The African Student Association (ASA) canceled its annual Fashion Show, an event that celebrates African fashion and culture, on Feb. 28 after facing several complications regarding the event’s planning process.
ASA was previously seeking potential student models to take part in the event. “Partnering with fashion designers, [the students] get to wear a variety of styles and walk the red carpet,” according to an email sent out on Feb. 19.
However, in an email sent out on Feb. 28, ASA wrote, “I regret to inform you that due to numerous complications in putting on the ASA Fashion Show on the 27th of March, the event will no longer be held. The African Student Association will continue to hold other events over the course of the semester.”
Nnamdi Ene, a senior physics major and president of ASA, said they canceled the event due to a number of factors.
“Firstly, all contractors that a club wants to pay have to have a contract request form submitted for them five weeks before the event, a deadline we failed to meet,” he said.
“After doing the costing for the event, designers, photographer, DJ, decorations and equipment, we were out of some money, especially since we had just come off of paying for our Harvard Trip,” he said.
Ene also said fundraising was difficult because of the deadlines to meet with the Student Government Association (SGA). Lastly, he said, there were problems finding a proper room and day to hold the event.
Selam Woldegerima, a junior physics major, deemed the fashion show as one of the organization’s big events that is highly anticipated by the student body and faculty. She said it brings students together as they celebrate African fashion and culture.
“I remember loving it freshman year,” Woldegerima said. “I volunteered at the event and got to know the E-board of the organization at the time. It was just a joyful event.”
Woldergerima made note of the event’s good music, good-looking cultural outfits and most importantly, good food.
“I promised myself to attend this year and even possibly model,” Woldegerima said. “I just needed a little bit more guts to do it and I swear I was almost there. But then I heard it got canceled.”
She continued, “I was disappointed, especially because this was my last chance to attend it. But it’s okay. There is always next time somehow. Maybe they will move it to the fall semester.”
Osei Lindsay, a junior biochemistry major, shared his thoughts on the cancellation.
“I think it is a loss to the Seton Hall community as a whole,” Lindsay said. “From the cuisine, to the performers, to the models and the show itself, it’s an overall amazing event. I hope it is able to happen next spring.”
Ene said, “As much as others see this as a sad situation, it gives the African Student Association the wiggle room to take care of other internal matters as well as designing smaller targeted events during the second half of the semester. Look out for those events.”
Kristel Domingo can be reached at kristel.domingo@student.shu.edu.
