How would you rank each Tri-co mascot (Phineas the Phoenix, Harverford’s Black Squirrel, Bryn Mawr’s Olympia the Owl)?
Irene Hill ’27: I’m gonna have to rep my sister who’s a big squirrel fan, so I’d have to say the Black Squirrel first. The Phoenix is beautiful but I think Swat could do it a bit better, like we could really lean into the fire aspect. There’s so much we could do with the Phoenix, so the fact that we have kind of a chud-looking Phoenix is unfortunate. And, you know, I’m chill with owls — no hate to owls — but that’s my ranking. The owl goes third.
Yara Shobut ’27: I didn’t even know the other two mascots, but Phineas is on top. Not because of Swat pride, but because I like that, you know, based off of a real story of how Parrish was burnt down and was rebuilt. Phoenix rising from the ashes type shit. I don’t know what the meaning behind the other mascots is, but in terms of just vibes of the actual mascots, I think the owl’s cute, so I would say they are second, but then the Black Squirrel seems mysterious. I’m like, wait, “that should be a second,” but I think I’ll rank it third.
Shane Del Tora ’29: I mean, I have to go with Swarthmore first, obviously. School pride … I guess next I go, Olympia the Owl. I like the name. The third would be the Black Squirrel. [Nasrin: Do you have something against the black squirrel?] Nothing against it. It just seems the most basic.
Devon Smith ’28: I wish you had pictures of them. I feel like the black squirrel just sounds cool and unique. None of them have chantable names. “Go Phoenix, Go Black Squirrels.” I think Phineas looks a little silly.
Amro Samarah ’28: I put Phineas first, ’cause, like, I just see him everywhere. Then I put Bryn Mawr’s. I’ve been to Bryn Mawr a few times, and I really liked it. And then I’d say Haverford’s.
Will Fry ’30: I’m not the type of person to have a very patriotic sense of my school, but I do think Phineas is the coolest simply because it is a mythical creature and there’s a whole story behind it. I’m gonna choose Haverford’s Black Squirrel second, because I’d say that’s the most unique — I appreciate that it’s something different. So I guess the owl is third.
Imelda Ramirez ’29: Well I think the Phoenix can be a bit scary at times, but I do love the logos representing the Phoenix. But I really love owls. I really don’t understand the Black Squirrel though, I’m really confused by that. But I’m gonna play it safe and say the Phoenix is number one, then the owl, and the Black Squirrel, because I need to know the origins.
Are Swarthmore students addicted to being miserable?
Devon Smith ’28: Yes. A lot of Swarthmore students. I feel like I fall into that trap too. I definitely engage in that a lot. I can’t lie. I think it’s just that the environment is so academically challenging and everyone has their own goals and most of the goals are very high. Most people here are very high-achieving, so it does become like Misery Olympics at some point.
Irene Hill ’27: Yes, I think so. I think I find ways to frolic and my frolic is actively built into my schedule. I need to frolic at least once every three days. [Rafi: Is that the ideal ratio?] Approximately. I just find myself getting more miserable when I don’t frolic. But when I tell people I’ve been out in the woods or on a walk, they look at me with shock, appalled at the fact that I’m not forcing myself to suffer. I think that my suffering, in the times that it must exist, is far more productive when I have frolicked.
Shane Del Tora ’29: I hope not. Sometimes it seems like it. I mean, everybody’s always around campus studying, complaining about how much work we have, but, you know, I think that at the end of the day, we all have fun here.
Amro Samarah ’28: Yes, I think, because of the hustle culture. I think we kind of pressure each other in a way to, like, just keep doing more stuff.
Yara Shobut ’27: I don’t think the students themselves are. I think there’s a broader culture. There’s this saying that, you know, everyone is addicted to work, everyone is addicted to all of the stuff, but it’s just a mindset. But why is there a culture if the students themselves are not perpetuating it? You can get a sociological, anthropological answer. I’ll say, yes and no.
