At Colgate University, there's a summer reading list that suggests five books before freshman year. At George Washington University, days of orientation are devoted to the subject of separation anxiety. But only parents need apply. These programs are examples of a growing array of university-run programs that help parents say goodbye to their new college freshmen.

Charlie Allen, who manages the CVS at 43rd and Locust streets, has begun to stock an item not usually carried by drug stores - ping-pong balls. Allen said that his decision to carry the balls, essential for the popular drinking game Beirut, is a result of the store's recent increase in business from Penn students, stemming from a shuffle in drug stores around campus.

After a virtually nonexistent preseason, the women's soccer team salvaged a scoreless draw against a formidable Rice squad in its season opener on Monday. Despite not making it onto the scoresheet, the Quakers performed an impressive opening act. Rice (3-0-1), coming off consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, opened this season with three straight victories - the best start in school history.

Al Bagnoli is trying to answer a difficult question: What could stop his second-ranked Quakers from reclaiming the Ivy League football title? He got some of the answers Friday during a scrimmage against Division III Widener, which visited Franklin Field for the third straight year for a preseason game.

Jurassic Park fans, get ready: There are a whole lot more dinosaurs out there. Research from a Penn professor estimates that only 29 percent of dinosaur species have been found, and many more are coming in the future. Peter Dodson - a paleobiologist and anatomy professor - put together a statistical analysis of every dinosaur genus, a biological classification one rank above species.

The term "online degree" might make you think of a scam in which you receive a phony bachelor's in exchange for your mortgage. These days, however, online degrees seem to be rising in status - and helping more people get jobs. But Penn graduates don't have to fear much job competition from those with online degrees, officials say, even as the industry expands.

If an Ivy League professor were to be arrested for importing child pornography, most people would be shocked and surprised. And that was the case when police arrested Marketing professor Scott Ward, 64, for importing child pornography. When police apprehended ward at Dulles Airport, his baggage contained a laptop, DVD discs and a digital video camera, all of which allegedly contained videos of young children engaging in sexual acts - some of them with Ward.

The candidates for Pennsylvania's contested Senate seat sat inches apart from one another to battle out the issues Sunday morning on Meet the Press. The debate - covering issues from the Iraq war to birth control - lasted an hour, and the candidates had plenty of material to fill it.

Philadelphia police are investigating the murder of Army veteran and Penn student L'Salle Harvey, but have yet to make any arrests or discover a motive. Harvey was gunned down at 3:10 a.m. on Thursday while riding his bicycle on the 2200 block of North 31st Street.

Think that new kitchen in Harnwell is nice? Try an outdoor heated pool. Luxury living is becoming the standard for many students as universities cater to demands for privacy and higher-quality spaces. And some schools have gone way beyond what Penn provides to meet that demand.

Bryn Mawr 150, Penn 5. That's a painful-looking score for a Penn student. Those numbers show students' participation in the Quaker Consortium, an arrangement in which students at Penn, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore and Haverford colleges can take classes at any of the other schools.

Despite an 0-2 start to their season, Nyssa Liebermann and the Penn field hockey team have already proven to themselves that they can compete with whatever opponent they play. Now, faced with a matchup against Saint Joseph's tonight, they have another chance to prove it on the field.

Touching on both poetry and the threat of terrorism, University President Amy Gutmann welcomed the Class of 2010 to the Penn community with a message to stay passionate. Convocation for incoming freshmen and transfer students - at which they are formally recognized as Penn students - took place on a muddy College Green last night and was followed by a dessert reception at Wynn Commons.

Thanks to a newly reformatted SAT exam, the national class of 2010 saw the sharpest drop in scores in 31 years. Students entering college this fall have an average SAT score that is seven points lower than that of the previous class. The decrease consisted of a five-point drop on the critical reading section and a two-point drop on the math section.

Maybe Temple's basketball program is not so different from Penn's after all. Just about a month after Quakers starting guard David Whitehurst was dismissed from Penn for academic reasons, new Owls coach Fran Dunphy will have to deal with the ineligibility of two returning starters - senior center Wayne Marshall and junior guard Mark Tyndale.

Hordes of students are coming back to party during New Student Orientation, and Allegro Pizza's new owner wants his restaurant ready for them. "I want it set up like my other store!" owner Dimitrios Dimopoulos yelled into his cell phone Monday, negotiating with the phone company.