With a cold front blasting through Philadelphia, the icy weather has brought an unusual species of wildlife to Penn: a zamboni-driving penguin who hands out pens. The penguin - a costume worn by an employee from Penn's Class of 1923 Ice Rink - travelled around Locust Walk yesterday, handing out flyers, pens and hand warmers to students walking to class.

Everybody loves attention - and Penn students may be getting plenty of it, thanks to the funds mayoral candidates have been raising for the upcoming primaries. Last week, former Councilman Michael Nutter announced that he had $1.4 million in the bank, while state Rep.

By Brandon Moyse Staff Writer bmoyse@sas.upenn.edu For the women's squash team, anything less than a 9-0 victory over Franklin & Marshall would have been a disappointment. No worries, though, as the No. 1 Quakers (5-0, 2-0 Ivy) delivered last night. Just like last year, they not only defeated F&M; (4-4) 9-0, but all the games went 3-0 in Penn's favor.

Wharton may pride itself on being an international institution, but its students seem to be marching to a different - and more local - drum. About 20 percent of Wharton undergraduates spend a semester abroad each year, and the number of students that intern abroad has likewise diminished in recent years.

Outspoken protesting isn't just a thing of our parents' generation - it remains a viable stimulant for change.

Penn students can help ensure that the city picks capable Fairmount Park leaders.

By Parisa Bastani Staff Writer pbastani@sas.upenn.edu Given his humble beginnings in Cameroon, La Salle freshman Yves Mekongo Mbala had reason to think he might never start for a Division I basketball program. But after losing three of five starters from last year - including former 76ers forward Steven Smith - that is exactly the role that La Salle coach John Giannini has cut out for him.

Cynics who contend that lawyers are morally insensitive now have a study to back them up.

Majoring in history may be a growing trend for Penn students, but when it comes to earning a Ph.D. in the subject, it's not so easy. According to a study released at the end of last month by the American Historical Association, 16 percent of students who matriculated to history graduate programs five years ago have quit their respective programs - almost double the number of dropouts that the AHA reported ten years ago.

Tune your television to any sports channel in the months of December and January, and you will undoubtedly hear talk of college football and the BCS.

Observers would doubt the ability of No. 20 Franklin and Marshall to upset Penn, the No.1 women's squash team in the country. The doubters are probably right. But that's not stopping the Quakers (4-0, 2-0 Ivy) from taking this match seriously. In fact, they're looking at their visit to Lancaster and the Diplomats (4-3) as an opportunity.

Who knew that hanging out with girls could be so stressful? College freshman "Jane," for one, did not. Jane has spent the last two weeks walking around in heels - for four hours straight, at times - bedecked in black pants and fancy dress shirts in order to impress the sisters of the sororities that she is rushing.

By Andrew Sweet Staff Writer sweetad@sas.upenn.edu

By Krista Hutz Sports Editor hutzkm@sas.upenn.edu In a season where two players have done the lions' share of scoring, it looks like Pat Knapp's beleaguered Quakers are finally getting some help. In its 61-58 defeat of Manhattan (4-13) last night, senior forward Ashley Gray contributed her second double-digit performance in her three games since returning to the team.

The avalanche of national media coverage surrounding the murder case of Economics professor Rafael Robb likely won't detract from Penn's admissions numbers - and, in fact, it could even help, one expert says.

By Matt Conrad Senior Staff Writer mlconrad@sas.upenn.edu With one weekend of league play under the Ancient Eight's collective belt, there have certainly been some surprises. But a new challenge for Harvard is no surprise to anyone: It's been inevitable since the season began.

Theft Jan. 11 - A University employee reported that his bag, containing a laptop worth an unspecified amount of money, was stolen after he placed it outside of Cosi on the 100 block of S. 36th Street. Jan. 10 - A male University employee reported that his laptop was stolen while still in its packaging from under his office desk on the 3700 block of Spruce Street.