When it comes to picking a PIK professor, the requirements are stiff, and the stakes are high. PIK, or Penn Integrates Knowledge, professors hold joint appointments in two departments in two schools in the University. They teach courses and direct research within their interdisciplinary field, collaborating with colleagues and students in both schools.

As students become more focused on going green, college guide books have created ways to measure sustainability on campuses. And for Penn - which has made sustainability a priority in recent years - these evaluations provide a way to compare its progress to that of other schools.

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, a Scranton, Pa., native, is often referred to as "Pennsylvania's third senator" for his strong ties to the state. Last Friday morning, it was obvious why, as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee spoke confidently to nearly 200 invited guests at the Ironworkers Union in Northeast Philadelphia.

Total crime on and near campus for both the summer months and the year-to-date is lower than last year. Year-to-date crimes in the Penn patrol zone dropped from 616 reported incidents in 2007 to 579 in 2008, a 6-percent decrease. The summer crime rate showed an even greater drop with a 21-percent decrease in incidents between 2007 and 2008.

Because professors select the textbooks students must buy, they are caught in the center of a debate over book prices and industry practices. Experts say professors are increasingly concerned about what students shell out but must balance easing financial burdens with finding high-quality materials that complement their courses.

The PennCard software is getting its first makeover in six years, but its impact will be felt mainly be PennCard administrators, not card carriers. The new software will mainly help the PennCard office handle what Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger called "idiosyncratic" situations that come up occasionally.

Builders and developers nationwide are increasingly targeting universities to profit from a fast-selling college product: off-campus housing. By focusing their efforts on selling upscale, mixed-use apartments to the general public, developers have capitalized off the growing demand created by a record number of students enrolling at universities across the country.

From Stanford to Syracuse, new professors flocked from across the country to teach at Penn this year. But no matter where they come from, the people who get up and lecture to undergraduates each semester have gone through a rigorous selection process and training to meet the University's high standards.

The Division of Public Safety says changes to the walking-escort system are prompting positive feedback about the service. Beginning in November, DPS required Allied Barton security officers to carry visible photo IDs and give students a service card with their names and an e-mail address for feedback.

The Undergraduate Assembly met last night for the first time this semester under the leadership of new chairman College and Wharton senior Wilson Tong. A handful of freshmen who are interested in running for a UA seat attended the meeting and raised issues that they thought needed to be addressed after only a few weeks on campus.

Photos by Anna Cororaton, Andrew Gardner, Toby Hicks, Alyssa Rosenzweig, and Andrew Townley

In the past, acceptance into college was, for the most part, a black-and-white issue: The letter started with either words of congratulations or a regretful "We are sorry to inform you." But this year things didn't always end there. Many colleges - including Penn - accepted a large number of students off their waitlists, a trend some experts say is likely to continue in the near future.

From beat boxing to African drumming, if you have a performing-arts talent, Penn has a group for you. But with over 40 groups that are part of PAC in addition to other performing arts groups on campus, how do you get the scoop on which dance troupe or a cappella group to join? Freshman Performing Arts Night, sponsored by the Performing Arts Council, showcases many of Penn's dance, theater, a cappella, comedy, spoken word and other musical groups on campus in one night.

With the installation of new laundry machines in all of the College Houses, student will no longer need to save up their quarters - laundry will be free for the next two years. Housing Services recently signed a new contract with Equipment Marketers, a commercial laundry equipment distributor based in New Jersey.

While enticing people to visit a liquor store might not seem like a challenge on a college campus, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is launching a major effort to get more Pennsylvanians over age 21 to do just that. In the coming year, the PLCB will be re-branding its 621 stores to "create a whole new shopping experience for Pennsylvania consumers," Patrick Stapleton, chairman of the PLCB, said in a statement.

Sick and tired of boring burgers? Try the newest burger joint on campus: Top This. The new burger joint opened in 1920 Commons earlier this week. Top This replaced Chick-Fil-A, which closed at the end of last semester after several years on campus. According to Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger, Penn Dining created Top This in response to a survey taken last spring and ongoing student feedback indicating that "Chick-Fil-A was just not popular," and students "would like to see something different.

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader will speak at Penn later this month. Nader will deliver the keynote address, titled "Social Justice in the Post-Bush Era," at the School of Social Policy and Practice's centennial celebration, according to a University press release.