Though higher education is beginning to feel the weight of the economic crisis - in recent weeks some schools have explored the possibility of selling off private equity or have implemented hiring freezes - Penn is in better shape than many Ivy League schools.

Temperatures have dropped, Christmas decorations have arrived and finals are looming. Spring break has never seemed so far away. With four months until students can play in the sunny beaches of Acapulco or help rebuild homes in New Orleans, next semester's vacation plans should be in the back of everyone's minds.

Signs, banners and chants surrounded City Hall on Saturday afternoon, as thousands of same-sex marriage supporters rallied in opposition to California's ban on gay marriage. "Out of the closet, into the street," yelled protesters in unison as they circled the downtown building, cutting off traffic for nearly half an hour along Market Street.

After managing the volatile atmosphere surrounding the 2005 presidential inauguration and managing the police response to 9/11 in the nation's capital, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey had advice to share with students in College Hall last Friday.

Students and their families at Brown University are getting a little more time to pay their bills, as economic circumstances make financing an education a bit more difficult. The school announced on Oct. 31 that it would implement a new initiative during its advanced registration which would allow students with up to $7,500 of debt to pre-register for classes.

Brandywine Realty Trust, with whom Penn is working closely to develop the postal lands, has indefinitely postponed work on an office complex next to Penn's territory because of the credit crisis, its CEO recently told reporters in a conference call. Penn officials say the announcement will not affect the University's own eastward expansion.

Biochemistry and Economics majors don't usually have the opportunity to put their creativity to work. But on Saturday, the Penn Art Club provided these students and many more with all of the supplies needed to transform Harrison College House into an exhibit of Rembrandts and Renuars.

This Wednesday, members of Penn's Panhellenic and MultiCultural Greek sororities will travel to Alexander Wilson Elementary School to make each student's winter a littler bit cozier. This project is run by Operation Warm, an organization that works to provide brand-new winter coats to school children all over the country.

Despite rumors that Alpha Chi Omega's annual Big Man on Campus philanthropy event was going to be cancelled this year, the event is expected to occur as planned this Thursday evening The participating students have signed a pledge not consume alcohol during the pageant and several members of Alpha Chi Omega national headquarters will be present to supervise the event, said Wharton senior and Interfraternity Council President David Ashkenazi.

The state of Pennsylvania recently approved a $2 million loan to the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation for the construction of a proposed hotel complex on 40th and Pine streets. Both the hotel developers, as well as state and local officials, hope the hotel - slated to be an extended-stay facility for families of patients in area hospitals - will serve as an economic catalyst in West Philadelphia.

Defense lawyers and prosecutors agree that 2005 alumnus Edward Anderton is fully culpable for helping organize an identity-theft scam in which he and his ex-girlfriend stole about $119,000. But at a hearing Friday, the two sides were at odds about whether Anderton's remorse or the severity of his crimes should be the main factor in his sentencing.

Edward Anderton, a 2005 Penn alumnus who engaged in a massive identity-theft scam with his former girlfriend, will be sentenced today in federal court. Anderton and his then-girlfriend, Jocelyn Kirsch, pleaded guilty this summer to the same charges. However, lawyers say that doesn't necessarily mean Anderton will receive the same sentence Kirsch did at her October hearing.

The Food Network's Bobby Flay is "looking into" opening a Bobby's Burger Palace in the Radian, according to a senior leasing representative at Madison Marquette, the property manager Penn hired to lease the retail space in the Radian. The representative, who was not authorized to disclose the information, emphasized that no lease has been signed, but one may be signed in the coming month.

On Nov. 4, most were happy to avoid a repeat of election night 2000 - the winner was clear. The outcome of Penn's voting competition with Dartmouth, however, is not as clear. Although Penn initially claimed a win, Penn and Dartmouth student government leaders decided to call a tie earlier this week, according to Undergraduate Assembly chairman and College and Wharton senior Wilson Tong.

In her latest book Between Keys, '83 College alumna Suze DiPietro spiced up her rock and roll past with an unusual twist of blood-sucking intrigue. At the Penn Bookstore last night, DiPietro described her personal inspiration for the novel and her transition from Penn grad to rock and roll band member to vampire murder mystery novelist.

While the current economic crisis has left many people scrambling, one group of Penn students is finding a way to reap the benefits. The first Penn team to compete in the College Fed Challenge made it to the semifinals last weekend. If they advance, they will have the opportunity to win up to $15,000 in prize money for themselves and the Economics department.

As advanced registration comes to an end this weekend, students are busy skimming the course booklet for classes that satisfy both their requirements and their curiosity. For students in Penn's more pre-professional schools - Nursing, Engineering and Wharton - getting a liberal-arts education while following a more structured curriculum can present a challenge.