An entire season was wasting away before the eyes of the Palestra crowd Friday night, and it was a moment of truth for the Quakers. Would they accept defeat and admit they had lost too much talent to their last graduating class? Would their season end before it had even started?

In another effort to continue the community building, UMC hosted a celebration in Houston Hall on Friday, showcasing local Philadelphia artists and student performing groups.

This year’s theme was “classy ladies,” which meant that the room was decorated with tiaras, purple tablecloths and pink feather boas.

The drill was a scenario with a fake automobile accident and diesel spill with volunteers posing as injured victims. VIDEO: A bloody Sunday with MERT PHOTO GALLERY: MERT mass casualty drill

Harvard won the opening coin toss, but not much more would go right for the Crimson at Franklin Field after that, as the Quakers scored on their opening drive and never trailed in a 30-21 victory.

After a rough first half against UMBC, the young Penn team rallied back from a 22-point deficit to secure their first win of the season, 80-75.

Saturday at noon, No. 25 Harvard comes to Franklin Field in what is a de facto Ivy League title game. With a win, Penn would clinch at least a share of the Ancient Eight crown.

For the second straight season, the Quakers will open their season against UMBC. Last year they took the contest, 59-45, in Catonsville, Md.

Sophomore guard Jackie Kates has chosen not to return to the team this season but leaves on good terms.

Friday night, Penn opens its season at Norfolk State. The Quakers return 11 players, including junior Alyssa Baron and sophomore Kara Bonenberger — the two reigning Big 5 Rookies of the Year.

Sunday, Penn’s grapplers will travel to upstate New York to compete in the annual Binghamton Open, their first competition of the year.

As Penn hits the road for a back-to-back in the Empire State, a chance for second place and just one loss in the second half of Ivy play hangs in the balance.

Going into their second-round match Thursday at the 2012 United States Tennis Association/ITA National Indoor Collegiate Championships in Flushing, N.Y., the Penn doubles pair of Sol Eskenazi and Sonya Latycheva fell just short in a 8-5 loss to Ashley Dai and Whitney Kay of North Carolina.

Penn Alumni Relations’ Multicultural Outreach hosted Gay and an intimate gathering of students in the Sweeten Alumni House.

Part of UMC’s Unity Month programming, “Removing the Race Box from the Application: Affirmative Action, the Supreme Court, and You,” centered on the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case.

Last night in Huntsman Hall, as part of Wharton Leadership Lectures, more than 60 people, gathered to hear Paul Orfalea speak.

Sigma Kappa sisters served a dinner to the house’s current residents, whose relatives have received or are awaiting transplants.