GUEST COLUMNIST: Changing tide for surfable 'DP Interactive' Web site

Mark Fiore's, Guest Columnist Mark Fiore's, Guest Columnist Addictions to sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll are standard on college campuses these days. But a new addiction, to the Internet, has started sweeping through campuses -- and it is with that in mind that today The Daily Pennsylvanian launches its revamped DP Interactive World Wide Web site. The first of those improvements has been the introduction of Web extras to supplement articles in the DP. While newspapers are subject to space constraints, only the limitations of one's imagination exist on the Internet. For that reason, DPI has begun putting up, for example, entire reports which are subjects of articles in the newspaper. When the University released its report on the Mitch Marrow eligibility controversy, for instance, the DP wrote several articles while DP Interactive published the report's complete text. And the Penn community could turn to DPI to read the Department of Education's report on the University's crime reporting practices. DPI will continue publishing such Web extras, ranging from reports to links to Web sites with additional information. Tags at the end of DP articles will point you to the Internet whenever DPI has such supplemental material. And a new box which will run every day on page 2 of the DP will also highlight these Web extras. Look to DPI not only for information related to DP stories, but also for exclusive online articles. Yes, the newspaper's Web presence now includes articles that you will never find in print form. These stories are in two new sections: Around Higher Education and Technology. The Around Higher Education section will feature a new article each week, published on Mondays. This week, we profile Mark Yudof, a graduate of the College and Law School, who became president of the University of Minnesota last summer. Previously serving as provost of the University of Texas at Austin, Yudof has taken Minnesota by storm, calling for many new academic initiatives and capital improvements. You, of course, can read all about it on DPI. And while there, you can check out what other Ivy League newspapers are writing about by connecting to them through the links provided in the section. This week's Technology section highlights the English Department's Web site, easily one of Penn's best departmental sites. The Technology section will also include a new article every week, to be put up on Wednesdays, and a Web site of the week will be a regular feature. While exploring these new features on DPI, you might notice breaking news and sports articles as well. When something occurs on campus -- ranging from the Palestra shooting to the announcement of the Spring Fling bands -- turn to DPI first for the most up-to-date, reliable information. And you don't have to wait for the following day's paper to find out how the Quakers fared in basketball and football. The trend toward publishing breaking news on the Internet has been a rapidly growing phenomenon for newspapers throughout the nation. Stay tuned to DPI to follow that trend -- and the events that break on Penn's campus. You, however, will not be limited to breaking news on DPI, as the site now includes a new section entitled Campus Issues. This section highlights 14 issues that have been central to the Penn campus -- they include, for example, the Sansom Common and Perelman Quadrangle projects, the vending debate and crime. Each section includes a summary article outlining the entire issue, as well as links to all related articles that have run in the DP. So when you need -- or want -- more information on campus outsourcing or trends in University admissions, turn to the Campus Issues section of DPI. And of course the DP's archives are still available for you to search for any DP article. Many other standards of DPI are still available as well -- in a much improved form. Out and About now contains hundreds of links for you to plan a night out or simply learn more about what Philadelphia has to offer. With links to Philadelphia attractions, bars, sports and much more, Out and About should be the first stop for anyone who wants to make the perfect outing into the city. Want to go to a movie? Check out the movie listings in Out and About. Or curious about what the Philadelphia Museum of Art has to offer? Link to it in Out and About's Museums and Galleries page. These are just a couple of the dizzying number of links now available on DPI. Perhaps you're too busy tracking down a job to plan a night out. If so, then take advantage of Career Link, with several new links to find a job or internship and an abundance of additional information. Or log on to Sports Watch to stay up-to-date with your favorite Penn sports. Even with all these changes, you'll still be able to find the complete contents of every day's DP and each week's 34th Street -- which has a crisp new design. And modifications to DPI's design will make it easier for you to find exactly what you're looking for. Of course these improvements will not stop here. DPI still has much to unveil -- for example, in the future, look for a weekly poll and forum section where you can discuss issues affecting the campus. Log on to DPI to take advantage of its new features and to look for future changes -- and of course your comments are welcome and appreciated. Welcome to the new and improved DPI. Happy surfing.