ASUA will bring a high-profile comedian and major musical talent to campus this semester, a sharp contrast from the many political figures last semester.

Robin Williams and Dave Chappelle are the top two choices Associated Students of the University of Arizona leaders are pursuing to perform in a comedy show in February or March.

ASUA leaders have also considered inviting the Dave Matthews Band, U2, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay and Sting to Arizona Stadium for a concert in April or May.

One comedian will be offered a maximum bid of $150,000 for the comedy show, and one band will be offered a maximum bid of $250,000.

Alistair Chapman, ASUA president, said bringing such widely recognized talent to the UA is exciting and long overdue.

"Students have been requesting events like these for years," he said.

Fernando Ascencio, ASUA Speakers Board director and organizer of the comedy show, said while the money seems substantial for both Williams and Chappelle, the biggest struggle has been finding availability in their busy schedules that coincides with students.

"We're trying to find a date that works for the UA community," Ascencio said.

Ascencio said Williams is working on two movies, which makes his availability limited.

Chappelle has availability for two dates, but one is during spring break and the other is during Spring Fling, Ascencio said.

Ascencio said he hopes to book either Williams or Chappelle, but nothing has been finalized.

"It's a good possibility we will get one of them, but I wouldn't discount other options," Ascencio said.

Other comedians who may be pursued are Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler and Tina Fey, Ascencio said.

Later this semester, ASUA wants to hold an outdoor "Spring Rock Concert" in Arizona Stadium, which can seat 56,002 people.

In December, Andrew Record, ASUA Special Events director and organizer of the concert, said he thought the Dave Matthews Band and U2 are the two bands ASUA is focusing on bringing to campus.

"Those two are the ones we will most actively pursue," Record said.

Record said U2 will be touring in April and May for their new album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, so they might have the availability to come to the UA.

"This gives us a very good shot," Record said. "They're trying to pull college students back in."

He said he hopes the concert - no matter which band ends up performing - will generate large attendance by UA students, as well as community members.

Last semester, ASUA brought political speakers to campus including filmmaker Michael Moore, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), author David Hardy and Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-Ariz.).

ASUA has been juggling different ideas for student entertainment for months.

Originally, ASUA was only going to extend a bid of $30,000 for the comedy show but realized it was not enough to book Williams or Chappelle.

Ascencio decided to extend a bid of $27,000 bid to four comedians from the NBC reality television show "Last Comic Standing" and $9,000 to Second City, an improvisation tour.

However, Ascencio decided at the last minute not to extend the bid, citing a lack of support from ASUA senators. A few senators expressed concern that The Last Comic Standing Tour and Second City wouldn't generate a lot of student attendance.

"We didn't feel comfortable doing it without student support," Ascencio said.

Instead, Ascencio proposed extending a larger amount of money at the Senate meeting Dec. 8 to get a high profile comedian like Williams or Chappelle. Senators voted in favor of bidding up to $150,000 for the comedy show.

Ascencio originally intended for the comedian to be part of a sexual awareness show where various campus groups and community organizations could hand out pamphlets and educate students on sexual issues. The comedy show would be held during National Sex Education week in December.

However, due to both Williams and Chappelle being unavailable during that week, Ascencio said they decided to focus purely on entertaining students and not on sexual awareness.

Ascencio and Record said both shows will attempt to keep admission prices low for students.

Ascencio said once one of the comedians accepts the bid, ASUA must write a contract that both parties to agree on.

"Contracting can take a long, long time," Ascencio said.

Record said in addition to working out final wording for the bid they will extend to one band for the "Spring Rock Concert," he must also work out details such as security and parking.