The University of Connecticut has taken safety precautions such as removing some lampposts and street signs to protect the Storrs campus ahead of the men’s basketball national championship game Monday night.
Student celebrations after the men’s team won previous championships led to costly damage on campus. In 2023, students knocked down lampposts and street signs and damaged school buildings and property, amounting to $123,000 in property damage. Fifteen students were arrested and 16 were hospitalized.
Following the destruction in 2023, UConn took steps toward increasing security measures and protecting campus property the following year. That proved somewhat effective — student celebrations in 2024 wasn’t as destructive, though five students were arrested.
Mike Enright, the deputy spokesperson for UConn, said school staff removed lampposts this year on Hillside Road and Jim Calhoun Way as a “proactive way of preventing possible vandalism that could result from the celebration of tonight’s games.”
In an email, Enright said removing lampposts ahead of anticipated celebrations has worked well, “along with an increased security presence and student messaging.”
Senior Maya Lanzisera has experienced a national championship win every year she has been a UConn student. She said she remembers her first year and that while it was fun and filled with excitement, it was not the safest.
“People went wild, lots of trees on the ground, shattering windows… things set on fire,” Lanzisera said. “If there was something in the ground and they could remove it, it was removed.”
The university has sent out several messages to students encouraging everyone to celebrate responsibly this year — should the Huskies win the championship.
“No student should endanger their UConn career, their future, themselves, and others by making poor choices that they will quickly come to regret,” university communications wrote in an email message sent to all undergraduates on April 3. “The eyes of the whole state and the nation will be on UConn. Our teams have earned our pride; let’s all make sure that we earn theirs by being respectful of one another and this community.”
Gov. Ned Lamont issued a statement April 2 urging all Connecticut residents to show their Huskies pride by wearing UConn gear and displaying signs and flags to show support throughout the weekend.
“I am so awestruck by the UConn basketball student-athletes for their elite-level performances that are setting a new standard in college sports and bringing an enormous amount of pride to Connecticut,” Lamont said in the statement.
As UConn faces Michigan on Monday night, the championship game makes it the men’s team’s third championship appearance in four years. This year, UConn was the only school to have both the women and men’s basketball teams make it to the Final Four. The women’s team lost the semi final game 62-48 against South Carolina on Friday night.
“After you have had three straight years of excellence in winning championships, it’s not even I hope this will happen, it’s almost like it will be crazier if it didn’t,” Lanzisera said. “I am really hoping for those perfect four years.”
Sophomore Robert Lycoudes said, “I am kind of sad the women lost this year but I am hoping the men can pull out a win tonight.” Lycoudes said he plans on watching the game tonight at Huskies or Square Peg, two bars close to campus.
UConn will be hosting watch parties for students Monday night on the Storrs campus at the Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at the Rizza Performance Center and the Toscano Family Ice Forum. Students could claim free tickets ahead of time to attend.
In past years, watch parties have been held at Gampel Pavilion. This year the facility is closed due to the start of a $90 million renovation that began last month.
