Schedule of Events

Get your paddle ready and join fellow alums for an informal pickleball pick-up game. We will have paddles and balls available or you may bring your own.

Join us for a self-guided tour of the geoexchange plant and learn more about how this system fits into the College’s ambitious energy plan, To Zero By Thirty-Five (20X35). Enter the geoexchange plant on the southside of the DCC - opposite the SEPTA train tracks.

Join the Scott Arboretum for an Autumn Highlights tour of the gardens. Tour will begin at the Wister Center.

Join a guided tour of the vibrant green roof installation at David Kemp Hall. Learn how these roofs are constructed and how they reduce stormwater runoff and promote great environmental stewardship of our natural resources. This tour has an age requirement of 18+ and a limited capacity.

Aspire, Discover, Connect and Reframe. Stop by the west wing of Parrish Hall (rooms 135 and 159) to learn how these four concepts help Swarthmore students and alumni succeed and find fulfillment as a student and in careers after graduation. In the Discovery Lab, participate in activities to explore, reflect, grow and gain confidence. In the Connection Cafe, have a cup of coffee and learn about SwatLink, the new mentoring platform. Or, offer one of your aspirations to the wall art display.

In tandem with the exhibit "Women of the Pulps," swing by the McCabe Atrium during our pop-up display featuring women illustrators from Swarthmore College Libraries' Special Collections. In the 19th century, pioneering women gained success as scientific and naturalist illustrators, paving the way for 20th century women to make their careers as graphic designers, artists, and cartoonists. Featured items on exhibit from the College Archives, Friends Historical Library, Peace Collection, and Rare Book Room. Find your favorite and turn it into a button to take home!

Poetry tends to foreground the things that its language does best, and this makes translating poetry into any other language a stimulating challenge. Come hear a number of Swarthmore faculty present their favorite authors bilingually: you'll get a taste of the original and then the best versions in English. Languages may include Arabic, Chinese, Gallego, Japanese, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongolian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Ukrainian, or Yiddish.

Action, romance, mystery, horror—the pulps of the early 20th century had it all! And while these story magazines quickly gained a sensationalist reputation, they also laid the foundation for popular genres today and published the work of many women creators. 'Women of the Pulps,' an exhibit hosted by the McCabe Library from September 3rd through November 3rd, will showcase the women writers, editors, artists, and characters who brought these stories to life. Rare paperbacks and magazines will be on display, highlighting the work of C.L. Moore, Margaret Brundage, Daisy Bacon, Gertrude Schalk, Ann Bannon, Leigh Brackett, and other legendary creators. On November 1st, join exhibit curator Rex Hughes on a tour of these classic tales, but beware... for thrilling adventure awaits!

Join a guided tour of the vibrant green roof installation at David Kemp Hall. Learn how these roofs are constructed and how they reduce stormwater runoff and promote great environmental stewardship of our natural resources. This tour has an age requirement of 18+ and a limited capacity.

This tour is not wheelchair accessible and will be canceled in the event of rain. Meet at the Special Collections Reading Room (McCabe 130). 

Let's ring in fall together the Swattie way. Join us for exciting games, activities, and treats to celebrate the fall season! And for our new first year students, this event will also celebrate the conclusion of the  Be Well Pursuit! Come celebrate with a wellness activity and collect any prizes you won.

On Simchat Torah, which begins this Saturday night, some Jewish people dance with a Torah scroll, our tradition's most ancient and sacred ritual object. In this program we'll look inside Swarthmore's very own scroll, learning about how Torah scrolls are written and exploring some of the notable features of the text.

The Garnet Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2012 to commemorate exceptional performances by individuals and teams associated with Swarthmore Athletics. Join us as we recognize the 2024 inductees for accomplishments in athletics and their contributions to their community and society. The formal program will begin at 6:30 p.m. This is a paid event; pre-registration required.

A family friendly Friday night dinner for anyone who identifies as Jewish, whether religiously or culturally, and their family and friends. Please indicate you are coming to dinner by completing the form. 

Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. will give an evening lecture on the enduring importance of Baldwin's work and thought, which will likely build upon his new book, We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (2024) and Begin Again (2020).

Join the staff of our InterFaith Center for a guided meditation session. Wind down from your day and help prepare your mind and body for sleep.

This is a paid event; pre-registration is required. Students may use their meal plans. 

