The Phoenix in Conversation with Pico Iyer
The Phoenix interviews author Pico Iyer
Independent Newspaper of Swarthmore College Since 1881
The Phoenix in Conversation with Hawaii Governor Josh Green ’92
The Phoenix sits down with Josh Green '92 - the Swat alumnus
Professor Salvador Rangel on his Journey Through Academia and the Current Political Environment
Assistant Professor of Sociology Salvador Rangel sits down with Rafael Karpowitz '27
Ask the Phoenix: Why Did McCabe End Late-Night Snacks?
Dining Services cancels late-night snacks in McCabe Library.
A Chat With Chandra: A Look at the Dance Department
Read about Swarthmore's uniquely attentive, welcoming, and extensive dance program.
Swarthmore’s Post Office to Move to Frat Row
Swarthmore's post office plans to relocate to Sharples 4 Building at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
Swarthmore Fought Against the Endowment Tax in Congress: Here’s How
Earlier this year, Swarthmore joined other small colleges to lobby Republican legislators against an increased endowment tax.
Delaware County Adopts Zero Waste Plan
Delco adopts Zero Waste plan, a milestone for environmental advocates working against the Chester incinerator
Starting a New Page: Independent Bookstore Opens in the Ville
The Phoenix visits Swarthmore's newest bookshop
The Phoenix in Conversation with Benedicta Delima
EVS technician Benedicta Delima shares her experience running a nonprofit dedicated to helping Ghanaian widows.
Opinions
Weekly Column: Swat Says
In this edition of Swat Says, students reflect on fall break, discuss common stereotypes of Swarthmore students, and reveal their biggest campus pet peeves.
Office Hours: Faculty on Grading Practices and Grade Inflation
In the second edition of our regular column, “Office Hours”, Swarthmore faculty members share their thoughts on and concerns with grading practices and grade inflation at Swarthmore and beyond.
Weekly Column: Swat Says
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.
Arts
Queeries: Only You Can Cool My Desire
Check out our "Queeries" column! This time on Bruce Springsteen.
GSC’s Rocky Horror Picture Show: Celebrating Tradition and Fishnets
Stay tuned for Rocky Horror on Oct. 30, 11 p.m. at Olde Club!
In the Name of Community: The Orpheus Review’s Music Mixer
The writers of Swarthmore’s online music publication, The Orpheus Review, aren’t just into music journalism and reviews. Expanding past their original charter, the recently reimagined Review held a music mixer in Parrish’s Big Room on Saturday, Oct. 5. The event brought together
Sports
Christen Press Announces Retirement, Ending a Career That Redefined the Game
On Wednesday, Oct. 15, Christen Press announced that she will retire from professional soccer after her final match in an away game against the Chicago Stars on Nov. 1. The decision marks the end of a remarkable fourteen-year professional career for one
The Seattle Mariners — Black Swans or a Budding Franchise on the Rise?
The Seattle Mariners franchise has had some quietly demoralizing statistics across its shameful 48 years in action. The Mariners held the longest active playoff drought in North American sports history, spanning 21 years, and ended it with a Wild Card playoff berth
AOTW: Michael Yuen ’29
Rookie golfer Michael Yuen ’29 has swung his collegiate career in the right direction, quickly establishing a feel for the game. His impressive debut in the George Cangero International ended in a first-place finish with a 66 (-6) and a four-stroke lead
Features
You Need to Get Screwed
Corinne Lafont ’26, the 2025 Screw Your Roommate organizer and Swarthmore senior, has never been on a Screw date. “I’ve been hesitant because it’s so public. But this year…who knows! If everyone’s on a date, then nobody’s really paying attention to me,
Wordsearch: Films
Are you a film buff? Search for one word films by Corinne Lafont '26
Morning California
Before leaving my bedroom that morning, I snapped a quick photo of it — capturing the messy desk, the books on the shelves that I never got to read, and the bed I tidied up for the first time. At the front
More
Conferences, Frisbee: SBC Report, February 9
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG. The Daily
Top 10 Commercials From Super Bowl 50
Every year, nearly 110 million Americans grab an ice cold beverage, pop a squat on the nearest seat, and watch one of America’s biggest spectacles —- the Super Bowl. The lucky Sunday of the year that gets to host such an event
Track Optimistic Heading Into Conferences
Five meets into a solid winter season, Swarthmore’s track and field team has their sights set on the conference championships later this month. The team has enjoyed greater depth this year due to a large influx of freshmen, especially among the sprinters
Wendy Xu ’15 returns to Swarthmore with new moves
Swarthmore alumna Wendy Xu ’15 made a return to campus last Sunday, when she led a hip-hop choreography workshop in the Lang Performing Arts Center. The early afternoon workshop was sponsored by the college’s own Rhythm N Motion Dance Company. Xu, a
Contrary to national trends, astro includes women
Students and faculty at Swarthmore find the college’s astronomy department to be a notable exception to the national trend of sexual harassment and gender discrimination. The college has a history of being more inclusive of women relative to other institutions around the
Community Joins with Dr. Barnwell in Song
Last Saturday, over 30 members of the Swarthmore community (including President Valerie Smith) gathered in the Lang Concert Hall to listen to and sing with former member of a capella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, Dr. Ysaye Barnwell. Over the past
Tensions between recruitment and access in holistic admissions
Last month, the National Public Radio’s education blog covered a report by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, a higher education think tank and non-profit, that claimed varsity recruitment and scholarships are potential contributing factors in the underrepresentation of low-income students at competitive
Confederate flag sparks controversy in borough
On the 700 block of Hillborn Avenue, just four blocks from the college’s Science Center entrance, the conspicuous display of a large Confederate flag has raised eyebrows both on and off campus in recent months. Though the flag is hung on private
Vertigo-Go performs at Kitao Gallery
Last Friday night, approximately 50 Swarthmore students flocked to Kitao Gallery to see Vertigo-go perform an improv comedy show. The room was overflowing with audience members. The show, which began at 8:00pm, was standing room only. Vertigo-go is Swarthmore’s only improv group,
Administration aggravates party policies
Over the course of the past two academic years, the college has taken steps to drastically change the on-campus social scene, especially with regards to student-planned events. We at the Phoenix believe that these policy changes have had a detrimental effect on