As the economy worsens, many schools committed to disregarding candidates' financial conditions when considering their applications are using creative methods to admit more students who can afford tuition while still adhering to their need-blind policies. Some colleges are accepting more international, transfer or waitlisted students, whose applications are not evaluated on a need-blind basis at some otherwise-need-blind institutions.

Self-proclaimed visual artist and art activist Zoe Cohen believes that art is in the eye of the beholder. Last night, Cohen offered a room of students a look at some of her avant-garde works, expressing her mantra that you don't need the artistic prowess of Michelangelo to create art.

The sign still says "Open 24 hours," but Philly Diner is closed during many of its previously nocturnal hours. At 3 a.m. a few weeks ago, the intersection would have been bustling. People would trickle in throughout the night to order burgers and fries. Now, the restaurant sits empty and dark on the corner of 39th and Walnut streets.

Many students may not have had time to notice the appearance of ceramic squirrels along Locust Walk over the past few days since several of them have been disappearing. The project, called "Squirrels on Locust," is coordinated by the Penn Art Club and is the first large-scale student-initiated art installation on campus.

The best landlords are those east of the Schuylkill River, according to the Graduate and Professional Students Assembly's Landlord Survey. That was one of the principal findings in GAPSA's survey that rates landlords in the area based on 1,200 responses collected November through February.

Despite the struggling global economy, SEPTA is not likely to increase its fares for the next fiscal year. SEPTA submitted its budget proposal for fiscal year 2010, with no service cuts and no planned fare increases. This measure will apply to all SEPTA lines, including buses, subways and regional rail.

Glenn Cummings, a student in the Graduate School of Education's Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management program, was chosen as deputy assistant secretary of education in the Obama administration. Cummings, a former speaker of the house in the Maine House of Representatives, will work in the Office of Vocational and Adult Education on issues related to adult education and literacy, career and technical information and community colleges.

Three Penn professors and a senior critic in the School of Design were awarded fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation last week. Recipients of this year's fellowship - grant money given to artists, scientists and scholars for their research efforts - include English professor David Wallace, Sociology professor Susan Watkins, Music professor Anna Weesner and design critic Alexi Worth.

Recently-elected Penn College Republicans chairman, Wharton junior Peter Devine, spoke to the Daily Pennsylvanian about his plans for the future of the minority political group on campus. Daily Pennsylvanian: How is the hand-over going? PD: I've been passed the baton pretty quickly - I took over on day one.

Robbery April 8 - A male student, 20, reported that two unknown suspects approached him on the 100 block of S. 40th Street at about 12:20 a.m., one of whom displayed a knife and forced him to withdraw cash from his bank account at a nearby ATM. Theft April 3 - Stanley Wisocki, 46, unaffiliated with the University and of the 1200 block of Race Street, was arrested at about 8:30 p.

Though many high-school seniors are still hopeful for waitlist acceptances, their chances of securing a place in Penn's class of 2013 may be diminishing. Though Dean of Admissions Eric Furda initially said he expects "a lot" of waitlist activity, he now says there will likely be fewer waitlist acceptances this year than for the class of 2012.

With the support of various City organizations and elected officials, casino development is well on its way in Philadelphia, casino officials say. Foxwoods Resort Casino has begun exploring a relocation to the Gallery complex on 9th and Market streets, according to a recent press release.

Last month, Penn completed its second year in the RecycleMania competition. While the national competition will release results on Friday, by Business Services' calculations, the school did not reach event organizers' goals. Spanning a 10-week period, the competition works to increase recycling and reduce waste across college campuses nationwide.

With the economy reeling, the cost of a Penn tuition next year before room, board and other expenses - $34,868 - may be hard to come by. Financial-aid experts are examining ways to make the lengthy application process easier. Sandy Baum, a member of the College Board's "Rethinking Student Aid" study group, said different amounts of information are needed from different types of aid applicants.

Last year, after College sophomore Sara Heinze's close family friend, four-year-old Alexa, passed away from complications after being treated for neuroblastoma, she began to think about what she could do to help. As president of her high-school athletic association, Heinze helped organize a "change drive," that raised about $2,000 for a three-day breast-cancer walk by collecting small change from students.

A 22-year-old man unaffiliated with the University was stabbed at around 2:15 a.m. Saturday on the 200 block of South 44th Street, according to Philadelphia Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore. Responding to a call, Penn Police found that the complainant had been stabbed in the abdomen by a taxi driver.

The total number of crimes in the Penn Patrol Zone in March 2009 decreased 32 percent from the total in the same month last year, dropping from 78 to 53. The total number of crimes in the year 2009 is down 25 percent from this point in time last year, from 212 to 159.