On the heels of student protests at New York University, a group of graduate students is asking University President Amy Gutmann to make a public statement on the events and clarify Penn's position on the use of force against students. The student activist group "Take Back NYU!" - who recently occupied a student center for two days over concerns including tuition costs and the school's investments - accuses NYU of using "excessive force" against them, according to the group's Web site.

Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Thames - nine students will see it all without paying. The Thouron Award, a Penn-specific scholarship, was awarded to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students interested in studying in the United Kingdom last month. British students interested in doing graduate work at Penn can also benefit from the scholarship.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency announced last week that as part of President Barack Obama's economic-stimulus package, Philadelphia would receive slightly over $21 million to spend on fighting homelessness. The $21,486,240 that the city will receive to spend within three years is in addition to the $26.

To recruit more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally students to Penn, the LGBT Center and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions have begun reaching out to Gay Straight Alliance groups at local Philadelphia high schools. Bob Schoenberg, director of Penn's LGBT Center, said the center has been working with the Admissions Office for several years to recruit more "LGBT and LGBT-friendly" students.

Over five hours, $1.78 million and a snowstorm later, campus leaders discussing 2009-2010 student government expenses left Huntsman Hall with a budget unchanged from the one initially proposed. On Sunday night, the six umbrella groups of student government met to discuss the budget for the next academic year, proposed by the Undergraduate Assembly's budget committee.

When the storm that started Sunday night continued to persist yesterday, not only did it bring more snow but it also brought a sigh of relief to some Penn students hit with heavy workloads this week. "I have a midterm Wednesday so it gave me more time to study," said College junior Alex Lee, whose World at War class was canceled because of the snow.

Students looking to live Greek this year might have to pick a number and wait. With the majority of this year's new pledges looking for space in one of 38 fraternities and sororities, it's often hard to find an open room in popular houses. While the average pledge-class numbers nearly 19, some chapters have welcomed over 40 new members to a house with room for only fifteen or twenty.

In October 2007, a man was shot and killed near 38th and Chestnut streets, just outside Koko Bongo nightclub that closed shortly after. But Ned Taddei, who is opening two connecting establishments - The Blockely Pourhouse bar and Mary Oaks restaurant - on March 28 hopes to breathe new life into the area.

After moving from location to location on campus for the past decade, Penn's HIV testing center has found a permanent home in the Student Health Service offices, located at 3535 Market St. Penn started HIV testing on campus in the 1990s. But the program has occupied several different locations because it was unable to find an adequate space.

In just a few days, many Penn students will trade Van Pelt carrels for beaches, ski resorts and other locales that let them reconnect with the great doors. But those who want an early start on Spring Break escapes can get in touch with Mother Nature in an unconventional way at the annual Philadelphia Flower Show.

International students who had lined up permanent employment on an H-1B visa may find themselves out of a job, according to a Career Services e-mail circulated among students today. The e-mail notified students of an amendment to the stimulus package proposed by Sen.

Alan Isenberg wanted to be a millionaire. After appearing on ABC's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" Isenberg, an MBA student at Wharton, became $100,000 closer to his goal. "I am pretty humbled by this experience," said Isenberg. "My winnings have paid for a year of business school and a vacation to Mexico for spring break.

As Sgt. Casey Ann Busch pulled into the Penn Police Headquarters at 4040 Chestnut St. at midnight last Friday, ending a 17-hour shift, she reflected that it had been a quiet night. Her work included cruising around the Penn Patrol Zone and responding to security guards' calls that turned out to be friends messing around.

As a student at Wellesley College in the 1950s, Madeleine Albright said she could never have imagined that one day she would be the U.S. secretary of state. But throughout her career, Albright has proven that anything is possible. Saturday night, the Social Planning and Events Connaissance Committee hosted "An Evening with Madeleine K.

Shots were fired early Saturday morning outside Philly Diner, located at 3901 Walnut St. No injuries were reported and Penn Police made three arrests, according to Sgt. Ray Evers of the Philadelphia Police. The Division of Public Safety's PennComm Center received a call at about 4:15 a.

By EMILY FOX Staff Writer fox@dailypennsylvanian.com In the final hours of February, Penn seniors gathered at Smokey Joe's Saturday night to mark the end of Feb Club, as well as of a surge of success for Seniors for the Penn Fund. During the night, the Unite ONine team - the group responsible for recruiting donations to the Penn Fund - made an 11th-hour comeback.

Graduate student Van Evans worked at a nonprofit with "street children" in Latin America for 12 years before he decided to hone his leadership skills and get some insight into the nonprofit sector by enrolling in Penn's master's program in nonprofit and nongovernmental organization leadership.