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2024 Garnet Weekend
Rare Book a New Model of the Universe
Apian dedicated this work to Emperor Charles V, and was later appointed the court astronomer. He created the Astronomicum to be an astronomical instrument or manual that explains how to use astrolabes to determine the placements of the planets.
Written just before Copernicus proposed his new model of the universe in 1543 that placed the sun at its center with the other planets revolving around it, Apian based this book on the earlier Ptolemaic theory with Earth as the stationary center of the universe. Apian, a designer of astronomical instruments, included a separate section at the end of the book that contains both astronomical observations and illustrations of various instruments. Approximately 100 copies of the work still exist in collections around the world.
The Astronomicum contains hand-colored woodcuts throughout. The most unusual and intricate physical aspect of the book is the numerous volvelles. A volvelle is a paper wheel attached to a page that rotates independently.
In this work, the volvelles are used to create astrolabes, many of which consist of up to five volvelles working in tandem, creating an instrument that actually functions like an analog astronomical computer. This “computer” can be used to predict events such as solar and lunar eclipses, along with the position of the sun and stars. Many of the volvelles have colored string markers coming out from their centers, which originally had seed pearls mounted on the ends.
The work was donated to Swarthmore in 1973 by Elizabeth Wilcox Schickele, whose son Peter Schickele ’57, H’80 was a composer best known for his alter ego P.D.Q. Bach. Based on the existing bookplates, the book belonged at one time to Sir Thomas Brooke (1830-1908), who had a well-known collection at Armitage Bridge in Yorkshire, England. It was then in the collection of Stephen A. Ionides (1880-1943), an engineer who published an article on Peter Apian with his daughter Margaret Ionides Cochran (1912-1946). The book was likely given to Schickele by Hewitt Cochran, husband of Margaret Cochran, after Margaret’s death in 1946. Schickele’s bookplate has the year 1946 handwritten on it, and she included a note with the book that she was giving it in memory of Margaret.
Swarthmore Announces Plan to Reduce Scope 3 Emissions
Scope 3 emissions are those not directly controlled by the College, but critical to its operations, including employee commuting, air travel, solid waste, and more. As of fiscal year 2023, these emissions accounted for approximately 29% of Swarthmore’s total carbon output. The College’s Office of Sustainability, along with the Carbon Charge Working Group and partners across campus, has developed this comprehensive plan to strategically address and reduce these emissions.
“Scope 3 emissions reduction requires both innovation and a community-wide commitment. Together, we are making meaningful strides toward a sustainable future,” says Elizabeth Drake, assistant vice president of sustainability & strategic initiatives. Swarthmore’s commitment to carbon neutrality aligns with its dedication to fostering an inclusive, educational approach to sustainability. The College will continue to expand its research and partnerships, including support for innovative carbon offset projects.
Woodie’s World: A Lifetime of Celebrating Sports
His signature Saturday night features weren’t just about the big games — sure, he covered Aaron, Ali, and Namath — but he also found magic in marbles championships, rodeo clowns, and even a left-handed golfers’ tournament.
Whether getting run over by a wild horse or racing alongside Stirling Moss, Broun’s storytelling was as adventurous as the athletes he covered. Some of his best are captured in “Woodie’s World,” now on YouTube.
Beyond broadcasting, Broun was a Broadway actor, author, and radio host, but above all, he was a storyteller. His belief? “Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”
Climate Awareness
Six students — Emily Kerimian ’25, Eder Ruiz Sánchez ’25, Sophia Schmitz ’25, Owen Sears ’25, Mahika Shergill ’26, and Ellie Zack ’25 — documented their experiences and takeaways from the November conference.
As observer delegates, the students attended key negotiations and forged connections with the global climate community over the course of two weeks. They also engaged with the critical focus of this year’s conference: climate finance.
Attendees approached the summit hoping to seal and ensure efforts toward climate justice, focusing on the ability of the most vulnerable nations to adapt to and recover from the devastating impacts of climate change. The College first received NGO-observer status in 2013, and has sent a delegation to each summit thereafter.
Sources of support have also included Global Studies, Environmental Studies, and the Office of Sustainability.
Melanie Patapis, climate action manager (Sustainability), and James Padilioni, visiting assistant professor of religion and environmental studies, co-led an independent study this fall to help the students prepare for the conference.
john c. mather ’68, H’94 Receives franklin founder award
Lives Well Lived
Hammons, who served on the faculty for 33 years, was a dedicated mentor and teacher who inspired students and colleagues alike.
Hammons grew up in Darien, Conn., and earned a B.A. in chemistry and music from Amherst College in 1956, then completed an M.A. and Ph.D. in chemistry at Johns Hopkins University. He joined Swarthmore’s faculty as a chemistry instructor in 1964.
A professorship has been established in his name to recognize the inspiring academic and personal guidance he provided.
Smith, who served on the faculty for 39 years, was an influential and gracious scholar, mentor, and friend to generations of colleagues and students alike. Smith grew up in Norman, Okla., and graduated with a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Oklahoma. He earned a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and joined Swarthmore’s faculty as a political science instructor in 1953. When Smith retired in 1992, a merit-based research grant was established in his name.