Well-being is the best kept secret to student success in college. By bringing holistic well-being into focus, we help ensure that our students not only survive their college years, but thrive during this time (and long afterwards!). Join us for this interactive session to learn more about how we define and invest in student well-being at Swarthmore, and leave with some concrete strategies for supporting your student through all of the ups and downs of college life.

Ashley Netanel, M.Ed. is the Associate Director of Health Promotion and Wellness Initiatives and part of the Student Health and Wellness team at Swarthmore College. She is passionate about creating a culture of well-being at Swarthmore, which ranges from teaching students skills about topics like sleep, stress, and healthy relationships, to working with campus partners in order to infuse a health-promoting perspective into college policies, programs, and practices.

Generative AI is impacting every aspect of our personal and professional lives, from politics and entertainment to health and the practice of law. While generative AI can be used to boost productivity and support creativity, it can also be used to cause harm, such as extortion schemes that mimic the voices of loved ones or disinformation campaigns that seek to influence elections. In this Faculty Lecture, Sukrit Venkatagiri, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, will talk about two research projects that his lab, the Collective Resilience Lab, is conducting at Swarthmore to understand the impacts of generative AI. The first study looks at how one type of generative AI — deepfakes — is being used to cause widespread relational, financial, and societal harm. In the second study, we communicated these harms to everyday people through comic strips to uncover their thoughts about how lawmakers or software developers should regulate deepfakes and who to hold accountable for resultant negative impacts. The talk will conclude with steps that people can take to leverage generative AI for good and protect themselves from harm.

The 3rd Annual Tip-Off Brunch hosted by Swarthmore College Women's Basketball program is scheduled for Saturday, November 2 from 10am-12:30pm. The brunch is an opportunity for the program to connect with women's basketball's family and friends and to officially kick-off the 2024-2025 season. Head Coach Dawn Grant shared "Our program is appreciative of all the ongoing support and hope to keep the momentum going into the next season as we aim to make our mark on the Centennial Conference." This is a paid event; pre-registration is required.

Bring the whole family to celebrate Swarthmore Athletics and cheer on the Garnet. Enjoy lawn games along with snacks and beverages. This is a paid event; pre-registration is required.

This is a paid event; pre-registration is required. Students are welcome to use their meal plans. 

It’s been more than 20 years since the human genome was first sequenced, ushering in an unprecedented era of biologic discovery and therapeutic development. Yet the most profound and impactful use of this stunning genomic knowledge base lies underutilized and misunderstood. “Life Inside the Punnett Square,” a lecture by Matthew Goldstein ’04, provides an intimate, experiential view into the power of preventative genetics through his own personal story of love, loss, and reframed identity.

Matt Goldstein is a physician-scientist and entrepreneur. He has founded companies, built R&D teams, and led strategy and execution of both pre-clinical research and clinical development. He is currently the CEO of jScreen, where he focuses on providing accessible, live-saving genetic testing to empower individuals with critical health insights.

Thanks to the generosity of Matthew and his spouse, Myra Sack, attendees will receive a copy of Myra's memoir, Fifty-Seven Fridays, while supplies last.

This Hatha yoga class will concentrate on breathing and mindful movements, increasing strength and flexibility. Offering modifications for postures, this class will be accessible to all levels of practice. Each practice will include poses, breathing, finishing with a restorative and calming end, and guided meditation. Wear clothes that you can move in. All equipment is provided.

Please join President Valerie Smith as she recognizes the positive impact our community of parents, alumni, and volunteers can have on the future of Swarthmore. This is a paid event; pre-registration is required.

Join SBAN and the Black Cultural Center community for refreshments and a conversation between alumni and current Black students as they discuss life at Swarthmore plus career choices and pathways, as well as insights and lessons learned about life after Swarthmore.

Students and Young Alums (‘10-’24) are invited to mingle over s’mores, and cozy fall refreshments enhancing your social well being while hearing from members of the Young Alumni Ambassador Program (YAAP), a committee that creates events and resources that serve the Swarthmore students and Young Alumni community.

Launch of the SBAN Equity Action Challenge task force to inspire meaningful, measurable, and collaborative action among SBAN members and the greater Swarthmore community regarding equity. This workshop will focus on ways to deliver relief and support for the residents of Chester by inspiring understanding, alignment, and accountability that leads to collaborative, measurable action over a 12-month timeline.