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.
Dining Services
Co-Presidents Matt Lamb ’12 and Gabby Capone ’14 met with Dining Services last week to address complaints made through the Small Steps Initiative. Dining Services explained that meals at Essie Mae’s cannot be opened earlier during the lunch period because 12pm to 1pm is staff lunch time, and Essie Mae’s cannot deal with the increased traffic they would experience if students were able to use their meals during the already heavy-traffic staff lunch time.
Dining Services will create a committee next year to review meal policies. They will take on the issue of meal equivalencies between Sharples and Essie Mae’s, as well as the hours that meals can be used. In the meantime, Dining Services is considering adding one or two more dollars to the meal equivalency at dinner and creating “combo meals” (e.g. a sandwich, chips, and drink) at the meal equivalency price.
Dining services is also considering extending Science Center coffee bar hours on Sunday afternoons.
Ville Safety
Co-Presidents Lamb and Capone attended last Monday’s meeting of the Swarthmore Borough Council, where they discussed student concerns about safety in the Ville. They were told by the Council that if students feel unsafe, they should contact the Borough police, not College Public Safety, so that the Borough has a record of the incident.
Although Swarthmore has considered a curfew in the past, the Council explained that a curfew is unpopular among Swarthmore parents, who feel that the lack of curfew gives their kids a regular place to hang out – and themselves peace of mind that they “know where their kids are.”
The Co-Presidents will be attending Borough Council meetings, which are held the first two Mondays of each month, in order to help improve town-gown relations. They will also be attending the Council’s monthly Borough safety meetings.
Miscellaneous
StuCo will be meeting with Dean Braun this week after their previously scheduled meeting was canceled. The agenda will include how to implement the ideas from speakers in last weekend’s Diversity Symposium. Appointments Chair Will Lawrence ’15 hopes to address in particular how to implement the lessons from Shaun Harper’s talk, “Really, That’s Racist? Preparing Students for Participation in a Racially Diverse Democracy.” Harper is the Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Student Groups Advisor Elena Schlessinger ’15 announced that after receiving their budget report, the stipend for five Student Council members will be paid for two hours each week, rather than three, beginning next term. Student Council positions are currently unpaid.
Correction: The article previously stated that Swarthmore parents feel that the town curfew gives their children a safe place to hang out. The Borough does not have a curfew, and parents have peace of mind from the lack of curfew.
“Although Swarthmore has considered a curfew in the past, the Council explained that a curfew is unpopular among Swarthmore parents, who feel that the curfew gives their kids a regular place to hang out – and themselves peace of mind that they “know where their kids are.”
What?
Swarthmore child? “Children. I’m emotional parent Committee Decree Swarthmore night night past and block the road is normally blocked night night. “What is? You know the peace of mind of popular writing.
“In the meantime, Dining Services is considering adding one or two more dollars to the meal equivalency at dinner and creating “combo meals” (e.g. a sandwich, chips, and drink) at the meal equivalency price.”
I’ve always complained that StuCo hasn’t done anything worthwhile, but this is REALLY good news. Keep it up and maybe I’d vote to give you a raise… =)
I was really happy to see Matt Lamb and Gabby Capone at last week’s borough council meeting. People should feel welcome and safe in the ville.
When we considered a curfew about a year and a half ago, I was concerned that it would restrict college students who are underage. I look forward to hearing the college student’s ideas for making the ville a more welcoming place.
Melissa Lewicki,
Swarthmore Borough Council
Beyond the curfew, can we get more lights in the Ville, on BOTH sides of Chester Rd? More light on Magill Walk alongside Mertz field? A shuttle that actually consistently runs till the library closes at 2 AM?? Because I can’t really say just how many times I’ve been walking home to my off campus housing (though this applies if you live in PPR, too), and I’ve been on a really dark sidewalk only to notice that ahead there’s some large man with his hands in his pockets and he’s looking down with a hood or hoodie partially obscuring his face. That, as I’m sure anyone can imagine, makes me feel REALLY safe, and the burden should not be on me to just, like, “not stay in the library till dark”.
I’m surprised to see so many commenters endorsing the idea of a curfew. People deserve to feel safe in the ville — this includes Swarthmore students AND local teenagers. Teens should be able to be in public space at nighttime. More regulations on public space only serve to expand police power and get more kids in trouble with the law, while not addressing the causes of harassment and town-gown tension.