The Phoenix

Old Science Hall Renaming Task Force Unveils Final Steps

by Kush Kaur

April 16, 2026

News

The committee to rename Old Science Hall approaches the final stages of its work and shares what comes next.

Provost Rich Wicentowski on Overseeing Swarthmore’s Academic Program

by Daniel Perrin

April 16, 2026

Provost Rich Wicentowski talks about his approach to leading Swarthmore's academic programming

Office Hours: Faculty on How Swarthmore Has Changed

Rafi KarpowitzandNasrin Ahmed

April 16, 2026

In this edition of Office Hours, faculty reflect on how they feel

The Phoenix In Conversation With SGO President- and VP-Elect

by Ellen Stewart

April 16, 2026

The new SGO president- and vice president-elect share their vision and goals

Swarthmore Called the Police on Our Protest. Now I’m Preparing for Trial.

by Jace Boland

April 16, 2026

Jace Boland '27 condemns the college's decision to arrest him and eight

Latest Stories

The Phoenix in Conversation with U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D – PA05)

by Daniel Perrin

April 16, 2026

Alistair McDowall’s ‘Pomona’ Reaffirms the Power of Theater

by Kaito Stohr

April 16, 2026

The Iran War in Context: A Conversation with Professor Ahmad Shokr

Beika LyuandZuyuan Zhou

April 16, 2026

News

Ruth Cyzner on Escaping Nazi Germany, Surviving Holocaust

by Zephyr Weinreich

April 16, 2026

Holocaust survivor Ruth Cyzner talks about her lived experience of escaping Nazi Germany, while sharing concerns about the future of democracy.

College Data Reveals Rise in Average Grades Over Past Two Decades

by Ellen Stewart

April 9, 2026

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 select the next president of Swarthmore.

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 progressive and outspoken role in the national scene.

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

by Daniel Perrin

April 9, 2026

Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild discusses the role emotions played among Trump supporters and how understanding them helps us move forward.

Opinions

Letter to the Editor: Swarthmore Should At Least Be Honest About Its Values

by Michael Weithorn

April 16, 2026

Former Phoenix humor columnist Michael Weithorn ’78 suggests an update to Swarthmore's website and mission statement to better reflect the reality of the college's punitive approach to student protestors.

Weekly Column: Swat Says

Nasrin AhmedandRafi Karpowitz

April 16, 2026

In this edition of Swat Says, students share their dorm horror stories, discuss their thoughts on room selection, and brainstorm what new businesses should come to the Swarthmore Ville.

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 charges against student protestors for the distribution of allegedly violent zines.

Arts

Rock and Roll is a Risk: ‘Sing Street’ 10 Years On

by Alissa Lopes

April 16, 2026

A look back on John Carney's "Sing Street," on its ten year anniversary.

Artist of the Week Kana Nagata ’26: In the Space Between Words

by Yijia (Jessica) Qin

April 16, 2026

Kana Nagata ’26 on her finding meaning in silence, directing, and life.

Class of 2026 Choreographers Shine in Final Showcase

by Jeremy Weinstein-Sears

April 16, 2026

A review of Swarthmore's Senior Dance Concert featuring four of the eight senior dance majors & minors.

Sports

Athlete of the Week: Iris Barone ’26

by Katherine Kerman

April 16, 2026

Katie Kerman: Congratulations on your Centennial Athlete of the Week award and becoming the program’s all-time leader in triples and stolen-bases! Can you take us through those moments when you broke two program records and how you and your team celebrated? Iris

Playoff Push: Swarthmore Heats Up in Final Stretch Before Tournament Play

by Aimee Lee

April 16, 2026

As the spring weather is heating up, so is Swarthmore’s softball team. The Garnet currently sit atop the standings in the Centennial Conference with an 11-1 conference record and are in position to secure the top seed in the upcoming postseason tournament.

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.

Features

Hey Mom

by Corinne Lafont

April 16, 2026

Corinne Lafont '26 writes a touching piece about her Mom in honor of Mother's Day.

Bubble Soccer Brawl

by Paris Kampel

April 16, 2026

A Ranked Guide to the Hobbs Spring Menu

by Cameron Alleyne

April 9, 2026

Cameron Alleyne '29 reviews Hobbs Spring Menu.

RnM leads celebration of divas

by Maral Gaeeni

March 31, 2016

This past Friday, Rhythm n’ Motion dance company hosted the annual Diva Party in Paces. “Diva” colloquially refers to a number of female artists that have produced music with feminist undertones, including Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Fergie, Missy Elliot, and many more. At

On emancipation and tough Jews

by Bill Fedullo

March 31, 2016

When I was growing up, my mother would often extol the virtues of the “tough Jew.” The tough Jew, unlike the garden variety, does not take things lying down. He isn’t a Woody Allen-type, anxiously cracking jokes in the office of his

From AIPAC to Remi Kanazi: Why Dialogue on Israel is Doomed at College Campuses

by Sammy Greenwall

March 31, 2016

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. This past

On likes, farts, and Trump

by Erik Myers

March 31, 2016

“Political thought and political instinct prove themselves theoretically and practically in the ability to distinguish friend and enemy. The high points of politics are simultaneously the moments in which the enemy is, in concrete clarity, recognized as the enemy.” Sometimes I wonder

Swarthmore as a college

by Zac Arestad

March 31, 2016

It is important for me to preface this piece by saying that I admire, appreciate, and agree with much of what Sarah Dobbs had to say in her recent Op-Ed titled “Swarthmore as a nation-state.” I believe that doing the work of

Weekend Roundup

by Muha Haque and Max Kassan

March 31, 2016

Baseball: The team (16-5) was off this past weekend. This Saturday, 4/2, they travel to Dickinson for a doubleheader—their first conference games of the season. Heading into Conference play, Ryan Burnett ’17 leads the league in steals (13), Aidan Miller ’17 leads

College moves summer housing to Willets, makes meal plan mandatory

by Berlin Chen

March 31, 2016

Students who choose to live on campus for the coming summer will have to stay in Willets Hall. In addition, students must also pay a new mandatory fee of $500 for a meal plan, increasing the total cost of staying on campus

Smith named as new Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, Community Development

by Rose See

March 31, 2016

T. Shá Duncan Smith has been selected to join the college as the new associate dean of diversity, inclusion and community development. The appointment was announced on March 16, and she will be leaving the University of Michigan Ross School of Business