UPDATE 3:40 p.m.: The Garnet Shuttle and Tri-Co Van pick up and drop off locations are different until further notice, due to restricted campus access. The Garnet Shuttle will not access Parrish Hall at either traffic circle; pick up and drop off location will be the rock at the corner of College Avenue and Cedar Lane. The Tri-Co Van pick up and drop off location is the Bond Hall parking lot.

2:15 p.m.: This afternoon, members of Swarthmore Students for Justice in Palestine, a suspended student organization, and other students began a protest on Trotter Lawn, where they have erected tents and invited non-community members to join them. In an abundance of caution and for the safety of the community, we have restricted access to campus and urge people to avoid the area. We are working to end what appears to be a developing encampment, which would be a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

In a message to the community, President Smith addresses how the College is responding to the "unprecedented and disturbing actions" the federal government is taking against institutions of higher education.

"Together, we will work to ensure that Swarthmore and higher education continue to stand as beacons of truth and knowledge," Smith stated.

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff Members,

UPDATE, April 25: Students who chose to do so have completed the appeals process. Although all of the initial findings were upheld, the Student Code of Conduct allows for sanctions to be revised. There were two instances in which sanctions were modified based on extenuating circumstances identified in those appeals. Due to privacy concerns, we can’t discuss any specific case in detail. However, while all of the findings were upheld on appeal, none of the sanctions prevent anyone from completing their degree this academic year.

We received the letter from the Office for Civil Rights late Monday. As we said when the complaint against Swarthmore was filed last March (incidentally, by an individual with no known affiliation with the College), we are committed to complying with the law and working with the federal government as it reviews the allegations.
 

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: An event that took place today outside the entrance to Sharples Commons ended peacefully. 

11:31 a.m.: In a message to the community, President Smith shared that the Instagram account associated with Swarthmore Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) posted a hateful, racist message that included a reference to the Ku Klux Klan and was directed toward a Jewish staff member.

Read the full message.

Renovations to Ben West House, where Public Safety is located, will begin March 2025 and continue through the early fall. During that time, Public Safety’s offices and operations will be temporarily located in nearby Bond Hall.

This spring, Clothier Lawn and the lawn in front of McCabe Library will be prepared for well drilling that will begin this June, after Alumni Weekend. Site preparations include fence installation, topsoil stripping, water mitigation, sound mitigation, and the preservation of heritage trees in the area. Drilling will also take place on both sides of Magill Walk, so sound barriers will be installed around the entire perimeter of the drilling sites. While all nearby ADA paths will remain open, other paths that run perpendicular to Magill Walk will be closed. To accommodate pedestrian traffic, a new temporary pathway will be put in place to facilitate access from Mertz Hall to the Dining and Community Commons during construction.

Given ongoing construction, access is limited to the Lang Music Building. Pedestrians can access Lang Music through the first floor of the Lang Performing Arts Center. Pedestrians and vehicles can also access Lang Music through its parking lot, via Whittier Place from the Water Tower Lot or Cornell Library. 

The 2025 Commencement ceremony will take place at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, a beautiful, open-air, covered venue in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, located about 10 miles from campus. The ceremony, which will be livestreamed on the College’s website, will take place on Sunday, May 25, at 11 a.m. ET. More information about ticketing, transportation, accessibility accommodations, and other logistics will be shared in the coming weeks. You can also visit the Commencement website.