Although one can assert there is nothing to do in Ashland, Campus Activities Board makes it difficult to say the same about activities taking place within campus grounds.

“We truly have a great set of events this semester,” Amber Bollinger, the co-leader of CAB, said. “I think that all of the entertainers have a great show in store for us.”

Particularly, CAB plans on bringing two musicians, several comedians and a magician to campus throughout the spring semester.

Bollinger said she is especially looking forward to hearing the music of Jared Mahone’s, an independent recording artist who describes his style as “funk/neo-soul/pop” on his Myspace page.

“He is absolutely amazing, and way different than any musician we have had on campus, and we have seen a lot,” Bollinger said.

A unique component to Mahone’s music is his beat-boxing. As an added plus, he is a fellow Ohio resident, specifically coming from Columbus. He will be on campus Feb. 11.

Bollinger also has high expectations for Plastic Musik, a musical group that describes itself as “an abstract percussion show that combines innovative instrumentation with…unpredictable theatrics” on its official website, http://www.plasticmusik.com.

Unlike traditional percussion groups, Plastic Musik utilizes commonplace items such as tubes or laundry tubs to create a harmonious blend of sounds.

“I am hoping that the campus will [find] Plastic Musik [appealing] because I have heard that students enjoy different and unique types of entertainment, and they are definitly different and unique,” Student Life intern Ella Waltman said.

Students can experience their unique sound March 26.

As with every semester, CAB plans to bring various comedians to AU, particularly because of a healthy student turnout.

“I am looking forward to all the comedians we have lined up this semester,” CAB co-leader Jerika Gilcreast said. “Ashland may laugh so hard, they’ll cry.”

Over the course of the next few months, comedian Loni Love and Frangela, a tag-team comedy pair, will come to AU.

“I think that comedian Loni Love is going to be a huge hit,” Bollinger said. “She is already a very well-known comedian because she is one of the comedians on ‘Chelsea Lately’ and numerous other popular shows. She is also hysterical.”

What makes Loni Love so entertaining, Bollinger said, is that her jokes pertain directly to AU students’ general age group. Waltman agreed.

“Loni Love is my top pick out of the comedians,” she said. She also predicted the student body would likely feel the same, not only because of the comedian’s natural hilarity, but her fame from being a regular panelist on “Chelsea Lately.”

On the other hand, Francis Callier and Angela Shelton, together called Frangela, might appeal to students just as much. They are mostly recognized for their frequent appearances on VH1’s “Best Week Ever.” In addition to their long list of comic credentials, they were in the 2009 movie “He’s Just Not That Into You.”

Loni Love and Frangela will come to campus Feb. 25 and April 29, respectively.

Also taking place this semester includes what Waltman describes as “old favorites,” such as “Win the Game, Win the Game,” and Acoustic Café.

As with every spring semester, though, the highlight will be Springfest.

“Springfest is the big shebang,” Gilcreast said. “Everyone loves free stuff, and spending time with their friends.”

Details have not come out revealing this year’s theme, but the event is planned to take place Saturday, April 30.

Every year, the leaders of CAB work hard to ensure AU’s student body is getting the best entertainment to make their time on campus as memorable as possible.

Leaders like Gilcreast, Bollinger, Waltman and faculty adviser Nicole Dyer go to National Association for Campus Activites (NACA) to view a large variety of performers and decide which ones would appeal to the most students.

“Once we get back from NACA we present who we thought were the best at NACA to the rest of CAB and then we vote on who would be a good fit for campus,” Bollinger said.

According to Gilcreast, CAB has a general policy for deciding the entertainment coming to AU.

“We usually look for comedians, musicians and others acts that you can watch with your parents, but laugh with when you’re sitting next to your friends,” Gilcreast said.