The School of Nursing community came together last Friday to hear about the school's current conditions. Nursing Dean Afaf Meleis delivered the annual state-of-the-school lecture, speaking about the school's progress over the last year, recalling its achievements and outlining its goals for the future.

As Penn begins the public stage of its largest-ever capital campaign, donors have more questions on their minds than how much to give. At a brunch Saturday for Benjamin Franklin Society donors - those who donate $2,500 or more annually to the University - many expressed concern and curiosity over the departure of former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson, who suddenly resigned in late August.

Saturday night was slated to be a key moment in Amy Gutmann's tenure as president: the kickoff of the largest capital campaign in Penn's history and the unveiling of the postal-lands development, which is set to transform the face of University City. But beneath this spirit of celebration and under the red and blue spotlights surrounding College Green, alumni remained mystified and angry at Gutmann's handling of the departure of former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson.

Penn President Amy Gutmann announced she is staying at Penn until 2014 at Friday's University Board of Trustees meeting. Friday was the second and final day of Trustee meetings, held at the Inn at Penn. In the stated meeting, officials recapped previous meetings and discussed what to expect in the future.

Radian Apartments, the highly touted complex designed to provide more housing for undergraduates, released its apartment pricing for its fall opening last week, and rents for the complex are slated to be among the highest in the area. The 14-floor building will start its pricing at $1,025 per tenent for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, and a single-bedroom unit - the most expensive option - will begin at $1,325 per month.

Almost a year after his death, retired English professor Robert "Bob" Lucid was remembered at the Kelly Writers House on Friday night by former students, coworkers, friends and family. Lucid, who created and founded the Writers House, died at age 76 on Dec.

WILMINGTON, DEL. - Accused murderer Irina Malinovskaya once again broke down in tears Friday as prosecutors attacked her for lying about her whereabouts in the days preceding the murder of her ex-lover's girlfriend. The Wharton undergraduate allegedly bludgeoned to death Temple graduate student Irina Zlotnikov in Zlotnikov's boyfriend Robert Bondar's Delaware apartment in Dec.

College Green was transformed on Saturday night with tents, ice sculptures and more ethnic food than a United Nations potluck dinner. With free beer, performances by student groups and large crowds of students, the event gave the impression that Spring Fling had moved to fall. But this party was different - it kicked off Penn's $3.5 billion capital campaign.

It's no coincidence that Islam Awareness Week and Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week begin today at many campuses nationwide. It's also no coincidence that there will be no fliers bearing the word "Islamo-Fascism" floating down Locust Walk. After much debate with student leaders, College Republicans nixed plans to sponsor Islamo-Fascism Week this week and is instead sponsoring Terrorism Awareness Week, a series of events funded by the same right-wing think tank that is sponsoring Islamo-Fascism Week across the country.

On Saturday night, Penn President Amy Gutmann officially announced the goal of the multi-billion dollar campaign that the University began two years ago.

Eight months after being endorsed, iTunesU is now officially a resource for the Penn community. The Undergraduate Assembly brought in Apple representatives last Friday to discuss and spread awareness about the program. iTunesU is an online digital media database located in the iTunes Store, accessible through any version of iTunes.

Traveling downtown just got a bit less exclusive. The Octobus, a Graduate and Professional Student Assembly initiative that provides transportation between Penn's campus and 14th Street, was recently opened to undergraduates, giving another option for travel into Center City.

WILMINGTON, Del. - Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya was called to the stand by the defense yesterday, marking a pivotal juncture in a trial that has now lasted over a month. Malinovskaya is being tried a third time for the 2004 murder of Temple University graduate student Irina Zlotnikov, the then-girlfriend of Malinovskaya's ex-boyfriend Robert Bondar.

On the eve of homecoming and the official kickoff of Penn's capital campaign, the University Board of Trustees met yesterday at the Inn at Penn for their second round of meetings this year. The Board of Trustees is the University's top governing body and is responsible for major budget and hiring decisions.

The University's capital campaign kick-off this weekend is arguably the most important event in Penn President Amy Gutmann's tenure. But as the tents go up and officials prepare to reveal their multi-billion dollar goal for the campaign, the University remains demonstrably less public about another turning point from this semester: the abrupt departure of former Admissions Dean Lee Stetson.

Penn's Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics will receive $4 million to continue research into infection therapies, according to a press release. "This award allows us to continue and expand our work in improving the use of antibiotics, incorporating the new tools of health IT," said Penn CERT director Brian Strom.

It's never too late to do some back-to-school shopping. Hundreds of alumni coming back to campus this weekend will be greeted by, among other things, a bookstore revamped for their return.