Is God erotic? Though not a question asked often, it's the central theme for the Penn Christian Association's Rev. Beverly Dale, who aims to help Christians become sexually connected with themselves while embracing spirituality. Her primarily online-based sexual ministry, PassionWorks, puts it plainly: "The Church is wounded.

Back away from the table. That's what Ed Mierzwinski wants you to do when it comes to signing up for a credit card on campus. Mierzwinski, of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, is heading a campaign called FEESA to limit unfair credit card marketing on college campuses, a problem he says plagues students nationwide.

Instead of orientation seminars and sorority rush events, Florida State University student Callie Broughton spent her freshman year eating paella in Spain and riding camels in Morocco. Now a junior, Broughton lived in Valencia, Spain, for a year as part of Florida State's then-brand new freshman study-abroad program, an option that is now gaining popularity at several universities across the country.

The Division of Public Safety tested its new PennAlert emergency-notification system Thursday, with 95.3 percent of the targeted individuals receiving a notification either by phone, e-mail or text-message. DPS simulated a hazardous materials accident in the Caster Building, located at 3701 Locust Walk, and the new system successfully alerted 429 of the 450 individuals slated to receive a notification.

Red and blue made green Friday as the Penn Environmental Group hosted GreenFest. The annual festival is designed "to let Penn students and the community know that there's an active student interest in environmental sustainability," PEG director Jen Tintenfass said.

Campus is growing. But how big is too big for students to get around on foot? The addition of the postal lands to campus will increase the length of campus by several blocks, but University officials are working to ensure that getting to the new parts of campus will be relatively easy - and maybe even enjoyable.

The Undergraduate Assembly is trying to give more students a voice, but most of them aren't talking. As part of his platform for UA chairman, College senior Jason Karsh promised to implement a 10-minute open forum at every meeting during which any undergraduate could speak about campus issues.

WILMINGTON, Del. - Jurors still have yet to decide the fate of accused murderer Irina Malinovskaya more than a week after closing arguments. Malinovskaya allegedly bludgeoned to death Irina Zlotnikov, the girlfriend of her ex-lover Robert Bondar, in Dec. 2004.

Dodging other cars, giving the right of way and stopping at intersections are all standard rules of driving. Little Ben, a Toyota Prius, obeys them all - without a human driver.

With genetics involved, there are always questions of ethics. Now, Penn has a place that intends to answer those questions. Last month, the School of Medicine received a $5.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund the new Center for Excellence in Ethical, Legal and Social Implications, one of two new centers that will examine questions surrounding genetic research.

Amy Gutmann was a "casual Penn President" at her Halloween party Wednesday night. Gutmann, who has dressed up as Glinda the Good Witch, Willy Wonka and the Statue of Liberty in previous years, noticeably stood out this year dressed in Penn winter apparel.

Penn students might soon be able to find a business education outside Huntsman Hall, but without Wharton's blessing. College administrators, along with the Dean's Advisory Board, are working on a plan to create a new, business-based minor called B-FLAT - Budgeting, Finance, Leadership and Teamwork.

Penn's next admissions dean: a Sunday Times reader? University officials are now in full swing in their search for a replacement for former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson, most notably with a series of advertisements that have recently run in several publications.

Stolen cash and a few missing DVDs prompted officials to send an e-mail yesterday morning warning about a potential rash of theft in Riepe College House. The e-mail, sent by House Coordinator Huong Tansey, noted "a series of theft in students' rooms throughout the Quad and on campus.

The Philadelphia Police officer who was shot during a North Philadelphia robbery died early yesterday morning, and police have increased efforts to hunt down the killer. Chuck Cassidy, who was shot at point-blank range once in the head after walking into a robbery in progress at a Dunkin' Donuts at 6620 N.

Students across the country are falling victim to skin infections, physical injuries and viral diseases, all without even leaving the classroom. At Texas A&M;, for example, lab accidents in which students were exposed to biological weapons terminated research at the school's biodefense labs.

A team of students and faculty from Penn and Lehigh University will compete in California this weekend for the title of a national engineering vehicle contest as one of 11 finalists. "Little Ben," an autonomous vehicle created by the team, will have to drive safely through a 60-mile course in less than six hours and negotiate traffic without human aid to win the 2007 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Union Challenge.