The Phoenix

Nobel Prize Winner in Literature Speaks on Campus

by Zephyr Weinreich

December 11, 2025

News

Abdulrazak Gurnah shares his experience of becoming an author and his insights on complexity in fiction.

College Mourns Former Mathematics Professor Teddy Einstein

Lucy TobierandXinto Xu

December 11, 2025

Former Swarthmore math professor Teddy Einstein was tragically killed on Dec. 3.

Fall ’25 Student Body Poll Reveals Perspectives on Campus Institutions and Issues

Rafi KarpowitzandDaniel Perrin

December 11, 2025

The Phoenix sent its second student poll to 35% of the college

Swarthmore Inn Vandalized in Protest of Board of Managers

by Ella Walker

December 11, 2025

"Board of Butchers" was spray-painted last week in protest of the Board

An End of Semester Reflection from the Opinions Editors

Erin PickenandRafi Karpowitz

December 11, 2025

Opinions section editors reflect on the past semester and discuss the importance

Latest Stories

Cass Sunstein: ‘Nudging Past, Present and Future’

by Marra Irons

December 11, 2025

Marriage Pact Goes for Another Round

by Kush Kaur

December 11, 2025

Past and Future Perfect: Berthe Morisot, Child in a Red Apron

by Alma Greenfield

December 11, 2025

Phoenix Poll Reveals Faculty Perspectives on Campus Issues, Controversies

Daniel PerrinandRafi Karpowitz

December 4, 2025

In the inaugural Phoenix faculty poll, 115 faculty members weigh in on topical campus matters, questions, institutions, and controversies.

SEPTA ADA Renovation Process Raises Accessibility Concerns

by Cameron Alleyne

December 4, 2025

Recent renovations at Swarthmore Station aimed at improving accessibility pose challenges for disabled students.

Jim Bock ’90 Sheds Light on Admissions Process, Early Decision Challenges

by Kush Kaur

December 4, 2025

Dean of Admissions explains how Swarthmore recruits and enrolls students while sustaining its test-optional policy amid national debates over standardized testing.

A Conversation with Swarthmore’s New Title IX Coordinator, Matt Walsh

by Georgianna Harpole

December 4, 2025

New Title IX Coordinator shares vision of building a safe campus and responds to questions about supporting trans students and sexual misconduct.

Uncovered Planetarium Invites New Voices to Physics and Astronomy

by Kelan Sato

December 4, 2025

A 20-year-old planetarium, never used before, rediscovered by accident, now helps students explore constellations from new perspectives.

Opinions

There is No Prince Charming Coming to Save You From Finals

by Nasrin Ahmed

December 11, 2025

Nasrin Ahmed '28 argues that seemingly harmless jokes about marrying rich carry more weight than they seem.

Swat Says: Finals Edition

Rafi KarpowitzandErin Picken

December 11, 2025

In this special Final Exams edition of Swat Says, students discuss their plans for winter break, reveal their most dreaded upcoming finals, and share their thoughts on the Swarthmore Marriage Pact.

“We Need Peaceful People in all Professions”: Reflecting on Middlebury’s Experiential Learning Conference

by Nayla Punjabi

December 11, 2025

Nayla Punjabi '26 shares her experiences at Middlebury's Experiential Learning Conference, where herself and two other Swarthmore students learned about systems mapping, a technique which encourages a holistic and strategic approach to problem-solving.

Arts

Artist of the Week: Noble De Marco ’26 — On Fish, Puzzles, and Creative Persistence

by Emery Dong

December 11, 2025

Emery Dong '27 interviews artist Noble De Marco '26 on fish, Bob Ross, artificial intelligence, and more.

Let’s Talk About “Wicked: For Good” (And The Pursuit of Goodness)

by Neghemi Micah

December 11, 2025

Neghemi Micah '26 reviews "Wicked: For Good," starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

First-Year Scaries (and Movies that Can Help!)

by Olivia Huang

December 11, 2025

Midway into finals? Olivia Huang '29 says you should watch these films to cope!

