by Wendy J. Allyn

Members of the Late Nite Programming Committee say despite uncertainty about funding, they are planning specific alternative activities to the bars for the spring semester.

The committee, which consists of representatives from 15 administrative offices and student organizations, met Friday to pool ideas and resources for future planning, scheduling and funding of alternative activities.

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Scott Pfeiffer, Undergraduate Student Government chief of staff, said the committee will be preparing a semester budget to accompany a schedule of events. The fall budget called for nearly $30,000, and $19,000 has been raised so far, according to University records.

As far as funding goes for next spring, it doesn’t amount to what is necessary by far, Pfeiffer said. That’s going to be worked on the next couple of weeks.

Joanne Yantis, University programming coordinator, said the committee is evaluating which activities have been successful this semester to determine its spring semester agenda.

We’re in the preliminary stages of finding out what students would like, she said. We’re looking at what has worked so far and what would continue to work.

Yantis said the organizations which are already involved are going back to their budgets again to contribute funding, but the committee must also seek the help of other organizations for funds.

Pfeiffer said the committee is striving to work in conjunction with Registered Student Organizations. RSOs are encouraged to sponsor a Late Nite event, which Pfeiffer said would benefit both parties.

What’s important is funding. We want to succeed, and we’re looking at all the options, Pfeiffer said. The Late Nite entertainment wants to coenact with other organizations.

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Pfeiffer said, for example, that the Inter-Greek Council may sponsor a Late Nite event during Greek Week in the spring. Since the event would be open to all students, IGC would gain recognition, he said.

Paul Mitchell, Student Programming Council chair, said the committee is looking for support from RSOs because some funding sources last fall were one-time-only contributors to get the program started.

We have to count on RSOs contributing more, Mitchell said. There needs to be more communication between us and the RSOs.

Mitchell said SPC is contributing to Late Nite entertainment in the form of existing Friday night programs SPC has booked and paid for.

Although no definite funding plans have been devised, Yantis said some fall events, including comedy acts and concerts, are scheduled for spring. She said cold months pose a seasonal problem, and outdoor functions will have to be eliminated.

The Late Nite of comedy has been successful, Yantis said, with audiences reaching 600. She said she would like to see the comedy events extended in the spring by booking two comedians a night.

You want a warm-up comedian and then a more well known comedian for more than an hour at night, she said.

Members also discussed holding a winter carnival when classes resume in January, which would be similar to the Carnival of Craziness held early in the fall, Yantis said.

That’s the time of year people come back and have the winter blahs, so that should be fun for them, she said.

USG President Duane Sherman, who helped create the Late Nite committee, said a carnival could be a good wintertime draw.

The Carnival of Craziness always draws a good crowd, he said. Especially in the winter, there’s not as much to do outdoors, so I think it’s a good idea.

Mitchell said the committee is seeking funding for the carnival in particular. Since it will be scheduled as the first activity of the spring semester, he said committee members would like it to be a big event. They hope it establishes a tradition, he said.

It would be the first weekend of Late Nite programming, and we want it to be good so it continues, he said.

Pfeiffer said winter should not mean fewer Late Nite events because the University has the facilities to do things indoors.

Pfeiffer said the committee also added events to the fall schedule at Friday’s meeting. A bonfire has been tentatively scheduled for homecoming weekend at the Sam Rinella Fields but is pending approval based on fire regulations, he said.