Now that second semester has rolled around, this senior is getting ready to bid farewell to a lot of things. Somewhere high up on that list, situated just under $3.75 food cart lunches and in a dead heat with the shortcut near the Rotunda, are Penn sports.

Over the past few weeks, a developmental eyesore has been replaced by the sleek exoskeleton of a new building. Construction on the Radian, located at 39th and Walnut streets, is progressing on schedule, according to developer Inland American Communities Group.

The weak U.S. economy and the low value of the dollar abroad mean increased tourism - and foreign money - for the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia experienced a dramatic increase in international tourism from 2000 to 2005 said Fritz Smith, director of international and domestic tourism at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Division of Public Safety, which has been involved in the University's eastward expansion since the plan's inception, has begun implementing plans to secure the new part of campus. DPS is currently working on getting lighting, emergency phones and CCTV cameras on and around the new athletic fields, in order to have safety measures in place on that part of campus.

For 13 Penn students, the opportunity to help a developing nation improve its water supply was the opportunity of a lifetime, one so attractive they even gave up their winter vacations to do it. The students, members of a campus student organization called Engineers Without Borders, have worked since the start of the year to help the residents in the town of Kobe, Cameroon to design and build a sustainable water distribution system.

A recent uptick in Pennsylvania's abortion rate defies a nationwide trend of fewer abortions, drawing a range of explanations from local organizations and on-campus groups. The number of abortions performed in the United States in 2005 - the latest year for which data is available - was the lowest since 1976 at 1.

I was almost beginning to think that Penn doesn't deserve its inferiority complex. My fellow seniors and I have spent three and a half long years convincing ourselves that our Penn education actually is as good as our friends' at Harvard, Princeton and Yale.

Neither rain, nor sleet nor snow could stop the Quakers from trouncing Franklin and Marshall yet again. Penn had won the previous four meetings by a combined score of 33-3, and last night - the makeup for a Dec. 4 match postponed due to inclement weather - was no different.

Want to go on a bike ride? In 60 cities worldwide, it's easier than ever with public-use bicycle programs - and it could be just as easy in Philadelphia in the future. Russell Meddin, a local activist, is working toward implementing a public-use bicycle program in Philadelphia in order to promote environmentally friendly travel.

An 8-8 start wasn't what the media had in mind when they selected Dartmouth to finish last among the Ivies. But after a poor winter break showing - dropping five of seven games - the Big Green have ridden their defense to three straight wins. With the bulk of conference play right around the corner, they seem poised to eclipse their win total from the 2006-2007 campaign, when they finished 9-18.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States. But if your heart skips a beat, or several hundred, it's not likely you will receive CPR until emergency help arrives, the American Heart Association said in a statement this month. However, Penn is working to provide training and equipment to University staff in hopes of remedying the situation.

Robbery Jan. 18 - John Williams, 56, no address available, was arrested by the Penn Police for allegedly forcibly attempting to leave the CVS on 34th and Walnut streets without rendering payments for items at about 10:40 a.m. Assault Jan. 18 - Christine Rogers, 28, of the 2400 block of Glenwood Ave, was arrested for allegedly becoming aggressive with a parking-enforcement agent after being issued a parking violation at about 5:25 p.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is already offering her advice to the next president. "The best part about not being Secretary of State is being able to answer questions," Albright said in front of nearly 600 people at the Free Library of Philadelphia yesterday afternoon.

Alicia Puglionesi is a College junior from Havertown, Pa. Her e-mail address is puglionesi@dailypennsylvanian.com.

The tension is evident on the men's tennis team. Coming into its matchup tomorrow against Saint Joseph's (0-1), two lines of thought permeate the squad. Coach Nik DeVore has been warning his players against underestimating opponents, a mental flaw that hurt the Quakers early on in their meet against Drexel, where they eventually earned their first and only win of the season.

The Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities at Penn made history last night. With the launch of a new collaborative initiative called Bridging the Gap, these communities took a step toward building long-lasting working relationships within the Penn community.

After compiling a 2-12 record and finishing dead last in the Ivy League last year, things are not looking too much better for the Tigers this season. Princeton finally snapped a 12 game losing streak with a 60-46 victory over Dominican on Sunday, improving its overall win-loss to an abysmal 3-12.