There is a reason why the city of Philadelphia is in a crisis. You can blame countless organizations, lacksidasical policies and corrupt leaders, but what it comes down to is the cold shoulder that so many Philadelphians give to their city everyday. We, as a whole, are ignoring the problem.

Penn President Amy Gutmann will be traveling to Botswana at the end of this week to visit the Penn in Botswana program. The program combines students and faculty from Penn's Medical, Nursing, Wharton and Annenberg schools, among others. During her visit, Gutmann will meet with Botswanan President Festus Mogae, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.

David Beckham's high-profile move to Major League Soccer in July has seen media attention for America's young league skyrocket in recent weeks. But Penn soccer fans, at least, have had something else to cheer for this summer. Former Quakers goalkeeper Danny Cepero and his MLS team, the New York Red Bulls, are in the midst of an exciting season with playoff and championship aspirations.

5BDollars News Corp. owner Rupert Murdoch will pay for The Wall Street Journal. Murdoch plans to use the paper to compete with The New York Times and USA Today.Source: The Associated Press

Of a pair of alleged murderers - both former employees at the Au Bon Pain in Huntsman Hall - one awaits trial, while the other is still a fugitive. One employee, Samuel Scruggs, 46, did not appear for his arraignment in the Court of Common Pleas yesterday, so a not guilty plea was automatically entered for him, said Robert Marc Gamburg, Scruggs' lawyer.

Kinsey adds another All-Star honor to belt The Ivy League player of the year, Annie Kinsey, was recognized yet again last week, as she was named to the ECAC Division I Softball All-Star squad. Starting every game at second base, Kinsey was hitting .450 at the end of the Quaker's 2007 campaign, leading the Ivy League in that category.

Another suicide bomber blows up American soldiers. Another foreign country turns against the USA. Another damning report released from the U.N. Just another day in the news. With American foreign relations suffering from a low point, it seems that (as long as Bush is at the helm) no one outside the U.

Penn clocks in at No. 5 in the U.S. News & World Report's 2008 rankings of national universities, released today online. The position, for which the University is tied with the California Institute of Technology, marks a slight improvement from last year's standing at No.

Friends and neighbors of Ellen Robb have installed a garden gazebo in her honor outside of Roberts Elementary School in Wayne. Robb, who was found bludgeoned to death in her Wayne home last December, was an active volunteer at the school, and had a daughter attend there as well.

From the Constitution Center to cheesesteaks, Philadelphia has something to offer almost every resident and visitor. At least, that's the stance several publications are taking as they recognize the greater Philadelphia area as one of the country's best places to live.

Rudy Fuller can hardly believe how quick his 10 years at the helm of the Penn men's soccer program have gone. But Fuller takes some time out to speak about his quick turnaround from player to coach and also some of professional soccer's headline stories. Daily Pennsylvanian: You went on a vacation recently, what's your favorite vacation spot? Rudy Fuller: The shore.

CHEERS n To Lee Stetson, for announcing the end to a stellar career as dean of admissions at Penn on a high note, following a record-low acceptance rate. n To Facilities and Real Estate Services, for making visible progress on a number of projects, from the Radian housing development to high-rise renovations.

My first swig of malt liquor followed a moment of trepidation, my eyes scanning the Olde English label then shifting to the golden brew. This was a new drink for me - suspiciously cheap - and I now wish I had honored the old adage: You get what you pay for.

It looks like the market for online Ivy League gossip just got a little bigger. Ivygateblog.com has heretofore been the only mainstream Web-based outlet for people wanting to get their fix of the latest higher education insider jokes and shenanigans. Now, though, it will have to contend with a new blog known as Off the Record.

A gun shot was reported on the unit block of South 40th Street on the night of Aug. 15. Philadelphia Police received a 911 call from a person claiming that a gun had gone off during an attempted robbery, according to Penn Division of Public Safety spokeswoman Karima Zedan.

For the past 29 years, prospective students have eagerly torn open their decision letters from Penn hoping to see a letter, signed by Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson, welcoming them to the next year's class.

The Common Application, credited in large part for Penn's record high number of applicants last year, is getting some competition. Baltimore-based company ApplicationsOnline unveiled the Universal College Application late last month. The application is designed to be more inclusive according to its Web site.