This is not a traditional review of the social scene at Swat (as we affectionately refer to it). The scene is very difficult to characterize. I thought social life would be my biggest peeve about Swarthmore, but it turned out to be one of its biggest assets: the students here are very creative and there are many many things to do on campus with your friends.

However, work gets in the way. A lot. And if you're looking for a traditional party scene, you'd better look elsewhere. Yes, there are frat parties, but the frat scene here is quite small. There are drugs, if you want them. There is alcohol if you want it. In fact, it used to be that the college itself funded parties with plentiful free alcohol, although that is starting to change.

It's all part of the general quaker philosophy of the school. All school events are free to Swarthmore students-- lectures, concerts, movies, library fines, parties-- you name it (except for laundry, food (your parents pay a flat rate that's pretty high), and telephone). That way, students with less money don't miss out on anything happening on campus because of this. Students don't feel under or overpriveledged when it comes to school events.

Maybe the best way I can describe the scene here is by telling you my plans for today (see date above). I woke up around noon, having watched a movie (rented free from the library) with some friends in the dorm lounge and hanging out in the dorm until late. I passed by the last football game of the season. We were tied 6-6 at halftime-- our team is a lot better this year than it has been in the past, thanks to many new freshmen and sophomore football players admitted to the school.

There were not many students at the game (I was there to take yearbook pictures). Mostly alumnae. I would have liked to play "gridiron glory" (tackle football without pads, but with weak skinny players instead) with my friends. But I had a ten page paper that was overdue, so I eventually made my way over to Beardsley computer lab (mostly imacs-- where I am sitting at this very moment) and continued working on my paper.

I took a dinner break, procrastinated a bunch on the internet, and made plans to go to the theatre production of "The Eumenides", a greek tragedy by Aeschylus starring my friend. But by the time the play rolled around, I still had too much paper work undone. So I went to meet my friends at the play, told them I couldn't stay, and went back to keep writing my paper... this is a Saturday night (not every saturday night, mind you).

The social scene doesn't kick into gear around eleven-thirty, anyway. So as soon as I'm done writing this epinion, I'm going to join my friends at a private party, then go to an industrial concert sponsored by my roommate from last year. I could also go to the soccer fundraising party (not free). Or the school-funded goth party. The soccer party will be your standard college party, but there are always other options, just as there are other options to the football game and other options to alcohol.

Unlike other schools, you are free to carve your own social path without ever feeling like an outcast. Everyone here is welcoming and nice. That might be kind of jarring for people looking for an "exclusive" experience. I could also go back to my dorm and do some godawful karaoke. It's been a very long week. Some people might even be sleeping.



Recommended: Yes