Star Course

Star Course is a student run organization at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. Star Course is an organization whose purpose is to bring entertainment, mostly in the form of bands, to the UIUC campus. The group does everything from band contracts and negotiations, publicity, tickets, security, equipment setup, hospitality, etc. Most of the shows presented by Star Course are in the Foellinger Auditorium, but about once a year, shows are done in the Student Union's Courtyard Cafe.

Various student groups started in 1883 independently bringing guest lecturers to the UIUC campus. In 1892, two men's literary societies, the Philomathean Society and the Adelphic Society, organized what they called the Star Lecture Course. Each society elected one of its members to be a co-manager of the Star Lecture Course. Among the guest speakers were governors (including Frank Hanly), senators (including Fred Dubois), judges, and other prominate figures in society (including Lorado Taft).

In 1917, the Star Lecture Course became Star Course, and became its own student organization independent of the literary societies. Star Course started working with the University to bring other forms of entertainment, including string quartets, symphony orchestras, plays, dance troupes, etc. instead of lecturers.

In 1931, the University Concert and Entertainment Board was organized, and Star Course began working directly with them. The board helped with finances, but also had veto power on acts that came to campus. In 1931, Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd was a speaker. In 1933, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, a composer and former Prime Minister of Poland, performed.

Later, with the construction of the Assembly Hall, which served as a new venue where most major artists began performing, Star Course then fell under the jurisdiction of Assembly Hall.

Today, Star Course continues the tradition of two senior managers, who handle band signings, with a group of junior managers who run committees dealing with all aspects of preparing for the show. It is currently one of the larger student groups on campus, with membership of 150-200 students.

During the 1990's, Star Course presented shows by touring artists including REM, Sonic Youth, Lemonheads, Soul Asylum, Sheryl Crow, Weezer, Elastica, Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant, Live, BoDeans, Digable Planets, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Spin Doctors, Paul Westerberg, Walt Mink, Gin Blossoms, Matthew Sweet, Harry Connick, Jr., and Rusted Root.

More recent shows presented by Star Course include Ben Folds, Ben Kweller, Motion City Soundtrack, Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, Switchfoot, Relient K, Jack's Mannequin, Guster, OK Go, The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams, and Bright Eyes (band), and Lupe Fiasco.

Notable Alumni

Dave Eggers
Jamie Curulewski
Marty Casey

Outside Sources

[http://www.star-course.com Star Course's Website]
[http://www.foellinger.uiuc.edu Foellinger Auditorium]
[http://www.uofiassemblyhall.com. Assembly Hall]