Grabois earned a B.A. with Honors in mathematics from Swarthmore in 1957, where he was a member of the varsity wrestling and men’s swimming teams. He earned a master’s and Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania, and taught there as well as at Lafayette College, MIT, and Williams College. At Swarthmore, Grabois served on the Board of Managers from 1991 to 2004. In 2010, Eugene M. Lang ’38, H’81 established a professorship in Grabois’ name to support the Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering.
Gaustad grew up in Minneapolis, Minn., and graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 1959 with a concentration in astronomy. He earned his Ph.D in astronomy at Princeton University in 1962. Gaustad arrived at Swarthmore as chair of the Astronomy Department and served on the faculty for 18 years. Upon his retirement in 2000, students established the John and Gail Gaustad Scholarship in honor of Gaustad and his wife. It is awarded annually to a promising student who demonstrates financial need and academic excellence.
Nelson attended Pembroke College, then the women’s college in Brown University, and graduated summa cum laude in 1967. She earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in psychology at Brown. At Swarthmore, Nelson served on the faculty for 34 years, chairing the Psychology Department several times. She frequently collaborated with her students, ultimately publishing more than a dozen articles with them. Upon her 2012 retirement, a speaker series was named in her honor focusing on young graduates pursuing careers in academic psychology.
During her 15 years at Swarthmore, Kunzig supported the Registrar’s Office, the Linguistics Department, and the Mathematics & Statistics Department. She initially joined the College in 2005, working both in the Registrar’s Office and for the Upward Bound program. She also served on the Staff Advisory Council. Kunzig is remembered for her warmth and kindness, as well as her ability to deftly handle many projects at Swarthmore and across the Tri-Co consortium.
Sager earned a B.A. in economics at the College, where he was a member of the College Orchestra and men’s varsity tennis team, and received an MBA from Stanford University. Sager moved to San Diego after graduate school where he chaired the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative. In 1988, Sager established the Sager Fund at Swarthmore to combat homophobia and to support events that focus on concerns of the LGBTQ+ communities. Richard was also a sculptor at Sager Scott Studio and worked in real estate management.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa., Donnelly joined the College in 1991. During his 30 years at Swarthmore, he supported the Grounds & Horticulture crew, most recently as the athletic fields crew supervisor. A lover of the great outdoors, Donnelly maintained the fields that played host to many memorable Athletics games and tournaments. He enjoyed traveling and hiking local parks and nature preserves, especially John Heinz Wildlife Park and Ridley Creek State Park.
Hart joined the College in 1985 and supported Environmental Services as a technician during her 35 years at Swarthmore. She was involved in the Learning for Life program, first as a participant and later as a steering committee member, and shared her expertise in the Ethnography in Education Research Forum at the University of Pennsylvania in 2010. She received the BCC’s Kathryn L. Morgan Award in 2007. Hart is remembered for her warmth and kindness and the many ways she made Swarthmore students feel cared for.
Yost Stewart, who taught and mentored both students and colleagues in Biology for nearly 30 years, is remembered as a dedicated, resourceful educator who placed as much value on fun and kindness as she did on hard, careful work. Her legacy also extends to the legions of alumni, including non-biology majors, who attended medical school thanks in large part to her guidance as the College’s first health science advisor. Despite, and maybe because of, her nontraditional path to the faculty, she ultimately — and deliberately — became indispensable.
Making the Cut
The manager in question was Richard Welsh ’70, who was removed from his role as team manager for having a goatee and mustache in violation of the College Athletic Department’s “beard rule.” This policy mandated that all male student-athletes must be clean shaven to participate in their sport, and over time, it extended to team managers as well.
“To the best of my recollection, it boiled down to athletes and managers being representatives of the College, and therefore having a responsibility to present a decent appearance. Facial hair was not seen as decent,” says Welsh. “Perhaps it is merely apocryphal, but there was one dean in our time who was notorious for the phrase ‘shabby on the outside, shabby on the inside’ with regards to students’ personal appearance.”
It is unclear when the rule first came into effect, but the earliest reference in The Phoenix appears to be from May 3, 1960.
In a letter to the editor, Professor Laurence Lafore in the History Department mocks the “beard rule” by claiming that he will only allow male students to enroll in his courses if they have facial hair as he finds the “unbearded male face personally repugnant.”
Throughout the decade, op-eds and letters to the editor calling the policy into question continued. These challenges were a small part of a growing student resentment toward the Swarthmore administration and its restrictive rules governing their day-to-day lives.
These so-called “parietal rules” regulated student appearance and dress code, prohibited consumption of alcohol, instituted curfews for female students, and even restricted dormitory visitation between men and women.
By the end of the 1960s, these rules were on their way out as a result of myriad different factors, both internal and external to the College.
Among them: The 1969 Admissions Office sit-in conducted by the Swarthmore Afro-American Student Society (SASS) thrust matters of racial inequality to the forefront of the College’s focus; the untimely death of President Courtney Smith led to a reorganization of institutional leadership at the College; and the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War protest movements led students nationwide to challenge the authority and validity of all power structures.
It appears that the “beard rule” was never formally abolished, upsetting the editorial board of The Phoenix, but instead student grooming policies were left to the discretion of individual coaches.
“That Haverford College has allowed hirsute athletes on its team without having coaches appraise their appearance … shows that a beard rule in keeping with the nature of the institution is possible,” reads a Jan. 10, 1969 editorial. “The fundamental problem is that decision-making power remains in the hands of people with a clean-shaven mindset.”