Swarthmore College Top Questions

Swarthmore doesn't have many big name events, but it makes you appreciate the student talent much more. We have some amazing students - actors, singers, musicians, athletes, etc. There are also a lot of traditions that, though weird, are pretty fun and bonding. Last weekend I spent Friday playing super smash brothers melee and the next night I listened to a live band and then went to a party and danced the night away! While there aren't many events on campus, we find ways to have fun!

It's primarily an intellectual and activist school. There are athletes and artists, but they are not the focus of the school or student body (though arts definitely rank above athletics in importance, but they all rank under intellectual inquiry, activism, and political involvement). There are no sororities and only 2 or 3 frats that have virtually no one in them and that most people look down on them. Every group on campus throws parties and social events and they are all free - which is amazing. You pay a lot (!) to go to Swarthmore and for books, but it's great (and equalizing) that everything is included in the cost of tuition. So there are plenty of opportunities to socialize and meet people. Most of my friends are people I lived with or met in class, but you eventually meet everyone on campus.

Some of the most popular organizations are publication organization such as with the school's 2 "competing" newspapers the Daily Gazette or the Phoenix, and our mens' soccer team probably has the most successful record. I have been really involved with Swarthmore Asian Organization (SAO) for the past 2.5 years, which is a group for Asian and Asian American students on campus that focuses on trying to promote social, educational, and political education as well as participation about issues within the Asian American community as well as for all people of color. There are weekly meetings as well as multiple events throughout the year that focus on different aspects of identity politics, group discussions, educational workshops, and social events. One of the major undertakings for SAO is Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Heritage month during each spring semester. It is a whole month of events revolving around Asian American issues, where speakers, performers, and student led events and activities go on around campus. Students in dorms definitely leave their doors open most of the time unless they have a test to study for or are sleeping or really need to study. Athletic events are not that popular amongst non-athletes. There are constantly guest speakers and lectures going on in different departments. The student theater scene is pretty active, and we definitely have a good number of quality productions each year. The dating scene is a little difficult in some ways because of the small size of the school. People do date, but sometimes it is very extreme for example, a couple may constantly spend time together to the exclusion of all other friends, or they may be too busy to ever spend time together. I met some of my closest friends through the Tri-College Diversity pre-orientation workshop as well as through my classes. I would probably be doing a problem set at 2 AM on a Tuesday. There are a good number of traditions/events such as Screw Your Room Mate, the Primal Scream (and the newly implemented breakfast at midnight), the Pterodactyl Hunt, First Collection for Freshmen, Sager, many more... Depending on your course load and weekend, you might party every weekend or only a few times a month. Fraternities/sororities exist but do not dominate the social scene. I am abroad so I can't really answer the last weekend question... A non-drinking Saturday night out might consist of going to watch a free film screening, cooking with your friends, going to a free performance, catching the train or taking the shuttle to Philadelphia to go to dinner or watch a movie or a concert. Off campus I am usually either volunteering in Chester nearby, or going to Philly for a fun outing or to buy things that I cannot get in the Ville.

The DATING Scene: There is no dating at Swarthmore. There are people who hook up drunkenly on weekend nights and awkwardly avoid each other the next day in Sharples. There are the people who consistently drunkenly hook up with each other. Then there are the couples who never leave each others' side. They're virtually married. Couples often don't go out for real dates until a few months have passed of only on-campus interaction. Then there's the awkwardness of breaking up with someone on a campus of 1500 people. Your best friends or lab partners or other people you randomly know are likely to live on the same hall as the ex, or share a class with the ex, or have dated them freshman year. Everyone is inter-linked in a million different ways. That said, when you do find someone special on this campus, it's a beautiful place to fall in love, and there are many opportunities for cuteness to arise. Events not involving drinking: As someone who stopped drinking, I suddenly found myself with a lack of places to go at night. Dry organized activity ends after about 10, but I still go to parties without drinking, and people often have gatherings in dorms that may or may not involve alcohol. Chilling with some good friends is always a good option. Last weekend: Thursday night I went to Pub Night and then headed to the dorms afterwards for the usual Thursday night stuff- drinks and hookahs and socializing. Friday night I stayed in and watched a movie with my roommate, who had also gone to a jazz concert in Philly earlier that night. Saturday night, Margaret Cho performed, followed by Swat's improv comedy group, and then the semesterly formal dance. Sunday is a work day, so not much fun to be had then.

the weekends are often packed with things to do, from speakers to theater events to classical music to rock music. I've never been bored at Swarthmore.

