The story of how I got started is a pig of a tale, so let me get the lipstick out right away.

I transferred to SIU in the fall of 1977 after 2-1/2 years at Champaign/Urbana. Since I had plenty of credits in my bank, I took the beginning Radio/TV classes 300M and 300P in my first semester in Carbondale. As you recall, 300P was the lecture class, and I was lucky to have Dr. Lynch(no relation) as my teacher. The focus in 300P was solely on Dr. Lynch, and rightly so. He knew everything about TV, and was able to present it in a very entertaining fashion.

300M was the practical beginners class, small groups learning studio operations under a TA. I don’t even recall who my TA was, but I did have three WIDB folks in my 300M class; Amy Elvart, Roy Millonzi and Maria Bernardi.

Roy Millonzi

I enjoyed great camaraderie with these three as well as the rest of our classmates. Amy baked me a cake for my 21^st birthday. Roy invited me over to his place once, showed me his Les Paul Jr. and shared some.. .inspiration. Roy and Maria were the stars of my class final project, a one minute commercial. Maria nailed the money shot that got me an A.

It appears that I’m fresh out of lipstick.

As for how they got me involved at WIDB, well, they didn’t. I wasn’t ready. I knew it was what I wanted to do, but was just afraid to fail. Publicly. So I kept muddling along in R&T classes, meeting more people. Eventually I landed in a TV criticism class with Al Levy. We seemed to be on the same wavelength with regards to TV, so Al must have presumed that maybe I knew a little radio too. He specifically told me I should be stopping by WIDB, that there would be a place for me, and that I would enjoy it there.

After the semester ended, I checked for auditions to be on air during the summer, when the competition was less fierce. And the listenership was smaller. Especially doing the midnight to 4am shift. I was afforded the opportunity to fail, and I failed at failing. I actually got better, probably lifted myself up to mediocrity over the couple of years that I DJ’d. It was my love and knowledge of music that kept me afloat. Garble a backrap, you get embarrassed. But come back in to a new set with Santana’s “All I Ever Wanted”, and you’re back in the game.

Randy Lynch and his jacket (in the background, Kerry Peace, John Amberg, and Cyril Radwin)

The game, as played at WIDB in the late 70’s, was tremendous fun and highly educational. Still some of the best times of my life.

by Stephanie Wiewel

I found out about WIDB during my Sophomore year at SIU from my suitemate, Sarah Maher. Before being active in WIDB, I would often accompany Sarah to WIDB remotes for Dawgs Nite Out or events at the student center.

Sarah Maher Mike Maxwell and Malcom Turner “person” the WIDB remote.

Through these events and the welcoming environment that WIDB had for anyone who was a little on the strange side, I decided to join the station as a “behind the scenes” member, helping with remotes here and there.

Stephanie and Sarah having fun at the station

During my time at WIDB I went from just lending a hand at remotes, to being News Director writing music reviews, to ultimately taking over as Operations Manager where I was in charge of new DJs and also hosted my first On-Air show during my senior year at SIU. I loved getting to work with new DJs to develop their show ranging from gossip shows to 80s rock and everything in between and watching them rise through the ranks at WIDB.

WIDB staff heads 2014 including Mike, Karl Stegeman, Chris Crow, Brad Henning, Tom Marcinak among others.

Some favorite memories at WIDB include just hangout out at the station catching up on classwork or just chatting with fellow staff members Mike Maxwell, Sarah Maher, Amber Dorney, Chris Crow, Maggie Batson,

Kevin Hart and Sarah

Kevin Hart and several others including former WIDB’ers I was able to meet at the 45th reunion. The ugly Christmas sweater parties,

WIDB Ugly Christmas Sweater party featuring Rachel Geller, Sarah, Kevin, Brad Mike, Danny Valle, among others.

staff parties, Cardboard Boat Regatta, and bowling events were always a fun time as well.

Having fun at Little Grand Canyon with Sarah, Stephanie and Eric Hirshci.

Because WIDB is such a hodgepodge of mismatched things (including the furniture in the station itself) it always seemed to be a welcoming environment for all majors – not just those limited to Mass Comm and that is what made it a fun station to join.

Best Promo Award 2015 Stephanie and Sarah

Since graduating at SIU, I have worked at STARadio Corp. in Quincy, Illinois where I have worked as on On-Air Talent for WCOY 99.5 and Real 92.9 in addition to serving as the Production Director for the 5 stations STARadio houses for the past 3 years.