The start of one chapter was the ending of another for the Penn women's fencing team. While the Quakers opened up their season last Saturday at Weightman Gym against Drew and Sacred Heart, Penn senior Jackie Schramm participated in her final meet with the Red and Blue.

With Penn and Villanova matched up more evenly than the cross-town rivals had been in years, this game was everything you could ask of a Big 5 contest. The result, though, spelled little but disappointment for the Quakers

Joey Rhoads had what it took to end her team's frustration against Villanova, but even that wasn't enough. Villanova downed Penn 57-50 yesterday afternoon at the Palestra. "When you lose by such a close margin, you think about all the little things you could have done throughout the game," the senior tri-captain said.

Wharton Dean Patrick Harker has been named the University of Delaware's next president, Delaware officials announced Friday.

One team looked like the experienced one Saturday night, and it wasn't the experienced one. While Villanova freshman Scottie Reynolds and sophomore reserve Shane Clark shone under pressure, the Quakers hardly played the role of the Big 5's most seasoned squad.

It was the meet they were looking forward to all semester, and both the Penn men's and women's swim teams lived up to expectations. The men's team bested four opponents to take the Kenyon Invitational title while the women took second at the championship format meet in Gambier, Ohio.

Youngest-ever dean will be leaving Wharton with enormous shoes to fill.

Once considered a top contender in the upcoming Philadelphia mayoral election, former City Controller Jonathan Saidel announced yesterday that he is abandoning his bid to become the city's next mayor. "As I thought about the race, what it would take to win and the impact it would have on my ability to earn a living and take care of my family, I realized that I could not be as committed to the race as I would need to be," Saidel said in a statement released to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Even after spending an entire childhood in California, I feel like a visitor in my parents' house during breaks.

In only the second match of the season, the men and women's squash teams have proven that they belong among the best in the nation.

Move over, Mark Zuckerberg. There's a new Web site in town, and it promises all the discussion about sex, drugs and procrastination a student could ever want.

A Brown radio broadcast has reported that All-Ivy guard Keenan Jeppesen quit the team right before its win over Quinnipiac. In addition, Basketball-U.com said that he has also left the school. Over the summer, Jeppesen had applied for transfer admission to Penn, but was denied.

The Quakers may be the only people in history to be proud of their actions after a weekend in Vegas. An impressive third-place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational was another milestone for the wrestling team. During the competition, the No. 15 Quakers benefited from solid performances by key grapplers and a breakout performance from senior Matt Eveleth.

A 3,000-year-old king's treasures are coming to the East Coast after 30 years. This February, the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia will display artifacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamun, who ascended the throne, ruled Egypt and died - all before his 21st birthday.

Temperatures were expected to drop to 40 degrees at night, and there was a strong chance of rain. But the spirits of Penn Outdoors members were not at all dampened as they stood amid their urban campground. The club set up tents on College Green last Thursday and Friday for its 24-hour camp-out and fundraiser.

You may not be able to put your finger on it, but there's something whimsical about the artistic style of Sibylla Benatova. Come March, that style will be showcased in the Penn Rare Book and Manuscript Library employee's illustrated children's book, The Magic Raincoat.

New software claims to be able to help pick out future murderers, but it's got more drawbacks than advantages - and no Tom Cruise.