Will Fry ’30: Swarthmore has a work-hard, play-hard culture that doesn’t really work out because everyone just ends up working really hard constantly. I wouldn’t say that we’re addicted to being miserable, but I do think sometimes people are struggling more than they realize and they don’t know how to deal with that.
Imelda Ramirez ’29: I think that there is a problem with students spreading themselves too thin, and they want to do everything so they overcommit themselves. But very soon you learn that you don’t have all the hours in the day, but because they have an innate passion for what they’re doing, they feel like they can’t quit. When you lead your life in that manner, it’s hard to feel fulfilled all the time.
How much caffeine is too much caffeine in one day?
Devon Smith ’28: I have no limit. I feel like … four energy drinks in a day is too much. [Nasrin: What type of energy drinks are you drinking? ] I mean, I’ll drink, like, a Monster. It’s just tasty.
Will Fry ’30: I’ve almost over-dosed on caffeine, so I would say over 1,000 milligrams, which is technically the amount that could cause an overdose. I had 1,100. I did not sleep a summer ago because I had really bad insomnia and I didn’t realize V8 Energy had any caffeine, but I soon learned they each had 100 milligrams. So I had ten of those and then a coffee. And then my whole body started vibrating — I felt it in my teeth.
Shane Del Tora ’29: Personally, I don’t like to drink a lot of coffee or any energy drinks, so for me, I’ll say that more than two energy drinks is probably more than enough. But, I imagine for some people that can go, like, way higher.
Irene Hill ’27: I think you should ask Jonah Sah ’27 this question.
Amro Samarah ’28: One or two coffees, max, for sure. But, like, one Celsius or Red Bull. That’s enough, yeah. Especially like after 2 p.m. Yeah, you should just not drink them at all.
Yara Shobut ’27: More than two cups of coffee that both have a double shot. Or, like, more than one Red Bull or more than one Celsius.
Imelda Ramirez ’29: I’m a very avid tea drinker. I drink one cup in the morning, one at lunch, and then a decaffeinated one at dinner. But I think if you’re reliant and you feel like you can’t function without it, that’s when it’s too much.
How do you feel about Garnet Weekend occurring at the same time as Halloweekend? Does this throw a wrench in your plans?
Irene Hill ’27: I think it’s a tactic by the forces that be to discourage partying so that when you show up to brunch with your parents you’re not post-Halloweening, if you will.
Yara Shobut ’27: That’s on them. If nobody shows up or people are showing up shit-faced [to Garnet Weekend events, the school] asked for it. I’m not even going to be here this weekend. I’m going home this weekend. But if I was on campus and I saw a bunch of families I would be reminded of Halloween when people are going trick-or-treating with their families. So I feel like it would be kind of cute, actually. So I’m not totally opposed.
Will Fry ’30: In general, I think it’s weird because it’s causing a lot of inter-family discourse from what I hear. [Rafi: What have you heard?] Well there are people who say “I don’t wanna hang out with my parents,” which I’m not sure if I agree with, but then other people’s parents are upset if they want to go out which is weird. It’s just creating weird tension.
Amro Samarah ’28: For me, I usually participate in Halloween. I never go to Garnet Weekends, but,I feel like for athletes or people who go to Garnet Weekend, it’s weird having your parents over during the same week as Halloween. That might be really awkward. But it could also be really cute too, yeah.
Devon Smith ’28: I think it’s the worst idea ever … It’s just such strange timing. I don’t understand what the rationale could have possibly been for that decision.
Shane Del Tora ’29: I mean, I feel like it could disrupt a little bit of the vibes, but for the most part, I don’t know, it seems kind of fun, just kind of a mix of the two. [Nasrin: Do you think the parents are gonna dress up?] I don’t know about the parents, but I feel like they could be convinced.
Imelda Ramirez ’29: Honestly I love Garnet Weekend and I love Halloween, and when you mash two great things together it could either be even better or it could be like, “Oh gosh, I shouldn’t have done that in the first place.” So I think we’re gonna have to wait and see. But at the moment I’m leaning toward the side that it’s going to be pretty hectic.
