Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
The Daily Gazette
Swarthmore College
Wednesday, September 9, 1998
Volume 3, Number 2
CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS
On Tuesday, September 8, the Gazette reported in the underage drinking
article that the female first-year who was taken to the hospital had a
blood-alcohol ratio of 3.5. The correct number was .35. Also, as a
clarification, the hallmates of the male first-year referred to in
Tuesday’s issue were detaining him to prevent him from consuming more
alcohol, and because they were afraid of him hurting himself. Finally, we
apologize for the unfortunate inclusion of our mailing list in yesterday’s
report.
NEWS IN BRIEF
1) Television crew films nine-year-old spec at Swarthmore College
2) Housing shortage leaves students in Strath Haven Condominiums
3) World news roundup
4) Campus events
SPORTS IN BRIEF
1) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests
WEATHER FORECAST
Today: Mostly Cloudy. Chance of Showers. High of 71.
Rainy yet warm…I recommend shorts and a pullover.
Tonight: Partly Cloudy. High in mid 40s to 50s.
Take a rest from studying and watch the clouds break…you’ve got time.
Thursday: Sunny. High of 75.
NEWS REPORT
1) Television crew films nine-year-old spec at Swarthmore College
History Professor Pieter Judson had a prospective student visit his Modern
Europe class Monday, accompanied by Tom Krattenmaker, Director of Public
Relations, and a news crew from the CBS newsmagazine “60 Minutes.” His name
is Greg Smith, he is nine years old and a bit under five feet tall, and he
is planning to apply to Swarthmore for next year, after he graduates from
his Florida high school. “60 Minutes” is producing a news story on Smith,
and they are likely use footage from his Swarthmore visit.
Besides the presence of the cameras and Swarthmore College administrators,
Smith’s visit was not much different than those of most prospective
students. In addition to sitting in on the history class, he was given a
tour of the campus, and ate lunch at Sharples with Student Council
Co-Coordinator Hugh Weber ’99. His parents accompanied him on his visit.
While the school was not considerably disrupted by the presence of the news
camera, several Swarthmore students expressed alarm at the possibility of a
child of Smith’s age attending classes and possibly living here. One
Resident Assistant asked, “Who would want to have a nine-year-old on his
hall? [The RAs] are supposed to be friends, not fathers.” If Smith attended
Swarthmore next year, he would be considerably younger than any full-time
student yet.
*****
2) Housing shortage leaves students in Strath Haven Condominiums
Due to a slightly higher matriculation rate than the administration
expected, eighteen upperclassmen on the housing waiting list were assigned
to rooms in Strath Haven Condominiums for this year. The other students on
the waiting list were offered rooms in the normal Swarthmore dormitories.
Although the college guaranteed housing for all students on the list, many
wait-listed students were relieved when they were finally assigned housing.
Sarah Greenberger ’01, who was informed that she was assigned to Strath
Haven late this summer, felt “lucky just to get rooms.”
Many were afraid that they would be isolated from the rest of the campus at
Strath Haven, but Pete Hutchinson ’00, the RA for students in the building,
said, “We seem to have pretty good hall life on each floor.” Even the
distance is not as formidable as some had feared. Strath Haven Condominiums
is actually closer to the main campus than Mary Lyon, with which residents
are currently trying to organize inter-dorm activities.
Strath Haven offers many advantages uncommon in the other dorms. Every room
has a private bathroom and is “hotel-sized.” There is an elevator,
air-conditioning in the rooms, and many of the beds have Strath Haven
mattresses, which Helen Fu ’01 described as almost a guarantee for a good
night’s sleep. When asked whether she preferred living in Strath Haven to
the possibility of PPR, ML, or Willets, she said Strath Haven was
“definitely much better.”
*****
3) World news roundup
DOW JONES STOCKS SHOW LARGEST GAIN EVER
The Dow Jones industrial average increased by 380.53 points to 8020.78,
marking the largest nominal increase in the stock index’s history. Despite
the high nominal increase, the percentage increase, 4.98%, ranks only
towards the bottom of the twenty highest for the Dow. Analysts attributed
the rise mostly to Alan Greenspan’s Friday announcement, which implied that
the Federal Reserve Bureau would not be increasing interest rates in the
near future.
RECORDBREAKING HOME RUN CAUGHT BY BUSCH GARDENS GROUNDSKEEPER
St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman Mark McGwire eclipsed Roger Maris’ 1961
record of 61 home runs in a season last night. In the fourth inning of the
game against the Chicago Cubs, he hit his 62nd home run, which barely made
it over the fence and was retrieved from a restricted are by Tim Forneris,
a groundskeeper for the stadium. Forneris promptly gave the ball to
McGwire, who will then give it to the Hall of Fame. The IRS, which had
originally insisted that whoever caught the ball pay income tax on it that
could easily exceed $200,000, relented and agreed to not charge tax if the
ball was immediately given to McGwire. McGwire was walked for the rest of
the game, and the Cardinals won, 6-3.
IN OTHER NEWS…
Attorney General Janet Reno appointed a ninety-day investigation into
alleged campaign finance abuses by President Clinton during the 1996
presidential election… Investigators now believe that Swissair Flight 111
might have suffered a total electrical failure before crashing into the
Atlantic Ocean off Nova Scotia… Two North Carolina women’s clinics that
perform abortions were firebombed early this morning with Molotov
cocktails; fortunately, no one was injured, and the buildings suffered only
slight damage.
*****
4) Campus events
McCabe Library will be opening a new exhibit today.
Earthlust Weekly Environmental Meeting
Parrish Commons Conference Area, 10:00 p.m.
*****
SPORTS UPDATE
1) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests
TODAY
Field hockey hosts Elizabethtown at 4:00 p.m.
Men’s soccer visits Wesley at 4:00 p.m.
Women’s soccer visits Widener at 4:00 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball hosts Wilmington at 7:00 p.m.
TOMORROW
Women’s tennis visits Millersville at 3:30 p.m.
*****
Since the Publications Server is temporarily out of service, the Daily
Gazette contact e-mail addresses are not currently valid. We hope that the
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The Daily Gazette
Board of Editors
Joseph Genereux
Lorrin Nelson
Cathy Polinsky
Jessica Salvatore
Staff Writers
Dave Ellis
Ben Geller
Weatherwoman
Laurie Smith
The Daily Gazette is published Monday through Friday by an independent
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This concludes today’s report.
Copyright 1998 by The Daily Gazette. All rights reserved.
