Western Illinois University, Illinois State University and Southern Illinois University’s measures to implement bar alternative programs is just one example of the similarities of activities provided at Illinois’ state universities.

Don Castle, university programming coordinator at Southern, where total enrollment is at 21,598, said the office is in the midst of planning some activities on Thursday and Friday nights that “give students something to do.”

“It’s programs that are meant to be fun and social and low-cost,” he said.

Anne Comerford, assistant director of student activities at Western, with an enrollment of 12,934, said a committee in the office is working on putting together a late-night, alcohol and smoke-free entertainment program also.

Illinois State’s Web site said the Office of Student Life offers activities that “foster an alcohol-free environment on the campus by providing entertainment alternatives to the students.” The university has 21,035 students enrolled.

Comerford said the Student Activities Office at Western provides recently released movies for students, comedians, hypnotists, leadership conferences, all-campus service days and a block party in the spring featuring inflatable games and live entertainment.

In the past, the MTV concert series has come to the campus, and for family weekend entertainment this year three country and western groups performed, she said.

“We do bring concerts in, but not very often,” she said.

Castle said it has been an extremely dry year for concerts at all of the state universities.

“It has been extremely hard to book any concerts,” he said. “Normally, we have about two concerts a semester.”

Southern is offering a 21-show performing arts series at its Shryock Auditorium, Castle said.

Bob Cerchio, director of Shryock, said a variety of acts are brought to the Shryock, including concerts, modern dance performances, ballets, plays, musicals and big band shows.

The Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, made up of community members and Southern students and faculty will perform six concerts this year, Cerchio said.

Other coming attractions at the auditorium include the band “Yesterday,” which is a group of Beatles impersonators, the play “Sunshine Boys” and a performance by “Three Mo’ Tenors,” which is in recognition of Black History Month, Cerchio said.

These acts range from $16 to $29 a ticket for students, he said.

Comerford said Western has a Bureau of Cultural Affairs that has brought in the musicals “Footloose” and “Rent” and has the Russian ballet “Nutcracker” coming for the holiday.

The Web site for Northern Illinois University, where enrollment is at 23,783, said the university’s Campus Activities Board has activities planned for students ranging from movies to hypnotists to coffeehouses.

Events this semester at Northern include the upcoming “Ultimate Psychic Fair,” a performance by visiting musical artist Ben Folds and a lecture by Mae Jemison, “the first woman of color to travel into space,” the Web site said.

Northern also puts on “Springfest,” comparable to Eastern’s “Celebration,” which features local bands and novelty acts from the area.

Illinois State’s Office of Student Life offers more of the same – movies, Springfest with both local and national performers, concerts such as 3 Doors Down and Chris Rock, and nationally known speakers, the Web site said.

Eastern, with the smallest enrollment of 10,531, with the combined efforts of the University Board, Sonor and other departments, provides students with acts by local bands, comedians, coffeehouses featuring student talent, speakers, Panther Welcome Week, Celebration, movies and others.