In celebration of Benjamin Franklin’s 305th birthday, the Faculty Senate is welcoming the entire Penn community to the Founder’s Day Symposium “Human Rights: Contested Principles and Practices.”

On Sunday, the Academic Advising Office of the College launched a new instant-message advising service in hopes of making advisers more accessible to students.

Last Thursday, Philadelphia Mayor and Penn alumnus Michael Nutter announced that more high-school students will be receiving the information they need to apply for and receive financial aid through the Philadelphia College Financial Aid/FAFSA Completion Campaign.

Like Penn, Columbia, Harvard and Princeton universities, as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have reported all-time highs in undergraduate applications.

Several groups are combining to revive an effort to educate new fraternity members about showing acceptance to brothers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

In response to the shooting, Rep. Bob Brady (D-Pa.) announced he would introduce legislation to make it a federal crime to threaten congressmen and their staff while they are on official duty.

The Hilton Homewood Suites Hotel — under construction at 4109 Walnut St. — was once moved due to community outrage. It is slated for completion in spring 2012.

The Student Activities Council overallocated its budget and intended to cover the difference using its dwindling reserve funds, prompting a freeze on funding for new student groups.

During last week’s interview with Athletic Director Steve Bilsky, the DP Sports Editors chatted with the Number One about Penn basketball and some improvements soon to arrive at the Palestra.

Crime on and around campus from Jan. 8-13.

Instead of suspending funding for new groups, SAC should restructure its electronic request system to make the process more transparent and develop a more judicious way to allocate funds.

At Penn, I find myself tiring of dispensable introductions and the casual conversations that follow. The prevalence and acceptability of disposable relationships is simply unnecessary.

Penn students will soon have more dining options under 1920 Commons. Changes include new hours as well as new vendors, like a Mediterranean salad bar.

We addicts of information would be better off trading some status updates and messages in our inboxes for a little more time together ­— the old-fashioned, offline way.

Audience response systems and associated software are increasingly prevalent in the classroom, allowing teachers to pose questions that students answer on individual remote controls.

While the fight that broke out between male students from West Philadelphia high schools near 46th and Market streets Friday was not a direct threat to the Penn community, it affects the University’s active role in West Philadelphia.

An investigation conducted by ProPublica revealed that 20 Penn School of Medicine doctors have delivered lectures to colleagues on behalf of pharmaceutical companies since 2009, violating a Penn policy prohibiting doctors from engaging in marketing activities and other inappropriate activities.