Two weeks ago I sat in Lovers & Madmen polishing my creative nonfiction final portfolio as it poured outside. I was miserable. It's not that I disliked my work; in fact, I loved this class. But each letter I typed, like steps down a plank, reminded me I was that much closer to finishing my time at Penn.

The CDC confirmed nine cases of swine flu in Philadelphia as of Thursday morning, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Eleven probable cases of swine flu have now been reported in Philadelphia, though the infection has not affected the Penn community.

Almost a fifth of Penn Law's graduating class had full-time post-graduate plans secured - only to have their hiring firm delay start dates and withhold expected salaries. Since a large number of firms are recommending, or even requiring, that graduates pursue nonprofit work during the deferred interim, a number of graduates are finding themselves without adequate resources.

/media/paper882/stills/2exo1310.jpg Amira Fawcett is an Engineering senior from Houston. Her e-mail address is fawcett@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Thefts from buildings more than doubled compared to April 2008, while incidents of violent crime were down since that time last year. Crimes against property showed little change overall. Building thefts increased sharply from 14 last year to 30 this year.

It is commonly believed that people with dark hair, skin and eyes are less likely to get skin cancer - but a new study by Penn's School of Medicine suggests that both this darker coloring and tanning are not what determine a person's risk of getting skin cancer.

Updated May 17, 2:35 p.m. Yesterday on Vidas field, the phrase down to the wire took on a whole new meaning. Senior attack Becca Edwards scored with five seconds left in the second overtime to seal a Quakers victory, 10-9, over Duke and a trip to the Final Four in Towson, Md.

My parents' histories have a curious way of haunting me, no matter how vigorous my evasive maneuvering. Strangely enough, the combination of my mother's and father's efforts to let me evolve into my own person has - upon reflection on my time at The Daily Pennsylvanian and at Penn - completely backfired.

Penn will enroll 63 percent of students who were accepted to the class of 2013, according to Dean of Admissions Eric Furda. Although the University's yield - the number of students who accept an offer of admission - is the same as last year, that figure has dropped from 66 percent in 2007.

The Undergraduate Assembly, the Office of the Provost, and a dozen campus organizations will put the "new" back into New Student Orientation this fall as they work together to provide new and improved late-night activities to entering freshmen during the weekend of NSO.

Just a few years before his tragic passing, sportswriter Dick Schaap wrote in his autobiography that his favorite sport was "collecting people." In four years of writing for the DP, my favorite Penn sport has been just that. I have enjoyed collecting Penn athletes the most because they are some of the more underappreciated and interesting students at this university.

Penn prides itself on having a diverse campus, representing many ethnicities and nationalities throughout both undergraduate and graduate programs. However, the Council of Graduate Schools may not agree with this assessment. Last month, CGS published a report on diversity in graduate schools at the legislative forum at the Library of Congress.

Nursing senior Megan Ruedebusch has had a "disheartening" job search. Out of the 15 hospitals she applied to, only about half have gotten back to her - all with negative responses. "We were told coming in our freshman year that we would never have trouble getting a job," said Colin Plover, also a Nursing senior.

The Penn men's lightweight rowing team has not been accustomed to a deep roster of rowers --- until this season. In 2008, the team only fielded two Varsity 8 boats and one Freshman boat. After graduating just two seniors from that season, however, the Quakers ballooned to include three Varsity and two Freshman boats.

May 9 - Legendary college, professional and Olympic coach Chuck Daly, who steered Penn to four Ivy League and Big 5 titles in his six seasons at the helm, died Saturday after a bout with pancreatic cancer. He was 78. Though perhaps best known for directing the Detroit Pistons "Bad Boys" teams to back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990 and earning Olympic gold with the "Dream Team" at the 1992 Barcelona games, Daly will forever be remembered in West Philadelphia for his successes on the Palestra's vaunted hardwood.

The University announced yesterday that Bon Appetit Management Company will be its new food-service provider. "We are confident that Bon Appetit is committing to implementing Penn's vision for dining and is well positioned to do so," Vice President of Penn's Division of Business Services Marie Witt, said.

In a sport where individual accomplishments determine a team's success, the parts don't always add up to the whole. That was the fate of the women's track and field team at last weekend's Heptagonal Championships, the equivalent of Ivy Championships. Despite numerous individuals earning personal bests and ECAC and Regional qualifications, the Quakers finished just seventh as a team with a total of 57 points at Franklin Field.