Sports

Athlete of the Week: Genine Collins ’27

by Aimee Lee

December 11, 2025

Genine Collins ’27 is a force to be reckoned with in the pool. On Nov. 8, the junior swimmer broke Swarthmore and Centennial Conference records in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.25, beating out her previous 23.30 school record. For

Track and Field Competes in Opening Meet, Swimming Takes on Rowan

by Aimee Lee

December 11, 2025

Track and Field: On Friday, Dec 10., Swarthmore track and field traveled to Lancaster, PA, to compete in the Diplomat Open hosted by Franklin & Marshall College. The Garnet were one of fifteen colleges represented in the indoor meet, the first of

Philly’s Infamous Mascot: Gritty

by Katherine Kerman

December 11, 2025

The National Hockey League’s (NHL) opening day was Oct. 7 this season. As you may know, the NHL sucks the last ounce of consumerism out of sports fans by making their season span six months of 82 games per team. In the

Features

Serenity in Solitude

by Megumi Jindo

December 11, 2025

Recently, I have been conscientious of presence. The way one holds themselves. The way one walks with purpose. The way one eats alone in the glowing sunlight. Before college, I thought if one was by themself, it meant that they were lonely.

Corinne’s Crossword: Swat Spots to Sob

by Corinne Lafont

December 11, 2025

Sara Sargent ’07 on Nonlinearity, Editing, and the Liberal Arts Experience

by Maddy Posner

December 4, 2025

The second in a series of conversations with alumni, Sara Sargent ’07 is currently a senior executive editor at Penguin Random House. Like last week’s Grace Dignazio ’22, she’s pursued a career around writing, though the dates and details differ slightly …

Alissa Lopes’s Guide to Christmas Movie Rewatching

by Alissa Lopes

December 11, 2025

Alissa Lopes '29 takes us on a journey full of holiday cheer, Christmas movies, and unbridled joy.

In Troubled Times: Spirituality as a Powerful and Underutilized Resource

Michael RambergandSabrina LaBelleandUmar Abdul Rahman

December 4, 2025

Swarthmore's Interfaith Center leaders write about the importance of spirituality in troubled times.

Letter to the Editor: The Role of AI and Standardized Testing in College Admissions

by Sam Handlin

December 4, 2025

Political Scientist Sam Handlin argues that the college should require standardized testing for admissions in the time of artificial intelligence.

Goats Visit the Swarthmore Farm Prototype and Leave a Lasting Impact

by Sophia Springer

December 4, 2025

Last week, a small herd of goats paid a visit to Swarthmore’s farm prototype — and they weren’t just there to look cute. The goats were brought in as part of an effort to explore sustainable ways of managing farmland. As natural

Artist of the Week: Hope Dworkin ’26 on Sculpture, Being a Student First, and Music Appreciation

by Maddy Posner

December 4, 2025

Maddy Posner '28 interviews Hope Dworkin '26 about art, sculpture, scaffolding, music, and more!

Joe Hisaishi and The Power of Nostalgia

by Maya Bundy

December 4, 2025

Maya Bundy '29 experiences Joe Hisaishi and brings you along her nostalgic journey.

Swarthmore Athletics Celebrates a Historic Season: Record Honors, Regional Champions, and Standout Performances

by Aimee Lee

December 4, 2025

Fall teams collect awards, honors, and recognitions for outstanding performances.

The Duality of the U.S. Foreign Policy — Jolani in the White House

by Marco Roberts

December 4, 2025

The politics of Islamophobia in the U.S. is inextricably linked with the “war on terror,” and yet, in the last few weeks, the world saw a rather strange constellation of events that may bewilder the uninformed observer. An immigrant-born Muslim who is

Letter to the Editor: Rob Jordan on Borough Taxes

by Rob Jordan

December 4, 2025

Swarthmore Borough is facing another large tax increase in 2026 and every borough expenditure must be analyzed for its return on investment. Implementing a new food scraps program in 2026 for $150,000 is neither a valid nor logical new large ongoing expense