For an organization riddled in the past with financial woes, setbacks and cancellations, the upcoming fall concert represented a fresh start to a new year full of promise.
And then the headliner backed out.
A week ago, the Council for University Programs (CUP) learned their fall concert headliner, R’B artist Wycelf Jean, canceled his Northeastern performance, citing a reunion with his former band, The Fugees, on the Dave Chapelle Show.
“Wycelf is a wonderful man, and he really misses The Fugees,” said Brooke Tempesta, associate director of student activities. “He knows he’s disappointing a lot of people here, but his agent said that he is not going to pass up any opportunity, ever, to get back together with The Fugees.”
In an effort to quell any disappointment from students about Wyclef failing to come through, CUP announced its opening act — originally set to be a surprise — rap artist Method Man. They also arranged for him to play a longer set than previously planned.
“Luckily we had Method Man as an opener … he was going to play for 45 minutes, now we’re hoping he’ll play a little longer and we won’t rush the show as much,” Tempesta said.
The setback comes after last spring’s Ludacris concert was postponed in the wake of violent riots that erupted on campus the night of the Super Bowl. However, Josh Pratt, the concert chair for CUP, said the event has been a group effort and simply fell victim to an unfortunate scheduling conflict.
“Last year, the student body and administration was 100 percent ready, but President [Richard] Freeland felt we shouldn’t be having a concert at that time,” Pratt said. “This time, we’re all working together … the NU police, the President’s Office, they’ve all been great. The situation is that when you’re trying to plan a concert, you have to deal with many different aspects.”
The money that was intended to pay Wyclef will stay in the university’s Major Concert Fund, said CUP President Allyson Savin, and will be available for future concerts, including the annual Springfest concert.
“Nothing happens to the money, it doesn’t get spent, and it goes back to the Budget Review Committee,” Savin said. “And that always happens, across the board.”
The cancellation should not affect the student body’s view of the university or their representative student groups, Tempesta said.
“I hope the students don’t think [Wyclef backing out] was a failure,” Tempesta said. “It has nothing to do with the students or the amount of work put into the concert. It’s just a disappointment by one artist … it’s the business. Some acts decide they want to take a better gig than a college show.”
Although Wyclef is not coming, some students said they do not blame the university, only Wycelf himself.
“I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed in the school, but it’s a commitment thing and [Wycelf] should have kept his word if he agreed to come,” said Jadirah Ortiz, a senior communications major. “It’s kind of out of [the university’s] control.”
Other students said they don’t blame Wycelf for his choice.
“I think it’s cool, it’s a little upsetting, but I want to see The Fugees back together,” said April Gorden, a senior communications major.
Savin said CUP is taking preventative measures to ensure it does not encounter any setbacks during the concert, including security issues and possible rioting.
“A lot of planning, thought and money has gone into making [the concert] the safest we could,” Savin said. “We aired on the side of caution — students should feel safe [and] we’re letting the community know we are doing everything in our power to make sure there are no effects on the community that night.”
Savin also said although Wyclef backing out is disappointing, the concert will still come off as a success.
“It’s always disappointing when you’ve set yourself up for a lineup and something beyond our control changes that,” Savin said. “Do I think we have an awesome lineup worth $5? Absolutely … the tickets that have sold, people are excited. It’s nice to have a buzz on campus and that people seem excited.”
The concert will be the conclusion of a year-long attempt to bring a big name artist to campus, and CUP couldn’t be more ecstatic, Pratt said.
“I’m really looking forward to Saturday — it’s going to be a culmination of over a year’s worth of planning, leadership and hard work,” Pratt said. “Everyone is really pulling together. We have the best lineup we can at this time, and it’s going to be a great show.”
