Unscientific Survey: 20/20 Hindsight Edition

For this survey, we took a look at some of the issues of the past decades that filled the Letters to the Editor section of the Swarthmorean with the most passion and words. 

The survey showed consensus or near consensus on the most recent bones of contention. Every single respondent thought that the Inn at Swarthmore, along with its liquor license, was a good idea, while 88% gave a thumbs up to the downtown roundabout. Respondents were strongly in favor of the Blue Route as well, though one reader expressed a lingering and legitimate gripe: “The Blue Rte. was a good idea until Swarthmore demanded that there be fewer lanes as it approached the borough. During heavy traffic, the narrowing of the road invariably causes miles-long bottlenecks.”

And without a doubt, this sort of survey gives short shrift to nuance. As one reader commented, the consolidation of the Swarthmore and Nether Providence school districts was “a mixture of good and not so good. We really should have a county-wide school system. That would help to reduce the existing inequalities.”

It’s probably a reflection of nuance that the most divided results (including a lot of undecideds) were on the decision of Swarthmore College to drop its football program in 2000, and the consolidation of the school districts in … well, this calls for a new paragraph.

The question on the survey gave the date as 1983. That was incorrect, as David Grove wrote in to say: “The Swarthmore-Rutledge Union S.D. and Nether Providence S.D. merger occurred about 1973. The merger was mandated by the PA State Department of Education over the objections of both districts. What occurred in 1983 was the opening of Strath Haven High School, which combined the former Swarthmore and Nether Providence high schools in what had been the Nether Providence High School building. The decision to create a new high school was made by the WSSD school board in 1979-1980, allowing several years for planning. At all times since 1973, the WSSD school board has consisted of nine members, six from NP and Rose Valley and three from Swarthmore and Rutledge. The decision to consolidate the high schools was supported by all six NP/RV board members and one Swarthmore/Rutledge board member, and opposed by the other two S/R board members.”

I stand corrected. Having moved to Swarthmore in 1996, I was reminded by Mr. Grove’s response that I am still a relative newcomer. And that brings me to the next survey question:

How long do you need to have lived in Swarthmore to be considered a real Swarthmorean? Click the button below and weigh in.

Ben Yagoda is the Swarthmorean’s survey editor.