by Andrea Traietti on January 30, 2020
Editor's Column
by Katherine Torok ’20
Associate Editor-in-Chief
One of my favorite Providence College memories to date happened my sophomore year on February 14, 2018 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center: the Men’s Basketball team defeated Villanova University 76-71. We stormed the court clad in black, white, and pink PC gear.
Junior year, the Friars hosted the Wildcats over winter break, so student attendance was limited. However, on Saturday January 25, 2020, the Friars were set to play the Wildcats again—and students were ready.
After receiving countless emails concerning the game, it was clear that only student ticket holders could sit in the student section—no other student tickets were being sold. In the days leading up to the game, non-season ticket holders flooded PC student Facebook groups, GroupMe chats, and the “Buy & Sell” section of the PC Mobile app in search of a ticket. I was relieved I had bought a season ticket in August because I knew this was going to be a big game.
My friends and I arrived at the Dunk a little after 12:30 p.m.—half-an-hour after the doors had opened, and half-an-hour before the game started. As we expected, the main student-section was filled up, so we were directed to the overflow sections located on the opposite side of the arena. However, after walking up the gray concrete stairs that lead up to the student overflow section, we saw every seat was taken. Students were mixed with alumni, fans from the community, and visiting Villanova fans.
We quickly found a group of seats, but were asked to move in a matter of minutes after being informed that the seats were sold to non-students. We found new seats, and the same exchange happened right after we sat down. In total, we were asked to move four times. We all had student tickets, but no seats.
The ticket office directed us to a row of seats that had already been filled up, so a determined security officer was nice enough to walk around the Dunk for several minutes trying to find us seats. In total, it took us almost an hour to find a place where we could sit.
The Dunk during a PC basketball game is an electric environment, so I understand why so many non-PC students want to attend—especially for the Villanova game.
However, it seems a little unjust to put non-PC students before PC students. I have a season student ticket; therefore, I should be guaranteed a seat in either the student section or the overflow student section.