Where is the best spot to cry on campus?
Nicole Kim ’28: The amphitheater at night.
Kyler Sy ’27: Singer fourth floor, the Atrium. [Rafi: Is that too public, or no?] I think there’s a beauty in vulnerability … No, seriously though, I think it has a good view and honestly there are not too many people up there. You need a good view when you’re crying. And a private space.
Alice Chen ’30: I want to say the theater design studio. I am a theater student and I feel like it’s very tranquil up there, because there’s nobody on that floor and it’s right beside a pretty balcony, so it’s also a beautiful scene. And nobody will interrupt you if you’re ever going to burst into tears.
Mina Bakhshi ’27: I would say in the woods. The Crum Woods. [Rafi: Any particular part?] I think anywhere honestly. Well there is this one spot that’s like a ledge, kind of in a corner so no one can see. Crum Woods is where I would go.
Anna Schwartz ’30: Maybe on a walk.
Ananya Leahy ’29: Can I say my dorm? [Nasrin: Hypothetically, let’s say, your roommate was there and you didn’t want to cry in front of them.] I feel like a bathroom is pretty classic. You know the downstairs bathroom in Sci by the vending machine; no one is ever in that one. I feel like because no one’s ever in that one, you know, privacy.
Kyler Sy ’27: Singer fourth floor, the Atrium. [Rafi: Is that too public, or no?] I think there’s a beauty in vulnerability … No, seriously though, I think it has a good view and honestly there are not too many people up there. You need a good view when you’re crying. And a private space.
Kouta Ishibashi ’30: Dorm room. Uhh, Sci 101 after an exam.
Is there such a thing as too niche of a Halloween costume?
Alice Chen ’30: I feel like the whole point of Halloween is to dress up in as weird or random stuff as you can so that you’re happy and the people who see you are happy too. And maybe they’ll give you more candy. It’s the season to be weird and quirky and whatever you want.
Nicole Kim ’28: Not at this school, surely not. I think if anything, this is the place to do niche costumes.
Mina Bakhshi ’27: I have not been a part of the Halloween celebrations on campus the past few years, so I actually have no idea. I guess I’d say it depends on the costume.
Kouta Ishibashi ’30: Yeah. If no one can recognize it, it’s not really a costume.
Ananya Leahy ’29: I feel like your costume can be anything, but don’t do cultural appropriation. But you should be able to do whatever you want to do. Be yourself, you shouldn’t have other people’s opinions get in the way of who you want to be on Halloween. It’s supposed to be a fun celebration.
Anna Schwartz ’30: No. If you don’t have to explain it and someone gets it, that’s like, oh my God. That is so good. If you have to explain it, it doesn’t hit as well, but maybe someone will understand it.
Kyler Sy ’27: No. I don’t think so. I think Halloween’s a social thing, so you’ve gotta be scary, and also someone needs to get the reference. I feel it’s like a two party thing, you can’t really have an inside joke be a costume. [Rafi: So then I guess there is such a thing as too niche a costume?] I guess so, yeah.
Should homecoming become a bigger thing at Swarthmore?
Nicole Kim ’28: I think it would be nice in theory, but unfortunately the execution might not be quite there — the participation of people wanting to do it. But I would like it to be bigger. [Nasrin: Do you think a lack of school spirit causes this?] I think everyone is focused on their individual academic pursuits, and that’s good, but … lack of community.
Alice Chen ’30: I don’t care about it at all. That’s all I’ll say.
Ananya Leahy ’29: I didn’t participate last year ’cause I’m pretty sure we had a game, I don’t even know what event it really was [Nasrin: Garnet Weekend is meant to be this combination of Homecoming and Family Weekend]. Then I think it should be bigger so that people know what it is.
Anna Schwartz ’30: I didn’t know we had a homecoming. It would be great to have fun things around campus that get people together. Even the fire alarm that went off the other week, I was like, dang, so social out here.
Mina Bakhshi ’27: Yeah sure — I think it would be fun.
Kyler Sy ’27: I guess so, why not. It builds culture. [Rafi: Do you think we need to build culture?] Well, yeah, it would liven the social scene a bit.
Kouta Ishibashi ’30: I don’t really care. I didn’t even go to homecoming during high school.
Which faculty member/administrator do you think would make the best next president?
Mina Bakhshi ’27: Interesting. I actually have never thought about it. I think I’d say [Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and Anthropology] Sa’ed Atshan [’06]. I’ve had several classes with him and I think he’s just the best at managing crises in general, especially when it’s been difficult with the political atmosphere on campus. Diplomatic, I’d say.
Nicole Kim ’28: The only person I can really think of right now is [Provost and Professor of Computer Science] Rich Wicentowski, he is the current Provost. I will go with him, just because I love the man.
Alice Chen ’30: This is only meant to be a joke, but his name is [Production Stage Manager] Brady [Gonsalves]. He’s in the theater department and he roams around handling everything that’s related to theater and stage managing. He’s a very chill person, and once, during rehearsal, he brought me a bag of my favorite chips — sour cream and onion — because he knew that I liked them. So I think he actually cares about students’ well-being.
Kyler Sy ’27: Let’s go [Professor of Mathematics] Cheryl [Grood], in the math department. She’ll bring an eclectic and energetic view to Swat. I think that would be a cool deviation from the presidents we’ve had in the past. Cheryl Grood.
Kouta Ishibashi ’30: … I have no clue. [Nasrin: Any student you would like to see be president of the school in the future?] Eli Cogan [’28].
Ananya Leahy ’29: [Department Chair and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics] Lynne Schofield [Anna Schwartz ’30: I agree. She’s our academic liaison.]