In general the romantic scene on Swarthmore involves either random hookups or marriage-like commitment. Take your pick.

There are no sororities at Swarthmore, though there is a group, LASS, which is a wanna-be sorority. There are 2 frats, Delta Upsilon and Phi Psi, which aren't the center of social life at all-- mostly, they provide alcohol and throw parties. Athletic events are pretty dead, but I think men and women's soccer got attention last fall. The dating scene: If I had to generalize, I'd say that the dating scene tends to lean to extremes. The Swatties who are in relationships seem to be practically married, otherwise random hookups are pretty prevalent. People do date, but "normal", relaxed relationships aren't all that common. Also, like at other colleges, people seem to think that dating for 2 weeks constitutes a relationship. Those who don't drink can still party here. Also, no one will look down on you if you just want to stay in some weekends and watch a movie or catch up on sleep. Philadelphia isn't that far, but most people don't go. Either there's stuff goin g on campus or people have work. Most people don't go more than once or twice a semester, if at all.

There are only two frats on campus and no sororities. There’s an alcohol-fueled party life but it’s probably nothing compared to Penn or typical state schools. On the other hand, we can leave our empty bottles in the hall recycling bins without anyone batting an eyelash. Freshman and sophomore years, the on campus free parties (with free booze) are more attractive. There’s usually music and dancing and some space to talk too. There are free concerts on campus, mostly small travelling indie bands, and there are free movie showings every weekend. It’d be great if the Ville expanded but still, we’ll always have Philly. Overall I’m happy with the social life. I love my friends and whether we’re playing board games and eating take out Chinese or whatever, it’s always entertaining. In general, there’s no judgment: you can be gay today and straight tomorrow, or queer forever, or straight, or poly, and no one cares. The health center provides birth control and condoms and really good ob/gyn services. The school has a few big traditional parties when people really go crazy. The ML Halloween party brings out some amazing costumes and lots of drunken revelry, as do the Screw Your Roommate dance (and the pre-dance ritual where people must discover who their blind date is) and Sager, which used to be called Genderfuck and is still an excuse for people to take off the clothes. One year there were drunken people actually having sex on the dance floor. There’s also senior Greenbottle, which is supposed to be an opportunity to hook up with whoever you always wanted to hook up with.

There is no one popular group. I am involved in SAC, the Social Affairs Committee, it's a group that allocates monetary funds for different groups to throw events open to the whole campus. All events are free and paid for by the college that way anyone from any socioeconomic background can enjoy the social scene at Swarthmore. I lock my door, but it's always open when I am in my room and so are most people's doors. Athletic events are becoming more popular but they aren't as popular as they might be at other schools. There are at least 5-6 guest speakers a week. There are 5-7 plays a semester, anyone can audition. The plays are generally amazing, very well made, directed. Dating scene sucks. No one goes on dates. I went on two dates in my whole time here. Usually you get stuck to one person and spend a long time with them or hook up with people whilst drunk on the weekends. There is no middle, it does not exist. I met my closest friends on my freshmen hall and from my frisbee team. If I am awake at 2 am on Tuesday I am either a) talking to my friends b) reading for seminar the next day c) sleeping. Traditions: 1) Halloween Party 2) Fall Formal 3) Screw Your Roommate 4) Kielbasafest 5) Worthstock 6) Movies on the Beach 7) Every semester there is a large scale event with people like: Ben Folds, The Roots, Wanda Sykes, Mitch Hedberg, They Might Be Giants, Blackalicious, The New Pornographers 8) Willets Carnival People party every weekend the way they see fit. There are always dance parties people can go to, alcohol and food at the parties are free. There are two frats and they are not important, but they do add to the social scene on campus. Last weekend I was sick with the stomach flu that is being passed around campus like most sicknesses. Saturday night, the possibilities are endless. You can do anything you want as long as its not illegal. Off campus, I go to restaurants, I go to museums, I observe in classrooms. Swat also has a great selection of bands that come every semester to play during the weekends. We also have Rose Tattoo where student bands play.