With the leaves just beginning to change and autumn weather in full swing, more than 400 parents and family members joined their students on campus for Garnet Weekend 2021, Oct. 22–23. For many parents and families, this was their first opportunity to explore Swarthmore with their student after a year with limited access to campus and the cancellation of Garnet Weekend 2020.
 
This year’s Garnet Weekend provided a more traditional family weekend experience with a full schedule of events including welcome remarks from President Val Smith and Vice President and Dean of Students Jim Terhune; the annual Thomas B. McCabe Lecture; open houses and information sessions; tours from the Friends Historical Library and Scott Arboretum; lunch at Sharples; and a Garnet Weekend tailgate and farewell reception.
 
Economist Michael Greenstone ’91 gave this year’s McCabe Lecture on “The Global Energy Challenge.” In his talk, Greenstone addressed the challenge of guarding against disruptive climate change while balancing the need for inexpensive and reliable energy, why different countries see the issue so differently in ways that make reaching a solution difficult, and offered some potential solutions. Livestreamed for the first time, almost 400 viewers tuned in for Greenstone’s McCabe Lecture in addition to the audience present in Lang Performing Arts Center.