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 parents of Tariq Fischer ’08, who died in a car accident last summer, have pledged over $1 million to Swarthmore in Tariq’s name. The money will mostly go towards the Islamic Studies program, but also will buy a new sound system for Clothier Field’s press box, a movie projector for Paces, and a digital camera for The Phoenix. “There is a tradition in Islam called Sadaqa-e Jariya, where Muslims are encouraged to set up educational facilities that will continue to benefit people even after the donors are gone,” Asma Fischer said. “We hope this endowment will continue to benefit students, many of whom will become future leaders, in understanding Islam and Muslims and bring harmony between the people of the world.”
On December 20, the annual Lang Opportunity Grants were awarded to six sophomores. Shadi Rohana will work to preserve Palestinian history in Haifa. Ei Mon will develop an early childhood education program in her hometown in Myanmar. Omer Corluhan will establish a large mentoring program in his native Turkey. Sybille Ngo Nyeck will film a documentary about her work as a gay rights activist in her native Cameroon. Sebastian Duncan will work to teach high school students in Miami about Latin American studies. Katie Camillus will establish a micro-credit union in a refugee camp. The award is up to $10,000 to address a social issue.
Political Science Professor Richard Valelly won the annual V. O. Key Award for the best book published about Southern politics from the Southern Political Association. His book, “The Two Reconstructions: The Struggle for Black Enfranchisement,” chronicles the struggles of black Americans for voting rights in the South from Reconstruction to the present day. The book has also won the J. David Greenstone Award for best work of historical political science and the Ralph J. Bunche Award, both from the American Political Science Association.
