From the political to the comical, suggestions for next year's Distinguished Speakers Series covered a wide range of issues and disciplines. Names such as Ralph Nader and Conan O'Brien were thrown out during a brainstorming session last night in the HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium.

The meeting, which was open to the public, was meant to give the Distinguished Speakers Series Committee a starting point to develop next year's schedule. Attendees suggested more than 100 names. Committee Chair Brian Loretz said all speakers in the series are the result of student input.

During the meeting, booking agent Theo Moll offered information on the availability and fee for each suggested speaker, as well as feedback from past appearances of the speaker. Moll spoke to the attendees over speakerphone.

Political figures were the basis for many suggestions. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, James Carville, former Senator Bill Bradley and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich were mentioned. Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was also proposed, though it is unlikely the committee will be able to afford his now $100,000 fee.

Moll cast doubt on several other high profile names, either because of large fees or the person's limited interest in public speaking.

She said that wealthy CEOs such as Bill Gates are hard to secure because, "There's no fee that they could ever need or want."

Moll said Hollywood actors and actresses, such as the suggested Bruce Willis and Sarah Jessica Parker, also rarely speak because of limited financial motivation and busy filming schedules.

Some big name public figures were considered as possibilities, however. Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Spike Lee, Ellen DeGeneres and George Stephanopoulos were put forward by attendees and noted by Moll as available.

Loretz said that speakers' fees are a large consideration in deciding the final schedule. He said that in past years, the committee opted for more speakers that were lesser-known. But starting with last year's series, the committee changed its strategy.

"Two years ago we switched to bigger names and fewer speakers and attendance skyrocketed. So now we try to get bigger names," Loretz said.

Since last year, when the series included Erin Brockovich and Christopher Reeve, attendance has increased 125 percent, Loretz added.

Aside from trying to get big names, Loretz said that the committee is looking for speakers who address issues that have not yet been represented in the series. Two such gaps the committee is looking to fill for next year are the technology and healthcare industries, Loretz said.

Members of various student organizations were present at the meeting to suggest speakers related to their interests.

Students from the Independent Women's Club gave several ideas, including Barbara Bush. A member of the College Democrats suggested Al Franken. Members of Silver Circle, a Penn State Pagan organization, were also on hand, hoping to make pagan speakers part of the series.

"We decided that coming here would help us and help the community," said Silver Circle Secretary Jessica Prowant. She said that having a Pagan speaker in the series "would expose the community to more diverse viewpoints."

The series is funded in part by the Student Activity Fee.

About 30 people attended the meeting to offer suggestions, but turnout could have been higher if it had been better publicized, Andy Nagypal (senior-history) said.

"I think that it's a real shame that this is a huge portion of the student activity money and people don't know about this brainstorming session," he said.