On Monday, April 1, the University of Connecticut Senate assembled in a hybrid format for the penultimate meeting of the 2023-2024 academic year. Senators heard reports regarding senate by-law changes, an update on the operation of UConn’s regional campuses and during the customary president’s report, were given the opportunity to question Provost Anne D’Alleva in the stead of President Radenka Maric.
In response to a question regarding campus security surrounding UConn’s Final Four games and potential future contests in the finals, D’Alleva explained how the university’s approach will differ from that of last year’s. More stringent security measures are being planned to avoid the nearly $125,000 in damages that resulted from celebrations last year, including increased police presence and enforcement of an attendance ban for non-UConn students.
“There’s a wonderful group that has been meeting to prepare for the ‘campus festivities,’ shall we say, around Final Four week,” she explained.
“It was not an optimal situation on campus last time,” D’Alleva admitted. “It was frightening, people were hurt, people could have been seriously hurt and our students didn’t behave in a way we would expect UConn students to behave.”
Two adjustments are certain to come into effect on campus during Final Four week. Students will be subject to reduced capacity seating at Gampel, and the presence of state troopers and UConn police will be increased to deter and react to potentially dangerous occurrences.
D’Alleva recounted a story of a woman who was almost trampled under the feet of her fellow students during post-game celebrations last year. Police had to act fast to hold her up when she began to fall.
“No outsiders in Gampel,” she promised. “The UConn community in Gampel only.”
During last year’s celebrations, multiple non-students and alumni of the university faced criminal charges, including one non-student who was arrested on two separate occasions, according to university data.
29 students and alumni in particular were referred to UConn’s Office of Community Standards, in which six were expelled, five were suspended, 12 were placed on probation, two were given warnings and four, all alumni, were banned from visiting campus again.
“UConn officials have been discussing campus safety preparations for many weeks as the teams entered and have advanced through March Madness,” said University Spokesperson Stepanie Reitz. “It has already decided that alcohol will not be served in Gampel Pavilion, and events will be limited to UConn students.”
The university, she revealed, is also temporarily removing light posts on Fairfield Way, which were subject to heavy damage following UConn’s championship win last year.
Instead, wall lights will be installed, which “provide the same amount of illumination without being vulnerable to being removed and misused,” Reitz said.
“While not disclosing specific strategies that the university is undertaking or plans to implement, the public’s safety and well-being is the priority in each step being discussed.”