By Parisa Bastani Staff Writer pbastani@sas.upenn.edu Given his humble beginnings in Cameroon, La Salle freshman Yves Mekongo Mbala had reason to think he might never start for a Division I basketball program. But after losing three of five starters from last year - including former 76ers forward Steven Smith - that is exactly the role that La Salle coach John Giannini has cut out for him.

Cynics who contend that lawyers are morally insensitive now have a study to back them up.

Majoring in history may be a growing trend for Penn students, but when it comes to earning a Ph.D. in the subject, it's not so easy. According to a study released at the end of last month by the American Historical Association, 16 percent of students who matriculated to history graduate programs five years ago have quit their respective programs - almost double the number of dropouts that the AHA reported ten years ago.

Tune your television to any sports channel in the months of December and January, and you will undoubtedly hear talk of college football and the BCS.

Observers would doubt the ability of No. 20 Franklin and Marshall to upset Penn, the No.1 women's squash team in the country. The doubters are probably right. But that's not stopping the Quakers (4-0, 2-0 Ivy) from taking this match seriously. In fact, they're looking at their visit to Lancaster and the Diplomats (4-3) as an opportunity.

Who knew that hanging out with girls could be so stressful? College freshman "Jane," for one, did not. Jane has spent the last two weeks walking around in heels - for four hours straight, at times - bedecked in black pants and fancy dress shirts in order to impress the sisters of the sororities that she is rushing.

By Andrew Sweet Staff Writer sweetad@sas.upenn.edu

By Krista Hutz Sports Editor hutzkm@sas.upenn.edu In a season where two players have done the lions' share of scoring, it looks like Pat Knapp's beleaguered Quakers are finally getting some help. In its 61-58 defeat of Manhattan (4-13) last night, senior forward Ashley Gray contributed her second double-digit performance in her three games since returning to the team.

The avalanche of national media coverage surrounding the murder case of Economics professor Rafael Robb likely won't detract from Penn's admissions numbers - and, in fact, it could even help, one expert says.

By Matt Conrad Senior Staff Writer mlconrad@sas.upenn.edu With one weekend of league play under the Ancient Eight's collective belt, there have certainly been some surprises. But a new challenge for Harvard is no surprise to anyone: It's been inevitable since the season began.

Theft Jan. 11 - A University employee reported that his bag, containing a laptop worth an unspecified amount of money, was stolen after he placed it outside of Cosi on the 100 block of S. 36th Street. Jan. 10 - A male University employee reported that his laptop was stolen while still in its packaging from under his office desk on the 3700 block of Spruce Street.

ITHACA, N.Y. - As time expired in the first half on Saturday against Columbia, Brian Grandieri heaved a shot from just past half-court that, 40 feet later, found nothing but net to send Penn into the intermission up 14 and Grandieri running into the locker room pumping his fist.

Some Engineering students will get the chance to extend their expertise to a far-flung locale - but which locale is still being contested. The Penn chapter of Engineers Without Borders - an organization devoted to developmental projects across the globe - is in the final stages of a competition that will determine the group's next international project.

Soon after one plan for graduate-student government drew heavy debate, a new plan is bringing the issue back to the forefront. At a Graduate and Professional Student Assembly general-body meeting last night, Graduate Student Associations Council representative Roger Turner - a fourth-year School of Arts and Sciences graduate student - presented a proposal for graduate-student-government reform.

Censoring one's social-networking-site profile should stop being part of the job-search process.

55,000Philadelphians who did community service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is now stable and comfortable despite a setback in his recovery last week, doctors announced yesterday. Doctors discovered last Tuesday that the horse had a bad reaction to a cast put on his left hind foot on Jan. 3, according to a press release from Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine.