Rescheduled spring concert evokes varying student reactions
Despite setbacks in scheduling, the Hoodie Allen concert at the University of South Dakota will go on.
The Campus Activities Board sponsored concert, which was slated for March 19, was rescheduled for May 5, and then again for April 13 after the artist was rushed to the hospital March 11 for a “medical emergency.”
During the time he was in the hospital, Hoodie Allen provided an update on his condition via Twitter and apologized to the fans for not being able to perform.
Students began expressing negative reactions about the concert cancellation on Twitter, to which Hoodie Allen responded to a Volante article detailing the reactions by saying “wow kids can be dicks.” The artist deleted his tweet within minutes of posting it.
Later that day, Hoodie Allen responded to his earlier tweet in an email to The Volante.
“Wish I wasn’t hooked up to all these machines right now. Hurts to see some of the student tweets. Hopefully they understand, ” he said.
Other students were more understanding of Hoodie Allen’s predicament.
Junior Abbie Huber, a self-described “big fan” of Hoodie Allen, said she thought the artist’s tweet was backlash in response to the inconsiderate reactions from students.
“I don’t think he meant anything malicious by it. He did just have surgery, so I’m sure he’s a little agitated,” Huber said.
The rescheduled date for the concert was originally during finals week — May 5 — causing students to be even more upset. Some students were doubtful and skeptical on attending.
Sophomore Corey Price was one of the first students to hear the news of the postponement. He said he was still planning on going to the concert, but was unhappy about the new concert date.
“It’s a very poor choice,” Price said. “I feel like it will hinder the attendance.”
Junior Arianne Wunder, the vice president for CAB, said the finals week date was the only available date that worked best for Hoodie Allen at the time.
Wunder said CAB was upset that the concert had to be rescheduled, but the organization was making the best of the situation.
“We were contacted by Hoodie’s agent Thursday morning. We were obviously disappointed at first, but our main goal was to still deliver the concert to students,” Wunder said.
Wunder said the show had to go on no matter what, even if it was during finals week.
“Obviously as a student organization we understand that it is not ideal, but we figured it would be better to deliver the show that the student population voted for, rather than not delivering Hoodie at all,” Wunder said.
However, an email was sent out to students March 23 informing them CAB had rescheduled the show yet again, this time to April 13. According to the email, CAB said they hoped the new date would “allow for a successful concert while at the same time allow students to complete their final examinations successfully and without distraction.”
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According to the artists’s $38,000 contract, Hoodie Allen is relieved of all contractual obligation if he cancels due to illness. However, he is still under contract since he is coming back to perform at a later date.
Wunder said Monday that a new contract is not needed. All tickets for the March 19 concert will be refunded and all tickets for the May 5 concert will be accepted for the April 13 concert.
“We stand behind our artist selection and we’re exited for the new date of April 13,” Wunder said.
