View Larger Map

The whole 2008 election cycle played out in just under two hours at Clark Park on Saturday afternoon. Enormous puppets of elephants, donkeys, oil wells and ballot boxes wheeled and danced around the park's main lawn, as about 200 spectators alternately cheered and hissed.

Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential nominee John McCain, held a rally in downtown Philadelphia yesterday morning touting her husband's candidacy and stressing his readiness to "put country first." The rally, held at the National Constitution Center, came just 14 days before the country goes to the polls to vote for president on Nov.

Starting with a banquet in Houston Hall Sunday night and a musical performance last night, the Muslim Students Association is working to increase knowledge about Islam. It is Islam Awareness Week, an event held annually on college and university campuses nationwide in an effort to raise awareness and eliminate any existing misconceptions of Islam.

For College sophomore Calvin Gruss, Physics and Astronomy professor Larry Gladney "couldn't have tried harder to provide a good education experience and environment." "He really made an effort to have everyone understand the topics of the class, and he was always willing to meet with students outside the class to go over anything they didn't understand," Gruss added.

Biking isn't just for trendy kids anymore. As bicycle use increases in Philadelphia, city and Penn officials are taking steps to accommodate bikers and promote bicycle safety. Data from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia shows that bicycle commuters in the city increased by 76 percent between 1990 and 2006.

In a memo written to "Members of Our University Community", Penn President Amy Gutmann yesterday addressed the University's place in the current precarious economic market, a move met by nonchalant student reactions. Writing that the note was prompted because "the state of the economy is on everyone's mind," Gutmann detailed Penn's current financial situation, including the ongoing capital campaign, Penn's commitment to no-loan financial aid to undergraduates and the recent dip in the size of Penn's endowment.

To infinity, and beyond! Philosophy professor Scott Weinstein lectured at the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity last night about the mathematical concept of infinity. SAM president and College junior Charlie Isaacs and academic chairman and Engineering sophomore Andrew Hicks hosted Weinstein as part of their chapter's initiative to bring in various faculty speakers over the course of the year.

Engineering senior Ryan Goldstein is set to be sentenced today for his involvement in hacking into the School of Engineering and Applied Science's computer system in February 2006. Goldstein pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting another person to gain unauthorized access to a protected computer in March.

On Sunday, the Undergraduate Assembly did not pass any new proposals but did discuss recent work on the redesign of the Penn InTouch system and updated the body about the University's new policy for dealing with copyright infringement by students. In its new policy, Penn will no longer act as a buffer between its students and the Recording Industry Association of America.

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission convenes today to review legislation that would allow the controversial Foxwoods Casino to open in the Gallery at 11th and Market streets. City Councilman Frank DiCicco, whose district includes the Gallery, proposed the city block containing the Gallery be designated a commercial entertainment district at an open Council session last Thursday.

Penn students, it turns out, aren't lighting up as much as your average college kid. Four percent of Penn students smoke tobacco at least 10 times a month, according to last year's Penn Health and Wellness Survey. American Lung Association figures show that the national average is 20 percent, five times the Penn average.

For some Philadelphia residents, Primate Liberation Week is about giving Penn students an education - and a reality check. This past Saturday, a group of some eight residents gathered at the corner of 34th and Walnut streets to protest animal cruelty as the week designated to aiding primates used for scientific research came to a close.

DuBois College House received $1 million worth of updates over the summer. Residents hope to see more done in a larger-scale renovation administrators say is on the horizon. This summer's renovation included updates to common spaces like the TV lounge, fitness room and laundry areas, Facilities Director of Design and Construction Management Mariette Buchman said.

The Mormon Church is planning to build a multi-level temple on North Broad Street, where churchgoers from the region will be able to perform the faith's sacred rituals. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Philadelphia and at Penn praised the announcement, which they said came as somewhat of a surprise.

Exactly one year after the public phase launch of its capital campaign, Penn is still "Making History." With $2.172 billion raised so far - 62 percent of the $3.5 billion goal - the campaign has broken all fundraising records and exceeded the goal set for the first, public-phase year of the campaign.