At last week's Trustees' meeting, architect Michael Van Valkenburgh unveiled the plans for Penn Park, the new site of athletic fields and an important part of PennConnects, the University's eastward-expansion plan that will unfold over the next several years.

In just a few days, many Penn students will trade Van Pelt carrels for beaches, ski resorts and other locales that let them reconnect with the great doors. But those who want an early start on Spring Break escapes can get in touch with Mother Nature in an unconventional way at the annual Philadelphia Flower Show.

Justin Reilly? He's that scruffy mass of energy at the end of the bench, the one who comes in, swarms the ball for a few possessions in the paint, maybe picks up a couple fouls against the other team's bigs. He's an agitator - the guy at the gym who doesn't get picked until late but is sure to annoy the hell out of the poor guy he ends up guarding.

After moving from location to location on campus for the past decade, Penn's HIV testing center has found a permanent home in the Student Health Service offices, located at 3535 Market St. Penn started HIV testing on campus in the 1990s. But the program has occupied several different locations because it was unable to find an adequate space.

In October 2007, a man was shot and killed near 38th and Chestnut streets, just outside Koko Bongo nightclub that closed shortly after. But Ned Taddei, who is opening two connecting establishments - The Blockely Pourhouse bar and Mary Oaks restaurant - on March 28 hopes to breathe new life into the area.

When the Penn women's club ice hockey team beat last season's undefeated Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference champion, Delaware, 10-1, it was apparent something big was in store. The Quakers (13-1) will head to the Division II Women's Hockey National Championship in Rochester, N.

Ilana Millner is an College junior from Washington Crossing, Pa. Her e-mail address is millner@dailypennsylvanian.com.

When the storm that started Sunday night continued to persist yesterday, not only did it bring more snow but it also brought a sigh of relief to some Penn students hit with heavy workloads this week. "I have a midterm Wednesday so it gave me more time to study," said College junior Alex Lee, whose World at War class was canceled because of the snow.

Students looking to live Greek this year might have to pick a number and wait. With the majority of this year's new pledges looking for space in one of 38 fraternities and sororities, it's often hard to find an open room in popular houses. While the average pledge-class numbers nearly 19, some chapters have welcomed over 40 new members to a house with room for only fifteen or twenty.

Over five hours, $1.78 million and a snowstorm later, campus leaders discussing 2009-2010 student government expenses left Huntsman Hall with a budget unchanged from the one initially proposed. On Sunday night, the six umbrella groups of student government met to discuss the budget for the next academic year, proposed by the Undergraduate Assembly's budget committee.

To recruit more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally students to Penn, the LGBT Center and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions have begun reaching out to Gay Straight Alliance groups at local Philadelphia high schools. Bob Schoenberg, director of Penn's LGBT Center, said the center has been working with the Admissions Office for several years to recruit more "LGBT and LGBT-friendly" students.

It's that time of year again. What's the beginning of spring without a column about graduation speakers? With 76 days to go before the Class of 2009 becomes the newest group of Penn alumni, the senior class is forming expectations about this year's Commencement speaker, Eric Schmidt, Google chairman and chief executive officer.

About the only good reason to attend the men's basketball weekend games was to watch its seniors play for the last time. They still have a road trip through New York next weekend, and they'll still play at the Palestra once more against Princeton over spring break.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency announced last week that as part of President Barack Obama's economic-stimulus package, Philadelphia would receive slightly over $21 million to spend on fighting homelessness. The $21,486,240 that the city will receive to spend within three years is in addition to the $26.

March 2, 10:54 a.m. With a winter storm warning in effect until 4 p.m. today, classes are still on, but some University events have been canceled. Snow will be heavy at times throughout the day, with a total of about six to 10 inches expected to fall in Philadelphia, according to the National Weather Service.

Saturday's game against Villanova is one the men's lacrosse team would rather forget. Penn left Villanova Stadium on the wrong end of a 14-7 thrashing at the hands of the Wildcats. "I can't think of one thing we did well today," coach Brian Voelker said.

Graduate student Van Evans worked at a nonprofit with "street children" in Latin America for 12 years before he decided to hone his leadership skills and get some insight into the nonprofit sector by enrolling in Penn's master's program in nonprofit and nongovernmental organization leadership.