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.
A flock of plastic flamingos has appeared outside Pearson, congregated around a small American flag. If anyone knows the reason behind these leggy lawn ornaments, feel free to enlighten us.
You might ask Donna Jo Napoli. (Just a hunch.)
This looks suspiciously like spin-off of a high school senior prom fund raiser done by parents. The flamingos are surreptitiously deposited on a person’s front lawn during the night with a message stating that you have been “flamingo’ed” and are required to pay $50 to get them to go away. Also, for $60, you get to name the next person to be “flamingo’ed.” Very sophomoric for a sophisticated college like Swarthmore, so there may be another explanation.
Sadly, the flamingos have disappeared. All that is left is the flag.
Regarding the flamingos in front of Pearson, they were there in honor of Carole Forsythe, staff member in Human Resources, who retired after 21 years of service with the College. Carole has a somewhat mysterious affinity for the birds. Although no one (except Carole) really knows the full story, many theories abound. One of the more popular ones is that Pink Flamingo was her stage name…. We have no idea how the American flag got involved.