The Phoenix

‘Hundreds’ of Acts of Graffiti Spray-Painted Across Campus, Extensive Cleaning Work Ensues

May 2, 2026

News

"Hundreds of acts of vandalism" occurred early morning Friday May 1. The Phoenix captured the before-and-after as a significant cleaning effort rolled out.

Val Smith Sits Down for Spring Interview with The Phoenix

by Daniel Perrin

April 30, 2026

President Val Smith reflects on her presidency, her goals for the rest

Spring ’26 Student Body Poll Results

Rafi KarpowitzandDaniel Perrin

April 30, 2026

The Phoenix releases the results of its third semesterly survey of the

Spring ’26 Faculty Poll Results

Daniel PerrinandRafi Karpowitz

April 30, 2026

The Phoenix releases the results of its second semesterly poll of the

The Phoenix in Conversation with Robert Putnam ’63

by Zephyr Weinreich

April 30, 2026

Robert Putnam '63 charts his evolution from aspiring engineer to political scientist

Latest Stories

Swarthmore Needs a CCTV Committee

by The Editorial Board

April 30, 2026

Ask The Phoenix: What’s The Status of Current Campus Construction Projects?

by Xinto Xu

April 30, 2026

College Data Reveals Seven-Fold Increase in Disability Accommodations Since 2011

by Daniel Perrin

April 30, 2026

News

Generative AI Pervades Higher Education: Here’s How Three Institutions Responded

Zephyr WeinreichandThe Collegiate Journalism Network (TCJN)

April 30, 2026

Zephyr Weinreich joins journalists from Emporia State University and Oberlin College to report on AI usage and policy across institutions.

Campus Discussions: How Swarthmore is Thinking About AI

by Nina Sablan

April 30, 2026

Nina Sablan conveys wide-ranging campus opinions on AI usage.

A Look Inside Swarthmore’s 350+ Camera Surveillance Network

Ella WalkerandDaniel Perrin

April 23, 2026

A map of the 350+ accessible CCTV cameras on campus and an investigation into who decides to install them, how they're used, and how

Swarthmore Borough Passes Sanctuary and Welcoming Resolution

by Xinto Xu

April 23, 2026

Swarthmore Borough adopted a welcoming resolution the week after college student groups organized "No ICE Week" events.

SEPTA and Swarthmore Borough Begin Discussing Commuter Lot Development

by Lucy Tobier

April 23, 2026

SEPTA, the borough, and the college discuss urban development plan in Swarthmore Town.

Opinions

The College Needs a Reset: A Letter From Faculty

by Undersigned Faculty

April 30, 2026

A collection of faculty reflect on the college’s repression of student activism.

Seniors Reflect: ‘There Can and Must Be a Better Swarthmore College’

by Anonymous Students

April 30, 2026

A group of anonymous seniors reflect on the failings they've witnessed and been affected by during their time at Swarthmore and provide a vision and imperative for a better future.

Genocide and What’s Left of ‘Faith in the Institution’

by Lucas Meyer-Lee

April 30, 2026

Lucas Meyer-Lee '23 reflects on the college's changing response to student activism on campus.

Arts

‘Wilderness Generation’ Review: A Family Reunion That Doesn’t Quite Hit Home

by Alissa Lopes

April 30, 2026

A review of James Ijames' new play "Wilderness Generation," including commentary from the playwright.

Where Does Acting End And Begin? — A Review of ‘Circle Mirror Transformation’

by Joanna Hong

April 30, 2026

A review of Kana Nagata '26's Senior Honors Directing Thesis, "Circle Mirror Transformation"

Recommendations From the Editorial Board Vol 5.

Daniel PerrinandElla WalkerandMaya LevineandSarah Cymrot

April 30, 2026

Read about Copy and Upper Editors' recommendations!

Sports

Athlete of the Week: Lola Diaz ’26

by Katherine Kerman

April 30, 2026

Lola Diaz ’26, hailing from Portland, OR, and Marbella, Spain, has been an integral part of the Swarthmore women’s tennis team for the past four years. She has been awarded All-Centennial First Team Singles (2024) and All-Centennial First-Team Doubles (2024) and has

Some Thoughts I Had While Running the Wilmington, DE, Half-Marathon

by Katherine Kerman

April 30, 2026

As I turned the corner and entered the underpass around mile three of the Wilmington Marathon, the road became dark and wet, and a runner behind me shouted, trying to be witty, “beware of the needles.” But as you can imagine, this

Athlete of the Week: Lydia Morris-Kliment ’27

by Aimee Lee

April 23, 2026

Aimee Ross, co-editor of the Sports Section, in conversation with Lydia Morris-Kliment '27, the outstanding thrower from the Swarthmore Track and Field team.

Features

In Defense of Hobbs

by Kush Kaur

April 30, 2026

Kush Kaur '29 reflects on experience at Hobbs Cafe.

Reflections from a Graduating Senior

by Maya Levine

April 30, 2026

Maya Levine '26 reflects on her years at Swarthmore.

The Moonlit Path

by Megumi Jindo

April 23, 2026

Megumi Jindo '28 reflects on her experience at Swarthmore so far and the passing of the baton in her Kizuna, Japanese club.

SEPTA Funding and the Perils of Political Theatre

by Rafi Karpowitz

October 9, 2025

Rafi Karpowitz '27 argues that the drama this summer surrounding SEPTA's funding is representative of a more broad phenomenon, in which politics is defined fundamentally by theatrics and calculated posturing that is often detrimental to the people whom political actors should serve.

Weekly Column: Swat Says

Rafi KarpowitzandErin Picken

October 9, 2025

In this edition of Swat Says, students share their thoughts on grade inflation, discuss their plans for fall break, and reveal the most humbling class they've taken at Swarthmore.

WSOC Day in the Life: Away Game vs. Muhlenberg College

by Aimee Lee

October 9, 2025

As we head into the middle of the fall semester, Swarthmore’s sports schedules will become increasingly busy. While exams and paper deadlines approach quickly, varsity athletic teams plunge into the middle of conference play, when the significance of winning is the most

“I Think I Love This Place”: Reflections of a First Month at Swat

by Drew Stanley

October 9, 2025

“I think I love this place.” The first text message I ever sent from Pennsylvania. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, 9:30 p.m. I was holed up at the Hampton Inn in Media, fresh out of a shower that had washed away all the

Athlete of the Week: Lauren Lior ’27

by Katherine Kerman

October 9, 2025

Swarthmore women’s soccer forward Lauren Lior ’27 hails from Fairfield, CT, and is a graduate of Greens Farms Academy. During her first year with the Garnet, she had a stellar season, breaking into the starting lineup, and cementing herself as an integral

Fan of the Year

by Paris Kampel

October 9, 2025

Beyond the Page: Milla Ben-Ezra ’26 on Craft, Community, and Creative Growth

by Maddy Posner

October 9, 2025

Artist of the Week Milla Ben-Ezra '26 talks about craft and collaboration with Maddy Posner '28.

Let’s Talk About It: “Materialists” and Celine Song’s Gentle Parenting

by Neghemi Micah

October 9, 2025

Check out the film review for "Materialists", featuring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal

Jude Sandy on Finding Ourselves Through Breath and Self-Expression

by James Shelton

October 9, 2025

First year. First semester. First weeks. I had no idea what to expect. I was still settling into life at Swarthmore: adjusting to the campus environment, my new roommate, my dorm, all my classes, the hundreds of names I (for the life