SWIL history
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Oracle, where did SWIL come from?
SWIL was established in fall of 1978 by a group of people, referred to as the Founding Five, including Jim Huang '82, Barbara Need '82, Jack Eckert, Alice Macneal '82, and Scott Cowger (http://www.mainesenate.org/cowger/). They lived in PPR (specifically, in P & P). Prior to SWIL's creation, there was no science fiction club at Swarthmore, although there had been a Swarthmore chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism called the Canton of the Ivory Tower, which had conveniently just passed away in the spring of 1978. Jim Huang was a freshman at the time, but he quickly became a Fearless and Charismatic Leader. His name has the same ring of godhood as those of later greats, such as Josh Smith, though for decidedly different reasons.
The name (Swarthmore Warders of Imaginative Literature) was concocted to fit the acronym.
SWIL can be identified from a very long way away by certain distinctive markings, including the Pterodactyl Hunt and the Cordwainer Bird Library, neither of which was created along with SWIL, but both of which were acquired soon after its birth.
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Stuff Happens
Much time passed and many things happened, since then. Most of the following is from the 20th Reunion SWIL Timeline. Names next to each year are the SWILpresident(s) for that year. Some of this is, admittedly, Swat history, but they're connected.
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1978: Jim Huang, Fearless and Charismatic Leader
- SWIL is founded in Pittenger, Jim Huang is "elected" Fearless and Charismatic Leader
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1979: Jim Huang, Fearless and Charismatic Leader
- Folkdance puts up signs for a joke Pterodactyl Hunt at midnight in Crum Meadow. Nothing happens.
- The first Unicorn Star is published.
- Canton of the Ivory Tower goes to the coronation of the King of the East
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1980: Jim Huang, Fearless and Charismatic Leader
- A Pterodactyl Hunt is held in the Crum with balloon swords
- Jim Huang runs the first SWIL storyreading
- Jay brings the first student's computer to campus
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1981: Jim Huang, Fearless and Charismatic Leader
- Sherry Hartenstine runs the first SWIL Halloween party
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1982: Jennie Jacobsen: Jennie, Reine; or Jennie Wren; or Jenny, Rien
- SWIL holds a Science Fiction Discussion Group. Topic is "Religion in SF/F".
- Over the summer, SWAPA begins.
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1983: Neil Ottenstein, Ghod Emperor of SWIL
- The Oktoberfest Committee assigns the Pterodactyl Hunt to SWIL
- SWIL co-sponsors Ursula LeGuin lecture
- Isaac Asimov calls Neil Ottenstein on a hall phone
- SWIL takes over the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre
- Neil does an exhaustive SWIL survey, determining what campus wants from SWIL
- SWIL helps bring H. Bruce Franklin to speak at Swarthmore
- SWILmeeting is fixed at high noon, Saturday
- PR1ME computer arrives
- (Old) Tarble burns
- Canton is presumed dead by the SCA
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1984: Shoshanna Green and Jed Shumsky, Weyrleaders of SWIL
- SWIL takes over Cordwainer Bird Library from David Fristrom (a SWILnik), younger brother of Carl Fristrom, who created it
- First BEM is published
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1985: Shoshanna Green and Jed Shumsky, Weyrleaders of SWIL
- First Schlock Film Festival during finals week
- Jed and Shoshanna quell a Revolution, create a Loyalty Oath
- SWILoween in Bond
- SWILmeeting moved permanently to Room 4 in Sharples (instead of migrating from week to week)
- JimMoskowitz and Perry initiate an annual Crum cleanup after the first SWILmeeting of the year
- SWILbrunch with Lloyd Alexander (4/14/85)
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1986: Perry Deess, El Kesso Grande
- SWILschism immediately after Perry's election
- Coup, "The Spanish Inquisition". With cushions.
- PR1ME decommissioned for academic use; Macs installed in public areas
- SWILoween upstairs in the remainder of Old Tarble. Best-wrapped candy bar ever.
- Crumhenge appears over the summer
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1987: David "DVS" Van Stone and JimMoskowitz, the Kings of Club
- SWILoween in Bond
- SWIL Angst: What should SWIL be?
- Anonymous RPG (http://www.swil.org/archives/Misc_Works/game.txt) played in the spring, in a text file on the PR1ME
- Matt Katinsky inherits Massacre, tells gravy-sucking pigs to die
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1988: John Halbert and Jed Hartman, the Presidents Who Go Ping!
