Stefan Roots brings us up to speed on two recent Swarthmore College men’s basketball games, including a surprising home loss against Widener.
All tagged Swarthmore College
Zoom Tunes
The Department of Music and Dance at Swarthmore College will host a virtual performance series, Zoom Tunes, that brings prominent guest artists to the Swarthmore community over Zoom on Sundays at 1 p.m., beginning on February 21.
College Closes Grounds, Prepares for Unusual Fall
As Swarthmore College readies itself to begin its fall semester on Monday, President Val Smith has announced that the campus is now closed to visitors. In an open letter to community residents, Smith explained that the college is inviting approximately 700 students — mostly first-years and sophomores — back to campus for a shortened fall semester. “Although outdoor spaces are generally considered safe,” Smith wrote, “with nearly 700 students, as well as a significant number of faculty and staff, on campus, maintaining social distancing will be much harder than it has been over the past five months.”
Borough Council Approves Dining Hall Plan, Encourages Alert System Registration
Approval of Swarthmore College’s land development plan for building a new dining hall and reconfiguring the existing Sharples Dining Hall as a student activity building passed unopposed at Monday evening’s Swarthmore Borough Council Meeting. The council also discussed preparedness for a local outbreak of COVID-19.
Swarthmore College Basketball Player Builds Connection with SPNDS Kindergarten
At their home game against Franklin & Marshall College on February 8, the top-ranked and undefeated Swarthmore College men’s basketball team was surprised to see a crowd of young fans decked out in matching Swarthmore College T-shirts cheering them on. It was not a school-organized event, just the effort of one passionate kindergarten teacher, her enthusiastic students, and their parents in support of No. 40, Nate Shafer ’20. Shafer started visiting Sheri Carney’s kindergarten class at Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery Day School during his sophomore year, as part of an Introduction to Education course. He was only supposed to be there for one semester, but Shafer found himself inspired by Carney’s skill and her excitement for teaching.
Unscientific Survey: The Singer Building
My most admired person of the week is the lone soul who, in responding to our unscientific survey on Swarthmore College’s new Maxine Frank Singer ‘52 Hall (to be the home of the psychology, biology, and engineering departments), chose the option “Too soon to tell.” Everybody else had an opinion — despite the fact that the building isn’t even fully operational yet! And the opinions were on the whole — almost 66 percent — negative; the biggest single vote-getter was “I hate it.”
Some Notes on a Christmas Tradition
The dark filled with color and light. Timeless. Respectful silence filled with song. Timeless. A community come together in a decades-old tradition. It has been 81 years since the first production of the Pageant of the Nativity here in Swarthmore. This dream of Charles D. Mitchell, director of the Swarthmore Players, came to fruition under his direction at 5:30 in the evening of December 18, 1938. Set in Clothier Memorial Chapel on the Swarthmore College campus, the pageant attracted 2,500 attendees — so many that a second presentation had to be given at 7:00.
Historian and Children’s Author Emma Otheguy on Campus
Swarthmore College alumna Emma Otheguy (‘09) will present two programs this week, sharing her books and talking about her career. Her work focuses on Latin American and Latinx history, literature, and identity.
A World of Order and Chaos
Former British Parliament member, environment secretary, and foreign secretary David Miliband will speak about the future of world politics on Monday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. His talk will address threats to the global order from the Trump presidency and Brexit to climate change and refugee crises.
Collegians Tune up for Fetter Chamber Music Series
Swarthmore College undergraduates coached by members of the faculty have been rehearsing and will soon perform three concerts in the fall 2019 Elizabeth Pollard Fetter chamber music series. The first concert in the series will take place on Saturday, November 16, 8 p.m. at Lang Concert Hall. “Critical Mass,” an ensemble of seven students coached by James Blasina will undertake works by de Machaut, Monteverde, des Prez, and Byrd.
Judy Wicks Brings Activist Energy to Swarthmore Discussion Group
Author, entrepreneur and activist, Judy will tell her story from living in an Eskimo village in 1969, moving to Philadelphia in 1970 to cofound the Free People’s Store (which became Urban Outfitters), founding the farm-to-table White Dog Cafe in 1983, to her current projects in supporting our regional economy. Judy’s talk will include the importance of moving from “me to we” as individuals and a society in order to address the historic challenge of climate change and build an inclusive, self-reliant and life-sustaining economy in the Philadelphia region.
Phil Weinstein Probes ‘Soul-Error’
“Soul-error” is the essayist Montaigne’s memorable term for the mind’s altering relation to objects and others in time and space. The concept will be at the heart of an extensive talk by Philip Weinstein, Swarthmore College Professor Emeritus of English Literature on Thursday, November 7, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Masha Gessen Explores Russia’s New Totalitarianism
In an important and timely visit to Swarthmore College, National Book Award winner and New Yorker staff writer Masha Gessen will speak, answer questions, and sign books on Wednesday, October 23, at Swarthmore’s Science Center 101.
Celebrate CCC’s 25 Years of Song and Success
The Chester Children’s Chorus will kick off their 25th anniversary celebration with a fundraising gala at Swarthmore College on the evening of October 26. The festive event will include a cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner and both live and silent auctions. The evening will feature a special CCC performance and a special tribute to CCC founding board member Cordelia Delson.
Big Weekend in Swarthmore
It will be an exceptionally busy few days in Swarthmore from October 4-7. At Swarthmore College, it’s Garnet weekend. Swarthmore town center is busy day and night, starting with October‘s First Friday celebration and Quizzo at the Swarthmore Co-op. Swarthmore Presbyterian Church puts on its annual fall fair, and Swarthmore’s Farmers Market begins at 9:30 as usual, with Swarthmorean publisher Rob Borgstrom performing antique appraisals. Check out our whole rundown…
First Amendment on the Agenda for Constitution Day Talk
In its October 2019 term, the Supreme Court will consider whether language in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (“because of . . . sex”) encompasses discrimination based on sexual orientation. Daniel Korobkin of the Swarthmore College class of 2002 will speak at Swarthmore on Monday, September 16 about these issues for Constitution Day (officially recognized on September 17).