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.
Despite the looming storm clouds and high vending prices, Campus Philly was worthwhile for the variety of activities offered, including museums and the concert featuring Armor for Sleep.
Since the event targeted college students in the Philadelphia area, students had the chance to enjoy Philly inexpensively with giveaways from vendors. While some vendors handed free items, the Eastern State Penitentiary offered a preview of their popular haunted house with made-up prison zombies wandering through the startled crowds.
Many social action groups participated in the event by encouraging students to join different causes, including voter registration and animal shelters.
I spent the majority of my time in the museums. The Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians provided an expansive display of medicine’s major advances over the past 300 years, from wax portrayals of eye infections to human shrunken heads./p>
The Rodin Museum provided a nice contrast to the Red Bull skate park and the music blasting from the live stage in its quiet throwback to classical art. Featured pieces in the the museum include The Thinker and Eve as well as The Serpent.
One of the main hotspots was the Swann Memorial Fountain. I ended my Philly tour here with the fountain providing a movie-perfect movie finale. Two newly married couples were taking pictures in front of the fountain as little children played in the water while their parents looked on grinning.
Though every weekend may not offer Campus Philly discounts, these experiences could be replicated and with the return of the Philly Shuttle don’t need to break the bank either. Campus Philly was a sampler of Philadelphia attractions, providing just a few of the options available to an adventurous college student.