<p>Does anyone know how much student activism there is at Swarthmore? I remember always hearing about it as an "activist" school but that seemed to be less the case in recent years -- perhaps the administration aiming for a more elite Ivy feel. Although it does sound like the college gave a lot of support to the "Genocide Intervention Fund" that got started by students there:</p>
<p>"Sam Bell 05, Rajaa Shakir 04, Ivan Boothe 05 and Hanis will form the groups executive staff until more individuals are hired. Despite being understaffed, GIF has already caused a stir in DC with the massive support it has received. In order to maintain their three pillars of activity, which are advocacy, education and fundraising, GIF has become involved with numerous organizations, including the Be A Witness campaign, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Save Darfur. In addition, GIF has garnered support from members of congressm and other government officials, including Robert Zoellick 79, the Deputy Secretary of State who is in charge of issues concerning Sudan in the State Department."</p>
<p><a href="http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2005-09-22/news/15394%5B/url%5D">http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2005-09-22/news/15394</a></p>
<p>Does anyone know if there are other groups like this that have developed on campus? Does the administration give support to such things?</p>
<p>From what I've heard, and waht the admissions officers boast about, many students go to Chester, an impoverished region int eh Philly area, to volunteer. If you have been sent the DVD for specs at Swarthmore you would see some activism from students.</p>
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Does anyone know if there are other groups like this that have developed on campus? Does the administration give support to such things?
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<p>Yes. And, yes. Two more examples have been a strong movement on campus related to internet copyright issues. Do a search at the Swarthmore site for "Diebold".</p>
<p>The college has also been active in pressuring companies in which they have endowment holdings in the area of same-sex benefits. This follows on a tradition at Swarthmore which was one of the first colleges to divest holdings in apartheid South African companies.</p>
<p>You have to keep in mind that it is not an era of tremendous activisim or political involvement among the youth of America. So, I would not expect 60's style Weather Underground activity.</p>
<p>Yes, my S and other Swatties and students from the Tri-College Consortium have traveled to Ft. Benning, GA. the past two years to participate in a massive protest designed to shut down the School of the Americas. The bus and hotel rooms needed were funded from college sources, with the only instruction from the college being that the students were not to do anything deliberately to get arrested! He has also been part of an on campus group promoting Fair Trade coffee on campus. He has also volunteered (after being trained) in nearby Chester, PA during tax season, helping residents fill out income tax forms. Go on the Swarthmore website to the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility for other information.</p>