- Self-signed attendance list reinstated
- Crum section of the Blue Route (476) goes under construction
- PR1ME replaced by VAXen
- "Off the Cuff" begins on WSRN ("Seldom tedious!")
- SFDT meets some evenings in Sharples. Special bonus topic: "The Works of Piers Anthony."
- Jed runs first Walpurgisnacht storyreading
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1989: Laura Almasy and Chris Cobb, The Four: Chris and Laura and Laura and Chris
- End of in-room housekeeping
- Chris organizes student-run SF class, sponsored by Professor Abbe Blum
- Local activists prevent construction of the Blue Route for two weeks (in Nov-Dec)
- Michael Swanwick is guest speaker (spring?)
- Lloyd Alexander speaks on campus, after SWIL picks him up at his house (fall?)
- Earthlust takes over the Crum cleanup (?)
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1990: Ed Bernstein and Andy Perry, Flash and Substance
- SWIL Angst: Dark SWIL
- In the fall, Swat implements swipe card ID's
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1991: Jeff Hildebrand, Secret Master of SWILdom
- SWIL the 13th: Reunion Part II
- The SCCS is founded by Geoff Noer, Robert Richardson, Dan Wells, Marc Rieffel, AC Capehart
- The Blue Route opens in December
- Something happens involving Peter Wagner and cheese
- VAX dies, PAC opens, Parrish commons becomes the CRC
- "Off the Cuff" dies
- SWIL co-sponsors Star Wars with Movie Committee
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1992: jere7my tho?rpe and Melissa Shaner, Queen Bondage and King Discipline
- Pilgrimage to Lloyd Alexander
- Jeff organizes student-run SF seminar, sponsored by Professor Tom Blackburn
- Judith Moffatt speaks to SWIL
- SCAT [the Swarthmore College Ascension Team, for climbing buildings and belltowers] formed
- SCCS founded
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1993: Aaron Brockett and jere7my tho?rpe, Once and Future Presidents
- In April, Greg Frost speaks and attends Schlock
- Swat installs room phones
- Magic changes SWIL social scene
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1994: Lesley Tsina and Don Lehr, Literature and the Grotesque
- SWIL goes to Philcon, fits 14 in one hotel room
- First SWIL Dance Party
- Spamageddon I: Spam-drop!
- SWIL 15th Reunion in the spring
- SWIL first shows Star Wars trilogy during Orientation
- SWIL web page created
- swat.org.asm created
- "Housing? Housing? You want housing? F-f-f-uck you! Hallowell basement!"
- SWILtable founded
- George C. Hurliman Memorial Library moved to Tarble 312 (from Hallowell basement) in spring, becomes George C. Hurliman Memorial Library Memorial Library. Hallowell basement turns into housing. (see above) It's unclear whether anyone we know ended up living in George.
- SCAT is listed in yearbook as "Swarthmore College Affirmation Taskforce"
- People get tea
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1995: Lesley Tsina and Don Lehr, James and the Giant Peach
- Weekly SWILmovies begin
- Spamageddon II: Spam-a-pult!
- First Annual SWIL Dance Party
- The Goat wins!
- Take your phone to dinner night
- Challenge chess
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1996: Joe Robins, Fred Bush, Stephanie Dyrkacz: Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite
- Spamageddon III: Spam-put!
- Kohlberg is finished
- swil.org goes online, with the creation of the chat list (first used 12/1) and the fun list (a bit earlier)
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1997: Erik Rosolowsky, Joe Robins, Melissa Binde: Abort, Retry, Ignore
- Election vote-count scandal threatens to cause schism
- Spamageddon IV: Spam-cannon!
- First "End of the World" party
- First SWILcon, with Ed Wasser and Jeff Menges as Guests of Honor
- ML redecorated over the summer, threats to remove bathtubs and replace with showers if demands not met
- Fall hunt is rescheduled to spring '98, due to inclement weather
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1998: Chaos Golubitsky, Kira Goetschius, Will Quale: Hlokk, Goll, and Skogul
- The snakes are driven from Swarthmore on St. Patrick's Day
- Spamageddon V: Spam-iata!
- English department catches on and runs its own SF class
- Two Pterodactyl Hunts in one year. Spring one falls during SWILcon.
