DeKalb is not funny. It could be – just look at the police blotter on whatever random day and you’ll find a drunken folly. Or, better yet, look at the citizen comments from any government meeting.

There is no reason that DeKalb couldn’t have a comedy club, or, at least, a comedy night at one of the local bars.

Laughter is the only way any of us can possibly get through the lawless, dystopian nightmare that is American college life. In what other world would you sell a $120 book for $7.50 just to get a case of nasty, cheap beer? Where else can one puke in a shoe and nobody looks up? There is no adult scene in which streaking through your workplace would be all right. You can’t Facebook-slap your boss. An active comedy scene might, ironically, bring some sanity to this chaos.

As I watched some young comics take the stage of The House Cafe on Friday night, I realized the potential for comedy in this area.

There have been periodic shows on campus and at the Convocation Center, but that’s hardly the consistent comedy this area needs. There are plenty of hilarious people on this campus who would get up on stage with a little encouragement and bring down the house.

Chris Fair, a senior media communications major, has produced a couple of local comedy shows.

“I am required to take Spanish for my B.A. and I think that’s BS,” Fair said.

Fair believes stand-up comedy would have a following if more acts came to DeKalb.

“For every 100 comics I know, there are another 1,500 comics out there,” Fair said.

Booking comedians on their way in and out of Chicagoland is the key to getting a comedic scene.

“Aurora is so close that comics would definitely make a stop out here,” Fair said.

The most apparent part of the show Friday was that comedic talent comes from elsewhere. The three best comedians were all outsiders. These outside comics need to be brought in to entertain, but also to set a comedic standard so local comics can learn and emerge.

I look at the old Huskie Bar and Grill and I wonder if someone with business sense and some passion could make that site work as a comedy club.

With all of the stress related to a full-time schedule, a part-time job and a dramatic social life, it would be nice to have the chance to chuckle.