Herbert Levine, Economics professor at Penn from 1960 to 2006, died Sunday, succumbing to complications from leg surgery after battling prostate cancer for the past 15 years. Levine was 78. Receiving his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University, Levine specialized in Soviet economics and his insights were "in demand during the period leading up to the dissolution of the Soviet system," according to a written statement by fellow Economics professor Lawrence Klein.

On Feb. 9, it seemed like the debate would be over. That's when City Council took the logical step of banning trans-fat-based frying oils in restaurants, with a full ban of trans fats to go into effect on Sept. 8, 2008. A number of groups lauded the decision, pointing to a similar ban in New York City and arguing that the health benefits it would provide for area restaurants would greatly outweigh any downsides.

Let's face it: I landed a Capitol Hill internship this summer, but I don't exactly spend my days rubbing elbows with the House leadership or shaping U.S. policy. Instead, much of my time is spent answering an onslaught of constituent calls for Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.

Assault June 7 - John Cameron, 43, of the 1700 block of Yewdall Street, was arrested for allegedly striking a complainant inside a vehicle at around 9:20 p.m. The complainant was not affiliated with the University. Auto Theft June 5 - Forday Komara, 31, of Upper Darby, was arrested for allegedly taking a vehicle from Penn Tower Parking at around 11: 20 p.

Models, bottles, good weather, and college basketball. Yes, the true Penn fan can have it all this winter break in sunny Florida. Early details of next year's schedule are starting to come out, and it looks like the Quakers will be enjoying part of their winter down south.

Internationalize the University. Improve its financial standing so that necessary reforms can be enacted. Facilitate coordination between the various graduate and undergraduate schools. These were the goals, and some of the greatest successes, of former Penn President Martin Meyerson, who lost a battle with prostate cancer on Saturday.

For the first three days of the NCAA Men's Golf Championship in Williamsburg, Va., last week, one player seemed to be the center of attention. He was patted on the back by coaches, interviewed by magazines and TV networks, and cheered by fans. Who was this man in the spotlight? Was it then-leader Kyle Stanley of Clemson? Rob Grube of Stanford? Eventual winner Jamie Lovemark of the University of Southern California? The right answer, in fact, is freshman Quakers golfer Chance Pipitone.

There are a lot of adjustments to make after graduating Penn. The hardest? Coming to terms with the fact that you will never have another summer vacation. It was a nice run while it lasted, of course. Like a lot of Penn students, I imagine, I kept pretty busy in between the school years before college.

Martin Meyerson, Penn's sixth president, died of prostate cancer Saturday at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He was 84. Meyerson, who served as president from 1970 to 1981, saw Penn through a severe fiscal crisis and set about uniting a sometimes fractious faculty and student body, helping to lay the groundwork for the University's meteoric rise in prestige and in national college rankings under successors Sheldon Hackney and Judith Rodin.

All the Quakers wanted to do last weekend was row, row, row their boats - intensely and consistently - down the Cooper River. But by the time the Penn light- and heavyweight crew teams departed from the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta in Camden, N.

What's housed in the orange and green rubik's cube looking building on 40th and Chesnut streets is no longer a puzzle. The building called the Hub houses the posh Jean Madeline Aveda Institute. A bit out of place, but not remotely out of style, this bold architectural modernity is the latest of Penn's efforts in rejuvenating 40th Street, a project that has since included the additions of FreshGrocer and the Bridge Cinema.

For rising College senior Gabe Crane, this summer looks like the Huck Finn-style adventure of a lifetime. Crane, along with a recent graduate from Whitman College and two other students from McGill University and Reed College, will be canoeing down the Mississippi River for roughly two months and blogging the entire journey.

When he was in kindergarten, Sean Estrada was just like all the other kids. Now there's one big difference. The recently-graduated Penn offensive lineman always wanted to play for the San Francisco 49ers, and 17 years later, the Santa Ana, Ca. b native is suiting up for his favorite team.

Watch out, Rachel Ray. If you think America on $40 a day is a challenge, consider this: The maximum food stamp benefit for one American tops out at less than $40 a week. With a little number crunching, that comes to about $5 for three square meals a day. Admittedly, the federal food stamp program is usually just meant to supplement low-income budgets.

More awards for women's lacrosse A week after the IWLCA honored goalie Sarah Waxman and defender Hilary Renna with All-America awards, womenslacrosse.com heaped more recognition on the Quakers. Karin Brower was named National Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 16-2 record and its first ever Final Four berth.

Many students and parents - especially those from low- and moderate-income families - have felt the pain of forking over hundreds of dollars each semester for textbooks that are often underused and difficult to sell back. The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance found that textbook prices are rising to unaffordable levels and in a report it released last Friday entitled "Turn the Page: Making College Textbooks More Affordable," the committee offered solutions to this problem.