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, October 27, 1999
Volume 4, Number 28
NEWS IN BRIEF
1) Diploma wording changed, issue closed
2) Debate teams fare well at Vassar
3) World news roundup
4) Campus events
SPORTS IN BRIEF
1) Field Hockey triumphs
2) World sports roundup
3) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests
WEATHER FORECAST
Today: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s.
Tidbit of the day: L.A. Times reports that minivans have broken in to the top
ten cars stolen annually.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the low 40s.
So they went around interviewing people who have been affected by this.
Couldn’t pass up including one guy’s quote:
Tomorrow: A little less wind. Highs in the low 60s.
“At first I was shocked. Then I went into denial. I thought I had parked
it somewhere else and forgot. I never thought anyone would take my minivan.”
NEWS REPORT
1) Diploma wording changed, issue closed
Last spring, the Curriculum Committee recommended that the wording of the date
on the diploma be revised as follows:
Current wording:
THIS FIRST DAY OF SIXTH MONTH IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED
AND NINETY-NINE
Proposed wording:
THE FIRST DAY OF JUNE IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND
The rationale for the change is that the specific religious reference of “Our
Lord” is no longer appropriate given the many religious backgrounds of those
who either award or receive the diploma and the fact that Swarthmore no longer
has an institutional religious affiliation.
Student members of the Curriculum Committee polled the student body twice and,
because the results of those polls were not consistent, the Curriculum
Committee polled the student body a third time. In one poll there was a small
majority in favor of retaining the current wording. In two polls there was a
small majority in favor of changing the current wording, although disagreement
about what the change should be. Students who supported the change agreed with
the rationale put forward by the committee. The most frequent arguments
against change were based either on a wish not to abandon a format viewed as
“traditional” or on a wish not to be perceived as rejecting our Quaker heritage
or the Christian faith more generally.
The Curriculum Committee itself was not unanimous, but a clear majority
supported the proposed change. The Committee noted that many of our peer
schools now omit the words “of Our Lord” from their diplomas. Almost all of
those that retain this wording continue to write the entire diploma in Latin.
The motion was amended to change the proposed new wording to:
THIS FIRST DAY OF SIXTH MONTH IN THE YEAR 2000
Supporters of the amendment endorsed preservation of the traditional Quaker
form of reference to the month by number rather than by name. The main issues
raised at the discussion of the motion were the wish to respect tradition
versus the wish to make changes respectful of our much more diverse community.
The amended motion was approved.
36 yes
14 no
3 abstain
–Curriculum Committee
*****
2) Debate teams fare well at Vassar
The Amos J. Peaslee Debate Society sent four teams to the 52 team tournament at
Vassar College in New York last weekend. Rob Peterson ’03 and Jeremy Schifeling
’03 went 3-2, finishing as the fourth place novice team after defeating a team
from Yale University with a compelling argument about The War of the Roses.
Darius Ornston ’00 and Tenaya Scheinman ’01 finished with a 4-1 record and in
tenth place. This weekend the team will attend a tournament at Columbia
University.
*****
3) World news roundup
Investigators began gathering the remains of pro golfer Payne Stewart and five
others from a 10-foot-deep crater in a soggy pasture in Mina, South Dakota
Tuesday, hoping to determine whether a sudden loss in cabin pressure doomed
their Learjet. …Clinton will announce new Federal rules to protect medical
records. …Republican leaders have decided to include congressional salaries
in the spending cut they are seeking to impose on federal agencies. …For the
first time in more than a century, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to
consider the constitutionality of electrocution, halting the use of Florida’s
electric chair.
*****
4) Campus events
Group Meditation (All Faiths Welcome)
Bond 2nd floor, 4:30 p.m.
Film Society Screening
DuPont 161, 10:00 p.m.
March of the Americas Information Meeting
Parrish Parlours, 10:00 p.m.
*****
SPORTS UPDATE
1) Field Hockey triumphs
The Garnet blanked Bryn Mawr 5-0 in their final home contest. Meg Woodworth
scored twice, including her first career goal, while Krista Hollis, Becca
Stites, Amy DiBenedetto each scored as well. Ingrid Kaszas picked up two
assists and Jane Kendall turned away four Mawrter shots for the shutout.
*****
2) World sports roundup
The Yankees took a 3-0 lead over the Braves in the World Series, winning 6-5 in
Game 3 Tuesday. The Braves took a 5-1 lead early in the game, but the Yankees
came back to tie the game in the 8th inning. Chad Curtis won the game for New
York with a solo home run in the bottom of the tenth. After the home run, NBC
reporter Jim Gray, much criticized for bombarding Pete Rose on Sunday,
attempted to interview Curtis. Curtis said, “Because of what happened with
Pete, we decided not to say anything,” then said something to his grandmother
back home before turning and walking back to the dugout, leaving Gray to shout
at his back before giving up on the interview.
*****
3) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests
TODAY
Mens soccer hosts Washington College, 3:00 p.m.
Volleyball hosts Haverford College, 7:30 p.m.
TOMORROW
There are no contests scheduled for Thursday.
*****
Quote of the day:
“It’s only been two years. He’s got a lot of things on his mind.” — Pete
Rose, on why commissioner Bud Selig has not formally responded to his
application for reinstatement.
*****
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Editorial Board
Jeff Heckelman
Melanie Hirsch
Claire Phillips-Thoryn
Staff Writers
Ilya Leskov
Alma Ortiz
Jeremy Schifeling
Kai Xu
Online Editor
Lorrin Nelson
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This concludes today’s report.