In response to excitement toward the men’s and women’s basketball teams’ advance to the Final Four, the Syracuse University Student Association will send a bus full of SU students to the women’s game in Indianapolis.

The bus will leave from the Schine Student Center on Saturday at 8 a.m. to drive to Indianapolis, according to an email sent to the student body on Thursday afternoon from SA President Aysha Seedat. The women’s game will be held on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Distribution of free tickets from the Schine Box Office to reserve a seat on the bus started Thursday at 5 p.m. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Students should be prepared to show their SUID and Final Four ticket receipt from the NCAA upon receiving a ticket, according to the email.

SA announced Tuesday night it would provide free tickets for three buses to Houston for the men’s team’s Saturday night game against the University of North Carolina. A survey released that same night was used to determine whether or not SA would ultimately implement the transportation plan for those looking to support the women’s team in its first ever trip to the Final Four.

SA Vice President Jane Hong said the survey received a “fantastic response.”

Hong said the idea to provide transportation was inspired by years past, when SU had student buses traveling to the 2013 Final Four in Atlanta. She added that other schools in the ACC, including Villanova University — which is also in the Final Four — have previously sponsored transportation to the tournament for their teams.

Bus tickets to Houston were distributed starting Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Schine Student Center. Students began lining up outside Schine as early as 12:30 a.m.

“Did I expect to see students camp out at Schine at 12:30 in the morning? Absolutely not,” Hong said. “So we’re really excited about (the turn out).”

All 165 available bus seats to Houston were filled, Hong said, and a waiting list is being compiled in case any student cancels at the last minute.

The travel opportunity was organized in conjunction with the Division of Student Affairs, which Hong said was “definitely on board” from the get-go. More than anything, Hong said, everyone’s first concern was logistics, but she added that the time-sensitive challenge of organization did not deter anyone.

“In terms of our motivation to make this happen, there was no question about it,” Hong said. “How could we not take on this opportunity to fund these buses?”

The idea was first proposed on Monday, and conversations with the Division of Student Affairs and Senior Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz lasted well into the night on Tuesday, Hong said. Further negotiations included a lot of back and forth with bus companies and discussion with SA advisers in the Office of Student Activities, Hong said.

“It did take some work, but I think that goes to show our (faculty and staff) are so excited as well,” Hong said.

In regard to SA-sponsored events for students remaining on campus for the SU games, Hong said there isn’t anything planned as of now, since the move to get Orange fans down to Houston has taken precedence over the past few days.

But she added that if either team makes it to the championship, it would be “awesome” to have a game screening on the Quad or in the Carrier Dome.

Otto’s Army also doesn’t have anything organized for students remaining on campus, said Lexie Slavin, public relations officer for the student organization. Slavin added that Otto’s Army was more than happy to “help (SA) promote (the buses), and get the word out.”

“We haven’t been able to do that much,” Slavin said. “But we’re still trying to show our support the best way we can.”

Published on March 31, 2016 at 8:58 pm

Contact Brigid: brkenned@syr.edu