Although no professional bands are yet planned for the event, three Harvard bands have agreed to play: Flubber, Xosha and Daily Planet.

The main feature of HYPE, however, will not be the entertainment, but the 25 to 35 student groups, ranging from Harvard Students for Israel to Phillips Brooks House, which will have booths at the event, according to Christofferson.

Each group has been asked by the IOP to create a display or some other attraction centered around the political issue they feel most affects their particular organization. HYPE planners stress, however, that they hope more student organizations will want to get involved once school begins.

"Without issues, you don't have politics," Christofferson said.

Rucker A. Alex '99, who has been in charge of coordinating the student group involvement for the event, said these groups will help illustrate the universal appeal of politics.

"What we really want is a lot of student participation in HYPE, and a great way to get students involved is to involve the student groups," Alex added.

The IOP is providing funding for HYPE '96, Christofferson said, although he added that the IOP has requested advice on logistics and planning from the Undergraduate Council. Additionally, Christofferson said, the IOP might receive money from the council for HYPE '96.

Rudd W. Coffey '97, a former council executive, has also been involved in helping the IOP with acts for its stage entertainment, Chair of the IOP Student Advisory Committee Avery W. Gardiner '97 said.

In response to questions that HYPE '96 has been significantly scaled back from the grandiose and exuberant plans presented last spring, Gardiner said HYPE '96 is not all "hype."

Gardiner denied the program has been downsized. "Nothing's happened negatively. This is one of the number one projects for the IOP this fall."