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 …

An image of a banner in the Dining and Community Commons that reads "Welcome to the Dining and Community Commons"

Just Say Hi: A Case for Friendliness

by Corinne Lafont

October 2, 2025

Corinne Lafont ’26 makes a case for friendliness in the face of unprecedented levels of isolation among young people.

Author Wyatt Brannon stands on McGill Walk smiling

Being Autistic is Okay, Actually

by Wyatt Brannon

October 2, 2025

Wyatt Brannon ’26 advocates for the centering of autistic voices in the wake of Donald Trump’s and RFK Jr.’s inflammatory statements about supposed causes of autism.

Almost touched the sun

by Megumi Jindo

October 2, 2025

like crystals you touched the glass and it broke your leaves at full bloom but dust covers the path forward why does your heart race leave mine cold i want to talk to you about it about how the rose lost its

Gulping Air

by Megumi Jindo

October 2, 2025

fisting your hair i jumped off the boat ready to float and flee and fly but then you asked if this was what i had always longed for if this was it i didn’t have an answer so i waited for you

renewal

by Megumi Jindo

October 2, 2025

squeezing life out of rustling trees pouring mint tea into birch mugs listening to the birds watching colors of the sky change and change living in an eternity our scribbles are golden inking in barks glimpsing dawn our eyes following the earth

Coming Ages

by Megumi Jindo

October 2, 2025

catching your hands as they fall rose petals glimmering in your eyes as we bike towards the sunset rushing forward into the future not backing it building it sunlight flickering in our path oblique creations we’re molding still and sitting in silence

Weekly Column: Swat Says

Rafi KarpowitzandErin Picken

October 2, 2025

In this edition of Swat Says, students share their favorite dining hall meal, reveal the craziest thing they've heard from a professor in class, and discuss the buildings with the worst vibes on campus.

Russell Wilson: From Super Bowl Star to Benched “Veteran”

by Aimee Lee

October 2, 2025

Russell Wilson, a perennial MVP candidate, has recently experienced a steep performance decline. Read about his journey to the bench.

Athlete of the Week: Melissa Eyer ’28

by Aimee Lee

October 2, 2025

Melissa Eyer '28 runs the volleyball court with her elite ball control and defensive capabilities. Read on to hear more about her fourth Centennial Athlete of the Week selection!