What is the best class you’ve taken yet at Swat?
Jazziah Manning ’29: “Right now, my favorite class is CHEM 10. It is really hard, but I like my professor and she’s really nice.”
Jefrey Torres ’26: “I’d say [ENGR 72], with [Visiting Instructor] Will Johnson, because we’re creating PCBs [Printed Circuit Boards] and all that. So it’s more of a project class, which is not something you see in engineering classes at Swat. I’d say right now it’s fun, and more of the kind of creative stuff I like doing.”
Marco Xue ’28: “So far I’d say multivariable calculus with Professor Ralph Gomez, because he’s a very funny professor. I hope he doesn’t read this, but he’s, like, so unfunny that he’s funny. And it’s clear that he’s really passionate about the subject, so every class felt like a blast.”
Emily McClung ’26: “I’d say the best classes are in the dance department. Shoutout to [Senior Lecturer] Chandra Moss-Thorne, any class with her is gonna be great.”
Anna Mayer ’29: “Well, right now I’m in radical Jesus, which is so fascinating. [James Hormel Chair of Social Justice Mark] Wallace is just a delight to talk to. He’s a great professor and the energy in the class is engaging and thoughtful, so I never get bored.”
Annie Liu ’28: “Economic efficiency and market distributive justice taught by [Professor] Mark Kuperberg. I feel like it’s been one of the most informative classes I’ve ever taken here at Swarthmore. He asks a lot of hypotheticals that encourage you to think, and discussion-based classes are always great.”
Owen Geary ’29: “Probably intro to engineering design because [Isaiah V. Williamson Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Carr] Everbach is the G.O.A.T. and I like that his approach is not just about the mechanics and the physical aspect of engineering, but also about its implications for the real world — he does history lessons alongside design lessons, which makes the class really engaging.”
Ilima Beattie ’29: “I’m currently in a class called indigenous art, land, and the environment, and it’s been so interesting. So far, the readings are so informative, and the students are so engaged in the class. I feel like it’s such a specific topic that blends a bunch of different fields together, so the people who take it are really interesting. It’s just a great class.”
Wyatt Brannon ’26: “That’s a hard question. Probably Islamic law and society with [Associate] Professor Tariq al-Jamil. It was a very fun class. He’s an incredibly intelligent person, and I learned a lot about Islam.”
Sho Glashausser ’26: “Taiko. It’s a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Very much worth it.”
Ruby Polansky ’28: “Plants and human culture with [retired Professor Susan] Barton. She’s just really insightful about gardens, and I really enjoyed learning about it.”
Abby Guise ’26: “I don’t know. I don’t know. Get this out of my face. I don’t know.”
Who is the most iconic professor on campus?
Jazziah Manning ’29: “I don’t really know any professors yet … But, I’m on the softball team and everyone says that [Associate Professor Kathryn Riley ’10] is great. She’s not here right now because she’s in Canada, but apparently she’s really good at softball and people like her as a professor too.”
Jefrey Torres ’26: “Oh [Peace and Conflict Studies Department Chair Sa’ed Atshan ’06]. I really love the guy. He’s something else. I think he’s very eccentric, he always wants to talk to the students. And his personality is unique.”
Emily McClung ’26: “[Professor of Linguistics and Social Justice] Donna Jo Napoli. In one of the classes I took with her, she gave us a book she wrote — passed them out during class. She goes to everything, like she pulls up to yoga class sometimes. She’s everywhere. Just an icon; Swarthmore icon.”
Anna Mayer ’29: “I think [James Hormel Chair of Social Justice Mark] Wallace, he’s the best!”
Annie Liu ’28: “Professor Mark Kuperberg — I’m sorry. In my humble opinion (as he would say), as controversial as he might be, I think he holds really interesting office hours, if you go to them. He gives great answers to your questions — and he encourages you to think about some crazy hypotheticals that help you understand the concepts more.”
Ilima Beattie ’29: “I have to say [Lecturer] Beatriz Ramirez, she’s a Spanish professor. She’s so fun, and she always has the best outfits. She just has a wonderful personality and is so cheerful.”
Wyatt Brannon ’26: “[James Hormel Chair of Social Justice] Mark Wallace, he is so chill and wholesome and amazing.”
Sho Glashausser ’26: “[Professor] Ralph Gomez. I’ve done like five classes with him, he’s a math professor, he just says these great things. He’s a great character.”
Ruby Polansky ’28: “[Provost and Dean of the Faculty] Rich [Wicentowski]”
Abby Guise ’26: “[Department Chair] Barbara Milewski in music.”
What exactly is a provost, to the best of your knowledge?
Jazziah Manning ’29: “No idea … Is it related to classes? What do they do? Also, who is it?”
Jefrey Torres ’26: “I know the answer — I kind of know the answer. I think they’re the people who handle faculty issues … Actually I probably don’t think I know what they do. I just know that they deal with the faculty. A lot of people think it’s a mysterious entity … Oh wait, I think they’re like the HR for faculty — that’s the best comparison I can make.”
Marco Xue ’28: “Umm … can I search something up really quick? I have no idea what a provost is, it sounds like some kind of medieval town or something. I have no idea.”
Emily McClung ’26: “Are those like the deans? I don’t know, man … They help run the college, I guess.”
Anna Mayer ’29: “I don’t know that I can answer that. I know that there is one! It’s a position of authority within the school, I guess.”
Annie Liu ’28: “I do not know … Ummm … I would assume they do something administrative.”
Owen Geary ’29: “It’s like a senior administrative officer for colleges or something like that.”
Ilima Beattie ’29: “I don’t exactly know.”
Wyatt Brannon ’26: “A provost is, like, the head of the faculty and the administration.”
Sho Glashausser ’26: “It’s a social construct. It’s just someone who’s, like, important that we care about and who makes some decisions about things that people listen to.”
Ruby Polansky ’28: “All I know is that ours stepped down. [Erin Picken: “Do you know who our new one is? It’s Rich.”] It’s Rich? Rich is provost? Wow … Go Rich! And go Garnet.”
Abby Guise ’26: “Next question.”
