Brad Stevens lecture canceled

Friday, March 6, 2020
Brad Stevens

Brad Stevens’ return to his alma mater has been canceled.

DePauw University announced the cancelation to the campus community Friday night in an email update regarding the COVID-19 virus.

Following the announcement Friday morning of the first confirmed case of the new coronavirus in Indiana, the university took a number of steps to prioritize the health and safety of students, staff and faculty.

These included the cancelation of all events with guest lecturers or visitors beginning Sunday, March 8 and continuing through at least spring break, “including Monday night’s Ubben lecture with Brad Stevens and the Green Guest Artist concert on March 13.”

The university also suspended all university-funded travel through spring break and potentially beyond. All planned visists from intenational areas have also be canceled. University-funded domestic travel is also being discouraged.

University officials are reviewing off-campus travel for athletics, and will be making a decisions shortly.

This could get officials into a thorny area, as the DePauw women’s basketball team will be playing Loras College on Saturday night for the right to advance in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The email notes that there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases at DePauw and no suspected cases.

“Public health officials continue to advise that it is safer to remain in place and avoid large events or gatherings rather than travel elsewhere,” the statement notes.

Stevens, a 1999 DePauw graduate and current head coach of the Boston Celtics, was set to deliver a lecture as part of the Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture Series on Monday evening.

Regardless of the cancelation, the Zionsville native will be returning to his home state in the coming days, as the Celtics visit the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

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