Opinion Archives - Page 12 of 215

Swarthmore College: It’s Now or Never on Listening to Your Community

This week is a potentially momentous one in the history of Swarthmore College. The petition to unionize, signed by an overwhelming majority of resident assistants (RAs) and filed on Monday with the federal government, guarantees a referendum on the topic, likely in

November 9, 2023

Highlights·Opinion

The Narples Scanning Machine and the Dining Center from Hell

The Narples scanning machine arrived unceremoniously into our lives about a week ago. Its impact, thus far, has been small. However, I can say without hyperbole that what it represents is a sort of philosophy of design that fills me with dread.

November 2, 2023

Opinion

A Response to Swarthmore’s Middle East and North Africa Faculty Statement

In last week’s Phoenix, eight Swarthmore faculty (henceforth “the authors”) criticized President Smith’s letter to the community of Oct. 10th entitled “Violence in the Middle East.” At first, I thought they objected to the fact that President Smith mentioned “the horrific attacks

November 2, 2023

Opinion

We Must Respect Our Public Spaces

It is almost a common occurrence to get an email from your resident assistant or area coordinator requesting residents to help maintain a healthy and clean living environment. It is so common that one would think the requests would stick. One would

November 2, 2023

Highlights·Opinion

The Argentine Strategy: What the US Should (and Won’t) Learn From It

A few months ago, Argentina held primary elections for presidential and congressional races. The presidential winners? A self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist and an anti-crime conservative who led the race. The left-wing candidate of the incumbent party came in third. Come this week, however, with

October 26, 2023

Opinion

Our Protests Should Be More Thoughtful

There are few moments when it is not worth listening to someone. This should be an obvious truism, yet it feels like an increasingly contentious position. When a group of my fellow students interrupted Haverford College Professor of Political Science Barak Mendelsohn

October 26, 2023

Opinion

An Education in Classical Music: Decolonizing the Mind of Classical Concerts Goers

What comes to mind when someone says “classical music”? Formality? Traditions? Outdated antiquity? It’s funny how the term has adjectival implications. I was once described by a stranger who, upon our first encounter, said, “You just look like someone who listens to

October 26, 2023

Opinion

Swarthmore Middle East and North Africa Faculty Statement on Violence in Palestine/Israel

As scholars of the Middle East and North Africa at Swarthmore College, we are deeply disappointed by the public letter issued by President Valerie Smith on Oct. 10, 2023 titled “Violence in the Middle East.” In the letter, Smith denounced the “horrific

October 24, 2023

Highlights·Opinion

Swarthmore’s Frisby Craze of the ’50s and “Genteel Frisby”

Frisbee has been alive at Swarthmore decades before the days of the venerated Earthworms and Warmothers. Formal frisbee mania began in the spring of 1958, with a tournament hosted by the Society of Kwink (an organization of managers of men’s sports teams

October 12, 2023

Opinion

We Already Have a Multi-Party System, At Least In Congress

On Tuesday afternoon, eight Republicans — one moderate, one establishment, and six hardline — joined with 208 Democrats to remove Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker of the House. This leaves, effectively, 210 Republicans in support of McCarthy, 208 Democrats in favor of

October 5, 2023

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Opinion - Page 12