Eagle Radio & German Club Vice President

by Ryan M. Place

“I love living in Ypsilanti and going to EMU. There are a lot of great off-campus spots here like Depot Town, Frog Island Park and Riverside Park."

Fast Facts:

Year: Senior

Major: Electronic Media & Film Studies

Minor: Marketing

Favorite Book: “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”

Favorite Movie: “The Big Lebowski”

Describe yourself in 3 words: outgoing, laidback, entertainer

If you could have any superpower what would it be: the ability to fly

Eastern Michigan University has a wonderful variety of students culled from the local environs, including lifelong Michigan resident Jason Leineke. Born in 1989 on Detroit’s Upper Eastside, Leineke lived in Detroit city proper for the first five years of his life before his family moved to Grosse Pointe Park. He graduated from Grosse Pointe South High School in 2007 and immediately enrolled at Eastern Michigan University.

Leineke is the vice president of Eagle Radio, EMU’s student-run radio station, located in Halle Library. “I’ve been with Eagle Radio since 2008,” he says. “I’m also one of the [station’s] directors and an on-air personality. I host my own two hour show every Monday and Wednesday night.”

Leineke also works as a Producer for 89.1 WEMU, where he helps prep for shows, pulls records, records promo spots, and does research and some board operations.

“Working at a radio station is a blast,” he says. “I plan on going into broadcast radio on the production or talent side.”  Leineke’s greatest inspirations for going into radio have been Arthur Penhallow (WRIF’s Big Daddy Arthur P), late night talk show hosts Conan O’Brien and Craig Ferguson, and the unconventional “Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show” on  97.9 WGRD out of Grand Rapids

Leineke says that he chose EMU because his uncle earned his teaching degree at the university and had such a positive experience that Leineke was inspired to apply.

“I’m very glad I did,” he says. “I love living in Ypsilanti and going to EMU. There are a lot of great off-campus spots here like Depot Town, Frog Island Park and Riverside Park.

Leineke says that one thing he appreciates about the university is its instructors.

“The teachers here are great,” he says, adding that many of his instructors had a large impact on him.

The one thing that Leineke wishes he could change about the school is that he wishes that more students lived on campus. Because of EMU’s commuter-heavy nature, many students miss out on the many clubs and extracurricular activities the school offers. However, Leineke feels that these organizations are an important part of the college experience, and encourages students to get involved—even if they commute.

In addition to his work in radio, Leineke is the vice president of EMU’s German club. He speaks German fluently, is of German ancestry, and has been affiliated with the club since 2007—although he has yet to experience the German culture firsthand.

“I would love to go backpacking all over Germany,” he says.

As far as what the club does, Leineke says, “We have bi-monthly Stammtisch meetings where those interested in Germany’s culture can get together and discuss all things German.” The German Club also does fun things like going to the annual Christkindlmarkt, an open-air German Christmas festival in Chicago.

Outside the classroom and studio, Jason enjoys playing acoustic guitar, film production, screenwriting, soccer, and fast cars. (“Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and classic 50’s Ford’s and 70’s muscle cars,” he says.) Leineke will graduate in April 2012, upon which he’d like to get some work experience before possibly returning to get his master’s degree. However, he says that if he decides to pursue a master’s degree, it will probably be at Eastern Michigan University.