- Octavia Butler visits campus
- (Re)creation and organization of SWIL archives
- James P. Jeff SWILcon '98, featuring James P. Hogan, James Patrick Kelly, Jeff Mingus, and Jeff Grosky
- Coup by the Southern Belles, Jessica Harbour, Megan Hallam, and Robert McFarland (a.k.a. "The Exceptionally Wise and User-Friendly New Regime(TM) with Presidents Frank, Earl, and Daisy"?)
- ML Halloween Party canceled on account of previous year's disaster, including dead squid.
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1999: Chaos Golubitsky and Kyla Tornheim: Cloak and Dagger
- First Root Beer Kegger held to celebrate SWIL's 21st birthday
- Panic Book written
- Spamageddon VI: The Spammish Inquisition!
- Arboretum relabeling April Fool's prank by Will Quale and Ben Newman
- Amy Swift founds political discussion group Third Wing (taking over the niche formerly occupied by Galt's Gulch)
- ML Halloween Party reinstated, because SAC can't find any other space.
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2000: Abby Friedman, BenNewman, Amy' Marinello: Abi-Wan Kenobi, Ben Kenobi, and Queen Amydala
- Spamageddon VII: The Spamdenburg is launched in the Crum
- First Geek Pride Week by the RPS
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2001: Amy' Marinello, Robert McFarland, Abby Friedman, the Queens of Heart
- Spamageddon VIII: We froze Spam with liquid nitrogen and then hit it with a rock.
- Second Geek Pride Week by the RPS
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2002: Callicles the Moose, benjamin r, george, ~Elliot Reed, BDan Fairchild: Ruly, Kempt, Sheveled, and Couth
- In May, George moves from TIC to Parrish 476, becoming the George C. Hurliman Memorial Library Memorial Library Memorial Library
- Spamageddon: Spamageddon VIII, with the liquid nitrogen and the rock, was so fun that we did it all over again
- Foam swords replace newspaper swords in the Pterodactyl Hunt
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2003: MarkHandler, Nick Ward, JC Ravage, the Three Salesmen of the Apocalypse
- SWIL Coup by Mai Pucik, Jillian Waldman, and Kelsey, with flamingoes, while two of the Salesmen are out of town
- Grand Melee, a spring foam sword tournament, run by JC on the lawns between Kohlberg and Parrish
- Letter to Why War and Stolen W's prank on the SWIL board
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2004: Mai Pucik, Mark Handler, Jillian Waldman: Tall, Grande, and Venti
- George III dies in May, when George moves from Parrish 476 to 472 so that Parrish construction can put an elevator there. Tedd promises us a permanent home in TIC, then leaves.
- New Dorm opens, barely in time for the beginning of the fall semester
- SWIL attempts to revive the live Science Fiction Discussion Table
- SWILwiki is created in late spring by Blake Setlow, Panic Book pages migrated here by Chaos
- Second Grand Melee held in the spring
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2005: Mai Pucik, Andrew Brown, Jillian Waldman: the Ironic Presidency
- swarpa.net created
- SWILwiki migration to MediaWiki on swarpa.net begins in the fall
- Science Center completed
- SCCS cleverly runs a recruitment campaign called Geek Coming Out Week, echoing earlier attempts by the RPS.
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2006: Eliza Blair, Jackie Werner, Finlay Logan: the (Im)Mortal Enemies
- Movie showings booted from campus buildings due to legal threat
- "NinjaGram: Say it with Ninjas" Valentine's Day fundraiser insanity crashes the Massacre
- George moves again, this time to Parrish basement
- George acquires a sister room, the Alex Weirich Memorial Lounge and Reading Room, near it in the basement of Parrish (thank you Myrt!). It is named officially at the massive Reunion SWIL meeting.
- SWIL 28th Reunion, October 6-9, with the Hunt on the 7th
- Coming Out Week Chalkings reach new heights of controversy, The Geek Coming Out Week chalkings are repeated, this time in greater force due to more chalkers.
- ML Halloween Party is "permanently" canceled.
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2007: Miles Skorpen, Daniel Jamison, Revan Williams
- Jeffrey Ford gives a reading on campus.
- Ninjas return for a second year.
- Presidents tell the Phoenix (http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2007-02-22/living/16920) "we're not as creepy as we seem".
- The student group votes to change its name from SWIL, and is henceforth to be known as Psi Phi. The alumni group retains the same name.
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Links
History from the SWIL notebook (http://www.swil.org/swilhistory.html)
