A lot is made of the NFL Draft - TV coverage started the day after the Super Bowl, and Mel Kiper has had his four-round mock drafts up for some time. But for hundreds of players like undrafted free agent and former Yale quarterback Jeff Mroz, the year after the draft determines their future.

Although shocking and horrific, the Va. Tech tragedy also was a much-needed reminder of the capacity for human good.

The DP endorses Michael Nutter for mayor.

A last-minute switch of speakers yesterday in Stiteler Hall left audience members listening to Middle Eastern expert Jonathan Schanzer in place of renowned Middle Eastern affairs analyst Walid Phares. Phares, who had been slated to speak, became ill at the last minute.

The stereotypical Ivy League athlete is smart, calculated and plays with his head - a student on the football field, but is also weak, slow and undersized. If that's true, former Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie should have played in the Big Ten. "He's one of those rare players you get in the Ivy League that can dominate" in the NFL, Brown coach Phil Estes said.

Instant messaging is no longer just a tool for procrastination. Thanks to Microsoft's new "i'm" initiative, students's chats can help a good cause. Each time a user begins a chat with the "i'm" program, which uses Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft will donate a percentage of its advertising revenue to a non-profit organization of the user's choice.

The School of Veterinary Medicine announced on Monday that it is launching a new award. The Penn Vet World Leadership in Animal Health Award "has been designed to recognize innovation, creativity and leadership in the veterinary profession anywhere in the world," according to a press release.

Penn can now party like it's 1997. With a 13-1 thrashing of Cornell yesterday, the Quakers clinched at least a share of their first Gehrig Division crown in a decade. "It's huge - it shows that Penn baseball is making a turn for the better," said captain Doug Brown, who pitched the final four innings to get the win.

A sea of red and white juniors chased each other for a bite of styrofoam hat, devoured barbecued meats and, as per the 76-year-old tradition, celebrated their official passage into seniordom last Friday.

During reading days, typical Penn attire can range from shabby pajamas and sweats to swanky suits and evening gowns. Although the University bills reading period as a time for studying, it is also during these three days that many Penn student groups, especially fraternities and sororities, schedule year-end formal events.

About the ballot issues.

All that Penn sophomore J.J. Lian could say about Saturday's game was "that third quarter really killed us." It didn't matter that for a little over 49 minutes on the field, No. 8 Maryland was forced to play an unexpected game of catch-up against the Quakers.

It's been over 45 years since the last time an Ivy League college won the prized Distance Medley event at the Penn Relays. This weekend at the Relays, Penn will be relying on a strong finish from one of its top athletes to try to steal a win.

The Undergraduate Assembly released its end of the year report yesterday, detailing projects both near- and farsighted. But the bulk of UA's work this year has involved projects that are so far unseen because they will not affect the student body until this fall.

These days, a Penn diploma will set you back a cool $180,000. Wait - make that $180,044.95. Plus tax. If members of Penn's graduating Class of 2007 want to flip their tassels at Commencement next month, they will have to wear required regalia purchased at the Penn Bookstore.

(The reporter recounts his experiences covering the Virginia Tech tragedy in Blacksburg, Va.) Standing on the edge of the crowd at Monday night's vigil, I asked Virginia Tech junior Kathryn White how she was coping with the previous day's tragedy. "It's getting easier every day," she said.

All that Penn sophomore J.J. Lian could say about Saturday's game was "that third quarter really killed us." It didn't matter that for a little over 49 minutes on the field, No. 8 Maryland was forced to play an unexpected game of catch-up against the Quakers.