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Swarthmore Discussion Group

Department Overview

A Special Message from the Board of the Swarthmore Discussion Group

Our Fall 2025 Series — September, October, November, and December—will be held in person. We are excited to gather again at The Inn and hope you'll join us for a memorable experience.

 

About

The Swarthmore Discussion Group (SDG) offers members the opportunity to hear knowledgeable speakers and engage in lively conversation with local community members as well as Swarthmore College staff, faculty, and alumni.

Our speakers are distinguished scholars, community leaders, and experts in their fields. Following their presentations on topics including politics, foreign affairs, economics, and cultural and social issues, they welcome members' questions, discussions, and debates.

Please join our Fall 2025 Series of four monthly presentations on Wednesday evenings. We will meet in person at The Inn at Swarthmore. The membership fee includes a catered dinner to accompany each inspiring lecture. No refunds are available.

Fall 2025 Swarthmore Discussion Group Series

Sept. 17, 2025

Define “Irony”

Ben Yagoda, Author and Educator

From Jonathan Swift to Alanis Morissette to hipsters swigging Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, cultural figures and ordinary people have offered “ironic” commentary on their times. But what, really, does “irony” mean? Has our entire culture become “irony-pilled”? Author and cultural critic Ben Yagoda takes a deep dive into the word “irony” and suggests how we can make sense of the many different ways we hear and see it used.

Oct. 15, 2025

The Best Education Money Can’t Buy: The Uniqueness of Berea College

Gretchen Dykstra, Author

In 1855, John Fee, the son of a slave owner, established the first integrated and co-educational school in the South. Today, this small college educates 1600 talented students annually. Most come from Appalachia. Every student gets free tuition and works 10 to 20 hours a week on campus. Fifty percent of the students are Black or Latino, and five percent are international, coming from over 70 nations. Berea’s unique role in American higher education — with its commitment to social justice— is rooted in its audacious beginning and steadfast values. It walks the walk.
 

Nov. 12, 2025

Foreign Aid in the Rearview Mirror

Stephen O'Connell, Gil and Frank Mustin Professor of Economics, Swarthmore College; Former Chief Economist, USAID

Foreign aid has been viewed by U.S. governments as a vital instrument of soft power for 75 years. Yet the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was one of the first major actions of the Trump administration. Why? And what does Project 2025 suggest may follow for institutional design and the targeting of assistance? What are the likely consequences of a major decline in foreign aid?

 

Dec. 10, 2025

“The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America”

Ron Tarver, Associate Professor of Art, Swarthmore College

Ron Tarver, visual artist and winner of numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, corrects the American cowboy narrative in his book, “The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America.” From ranches to city streets, Tarver’s photographs reveal the beauty, romance, and visual poetry of Black cowboys throughout the country through 110 photos made in the early ’90s, at the start of this 30-year (ongoing) project.

When and Where

Swarthmore Discussion Group's Fall 2025 Series convenes on the second or third Wednesday of each month from September through December. We are delighted to return to our in-person format, and will gather together at The Inn at Swarthmore. 
 

Time (ET)

5:15–6 p.m. Happy Hour at The Inn at Swarthmore, Broad Table Tavern
6-7 p.m. Dinner in the Gathering Room at The Inn at Swarthmore
7–8:15 p.m. Presentation and Q & A
 

Location, Cost, and Registration

The Fall 2025 Series will be held in person and include a catered dinner. Registration is now open. The fee for the series of four presentations with dinner is $199 per person, with payment due by Sept. 10.  Space for single-talk registrations may be available. Contact sdg@swarthmore.edu for more information. 


Register for the Fall 2025 Series

 

Questions?

Contact sdg@swarthmore.edu. We thank you for your support of the Swarthmore Discussion Group.