(Davidson College press release) No loans. No laundry. No cost to attend the “Sweet 16.” At Davidson College students have just learned that they’ll be able to watch their Wildcats play 3rd-seed Wisconsin in person in Detroit Friday night for free – thanks to the college trustees.

Davidson’s Board of Trustees announced Wednesday afternoon that its members are contributing money to cover costs for any student who wants to attend the “Sweet 16″ matchup. The new gift will cover the cost of tickets for Friday night’s Session 1 Davidson-Wisconsin game, as well as tickets for Sunday’s Session 2 contest; bus transportation between Davidson and Detroit (11 hours each way); and two nights of lodging at a Detroit area hotel.

The total cost of the endeavor is not yet known; it will depend on how many students sign up for the trip.

“Given the extraordinary nature of the success of the men¹s basketball team,” President Tom Ross ’72 said in an e-mail message to the college community. “Davidson’s Trustees have graciously offered to pay the expenses of those students who are able to attend the game in Detroit on Friday night. We know that at Davidson, academics come first,” Ross continued, noting that Friday’s classes at Davidson would go on as planned. “Students, please consider going to the game ONLY if this is, academically, the right decision for you.”

Students unable to attend Friday’s game in Detroit are invited to watch the contest on large-screen TVs in the Alvarez College Union. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members have turned out to watch previous tournament broadcasts.

Buses will leave Davidson College at 6 a.m. Friday, March 28, and arrive in Detroit around 5 or 6 p.m. The college will make hotel reservations for interested students, who will bunk two per room. Game tickets cover Friday night’s Davidson-Wisconsin matchup, as well as Sunday’s Session 2 matchup with between the winners of Friday’s game. Buses will leave Detroit for Davidson on Sunday afternoon after Session 2 ends and will arrive back on campus Monday between 4 and 6 a.m.

Davidson is widely recognized as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars. In addition, it was the first college in the country to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages; this program, called The Davidson Trust, allows all students to graduate debt-free.

During the NCAA tournament, national media have frequently mentioned, too, that Davidson students can have their laundry done for free at the college’s laundry service. (However, that’s not technically true. The cost for this service is covered as part of the comprehensive fee.) Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,700 students.

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