The Phoenix

Val Smith Announces Plan to End Presidency After 2026-27 Academic Year

February 26, 2026

News

Val Smith announces the upcoming end of her time as Swarthmore president, the community responds and prepares for a period of transition.

Student-Athletes on the Upcoming Cunningham Fields and Fieldhouse Renovations

Alex AvanesyanandLuca CampianiandEli CoganandEllie FermoandJada GreenandKatherine KermanandJames SheltonandThomas Shelton

February 26, 2026

Varsity and club athletes share their thoughts on how the recently proposed

Swarthmore Supports Harvard-Led Lawsuit Defending International Students

by Zephyr Weinreich

February 26, 2026

Swarthmore joins many other higher education institutions in support for Harvard's legal

Resilience in the Face of Oppression: Reflections on Black History Month

by Nasrin Ahmed

February 26, 2026

As BHM concludes, Nasrin Ahmed '28 discusses the importance of telling Black

A Conversation with John Alston: 32 Years of Music, Math, and Love with the Chester Children’s Chorus

by Dylan Herink

February 26, 2026

Chorus director John Alston discusses his time at the Chester Children's Chorus

Latest Stories

Swarthmore Accepts 231 Early Decision Applicants

by Ellen Stewart

February 26, 2026

McCabe Library: From Dirt to Dust

by Vivian Li

February 26, 2026

Embodying the Process: An Exploration of Gender and the Self in Swarthmore Theater’s ‘Orlando’

by Jasper Cober-Lake

February 26, 2026

Political Scientist Jonathan Kirshner Lectures on (Un)Realism in the Trump Age

by Marra Irons

February 26, 2026

Boston College's Jonathan Kirshner discusses Trump's "America First" doctrine from a classical realist perspective for the 2026 Gilbert Lecture.

Becca Rothfeld and Jonny Thakkar speaks at the Night Owls Event. Phoenix Photo/Xinto Xu

‘Making Yourself Beautiful’: Night Owls Event on The Philosophy of Mogging

by Xinto Xu

February 26, 2026

Night Owls lecture examines the meaning and implications of aesthetic expression through physical alteration and the looksmaxxing trend.

Longtime Dining Staff Member Severely Injured, Hospitalized After Dishwasher Accident

Ella WalkerandDaniel Perrin

February 19, 2026

The Phoenix reports on a devastating incident in which a Dining and Community Commons industrial dishwasher left a worker that was attending to it

The Rise, Fall, and Tentative Rebirth of Philadelphia’s ‘President’s House’ Memorial

by Zephyr Weinreich

February 19, 2026

News Editor Zephyr Weinreich '28 traces the history of America's first 'White House' through more than 200 years of turmoil and transformation.

Swarthmore Endowment Sees 9.5% Return in 2024-25 Fiscal Year

by Daniel Perrin

February 19, 2026

The college's endowment enjoyed stronger returns in 2024-25 than in the years before it. Chief Investment Officer Frank Grunseich contextualizes the numbers.

Opinions

Weekly Column: Swat Says

Rafi KarpowitzandNasrin AhmedandCorinne Lafont

February 26, 2026

In this edition of Swat Says, students share their on Swarthmore's party culture, Val Smith's recent announcement, and the renaming of Trotter Hall.

Students: Stand Up for Your Rights!

by Wyatt Brannon

February 19, 2026

Wyatt Brannon '26 argues that, if students want to have some control over how the college operates, they should use the historically radical power of student government.

The College and the CO-OP: An Interconnected History of Two Swarthmore Institutions

by Nathanael D. Brown

February 19, 2026

Former Opinions Editor Nathanael Brown takes a deep dive into the history of the Swarthmore CO-OP's intertwined, and sometime fraught, relationship with Swarthmore College.

Arts

Cirque Calder: Past and Future Present

by Alma Greenfield

February 26, 2026

A reflection on Alexander Calder's "Cirque Calder."

Corinne’s Connections Puzzle: Symposium, Sort-Of

by Corinne Lafont

February 26, 2026

Answers Below

Sports

The Best 60 Days of Sports?

by Charlie Watson

February 26, 2026

Charlie Watson '27 discusses exciting athletic events taking place in February and March.

Athlete of the Week: Jack McHenry ’27

by Katherine Kerman

February 26, 2026

Lacrosse player Jack McHenry '27 shares about his goals, routines, and experiences as a student-athlete at Swarthmore.

Swarthmore Women’s Lacrosse Seniors Anticipate Their Final Season

by Olivia Huang

February 19, 2026

Olivia Huang '29 interviews her graduating teammates about their reflections on strong college careers.

Features

The Ultimate Swarthmore College Quiz: Are You a Stereotypical Swattie?

by Megumi Jindo

February 19, 2026

Take the ultimate Swattie quiz and see — I bet you are a Swattie! Answers: If you mostly got 1), Yay, you belong at this school! You are the “Swattie” who wakes up right before class because you’ve worked your butt off

From My Dad to Yours

by Zoe Washington

February 12, 2026

Washington '29 shares a father-daughter playlist, the first of a monthly column.

Comic: Frosty Frenzy

by Paris Kampel

February 12, 2026

Artist of the Week William Gomez ’27: Mountains From the Window

by Emery Dong

February 26, 2026

Painter William Gomez ’27 reflects on his artistic inspirations and processes.

The Renaming of Trotter Hall: Explaining the College’s Decision and What Comes Next

by Kush Kaur

February 19, 2026

Kush Kaur on the past, present, and potential futures of a Swarthmore academic building named for a controversial figure.

Swarthmore Professors Lead Panel on History of General Strikes

by Reina Jones

February 19, 2026

Swarthmore professors hosted a panel to discuss the history, lessons, and inspirations of past strikes around the world.

Weekly Column: Swat Says

Corinne LafontandNasrin AhmedandRafi Karpowitz

February 19, 2026

In this edition of Swat Says, students share their takes on the recent "looksmaxxing" craze, discuss the new matchmaking algorithm Date Drop, and reveal their nightmare presidents blunt rotation.

Queeries: Cruel Valentine

by Ari Froehlich

February 19, 2026

Check out our "Queeries" column! This time on new music and cultural sentiments towards Valentine's Day.

Listening to the Sarangi in a House of Music: A Review of Dr. Suhail Yusuf Khan’s Concert

by Kush Kaur

February 19, 2026

Kush Kaur '28 reviews Dr. Suhail Yusuf Khan's sarangi performance and lecture at UPenn.

Athlete of the Week: Quinn Weygandt ’26

by Aimee Lee

February 19, 2026

Quinn Weygandt ’26 is continuing to make waves on the Division III national swimming stage. On Feb. 7, the Madison, WI, native clocked a 4:20.85 in the 400-meter IM to take first place against Gettysburg College. The time was just three-tenths of

Sarah Kinsley Finds Power in Impermanence on ‘Fleeting’

by Alissa Lopes

February 19, 2026

Alissa Lopes '29 reviews Sarah Kinsley's new EP, "Fleeting."

Artist of the Week Laura Wentzel ’26: Letting the Dance Take Over

by Yijia (Jessica) Qin

February 19, 2026

Jessica (Yijia) Qin '28 interviews ballet dancer Laura Wentzel '26 on her approach to performing.

Title IX Office Broaches Trans Rights on Campus, Perceived Shortcomings at SGO Town Hall

by Ellen Stewart

February 12, 2026

Leaders from the Title IX Office, the GSC, and Student Health and Wellness addressed student questions and discussed controversial issues on campus surrounding Title IX.

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