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 …

Finally breaking the silence on justice

by The Phoenix

December 4, 2014

Our college constantly touts its commitment to social justice, and though we often fall short in our actions, both as individuals and as an institution, the last two weeks have proven that it’s not an entirely empty commitment. Students organized a moment

Electricity isn’t costless; do your part to reduce carbon load

by Ralph Thayer

December 4, 2014

When you think of what services today are indispensable, electricity is at the top of the list. The simple movement of electrons through wire enables us to power large machines and provide communications — it seems inexhaustible! It works 24 hours a

Kakkar competes in NCAA championships

by Henry Cappel

December 4, 2014

Sid Kakkar ’17 recently competed in the NCAA cross-country championships held in Mason, Ohio. The journey did not come without struggle, as he worked day after day to represent Swarthmore in the biggest Division III race in the country. Kakkar has an

“Define Your Terms:” in this case, “Divestment”

by Edith and Jeb Eddy

December 4, 2014

To the Editor: Our experience at Swarthmore five decades ago imprinted on us the value and importance of the first three words above. We wonder if there are some significant differences in what parties in the discussion really mean by the term

Why denouncing baseball’s steroid era is a mistake

by Muhaiminul Haque

December 4, 2014

This month, the 2015 selection process for the Baseball Hall of Fame will begin. In the past, this was quite a straightforward occasion; it was normal to pleasantly ponder over the players on the ballot, allowing the nostalgia to take control of

Weekend roundup & the week ahead

by Scoop Ruxin

December 4, 2014

Women’s basketball slips past Neumann Swarthmore’s women’s basketball team bounced back from a disappointing beginning to the conference season by defeating Neumann College 62-55. Elle Larsen ’15 led the team with 25 points. The Garnet suffered two Centennial Conference losses in the

Wallace dominates court in freshman season

by Emma Keefe

December 4, 2014

Freshman Sarah Wallace’s performance this season for the women’s volleyball team has been incredible, to say the least. Her debut this past fall shattered three of the program’s records and earned her a total of eight awards, one of which was the

After Lengthy Renovations, Clothier Bells Ring Again

by Kyungchan Min

December 4, 2014

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. Clothier Tower