Despite staff and adviser shifts, the Campus Activities Board will rev up its calendar in February, said CAB president Nick Kantas.

Free movies and bands will lead the month’s events, along with gallery shows every other weekend. Ailey II, a touring modern dance company, will come to the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. 2nd St., on Feb. 9. Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, a Chicago-based theater group, may visit during the first part of February, and a big-name speaker is expected in March.

Kantas said April Fool’s Day events will be featured, including comedians.

“That’s something a lot of people have been asking us for, is late-night events,” he said.

Kantas added that Coffeehouse events, mid-day acts featuring acoustic music or poetry, will start today at Diversions Lounge at the Holmes Student Center.

Following last semester’s budget-breaking Wyclef Jean show, part of the MTV Campus Invasion tour, CAB is looking for alternative ideas for concerts. Limited funds make it difficult for CAB to get big names.

“People don’t realize that for a $30,000 event, there’s $15,000 in production costs,” Kantas said. “We want to keep a good number of events with quality entertainment. We can’t always have the most expensive entertainment. Something like putting all our eggs in one basket — that’s not feasible.”

Through the Student Association, CAB gets about $446,000 divided between 15 different accounts. Thirteen are for separate committees and the other two go toward CAB administration and mid-level funding. Of the committees, fine arts, concerts, speakers and homecoming get the most money.

Mid-level funding is about $20,000 available to SA-recognized student groups that are not Greek social organizations, religiously based or politically affiliated. Groups have to apply for money and can get up to $1,000. Last year, of the 15 groups who applied, about half received funds, Kantas said.

Even though the CAB budget has increased, it has not kept up with the demands of the entertainment industry, he added. When speaker Maya Angelou visited NIU in 1999, it cost CAB about $30,000. Now it would be $35,000.

“Their rates go up 10 or 15 percent,” Kantas said.

Lesley Clements, activities adviser for university events for University Programming and Activities, said new CAB staff usually take a week or two to get settled. Clements has advised CAB committees for the past year and a half. The previous adviser, Tom Robbins, left for another job at the end of last semester.

UP&A director Rick Clark and associate director Bertrand Simpson have taken on the CAB concerts, visual arts and fine arts committees Robbins once advised, Clements said. Clements advises the other 10, including the speakers committee.

One of her goals is to get word about events to students.

“We want to try to get more publicity and bigger events,” she said. “We’re always looking for students to tell us what they want.”

CAB still is short one coordinator and is looking for volunteers. Those interested can fill out a form in Suite 160 of the Campus Life Building or attend a recruitment meeting, coming up in the next week.