Ten Penn students are taking their writing for a ride on the radio waves of WXPN as part of a new writing seminar.
The English course "Writing for Radio" is being taught in cooperation between the University and WXPN 88.5 FM, a Penn-owned radio station. Students attend class at the radio station and are taught by seven members of the staff.
"It's a good way for WXPN to tie into the University," said General Manager Roger LaMay, who teaches the class.
WXPN shares a space with World Cafe Live at 3025 Walnut St.
LaMay added that while WXPN produces a show, Live at the Writers House, on Penn's campus and carries Quakers basketball on the radio station, this is the first academic connection between the two institutions.
"We see ourselves as an ambassador to the University," LaMay said. "We have a great resource of talented people who love to share what they know."
Throughout the semester, students write journals and Web logs and record reviews. At the end of the semester, they will produce short pieces about a topic in arts and culture that will air on WXPN.
"They research and interview and record and edit. A whole piece will be on the air entirely done by students," LaMay said.
The piece will be composed of students' writing mixed with interviews they conduct and music they select -- and students are excited about the opportunity.
"We get guaranteed airtime on WXPN," Wharton freshman Dianna He said. "WXPN is a really well-known radio station with a lot of listeners, and as a freshman I get two to three minutes of airtime.
"That's amazing."
He is writing her radio piece about the difference she has noticed in the popularity of a cappella on the East Coast versus the Midwest.
"We get to record all the time in the studio," He said. "Then we hear it back and get professional feedback from people who work at the station."
The students involved report being satisfied with the course and said that it has led them to new experiences.
"Radio had never been an interest of mine," College freshman Sean Breslin said. "I didn't even listen to the radio. Now I listen to WXPN all the time. I even read music reviews online."
College junior Brian Seltzer, who works with the station as Penn basketball's play-by-play announcer, is also happy he signed up for the class.
"In a field where it's high pressure and high stress, everyone is devoid of that here," Seltzer said. "They're all laid back and easygoing. They care that we're learning."
WXPN hopes to offer the course again in the future.
"I don't know who's enjoyed it more, the students or the teachers," LaMay said. "There's no doubt that we'll want to do it again."
In addition to writing, the class also involves a series of guest speakers, including radio documentarian Steve Rowland and music reviewer Tom Moon.
The mix is working for both faculty and students.
"It's a different kind of course than what is offered at Penn, and I sense from the students that they like that difference," LaMay said.
