Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I hope your semester has started off well. I’m delighted to invite you to the return of an annual Swarthmore tradition: our fall Community Gathering. This event brings the campus community together to enjoy each other’s company, welcome our newest community members, and celebrate the start of the academic year. 

This year’s Community Gathering will take place on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Trotter Lawn. There will be a delicious lunch, music, and many friendly faces. Swarthmore’s Get Out The Vote committee will be on hand to help with voter registration activities and provide other helpful resources to help you navigate the upcoming midterm elections.

So that our friends in Dining may join us, campus dining locations will be closed during lunch. Sharples will re-open at 4:30 p.m. for dinner and Essie Mae’s and the Science Center Café will reopen at 2 p.m.

This year’s Community Gathering — our first since 2019 — falls on Garnet Day, uniting old traditions with new. As you head to Trotter Lawn and greet friends, please remember to wear College gear in celebration of our community and the spirit of Swarthmore. 

I hope you can join us for the festivities, and I look forward to seeing many of you there and ushering in another fall together.

Sincerely,

Val Smith