The Phoenix

Val Smith Sits Down for Spring Interview with The Phoenix

April 30, 2026

President Val Smith reflects on her presidency, her goals for the rest of her time on campus, and changes at Swarthmore and across higher education.

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

Swarthmore Needs a CCTV Committee

by The Editorial Board

April 30, 2026

The Phoenix's Editorial Board advocates for the creation of a CCTV committee.

Latest Stories

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

The College Needs a Reset: A Letter From Faculty

by Undersigned Faculty

April 30, 2026

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

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.

An Open Letter in Defense of Jeannine Osayande and African Diasporic Dance at Swarthmore

by Undersigned Students

April 30, 2026

Students voice their concerns regarding the future of African Diasporic dance at Swarthmore.

Everything is Embarrassing

by Nasrin Ahmed

April 30, 2026

Opinions Editor Nasrin Ahmed '28 chronicles the embarrassing moments that have happened to her during her two years at Swarthmore.

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.

Pak ’12 displays emotion, diversity at senior recital

by Chi Zhang

September 29, 2011

On September 24 at 8 p.m., Daniel Pak ’12 held his senior recital at the Lang Concert Hall. In this one and a half hour performance, he drew a time axis of music by playing a variety of pieces from different periods

How to succeed in Hollywood without really trying

by Nolan Gear

September 29, 2011

I am consistently mystified by the American box office — and not just those absurd moments when soul-dismemberingly bad movies retain the number-one slot for a second weekend (2008’s “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” or Nick Cage’s 2007 “Ghost Rider” — ugh). No, more

Heed the warning: a “Black Swan” is soon approaching

by Aliya Padamsee

September 29, 2011

“We have never lived before under the threat of a global collapse. The financial ecology is swelling into gigantic, incestuous, bureaucratic banks — when one fails, they all fall. We have moved from a diversified ecology of small banks, with varied lending

Players’ Club of Swarthmore presents: ‘Our Town’

by Preston Cooper

September 29, 2011

Few plays possess the enduring, trans-generational quality exemplified by Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” which is currently being performed by the Ville’s own community theater, the Players’ Club of Swarthmore (PCS). The play, directed by renowned Philadelphia theater veteran Ellen Wilson Dilks, opened

Laying out the important tips on pleasurable oral sex

by Vianca Masucci

September 29, 2011

Oral sex. It needs no introduction. As the sloppy drunk sister of penetration, oral sex frequents most love-smash sessions. Like God, it is both loved and feared. A lot of that anxiety aspect comes from worries about odors, preconceived notions about the

Swatties arrested at D.C. mass sit-in

by Patrick Ammerman

September 29, 2011

Earlier this month, a group of six Swarthmore students took a two-day trip to Washington D.C. to participate in one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in decades. Over two weeks of protests that lasted from August 20 to September 3,

Party policy may hinder senior class fundraiser, raise weeknight activity

by Koby Levin

September 29, 2011

Many students at Swarthmore spend their Thursday nights at Pub Night, a weekly event held at Paces Café. In the past, some Pub Night attendees have moved to the fraternities afterwards to unwind after a night of dancing before returning to their

PAs and Public Safety clear out party early, create stir

by Chris Nam

September 29, 2011

Two weekends ago, an event hosted jointly by Enlace and Olde Club was shut down when it began to stretch into the hours of early morning, despite its party permit stipulating the event end at midnight. The ensuing argument over the party’s