Like many urban universities, Penn often has a contentious relationship with its neighbors, a natural clash born out of differing viewpoints, goals and interests. But the University should have put more effort into dialogue with the community in its recent conversations with West Philadelphia residents concerning the proposed extended-stay hotel on the corner of 40th and Pine streets.

Janice Dow is an College sophomore from Los Angeles. Her e-mail address is dow@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Marisa Lozano, Penn State's leading scorer, will have her big sister there at Bigler Field to watch her take on the Penn women's lacrosse team tonight. But her sister won't be there for support - Gloria Lozano will be on the opposing team's sideline. The elder Lozano has been Penn's assistant coach for five years.

Assault March 7 - Police arrested a 15-year-old female suspect for allegedly assaulting another 15-year-old girl at the 4000 block of Sansom Street at about 6:15 p.m. Both parties are unaffiliated with the University. Theft March 6 - A woman unaffiliated with the University reported that an unknown suspect removed her unattended wallet from the Food Court at 3409 Walnut St.

The players on Penn's baseball team have an annual obligation to forego college students' favorite pastime, spring break, in favor of America's. Nevertheless they are feeling as fresh as any college student after their success on the spring trip, which they hope to continue today against Temple.

For some, last week's spring break was an opportunity to help the less fortunate. Students traveled across the United States and beyond to give back through activities such as building houses and tutoring disadvantaged children. Here are the stories of four students who participated in four different trips in places ranging from Mexico to Philadelphia.

The recent demolition of an old mansion has left Spruce Hill resistant to the way the neighborhood is being reshaped. The site at 4224 Baltimore Avenue - built in 1860 - has been demolished by James Campanella over the objections of other residents of the area.

While many Penn students jetted off to tropical locations last week, I forwent the daiquiris and drug cartels of Cancun in favor of budget-friendly Buffalo, where I could enjoy home-cooked meals and free laundry. If it were any other year, I would not be admitting to such a lame spring break - and I certainly would not be writing it for all of Penn to read.

Jimmy John's hosts $1 sub day Thursday In this economic crisis, a dollar can barely buy an item at the food carts on Spruce - but tomorrow, one dollar can purchase a gourmet sub. Jimmy John's, located at 3925 Walnut St., will be selling its signature subs for only a dollar from 11 a.

Ever seen that "game of inches" speech from Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday? Man, does that fire me up. It's pop culture Red Bull - like a '70s Springsteen track or watching the Celtics fail. "Look at the guy next to you," Pacino sermonizes to his fictitious Dallas Sharks football team before the big game.

The tide has turned. So Penn softball hopes, at least. The Quakers went 3-7 on their spring break trip to Orlando, Fla., where they competed in the Rebel Spring Games. One of those wins, however, came in Penn's last game. After losing five games in four days, the Red and Blue pulled out a 3-2 nailbiter against Florida A&M; that sent them home with momentum on their side.

At Sigma Alpha Mu yesterday, World War II was revisited - over Coke and Thai takeout. SAM brothers crowded their chapter house to hear History professor Tom Childers discuss the war, addressing topics from veterans' mental disorders to the political consequences of Hitler's table talks.

This week, the Penn Women's Center is celebrating its 35th anniversary with several service projects to benefit the Women Against Abuse shelter, Philadelphia's sole domestic-violence center. However, 35 years ago, PWC had to fight to establish itself as a home for women on campus before it could tackle domestic violence elsewhere.

The day I received my acceptance letter to Penn, my dad shook my hand, clapped me on the back and offered me $80,000 to turn it down. He reminded me that I already had a free ride waiting at the University of Georgia, and that, even with ample financial aid, four years at Penn would still cost the better part of 100 grand.

The wrestling season may almost be over, but Penn's ninth-ranked 125-pounder Rollie Peterkin still feels he has plenty of room to improve. And he plans to start by examining his most recent failure, a 5-2 loss to Cornell's Troy Nickerson, who is ranked second in the country, in the finals of the March 7-8 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association tournament.

Leonore Annenberg, emeritus trustee and founding member of the Annenberg School for Communication, died last Thursday morning at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at the age of 91. Annenberg was elected to the University's Board of Trustees in 1982, and was elected a life trustee in 1987.

Counseling and Psychological Services named Bill Alexander as its new director last week. He assumes his position this month after ten years as deputy director of CAPS, according to a press release issued by the Vice Provost for University Life. Although he has worked there a long time, Alexander explained that this is a major change in his role and duties.