On the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 12, University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. sent an email to students confirming that students will be able to attend men’s basketball games upon their return in the spring semester. Donohue also confirmed a spring semester on campus for all students.

“I am pleased to share that if we return to campus, a limited amount of students will be the only in-person fans (alongside players’ families) at Men’s Basketball home games,” Donohue wrote. “Attending these games is a chance to regain some sense of normalcy, and you’ve earned it.”

There was an original belief that students, faculty and parents would be able to attend games up to about 20% of capacity, but Donohue’s email did not confirm exact numbers.

So far, only games taking place before Jan. 1, 2021 have been announced. For games from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the only in-person fans will be players’ families, faculty and staff.

Once the full schedule is released for men’s basketball, the Villanova Athletics Ticket Office will follow-up regarding student ticket access for the remaining games.

Donohue partially attributed the allowance of some students at home games in the spring to the success of Community First: The CARITAS Commitment.

“I’ve asked a lot of you this semester—put Community First, wear a mask at all times, social distance, limit your gatherings and adjust to new modes of learning,” he wrote. “I know it hasn’t always been easy and that this semester isn’t what you envisioned, especially without many of the events and activities that round out your campus experience. But here we are, still on campus, with two weeks left this semester.”

With two weeks left in the semester, Donohue asked students to continue to remain vigilant.

“I want you all to be able to go home and enjoy Thanksgiving with your families—and not be stuck in quarantine,” he wrote. “That will only happen if you make good decisions and stay healthy, especially this weekend.”

The men’s basketball team kicks off their season on November 25th against Boston College in Uncasville, Connecticut, at the Mohegan Sun. 

Currently, four home games are scheduled to take place over the semester break. Two Big East gam es against DePaul and Butler and two Big Five games against St. Joseph’s and Temple.