In order to maintain institutional memory, below is a documented timeline of events involving the birth and actions of O4S. Swarthmore has a deep and often erased history of activism, from sit-ins in the late 60s demanding higher Black admissions and a Black Cultural Center, to protests against the College’s stake in South African Apartheid that lead to divestment in the 90s, we see our work as part of a long history of organizing that came before us. Without this work, ours wouldn’t be possible.

Spring 2013:

Extensive organizing around Title IX and sexual violence at Swarthmore took place during the spring of 2013, better known as The Spring of Our Discontent. This work resulted in the beginning of a Federal investigation into the College’s mishandling of sexual assault cases, among other things. See this article for more information.

As a response to much of this organizing, Swarthmore held an investigation to address ways in which the College could minimize liability and established the College’s Title IX office.

Additionally, there are two sites that document Swarthmore’s history with Title IX activism and other work in general:

https://organizingforsurvivors.wordpress.com

https://swatoverlaps.tumblr.com/

Fall 2017:

December 5, 2017 

Voices Article: “The System is Broken: An Experience with the Title IX Process” (Anonymous, Student X)

Spring 2018:

February 26, 2018

Voices Article: “Ending the Cycle: Demanding Change in Swarthmore’s Broken Title IX System” (Lydia Koku)

March 1, 2018

Voices Article: “I Am Student X, How Many of Us Are?” (Makayla Portley)

March 2, 2018

Organizing For Survivors is publicly founded at their first Community Forum

March 19, 2018

Demands Released on the steps of Parrish

Throughout March, April and May, O4S held community meetings that were in high attendance. Topics of discussion included updates and information about the demands, Transformative Justice, and plans for direct action. 

May 1, 2018

O4S began a sit in inside the office of the Dean of Students, Liz Braun

May 2, 2018

Ad Hoc Committee Meeting Disruption

O4S expands sit in to include the office of the Dean of Conduct, Nathan Miller.

May 7, 2018

 Community Conversation hosted by Dean Shá held in Upper Tarble.

May 9, 2018

Sit in ends as O4S delivers packing materials to Dean Braun and Dean Miller.

Policy Meeting I

Students, administrators and President Smith attend a meeting to discuss O4S’ demands.

May 15, 2018

Policy Meeting II

May 16, 2018

Dean Braun Resigns

Fall 2018:

September 18, 2018

O4S Teach-in held in Shane Lounge

September 29 and November 1, 2018

Kavanaugh Hearing Vigil & Banner Drop

Banner Read: No more Kavanaughs, Transformative Justice must start here.

October 12, 2018

Meeting with the Interim Dean of Students Jim Terhune

November 6, 2018

PubSafe External Review Meeting, see this Voices article for more information.

December 7, 2018

Banner Drop and Signatures in Solidarity Display

Banner Read: President Smith: 263 Days, 21 Unmet Demands, DeVos is here, where are you?

Spring 2019:

February 6, 2019

Banner Drop in Sharples

Banner Read: 270+ days since last meeting, 100+ days since last contact, President Smith, where are you?

Day counter flyering in Parrish begins 

February 15, 2019

Meeting with Bindu Jayne, the new Title IX Coordinator

February 25, 2019

Meeting with President Smith

April 1, 2019

Demand Re-release on the steps of Parrish

April 4, 2019

Public Safety Advisory meeting disruption

April 18, 2019

Leaked Fraternity Documents Published

The Coalition to End Fraternity Violence hosts first open meeting in response to the document releases

April 19, 2019

O4S and the Coalition disrupt a Task Force meeting addressing social life and fraternities

April 20, 2019

O4S and the Coalition host a Takeover and Sleepover outside of the fraternity houses

April 22, 2019

O4S and the Coalition visit the office of Andrew Barclay, the fraternity liaison and head of the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) to demand that fraternities be suspended and that residents living in the houses be moved out

April 24, 2019

O4S and the Coalition visit the office of Nathan Miller, Dean of Conduct, to push their demands once again

April 25, 2019

O4S and the Coalition disrupt a meeting at the Inn at Swarthmore where President Smith, Salem Schuchman, Dean Terhune, Provost Willie-LeBreton, and Ed Rowe are in attendance

April 26, 2019 

College Administrators host a meeting with O4S and the Coalition held in the Scheuer Room

Second Task Force meeting disruption

April 27, 2019

O4S and the Coalition begin a sit-in at Phi Psi fraternity house.

By the afternoon, the College’s administration declared that all fraternity events were to be suspended for the rest of the semester.

April 30, 2019

Both Delta Upsilon and Phi Psi announce their disbanding

May 2, 2019

O4S and the Coalition to End Fraternity Violence move their sit-in to President Smith’s Office and the connecting hallway. The sit-in lasted one full day.

May 6, 2019

Hunger strike begins

May 10, 2019

Hunger strike ends, strikers begin conversation with administrators

Separate to the end of the strike, President Smith declares an end to greek life at Swarthmore

May 13, 2019

President Smith holds a Community Conversation

Swarthmore community members, including students in O4S and faculty supporters were in attendance. During the meeting, we stressed the need for firm commitment to just re-allocation of the former fraternity spaces as well as clarity and accountability regarding the College’s wrongdoing and deception during student protest.

Summer 2019:

During the final week of term and into the summer of 2019, Swarthmore hired an external investigator to look into the events of the late spring 2019 semester. Believing that the investigation would aid in conduct proceedings for the College, students who were contacted by the investigator did not engage, and sought legal counsel to better understand their options.