The University Board is bringing back comedian Jen Kober for another round of standup as part of its comedy series.

Vehyon Cartman, the UB comedy coordinator, said he first saw Kober at the National Association for Campus Activities last semester in Springfield and was impressed with her.

“I really enjoy the fact that she is a proud lesbian and in fact an advocate for gay rights.” Cartman said. “On top of that she is very outgoing and mocks anything that comes to her mind.”

Kober is a versatile comedian, going from standup acts to television.

Justin Silvera, Kober’s manager, said Kober is originally from Lake Charles, La. She has been on the national stage and is very good with telling stories and improvisation, Silvera said. Jen had a special on Showtime, punched out actor Larry David during the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm and was on Standup in Stilettos on TV Guide Network. She will also be in the new season of Anger Management with Charlie Sheen and just finished an episode of Middle Age Rage, a new comedy on ABC.

Kober said that she has been doing standup since she was 16. She started by performing at a standup competition at a bar in New Orleans. She won the competition and had to keep going. Her parents were supportive of her dreams and tried to help in any way possible.

She said she loves the instant gratification of being a comedian.

Kober said she wants people to have a good time and to be able to come away from her performance with something.

“I certainly want you to take away some type of understanding,” Kober said.

This will be Kober’s second time performing at Eastern, and her most interesting performing story happened here. A few years ago around homecoming, she was hired to perform, while there were people showing off exotic animals for the students in a different room.

She was in the middle of telling a story when the crowd began laughing. Kober said she was surprised because she was not at the funny part of her bit yet, but just beginning to build up to it.

Still confused, she kept going with her story until someone from the crowd pointed behind her and a baby alligator was crawling towards her. She said she freaked out until a handler came and scooped up the alligator and said that the alligator was curious as to what all the laughter was about and just came to investigate.

Kober will be performing at 6 p.m. Friday in the University Ballroom, alligators not included.

Sam Nusbaum can be reached at 581-2812 or scnusbaum@eiu.edu.