Houston Market teaches recycling through new shadowboxes

Students who frequent Houston Market found a new addition to the site this year — large shadowboxes above the recycle and landfill bins that help direct trash to the proper location by displaying example objects for each bin.

New housing selection system will abolish community living

Under the new system, students will form groups of one to four students and submit their applications together under the name of a group captain. They will select their rooms through a new online housing portal — My Home at Penn — set to launch on Dec. 5.

Power Down Challenge encourages students to unplug electronics and conserve energy

Until Nov. 20, the Power Down Challenge, an effort by the Green Campus Partnership and student Eco-Reps, will encourage students to conserve energy. Students from the college houses will be challenged to reduce their house’s electrical energy consumption by at least 5 percent.

Locust Walk construction nears completion

Upon returning from Thanksgiving break, students will find construction on Locust Walk complete.

Penn Park activity rises among athletes, students and community

Since Penn Park’s opening over a month ago, the University community has been using the space for athletic practices, student-run events and general recreation.

• TOPICS: Penn Park

Food week will explore the politics of eating

Bon Appétit and students in the academically based community service and Fox Leadership class “The Politics of Food” coordinated Food Week to explore the nature of food in America.

Facebook not to blame for poor grades, study says

A recent study conducted by psychologist Reynol Junco and published in Computers in Human Behavior shows that “time spent on Facebook is a strong negative predictor of overall college GPA.”

Penn students to have say in future residential programs

Beginning Friday, College Houses and Academic Services is offering students the opportunity to submit ideas for residential programs that they wish to participate in.

PennConnects to complete sustainable park next fall

Construction on Shoemaker Green, a new 2.75-acre public commons next to David Rittenhouse Laboratory, began in September and will be completed next fall.

Mentoring program shows seventh graders professional life at Penn

The Penn Workplace Mentoring Program, which is sponsored by Penn Volunteers in Public Service at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, will bring 20 seventh graders to campus once a month and give them an inside look into the careers of Penn administrators.

Penn launches off-campus mail service

Starting Monday, the service will allow off-campus residents to send their packages to on-campus locations for $4 a package.

Eco-Reps expand reach to Hillel, throughout Philadelphia

The program began in 2009 as a peer network to educate students about environmental issues and sustainable living.

Rotunda wraps up diverse summer series

Since then the Rotunda’s goal has been to connect Penn students with the greater West Philadelphia community, Rotunda Director Gina Renzi said, adding that they were “trying to mix it up and get a bunch of different people in the room.”

Penn invests in wind energy

Since April 2008, Penn has been the largest purchaser of renewable energy credits among higher education institutions in the United States, according to an Environmental Protection Agency report published in July.

Au Bon Pain upgrades menu, layout amid hopes of renewing contract with Penn

As their contract for the Huntsman Hall retail space comes up for review within the year, ABP has upgraded its menu and layout.

Penn Transit launches Campus Loop Bus

The Campus Loop Bus will operate between the Levy Tennis Pavilion in Penn Park and 40th Street between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Penn Park points toward greener campus, city

The park, which officially opens Thursday, will add 14 acres to Penn’s campus and increase the University’s green space by 20 percent.

New York 9/11 memorial teaches valuable lesson

Vice president for Facilities and Real Estate Services, Anne Papageorge oversaw the design of the approximately $1 billion 9/11 memorial in New York, which is scheduled to open this Sunday.

Kings Court English gets $10M makeover

New bathrooms, hallways, furniture and floors were installed in the college house this summer. The roof, stairs and lighting were updated and student rooms were repainted and outfitted with new window coverings.

Work on Locust Walk delayed until December

Heavy rains and sewer damage hindered the $5.4M Locust Walk construction, initially slated to be completed by Sept. 30 but now delayed until the end of the semester.