The Phoenix

College Data Reveals Rise in Average Grades Over Past Two Decades

April 9, 2026

News

Data on students’ average grades over the past two decades show that the average grade given at Swarthmore has risen across all divisions.

Ask The Phoenix: Who’s On the Committee to Choose Swarthmore’s Next President?

by Zephyr Weinreich

April 9, 2026

Some analysis, takeaways, and biography of who is on the committee to

Letter From Faculty and Staff In Defense of Students’ Freedom of Expression

by Undersigned Faculty

April 9, 2026

79 members of Swarthmore's faculty and staff condemn the college's recent disciplinary

Students on Their Hopes for the College’s Next President

Rafi KarpowitzandNasrin Ahmed

April 9, 2026

A wide range of students on campus tell The Phoenix what they

Chris Van Hollen ‘83 H’14 On His Fiery Year in the Senate

by Daniel Perrin

April 9, 2026

Senator Chris Van Hollen ’83 discusses his political approach to an increasingly

Latest Stories

The Phoenix in Conversation with Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild ’62 H’93

by Daniel Perrin

April 9, 2026

The Fleeting Nature of the Human Experience: ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’

by Nasrin Ahmed

April 9, 2026

History on Trial: A Review of ‘The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington’

by Yijia (Jessica) Qin

April 9, 2026

Campus Survey Results Reveal Concerns About Religious Discrimination, Ableism, Other Issues

by Xinto Xu

April 2, 2026

The DEI office released the Campus Culture & Climate Survey Report, which both showed a general satisfaction with the campus climate but raised potential

Memorial Bike Ride and Dedication Ceremony Honor Late Swarthmore Professor

by Zephyr Weinreich

April 2, 2026

Philadelphia cyclists memorialize former Swarthmore professor killed in bicycle-automobile collision.

The Phoenix in Conversation with Prof. Daniel Laurison on Political Disconnection

by Xinto Xu

April 2, 2026

Prof. Daniel Laurison talks about his research on political disconnection among working-class people and shares his insights on election, political (non)participation, and democracy.

‘Get in Loser, We’re Going Whaling’: Swarthmore’s Moby Dick Readathon

by Ellen Stewart

April 2, 2026

Swarthmore students come together in Upper Tarble to read all of "Moby Dick" in 25 hours.

Iyad Hmidat and Heba Alsaidi on Their Experience With Mutual Aid in Gaza

by Beika Lyu

April 2, 2026

Palestinian mutual aid workers Iyad Hmidat and Heba Alsaidi share about their life and work in Gaza during the war and after the ceasefire

Opinions

Weekly Column: Swat Says

Rafi KarpowitzandNasrin Ahmed

April 9, 2026

In this edition of Swat Says, students share their favorite outdoor study spots, discuss how to deal with academic burnout, and pitch some alternative songs for the Clothier bell tower's quarter-hourly toll.

Office Hours: Faculty on Their Hopes for the College’s Next President

Rafi KarpowitzandNasrin Ahmed

April 2, 2026

In this edition of Office Hours, Swarthmore faculty share what they would like to see from the next president.

Friction Makes Us Human; We Need More of It

by Erin Picken

April 2, 2026

Erin Picken '27 criticizes the embrace of tools and technology that seek to remove any difficulty — or friction — from daily life.

Arts

Artist of the Week Simone Gingerich-Boberg ’26: Finding Meaning In Performance

by Jeremy Weinstein-Sears

April 9, 2026

Simone Gingerich-Boberg ’26 on their experiences with dance and the ways their practice has evolved during their time at Swarthmore.

Recommendations From the Editorial Board Vol 3.

Megumi JindoandKelan SatoandIvy Lin

April 9, 2026

Read about Layout and Features Editors' Arts Recommendations

Queeries: The Corpse in the Closet

by Ari Froehlich

April 9, 2026

Check out our ‘Queeries’ column! This time on Mart Crowley’s 1968 play-adapted film “The Boys in the Band.”

Sports

Athlete of the Week: Aubree Daugherty ’26

by Aimee Lee

April 9, 2026

Aubree Daughtery '26 reflects on her four years playing women's lacrosse at Swarthmore.

A New Era of March Madness

by Claire Mathews

April 9, 2026

The Women's Basketball March Madness tournament has taken strides towards increased viewership.

Reflections from a Doubles Specialist

by Riya Rao

April 2, 2026

Riya Rao '26 reflects on her journey as a tennis player, from the stress and intensity of youth sports and her early college career to finding a more healthy dynamic in doubles play.

Features

A Ranked Guide to the Hobbs Spring Menu

by Cameron Alleyne

April 9, 2026

Cameron Alleyne '29 reviews Hobbs Spring Menu.

Crumb Cafe Secret Menu

by Charlotte Hall

April 9, 2026

Charlotte Hall '28 reviews Crumb Cafe's menu.

The Love Song of C. Anne Lafont

by Corinne Lafont

April 2, 2026

Corinne Lafont '26 reflects on her four years at Swarthmore.

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.

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.

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 …

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