Weekly Column: Swat Says

October 2, 2025
Phoenix Photo/Devin Gibson

What’s your favorite dining hall meal?

Keira Miles ’28: “The General Tso’s chicken when they have green beans as well. Or the pita bread when they have the different types of hummus.”

Anwen Reed ’28: “I like the days when they have the different types of wings and celery and carrots.”

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Dylan Stringer ’28: “I really like the meatballs at the pasta bar. Everyone hates the pasta bar, but the meatballs are so good.”

Natalie Pham ’26: “Anything with salmon is pretty okay.”

Shane Del Toro ’29: “I like the fajitas; I think the Mexican food is really nice. I think the food is pretty good overall — I haven’t had any problems with it.”

Hannah He ’29: “The Korean bibimbap bowl. I love Korean food, and I feel like they make it pretty close to what it should be. Overall, the food at the dining hall has good days and bad days. Like, sometimes it’s really good and sometimes it’s really bad.” 

Brooke Leibowitz ’26: “The vegan stuffed peppers that they have. They had them twice at the beginning of the year and then not again until yesterday. So, they’ve got to fix that.”

Madina Sore ’26: “I don’t know … Breakfast. I guess I’d say the Phoenix sandwiches.”

What’s the craziest or most memorable thing a professor has said in class?

Keira Miles ’28: “I have a professor who pronounces my name wrong and I never noticed. They pronounce it ‘Key-air-ah,’ and I’ve had them twice.”

Anwen Reed ’28: “I don’t remember the context, but she said, ‘If you enter the mushroom garden, you get whisked away to fairyland.’”

Dylan Stringer ’28: “A professor taught a bunch of content and then immediately told us it just wasn’t relevant at all.”

Natalie Pham ’26: “‘Unlike your computer, if I hit you over the head with a crowbar, you will most likely still work.’”

Shane Del Toro ’29: “My peace and conflict studies professor talked about how he was detained. He was a part of this protest group, and they were detained for a bit because they were protesting in front of a corporation or something.”

Hannah He ’29: ‘I had a professor last year who worked for Obama at one point. He was seriously flexing about it.” 

Brooke Leibowitz ’26: “Last fall, I had a professor tell the entire class that it would be an easy A. Then I put in more work than any other class, including my physics class, and I got a B. I don’t know why he said that, but it was rough for everyone.” 

What building has the worst vibes on campus?

Keira Miles ’28: “Beardsley, unfortunately.”

Anwen Reed ’28: “I think Parrish.”

Madina Sore ’26: “I think probably Clothier Hall. There’s nothing in there now that Essie’s moved, and it feels kinda … I don’t know but when you’re in there by yourself … It feels weird. And Wharton, I don’t know if they changed it, but I hate how hot and musty it is in there. No A/C. Like it just feels wet when I go in there.”

Dylan Stringer ’28: “Probably Beardsley, honestly.”

Natalie Pham ’26: “Singer, I think because I spend too much time there.”

Shane Del Toro ’29: “I honestly don’t have an answer right now… I mean, maybe Kohlberg right now, cause it’s not even open.”

Hannah He ’29: “Trotter. Definitely. Especially the main floor … It’s so damp and dark. I don’t like it.” 

Brooke Leibowitz ’26: “I would probably say Beardsley, just because it’s been very weird every time I’ve walked in there. And I’m just always confused. The hallways are so narrow and cinder-blocky. I’m like okay … leaving.”

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