Peter Kreten mid-2000s Source: The Xavierite
Peter Kreten has been involved with student media at Saint Xavier since before most of its current students were even born.
In 2002, he entered Saint Xavier University the same way every college freshman does: terrified of the future with no concrete plans. Before the end of the year, however, Kreten would find something rare for a first-year student: a sense of belonging amidst the chaos.
WXAV 88.3FM, known around campus as The X, offered Kreten his first taste of student media as a DJ. He became a host on “Sumpalooza Radio Program,” a variety show that exposed Kreten to the nuts and bolts of student radio.
Kreten affectionately remembers “Sumpalooza” and recurring bits like the Sweet Deuce Showdown and Thumble Rumble (everything had cooler names back in the day). The show even allowed Kreten to interview musicians in the studio.
“It was fun,” Kreten reminisces before amending that it was also nerve-wracking, “but doing interviews with your friends is a blast.”
He recounts big names like Ziggy Marley, but just as fondly recalls legends of the local music scene like the Chi-Town Kids and Inept.
Beyond the brag-worthy stories of meeting the people behind the music, Kreten found a safe space in the radio station.
“Joining Student Media is where I found a group of people who accepted me for me. It’s one of the first places, outside of my family, where I felt seen and could be myself.”
Over his college years, Kreten continued climbing the WXAV ladder. While he was studying Mass Communication and History Secondary Education, he moved from DJ to Production Director to Program Director to Interim Director of Student Media.
In July 2008, the summer after he graduated from SXU, Kreten became the full-time Director of Student Media, a title he still holds today alongside being a beloved adjunct professor.
As exciting as the permanent position was, Kreten remembers the difficult transition from friend to faculty.
“The biggest challenge for me was working with students who knew me as a student, but now had to see me as a staff member.” Kreten cites communication as the tool that got him through it, adding “as long as I was open and honest, everything was okay.”
In the nearly two decades since he assumed the role, Kreten has seen many changes occur at the radio station and the school newspaper.
“When I started at WXAV there was no social media, wireless internet, or Netflix,” he says of the vast technological advancements since the early 2000s. “The spirit of finding yourself and meeting new people remains, but the tools we use on a daily basis has changed.”
In the same vein, his responsibilities have undergone just as drastic of a transformation.
He says of an average day’s work, “I make sure WXAV is on air, and is FCC compliant. I make sure that The Xavierite is published on time, and has factually accurate information in it. I train students on how to develop shows and use the broadcasting equipment. I help students identify potential story ideas. I provide feedback on student progress.”
Above all else, Kreten rallies for new recruits.
“There’s a little something for everyone in Student Media,” he vows.
He continues his elevator pitch by laying out key skills you learn to harness in student media: time management and meeting hard deadlines, staying tech savvy as new programs evolve, and writing. Of the lattermost, he says “You will write a lot, but you’ll get good at it.”
But most importantly, Kreten says “You’ll find a community here. If you join, you’ll meet some of your best friends in the world.”
Kreten associates some of his most cherished memories with student media, whether it’s going on-air for a friend’s trivia show or sitting in the newspaper office, “Eating cold Chinese food on a Tuesday morning trying to solve life’s problems.”
Though the world has changed dramatically since he was a student, Kreten maintains that the opportunities offered by joining student media are timeless.
“What makes Student Media so special is it’s a place for students to experience themselves,” he reflects.
Whether writing a column for the Xavierite or making a playlist for WXAV, student media gives undergraduates the chance to find themselves through their work. In Kreten’s eyes, that kind of identity exploration is invaluable.
To follow in Kreten’s footsteps, students can get involved through a few different outlets. Those who are eligible for Federal Work-Study (FWS) can apply to job listings on the school’s NeoEd page. Students without FWS can still join student media for an internship experience.
For more information, Kreten urges prospective students to email him at pkreten@sxu.edu.
“We want you to experiment and try new things. We want you to find your voice.”