Vanderbilt COVID-19 Policy Forbids Students From Attending Basketball Games; Allows General Public Ticket Buyers

Vanderbilt is supposedly one of America’s most prestigious educational institutions.

However, a 1st grader could make COVID-19 policies that make more sense than school officials.

In its latest decision to “slow the spread,” the university will not allow students to attend the next five basketball games at Memorial Gymnasium.

But they will permit ticket buyers from the general public to attend basketball games and operate at 100% capacity.

If you’re trying to make sense of this policy, I can’t help you.

I’m thoroughly confused about what goes through the minds of whoever made this nonsensical decision.

College students are one of the least vulnerable groups to experience severe COVID-19 complications and have a 99.99% survival rate.

Any restrictions to their routine life, especially on campus, are neurotic.

Vanderbilt will not allow students to attend the next five basketball games. The general public, however, are still permitted to attend as Memorial Gymnasium will operate at 100% capacity. https://t.co/2cIVM5eAMa

— OutKick (@Outkick) January 8, 2022

Vanderbilt is not allowing students to attend basketball games because of covid, but the general public is able to come to games and buy the student seats. This is insanely dumb. https://t.co/TqBRXV4Yis

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 8, 2022

Outkick wrote:

Vandy Hustler Sports’ Justin Hershey reports that students will not be permitted to claim their free ticket to attend the next five men’s and women’s basketball games combined through Jan. 24. The lunacy in all this, however, is that the general public will still be allowed to attend as Memorial Gymnasium will continue to operate at 100% capacity.

Yes, you read that right. No students allowed, but general public, come on in! Making matters worse, Vanderbilt reportedly sent an email to basketball season ticket holders saying that student section tickets will be sold for the five games students can’t attend.

Tickets in sections H and I, usually reserved for students, are going for $100-200 a pop on StubHub for Vanderbilt men’s basketball against Kentucky on Tuesday. Season ticket holders were the only ones permitted to buy the student section tickets, for $20. Despite the university saying they were not available for resale, most are available on the secondary market.

The new guidelines come down as Vanderbilt is set to welcome students back for the spring 2022 semester on Jan. 18.

I have not criticized Vanderbilt’s COVID response thus far as I think that it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry, but it is the epitome of hypocrisy to allow paid fan attendance at the upcoming basketball games and not allow students to attend.

— Justin Kirby (@jakirby89) January 6, 2022

Vanderbilt has banned all students from basketball games for covid reasons, and is selling the student tickets online for $200.

One more time:

🗣Vanderbilt has banned all students from basketball games for covid reasons, and is selling the student tickets online for $200! 🗣 https://t.co/Engb8HzkRx

— 𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 (@Max_Schneider15) January 7, 2022

For the first time in a long time, both Vanderbilt basketball programs have positive momentum.

But due to COVID protocols, students can’t attend the next few games. Instead, VU is selling student section tix.

MBB plays UK and UT. Student section will be all blue and all orange. https://t.co/6JOW2BKMo6

— Simon Gibbs (@SimonGibbs26) January 7, 2022

Student mental health and suicide prevention should be a far greater health concern for universities.

Taking away the exciting atmosphere of on-campus sporting events will not stop the spread of COVID-19 whatsoever.

The abusive policy is another method of stripping the joy of the college experience from students and further contributing to a mental health crisis.

I worked for a college basketball team while attending university. Watching your school’s team compete in a noisy, packed arena is one of the most exciting things for a college student.

School officials should be ashamed of themselves for this continued abuse of their students over the irrational fear of a flu-like virus.

https://twitter.com/nashvegas__/status/1479689596795596800

Saturday Down South commented:

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has led to a number of schools across the country beginning the spring semester on either a virtual basis, hybrid model, or in-person with heightened guidelines. Vanderbilt, which begins classes on Jan. 18, will see its students resume classes in-person but will require them to undergo testing within 72 hours of their arrival on campus.

The regulations have had ramifications on athletic events at the university, including men’s and women’s basketball. On Thursday, Vanderbilt announced that students will be not allowed to attend the next 3 home men’s and women’s basketball games at Memorial Gymnasium, beginning Thursday and extending to at least the next 2 weeks.

On Saturday, the Vanderbilt men’s basketball team played their SEC home-opener against South Carolina.

The Gamecocks defeated the Commodores 72-70.

I wonder if a raucous student section could have lifted Vandy to victory.