The Phoenix

Borough Adds New Tax for Swarthmore Workers and Residents

by Zephyr Weinreich

November 12, 2026

News

The Borough Council of Swarthmore will implement an earned income tax for workers and residents on Jan. 1, 2027.

Alumni Win State and National Offices in Democratic Midterm Sweep

by Kush Kaur

November 12, 2026

Josh Green ’92 H’22, Phil Weiser ’90, and Will Lawrence ’13 won

The Victims of the Blue Tsunami

by Ellie Dowek

November 12, 2026

Ellie Dowek ’28 criticizes high-profile Democrats' abandonment of the transgender community during

The Phoenix in Conversation with Colorado Governor-Elect Phil Weiser ’90

by Daniel Perrin

November 12, 2026

Colorado Governor-Elect Phil Weiser ’90 discusses accountability, the attention economy, and the

Artists of the Week: Ellen Stewart ’27 and Reina Jones ’27 on Making Room for Dance

by Sasha Wechsler

November 12, 2026

Dancers Ellen Stewart ’27 and Reina Jones ’27 look back on four

Latest Stories

Swatties Showcase ‘A Room of Their Own’

Xinto XuandMegumi Jindo

November 12, 2026

Interpretation Theory Program to End After 25 Year Run

by Ellen Stewart

November 12, 2026

The Inaugural Season of the Women’s Professional Baseball League

by Ryan Pinkert

November 12, 2026

Democrats Win State Legislative Races, Environmental Referendum Passes

by Amro Samarah

November 12, 2026

Democrat candidates win across the entirety of Delaware County and voters pass an environmental conservation referendum.

Swarthmore Motions to Toss Lawsuit Following U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Trans Athletes

by Ella Walker

November 5, 2026

Swarthmore College has asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit brought against the college by transgender athlete and alumna Evie Parts ’25.

Faculty Votes to Alter Diversity Language in Tenure Allocation Guidelines

by Erin Picken

November 5, 2026

Faculty recently voted to amend guidelines for tenure-track hires.

Swarthmore Embraces Community College Transfer Students in Keeping with ‘Swarthmore Forward’ Strategic Plan

by Zephyr Weinreich

November 5, 2026

Swarthmore College moves to admit more transfer students from community colleges as part of a ‘Swarthmore Forward’ goal.

Dr. Mackensie Alston Explores Artificial Intelligence as a Bias-Detection Tool

by Alexandra Pryplesh

November 5, 2026

Pierson Lecturer Dr. Mackensie Alston discusses her recent research using artificial intelligence to detect bias in the criminal justice system.

Opinions

We Need to Advocate for More Life Skills Education

by James Shelton

November 12, 2026

James Shelton ’28 argues that Swarthmore needs a change to its liberal arts curriculum.

AI Is Not Inevitable

by Olivia Huang

November 12, 2026

Olivia Huang ’29 challenges the popular belief that increasing reliance on artificial intelligence is unavoidable and urges readers to embrace the human spirit.

Weekly Column: Swat Says

Nasrin AhmedandRafi Karpowitz

November 12, 2026

In this edition of Swat Says, students reveal their go-to news sources, share which bad habits they would be willing to give up for a month, and reflect on the 2026 midterm elections.

Arts

Olivia Rodrigo’s Brings the ‘Unraveled’ Tour to Philadelphia

by My Nguyen

November 12, 2026

A review of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Unraveled Tour” which stopped at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia November 7th and 8th.

A Walk Through the Barnes

by Erin Picken

November 12, 2026

A review of the Barnes Foundation and its focus on equalizing art

‘Club Kid’ Dances Its Way into Our Hearts

by Yiğit Doğramacı

November 12, 2026

A review of A24’s new film “Club Kid”

Sports

Athlete of the Week: Dylan Myrick ’30

by Aimee Lee

November 12, 2026

First-year Dylan Myrick is a freestyle, Individual Medley (IM), and breaststroke specialist for the Swarthmore men’s swim team. The Eugene, OR resident swam at his first collegiate meet on Oct. 24, where Swarthmore, Franklin & Marshall College, Ursinus College, and Dickinson College

Fueling the Phoenix: Newly Extended Dining Hall Hours

by Nasif Ataher

November 5, 2026

For much of Swarthmore’s history, students faced the reality of Sharples’ abbreviated hours: if you didn’t make it by the 8 p.m. closing time, you were going into the night without dinner. Student athletes would oftentimes be forced into rushing to the

Athlete of the Week: Isabel Adam ’28

by Charlie Watson

November 5, 2026

Outside hitter Isabel Adam ’28 has been lighting it up for the Swarthmore volleyball team this fall. She came into this season with extensive on-court experience, playing in all but one game in her first two years at Swarthmore, and earning All-Centennial

Features

Inside the Transfer Experience at Swarthmore

by Ellie Dowek

November 12, 2026

Ellie Dowek ’28 reflects on the transfer student experience at Swarthmore.

The German 9.11.

by Trajan Finarelli

November 5, 2026

Trajan Finarelli '30 reflects on the complex implications of Nov. 9 for German history.

Fleeting Sketches

by Alice Yang

November 5, 2026

Alice Yang '29 shares her Procreate sketches of people in New York.

In Troubled Times: A Call to Action from Professor Ted Gup

by Ted Gup

May 1, 2025

In a new weekly segment, "In Troubled Times", Eugene M. Lang Visiting Professor for Issues of Social Change Ted Gup argues for campus-wide unity and action in the face of the unprecedented threats of the Trump Administration.

Title IX Office Transitions, New Interim Coordinator

by Ella Walker

May 1, 2025

Former Title IX Coordinator Bindu Jayne resigned from her position at Swarthmore on March 14. In her place, Jill Moffitt will serve as the interim coordinator until a permanent replacement is found. Moffitt currently works for Grand River Solutions, an external educational

Humanities Garners the Top Duck in the 2025 Bathtub Debate

by Xinto Xu

May 1, 2025

On April 21, the Amos J. Peaslee Debate Society hosted the annual Bathtub Debate, a beloved Swarthmore tradition that brings together faculty from the three academic divisions – natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities – for an intellectual competition to determine which

Holocaust Survivor Helga Melmed Shares Testimony of Resilience

by Ella Walker

May 1, 2025

One of the last living witnesses to the Holocaust, 97-year-old Helga Melmed, visited campus last Wednesday, April 23. Melmed survived the Lodz Ghetto, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps. The talk, sponsored by Swarthmore Kehilah, the Interfaith Center (IC), the Office of Inclusive

A Personal Reflection on Sports: Similar but Different

by Aimee Lee

May 1, 2025

As the school year comes to a close, Swarthmore athletes begin to clear out of their team locker rooms and reflect on their respective season. Cleats, jerseys, sneakers, hair bands – these everyday items trickle out of the Field House day by

Let’s Talk About “Sinners”: A Tragic Portrayal and Celebration of Freedom

by Neghemi Micah

May 1, 2025

A visually stunning and captivating feature film, “Sinners” has played in theaters for less than two weeks and has already become a record-breaking hit. In just 48 hours, “Sinners” earned over $45 million at the box office and became the first horror