world experience behind the microphone.
Peter Kreten, GM at WXAV and Director of Student Media, tells us more…
Tell us a brief history of your radio station:
Broadcasting to the Southside of Chicago and the southwest suburbs since 1991, WXAV 88.3FM is bold and revolutionary. It offers the most dynamic and cutting edge selection of music ever to air in Chicago. Simply put, WXAV plays the music music of today. It also creates some of the most unique and interesting student created podcasts today. From anime to the cultural impact of musicals to historical documentaries, WXAV works to live up to its motto of being ‘The Escape from Ordinary Radio’.
What is the MISSION of your station?
To provide the students of Saint Xavier University an opportunity to explore storytelling through audio and visual mediums. To help them develop their voices, and learn how to create, meet hard deadlines, and learn how the broadcasting industry works.
Who’s your most famous alumni who got their start as a student DJ or station member?
Chuck Floramo – Former editor to the Oprah Winfrey Show. Has done editing work with the Today Show and The Tamron Hall Show. Also, Janine Schaults – Features Reporter for the LA Times and former Features Reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
What’s one tradition or event that makes your station unique?
Local Live Revolution– Where we have local bands come in over a 24 hours period and each perform for one hour.
What’s the one piece of equipment or OBJECT/ITEM in your station that everyone loves—or refuses to throw away?
Oh man, that’s challenging. We just found the first ever t-shirt made for WXAV when it was still a wired station. Also, we have a Quiznos poster that was given to us by the store. That hangs proudly in the management office!
What three artists best represent your radio station?
Choosing just three is really challenging, but this I’ll do my best:
The Beatles
St. Vincent
MF Doom
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about your station?
We are one of the co-founding stations of College Radio Day!
Who’s the biggest artist, celebrity, or notable guest you’ve ever welcomed into your studio?
In studio – Glen Hansard. One of our DJs got to know him really well, and he came in for an acoustic performance. Only one song remains, and we randomly found it in a CD book after we thought it was lost forever. The full length performance remains locked away on a mini disc.
What’s one thing every college radio station DJ/broadcaster should experience at least once?
Interviewing their favorite band. It’s a really special experience when you get to tell someone you admire that they had a positive impact on your life. Also, just meeting fellow music fans like yourself. Having those deep philosophical conversations over takeout. Those are the memories you will hold onto for the rest of your life.
What’s the craziest, funniest, or most unforgettable thing that’s ever happened live on-air?
There are so many. There was one student who didn’t know how to operate the on-air automation system completely, and no one from the management team was there to help him. So he ended up talking for two straight hours, just to ensure that WXAV didn’t go off air. That is dedication.
Finally, how do you feel about the future of college radio?
I’m optimistic. Seeing students light up and see the possibilities of what they can accomplish is incredible. I feel the more we encourage students to get involved and find their voices, the more they will deliver. College radio matters. It gives young people a chance to find their voice, make interesting radio, and share great underground bands. Like everything in life, it needs to evolve, but as long as it doesn’t forget its core values, college radio will ALWAYS matter.
Thanks to Peter Kreten for this interview!
For more information about UTA Radio, please visit:
www.sxustudentmedia.com
Photos used by permission from WXAV and Peter Kreten.
