Swarthmore surveils and sanctions students
Digital copy of zines circulated around Swarthmore College that led to disciplinary charges against students.
A student at Swarthmore College reports that the institution’s primary focus appears to be maintaining its financial interests and legacy, while actively discouraging critical dissent. The source, who wishes to remain anonymous for their own safety, says the institution seeks for its students to, “go out into the workforce for these companies that they make a lot of money through and will sustain the project of the United States and then through that they’ve created the perfect student and additionally they will be able to have alumni that will continue to give them a lot of money and continue to donate.”
They continue on to say “I think all of these things and the way that the school has gone about pursuing these charges has made it clear to me what this school stands for and these are values that are in complete stark contrast and in opposition with my values to what I believe to be true, what I believe to be right and what I believe to be wrong. I feel like most of this is a waste of time [the investigation].”
The experience, they say, has encouraged them to remain steadfast in exposing the contradictions of these institutions for the betterment of our collective interests.
“I believe in these things more because I recognized what the role of institutions are in the US. It's not for an incredible education where they can think critically. It’s never been about that. Universities have always been necessary for the construction of national identity for the construction of generating capital for the nation.”
During recent disciplinary investigations, eight students were named in association with informational zines. Notably, the only two Black students targeted had extensive surveillance files compiled against them, including photos, videos, and documentation of their off-campus addresses and daily commutes. The source reflected on what the realization of being surveilled was like, “Multiple times I’d see Swarthmore PD, Swarthmore police cars driving down the road but I didn’t think about it because I didn’t have a reason to think about it besides feeling unsettled because I don’t believe in them.”
They recalled campus police stalking students. “Following me, watching me, watching other students; was like truly absurd.” They further reflected on the materials, “I think we could’ve written anything in the zines and they would’ve tried to create a case from that..they were pulling at anything but also the racist logic and rhetoric they rely on to construct these cases was apparent.”
The charges—which included alleged bullying, intimidation, endangerment, and policy violations—stemmed from the distribution of zines. These publications analyzed the Board of Managers' financial investments and reflected on the Spring 2024 student encampment, calling for a divestment of funding to Israel and advocating for an end to the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Zine of encampment Spring 2024
In speaking on the intersectionality of Black people here in America and a shared struggle with the Palestinian people, they said:
“It’s clear to me that the systems that rely on racism, patriarchy, etc., the system that relies on that is capitalism, and capitalism also relies on imperialism. These two systems work together. And what we are seeing happening to Palestinians, it’s a struggle for land. It’s a struggle for complete control over a group of people.”
The investigation process involved weeks of proceedings and over ten hours of hearings. Ultimately, two students received reprimands, two were placed on probation, and the remaining students faced no sanctions. This outcome suggests an effort to intimidate students and suppress campus organizing, highlighting how surveillance disproportionately impacts marginalized groups.