The Web site for the Dayton Improv Club, known as DIC, claims that Thalia, the muse of comedy, formed the club because the world was dreary. The word 'smile' had ceased to exist.

Thalia gave the original club members special rings, each with its own power, which allow them to 'solve comedy-related problems caused by evil humorless villains bent on making the world boring enough for cricket to be the most watched sport.'

In reality, DIC began on a fateful Halloween three years ago. Jeremy Lynch, dressed as Shaggy from 'Scooby-Doo,' and Jim LeBlanc, clad in miscellaneous clothing from any closet in his dormitory hallway, were discussing their common love for the television series 'Whose Line Is It Anyway'? when they decided to start a club for improvisational comedy.

Lynch has since graduated, and the remaining original members will graduate this spring, leaving a legacy of humor to be carried on by the next generation. The members are optimistic that DIC will live on.

Co-President LeBlanc hopes to be able to return to UD in the future for a DIC performance.

'I know that there will still be DIC and I'm confident that it will stay relatively the same,' he said.

Mark Radel, an original member and current treasurer, expressed his excitement to see how the club might change in small ways.

'There are lots of new people coming in and changing the humor and making the club a little different,' Radel said.

Pat Tassone, sophomore co-president, encourages anyone interested in improv comedy to attend meetings and shows. There is no pressure placed on members to perform in shows or during practices, which are held Sundays at 1:30 p.m. in the ArtStreet studios.

Tassone persuasively added, 'Who doesn't love having fun on Sundays'?

All the members agree that the club is fun and that the people involved are the best feature. Sophomore Reen Radel was cajoled into joining by her older brother and his friends, but stayed because she really enjoyed laughing and getting to know everyone better.

Sophomore Anna Danese said she joined because of 'the cute boys.'

'No, actually, you get to go hang out and be goofy with your friends for two hours,' she said. 'And DIC made me a lot more confident. I don't think I would have adjusted to college as well without it. I made some of my best friends through DIC.'

As Danese and the Web site prove, it is difficult to keep a DIC member serious for more than a couple of minutes. The members' online biographies claim that Mark Radel lived a past life as a Viking, while Danese is the inspiration for Carmen Sandiego and Reen Radel once had a brutal case of chicken pox.

DIC is an official club with a constitution and officers, but even those are not completely sincere. Senior Chris Kniese is the Sergeant-at-Arms, also known as the Fire Master and Safety Coordinator, the purpose of which even he does not understand. Tassone declares that if he had not been elected co-president last semester, he would have invented the office of DIC 'Tator.'

The club members are serious, however, about spreading humor at UD. Their next performance is Saturday Dec. 9 in Sears Recital Hall. All are welcome to enjoy the free show. As last year's DIC slogan says, 'Come for the eye candy, stay for the fun.'

For more biographies and videos of past performances, visit the club Web site at http://www.udayton.edu/~improv.