WXPN native returns home

The adage "The more things change, the more they stay the same" is a perfect characterization of the relationship between Disc Jockey Michael Tearson and University radio station WXPN. Tearson returned to the station last week, 25 years and one month after making his debut there when he was a student at the University. In the interim, however, relations between Tearson and WXPN have not always been as good as they are today. In 1990, Tearson criticized the station for becoming too professional and community based, and for not allowing enough student involvement. "While the University of Pennsylvania still holds the license, students are excluded from participating as on-the-air talent," Tearson said in the October 11, 1990 issue of the Philadelphia Daily News. "All they can be is 'gophers' and that's a pity." On Monday, Tearson -- who was laid off earlier this year from Philadelphia station WMMR -- said that deciding to look past the issue of student participation at WXPN and return to the station was one of the most difficult decisions of his career. "It was an obvious philosophical and political dilemma I had to extricate myself out of," he said. He added that once a decision is made on a topic, it becomes a "non-issue," which is not open for debate. "Once a battle is done, it's done," Tearson said. "You can't be absorbed with issues that are dead issues. They've gone in the direction they have and not to move on in life is pointless." WXPN Program Director Mike Morrison said yesterday that the station was willing to overlook previous disagreements with Tearson and felt the veteran DJ could bring about change at the station. "We, as a station, looked at it as water under the bridge," Morrison said. "We had our differences in the past, but given the opportunity to look beyond that, we decided to bring him on." "He continues to be an advocate for student involvement at WXPN and I feel working with him will help us figure out bigger and better ways to involve students at the station," Morrison added. Tearson, who was a student at the University in the '60s, said it feels weird to be back at the station where he got his start. "It's eerie to be on campus all the time again," Tearson said. "I'm pleased to be here to have a chance to be eclectic and to have a lot of fun. I'm not getting paid enough not to have fun." Morrison said he has only praise for Tearson's style. "Michael is somewhat of an institution," he said. "He has programming and radio expertise and a great personality. When the 10 p.m. shift opened up, we saw a golden opportunity to put him in the time slot he held for many years at WMMR." Tearson called his hours -- Monday through Friday, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. -- "brutal." "You really have to be able to stand in forced solitude," he said. "Even as a young guy, I thought it was a brutal shift." Tearson described himself as creative, with a twist of craziness. "Being crazy helps me be creative," he said. "That's how you come up with unusual slants for everyday things. Take Andy Warhol's [Campbell's] Soupcans painting for example." And Tearson said his creativity and Penn connection led him to name the midnight hour on his show "The Attic." "I have a sensitivity to full circles," he said. "The Attic" -- where Tearson said "you can hear nearly anything" -- was the name of Tearson's Saturday night show when he was at the University. Tearson said he is grateful for having the opportunity to continue his career where he started out. "They've given me the latitude and license to carve out a midnight hour of my own," he said. "But with great power comes great responsibility. I'm having a great time here and I invite everyone to come along for the ride."

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