Chief executive director of the Student Programming Committee Paul Mitchell said right now the committee is in a planning stage but the ideas and programs discussed so far are good.

Programs talked about included outdoor concerts, laser light shows, comedy acts, bonfires during the football season and students trying to break the Guinness Book of World Records records, he said.

Kathy Guilfoyle, assistant director of Intramural Recreational Sports, said her department would be responsible for the record breaking contests.

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I bought the book and gave it to some students to look through and see what seems fun, she said.

SIUC President John Guyon requested the creation of the weekend programming committee, which is comprised of student organizations and administrators.

The committee, designed to suggest creative alternatives to the bar scene for the younger SIUC student crowd, met for the first time on Friday.

Alcohol-free activities for students who are affected by the bar entry age increasing to 20 will be provided by the University if funding can be established.

Jean Paratore, associate vice president of student affairs and dean of students, said the committee is trying to develop ideas that will interest 18 and 19-year-old students.

Paratore said Friday’s meeting went well and everyone was enthusiastic, but everything is just talk right now because none of the ideas would be inexpensive to get going.

By Friday we will have rough estimates of costs, Paratore said. It all comes down to whether or not we have the money.

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Guilfoyle said funding problems for the outdoor concerts would stem from things such as security and area reservations.

Mitchell said the committee is only looking into the fall semester right now and all the members are meeting with their constituents to get their opinions.

Funding will come from pooling money from the different bodies in the committee, Mitchell said.