NEWS BRIEFS: U. Police purchase new car

The new car, a 1995 Ford Crown Victoria, will be used primarily for patrol duties, according to University Police Lieutenant Joe Weaver. The car brings the University's fleet of marked cars to 10. The car was outfitted for police use at a cost of approximately $17,000. Weaver explained that the car contains a flexible lighting system which allows its tracking lights to "jog" backward and forward, and take-down lights which can move to the right and left. Additionally, the car's console has been redesigned to accommodate the installation of a computer console. – Yochi Dreazen Police investigate possible Vet School hospital fraud Police are investigating reports that the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has been defrauded of almost $4,000 worth of medical services since September of last year. According to University Police Captain John Richardson, the alleged fraud suspect paid for the services with fake credit cards and closed-out checking accounts. He added that the incident is being investigated by both University Police and detectives from the Philadelphia Police department's Major Crimes Unit. "Since this case involves credit card fraud, there's no reason to think that the hospital will turn out to have been the only victim," Richardson said. "After all, if you're already using fake cards, why stop with one business?" – Yochi Dreazen PAC elects new board The Performing Arts Council elected its new officers Tuesday night at its monthly meeting, according to outgoing Performing Arts Council Chairperson Pat Ede. The new chairperson will be College sophomore Katherine Minarik, who is in Without a Net. College junior Elizabeth Bakalar was elected to the position of executive secretary. The financial secretary was not elected at the meeting, according to Ede. Outgoing Financial Secretary Paul Pimentel, a College senior in Penn Players, will continue to fill the post until the next PAC meeting, which will be held Monday at 5:30 p.m. – Amy Lipman Flood briefly closes Law School Classes were canceled at the Law School for two hours yesterday due to an unexpected flood resulting from faulty sprinklers. Gary Clinton, assistant dean of Student Affairs, said two sprinklers in an electrical supply closet were activated yesterday morning, prompting evacuation of the building, which is located on Sansom Street. James Wargo, executive director of Physical Plant, said the building was shut down electronically in order to deactivate the sprinklers and drain the building. Wargo added that this type of incident is unusual but speculated that the malfunction was most likely prompted by the extreme cold to which the sprinkler heads were exposed. The University Fire Marshall's office is investigating possible causes. – Kate Khatib Gore tickets will be raffled on Monday Vice President Al Gore will deliver a speech Wednesday in honor of ENIAC's 50th anniversary. And Connaissance will be holding a raffle for those interested in getting tickets to the speech on Monday, February 12 in front of Steinberg-Dietrich Hall from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., according to Connaissance Vice Chairperson and Wharton junior Rich Archer. He added that there will be approximately 1,500 to 2,000 raffle tickets distributed on a first-come- first-serve basis. Students must present their PennCards to enter. Roughly 500 students will be admitted to the speech, which will be held in Irvine Auditorium from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Archer said. On Tuesday, there will be a list in front of Steinberg-Dietrich of those students whose raffle tickets have been selected. Students may then exchange their raffle tickets for real tickets to the speech between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. that day. – Jenny Axt