Music from the past reverberated through the Oakland Center at Oakland University on January 22 as the WXOU radio station hosted a Throwback Thursday event. The event invited students to enjoy classic music from a variety of genres along with food and a fun night centered on nostalgia and community. Songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s filled the space throughout the evening. Organizers said the goal was to introduce students to older sounds while creating an inclusive environment for campus connection.
WXOU, broadcasting on 88.3 FM and nicknamed “the soundtrack of Oakland University,” is the university’s student-run radio station. In addition to on-air programming, the organization hosts music-related events throughout the year.
“We just love to come out here and show people love and music for real,” Justin Hayes, event coordinator for WXOU, said. “We’re trying to showcase older music. You’ve got people dancing, enjoying themselves and we’ve got food. It’s been going great.”
Hayes said the idea behind Throwback Thursday was to celebrate music across generations while giving students a break from academic stress. He added that the energy of the crowd made the event worthwhile.
Hayes said WXOU already has several upcoming events planned for the community, including a fitness-themed gathering at the Crofoot, a venue in downtown Pontiac, and a three-on-three night in March focused on Detroit-style rap and performances. “We’ve got something going pretty much once a month,” he said.
In addition to music, the Throwback Thursday event featured food and a casual open-entry atmosphere in the Oakland Center that encouraged students to dance, socialize and enjoy the festivities. Organizers also included a costume contest inspired by different musical eras, with themed prizes awarded to standout participants.
WXOU leaders said events like Throwback Thursday align with the station’s mission of using music to bring students together and celebrate creativity on campus. Hayes said the station hopes to continue expanding its presence through in-person programming while remaining accessible to all students. “We love every type of music out here,” he said. “This is just another way to share that and build community.”
WXOU officially began broadcasting in 1967, a milestone often highlighted on the station’s T-shirts, stickers and other merchandise frequently given away around campus. Much of the music played during Throwback Thursday originated from an era when the station was not yet known as WXOU. At the time, it operated under earlier call signs such as WVW, WOU and WOUX while functioning as a carrier current station, which broadcasts through a building’s electrical wiring rather than over AM or FM frequencies.
The event served as a nod to those earlier decades, connecting students to musical styles that predated WXOU’s transition to FM broadcasting and adoption of its current call sign in 1994. Students can stay up to date on future WXOU events by following the station on social media or visiting the WXOU room on the lower floor of the Oakland Center near the Grizz Den. WXOU broadcasts on 88.3 FM.
