Winston-Salem is preparing to host the Mid-Eastern Athletic basketball tournament for the first time, but a scheduling conflict may leave some empty seats when the tournament starts on March 10.
Both the men’s and women’s tournaments will be held at the Lawrence Joel Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, just minutes away from the campus of Winston-Salem State.
Along with the on-court action, there will also be plenty activities off the court, such as a cheerleading competition and the Miss MEAC coronation.
WSSU won’t be eligible to compete in the tournament as it continues to make its transition to Division I from Division II.
However, the men’s basketball team will face off against former CIAA archrival North Carolina Central in a bonus game prior to the men’s championship game.
The question is, how many WSSU students will be at the Coliseum to cheer on the team?
The MEAC tournament runs March 10-14, which conflicts with spring break for WSSU students.
This leaves students to choose between cutting their spring break short and missing out on the tournament. Most students say the choice will be an easy, if unfortunate one.
Ginnerfra Daniels, a senior accounting major from St. Pauls, N.C. said she would have liked to attend the tournament if it were while school was in session, but she already has plans.
“I’ll be out of town,” she said.
Tim Campbell, a junior computer science major from Troutman, N.C. said he would like to attend the MEAC tournament and the events, just not on his spring break.
“Rarely do mainstream events occur in Winston-Salem,” he said.
“I would want to participate in all the events.”
Campbell said that he thinks the conflict in schedules will hurt attendance at the MEAC.
“Only students who live off campus would be here.”
“I think they should [keep dorms open] because it wouldn’t generate as much revenue or make the campus look lively if students were on spring break,” he said.
Aaron Lide, a sophomore from Fayetteville said he won’t be attending nor will his friends.
“I’m going to be home,” he said. “That’s what everyone is saying. It [the MEAC tournament] will not be a success.”