Members of the university and local community gathered in Irvine Auditorium to celebrate Iftaar and discuss the situation in Darfur- after sunset yesterday, which signaled the end of another day of fasting for Muslims observing Ramadan. Engineering sophomore Eyas Mahmoud explained the link between Ramadan and the situation in Darfur.
Michelle Obama stood before a crowd of about 2,000 in southwest Philadelphia yesterday, and asked them to engage in something her husband knows all about: community organizing. "Everybody in this crowd knows 10 or 20 people who are not paying attention" to the election, said Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
To explain why one person supports tougher immigration polices and another staunchly opposes the Iraq War, blame biology. University of Nebraska at Lincoln researchers recently compared physiological responses with participants' political views, representing one of the most recent ways scholars are relating biology and politics.
College admissions: Is your Facebook page a factor?
A Penn Masala YouTube video warns students against a "Facebook stalker." But, according to a recent study, the person carefully studying your facebook page may be none other than a college admissions officer. According to the Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions' fifth-annual survey of college admissions officers, "one in 10 college admissions officers visited students' social-networking pages as part of the evaluation process.
Michelle Obama stood before a crowd of about 2,000 in southwest Philadelphia yesterday, and asked them to engage in something her husband knows all about: community organizing. "Everybody in this crowd knows 10 or 20 people who are not paying attention" to the election, said Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
To explain why one person supports tougher immigration polices and another staunchly opposes the Iraq War, blame biology. University of Nebraska at Lincoln researchers recently compared physiological responses with participants' political views, representing one of the most recent ways scholars are relating biology and politics.
New Facebook layout leaves some students cold
Along with new classes and a greater workload, many students came back to school facing something else unwanted - a new layout for their Facebook accounts. The popular social-networking site gave users the choice to switch to the "New Facebook" over the summer, before permanently replacing the layout earlier this month.
Exploring anti-Semitism in Freud's work
Penn and the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia co-sponsored the program "Anti-Semitism in the Freud Case Histories" last night at Steinhardt Hall. The program, part of the Freud, Franklin and Beyond series of lectures on psychology, culture and society, was co-sponsored in conjunction with Hillel and the Jewish Studies Program.
Despite bad economy, seniors get giving
Though the economy has recently forced many students to tighten their belts, Penn is still encouraging seniors to give some of their extra cash back to the University. Yesterday marked the launch of the 2009 Senior Class Gift Drive, "Unite ONine" in which proceeds go towards the Penn Fund, an endowment for undergraduate education.
City lays out plan for greener future
Director of Sustainability for Philadelphia Mark Alan Hughes presented a lecture on the city government's new plan for environmentally responsible change yesterday at the Chemistry Building. Hughes elaborated the steps needed to become more sustainable through internal bureaucracy changes and current action items.
Panel: Simpler aid process needed
The Rethinking Student Aid panel, an independent group of the country's top financial-aid and higher-education experts, has released a proposal to simplify the federal financial-aid system. Proponents hope the plan - which was in the works for two years - will make college more accessible for low- and moderate-income students.
Sex educators demystify orgasms
Meg Ryan closed her eyes, tilted her head back and moaned, "Oh god, oh god." She appeared to be experiencing an orgasm - but unknown to most men, she was faking it. Sex educators Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller presented this clip from When Harry Met Sally to introduce issues regarding female sexuality in their program "I
Intl. expansion takes center stage at Wharton
With the recent appointment of Harbir Singh to the newly created position of Vice Dean for Global Initiatives, Wharton is moving toward the internationally focused school that Dean Thomas Robertson outlined last fall. This new appointment comes at a time when Wharton has been adding a more international perspective to its programs and needed someone to take the lead, officials said.
High turnout, low local interest may affect races
While the excitement surrounding the upcoming presidential election may distract some student's attention away from the local candidates on the ballot, this excitement may end up affecting the outcome of these races. "We are expecting a huge turnout and when this happens, a lot of funny things can happen," said Zachary Stalberg, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, a non-partisan organization for efficient and ethical politics around Philadelphia.
Through increased communication and coordination with the city's colleges and universities, Mayor Michael Nutter is making crime prevention a larger focus within Philadelphia. While both the Philadelphia Police and Penn's Division of Public Safety say the two police forces have long collaborated, new channels of communication between the city and the University have been opened by the Nutter administration.
Burglary: Sept. 15 - A male student, 19, reported that someone entered his residence on the 4000 block of Walnut Street through an open window and stole a laptop at about 8 p.m. Theft: Sept. 18 - A man, 45, and woman, 39, both unaffiliated with the University, reported that someone broke into their vehicles, parked at the Penn Tower Hotel and stole loose change and other items at about 2 p.
Freshman elections | Can the campaigns live up to their promises?
Since voting for the 2012 Class Board and Undergraduate Assembly representatives began Monday night, candidates have been going all out in an attempt to garner votes. Each fall, freshman candidates for student government listen to their fellow new students' concerns and then plaster the campus with posters promising to improve campus food, extend dining hours and put air conditioning in Hill College House.
PIKs renew focus on neuroscience
Penn is continuing its efforts to maintain its status as a pioneer on the final frontier - the human brain. The University announced the creation of five new Penn Integrates Knowledge professorships related to the field of neuroscience last week. The move will expand the PIK program beyond its original goal of 18 professors and bolster Penn's growing neuroscience programs.
In search of a safer way to party during NSO
Bouncers demanding IDs. Bartenders checking for wristbands. Spaces that are off-limits. This may be the scene freshmen will face at the average fraternity party during next year's New Student Orientation. On Sunday night, the Undergraduate Assembly passed a proposal put forth by the InterFraternity Council to repeal Penn's ban on registered fraternity parties during NSO.
New changes to plans for the imminent reconstruction of the South Street Bridge include fewer vehicle lanes, a lower speed limit and wider pedestrian and bicycle lanes. The City of Philadelphia has already sent the original plan out to contractors to solicit bids for the project but will release an addendum with these new revisions, according to Marcia Wilkof, Democratic leader of the 30th Ward and Jim Campbell, president of the South Street Bridge Coalition.







