How do you feel about Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) seeing his shadow?
Lillian Newby ’28: I frickin’ am going to hold Phyllis hostage the next time he sees his shadow. He does not deserve that life-saving elixir that he’s given. Get a new one. It’s time for him to retire … This seems a little sexist to me. Maybe it’s because a man is always seeing his shadow, which is why we have six more weeks of winter every single year. Maybe a woman would give us what we want.
Ryan Baldwin ’28: I’m just confused why a groundhog is deciding this. Why not an eagle? Wait no… the phoenix should decide our fate because it rises from the ashes.
Dash Eisinger ’28: The only good thing that came out of Groundhog Day was me learning that [Former New York City Mayor] Bill de Blasio killed a groundhog. I mean, it wasn’t really his fault, but he was holding a groundhog and it lowkey just fell and then died a week later … from internal injuries.
Selina Yang ’28: Fuck groundhogs. There are not gonna be six more weeks of winter. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be tank top weather next week.
Ella Johnson ’29: I’m going to kill that groundhog. Staten Island Chuck is better. [Phil] should retire. He is over 100 years old.
Luca Ferrandino ’29: I don’t really care, I still have to go to class regardless of what (hog’s name) says. He (the hog) has been doing it for way too long; he’s got to be washed at this point. They don’t even have him look at his shadow, the guy holding him just says whatever he wants.
Mateo Lujan ’29: I was very upset! I refuse to believe it. He needs more training. I actually think somebody coaxed that out of him.
Isaac Levenstein ’26: I think it’s a funny holiday. It’s too bad about the prediction. I’m from Wisconsin so it’s not too bad, but I’m also like, I don’t want any more of this. I thought I was escaping coming here.
What did you think about the Winter Formal? Should the tradition continue?
Lillian Newby ’28: I kind of felt like I was dreaming. Nothing felt real! I walked in and saw a pile of coats, they said there would be a coat rack but there wasn’t! I walked up the stairs and I saw the flowers, and thought ‘Oh, there are flowers. That’s nice.’ We do some flower making. I look at the food, I go, ‘I’m not eating this crap.’ Then we looked at the swing dance, and I thought, ‘This is fun.’ Then ten o’clock hits, and I think ‘It’s time to change the music!’ Then the blue lights came on. I really don’t remember anything past that point. It was a fever dream.
Ryan Baldwin ’28: I went. It was cute … It was cute!
Dash Eisinger ’28: I lowkey was out with a fever … But I’m not too sad about that. I think if they could pull one off that people actually went to, that would be better. But that’s more of a Swarthmore-wide problem.
Selina Yang ’28: It’s really cold, it’s really boring, and last year’s Formal wasn’t that fun either.
Isaac Levenstein ’26: I did not go. I have not gone to Winter Formal once. Ever since prom in high school I’m done with dressing up for a fancy party. It’s ok, but I don’t need it.
Lucinda Chase ’28: I think that last year’s idea of having a pre-event and then a party in Paces probably worked better than what they did this year. Having a full event in Upper Tarble and just a tiny speaker in Paces is probably not gonna draw the ground they want. I didn’t go though; that’s just my assumption.
Ella Johnson ’29: I did not go; I had prior plans. I think the tradition should continue. It is nice to know that it is an option.
Luca Ferrandino ’29: I didn’t feel like going. I think it’s a fun thing to do. I might go next year.
Did you watch the Grammys, what are your thoughts/takes?
Mateo Lujan ’29: I did. I had a watch party. I wasn’t too upset about the Grammys, and usually I’m pretty upset at these award things. I saw this guy Gesaffelstein on the runway; I don’t listen to his music, but he had this mask on. It was all black! I thought it was very… It was crazy.
Lillian Newby ’28: Yeah, I saw clips of it, but I’m, like, just about to do my deep dive. I only saw a few outfits. I saw Chappel [Roan]’s dress. I loved it. I thought it was really great. I thought it was, like, all those buzzwords. She looked like a goddess! I also thought, ‘Why is everybody wearing white?’ And then I remembered that the color of the year is that stupid frickin’ pale color. It’s not even a color more like a tone.
Ryan Baldwin ’28: I did not watch it! I had to grade! People need to stop using ChatGPT, ’cause I have to speak to the professor, and they have to do so much. Please just stop using ChatGPT!
Luca Ferrandino ’29: I did not watch the Grammys. I had three rehearsals and then homework, and even if I knew about it I wouldn’t have even cared.
Ella Johnson ’29: I didn’t even know it was happening.
Isaac Levenstein ’26: I half follow along with the Grammys. I thought Cher saying Luther van Dross instead of the song Luther was pretty fun. No other crazy thoughts or opinions.
Lucinda Chase ’28: I’m happy that this was the third year in a row I guessed the best new artist, and I’ll never shut up about it. I was there for Victoria Monet. The Grammys don’t matter, but sometimes I get mad when they give it to someone that doesn’t deserve it. And I don’t think I was mad this year.
Dash Eisinger ’28: The only thing I care about is Bad Bunny, otherwise I don’t really pay attention to it.
How did Add/Drop go, did you get the classes you wanted?
Lillian Newby ’28: I want to be really candid. I was trying to get into every single dance course, and I got kicked out of every single one. I can’t beat the system, apparently. There’s no way you can. The system is abusing me violently. And I really need it to change. Because if we’re going to fight for better treatment for women in this world, we need to start giving them the classes that they deserve.
Ryan Baldwin ’28: It went great! I’m just lucky. I think people shouldn’t get attached to classes before Add/Drop is over.
Ella Johnson ’29: I have yet to suffer rejection.
Luca Ferrandino ’29: I chose niche courses so I got into everything I wanted. But I think always have a couple backups because you don’t want to bank on only one course.
Mateo Lujan ’29: I didn’t add or drop anything, so it was chill. My tip is to just be lucky, go to a tarot card reader.
Isaac Levenstein ’26: I liked my schedule this semester, everything worked out. I’ve procrastinated picking classes for longer than I should, but things tend to work out. Add/Drop is not the thing I tend to get annoyed about.
Selina Yang ’28:: I dropped a class twenty minutes before the deadline. I was doing the homework. It was a lot. The class was STAT 21; it’s really crazy this year.
