While the current economic crisis has left many people scrambling, one group of Penn students is finding a way to reap the benefits. The first Penn team to compete in the College Fed Challenge made it to the semifinals last weekend. If they advance, they will have the opportunity to win up to $15,000 in prize money for themselves and the Economics department.

After a disappointing home loss to Princeton to open their final Ivy League season, volleyball senior co-captains Kathryn Turner and Steph Gwin decided to take a more active leadership approach. Becoming more vocal and demanding in practice didn't produce immediate results, as the team went on to drop two of its next three matches.

As advanced registration comes to an end this weekend, students are busy skimming the course booklet for classes that satisfy both their requirements and their curiosity. For students in Penn's more pre-professional schools - Nursing, Engineering and Wharton - getting a liberal-arts education while following a more structured curriculum can present a challenge.

As the Penn men's basketball team ran onto the court for its first-round play-in game of the 1979 NCAA Tournament, the Quakers noticed something a bit strange. Banners of each tournament team competing in Raleigh, N.C., were displayed throughout Reynolds Coliseum, save the banner for Penn.

Penn volleyball had its seven-game win streak snapped by Yale in a five-set thriller at the Palestra Friday night. The loss ended the Quakers' hopes to claim a share of the Ivy League title. Yale junior outside hitter Cat Dailey got the Bulldogs started with a kill on the first play of the match, and freshman middle blocker Taylor Cramm followed that up with a block of Penn kills leader Julia Swanson.

Look for 1,100 backpacks to be spread across College Green today. These backpacks represent the 1,100 college students who commit suicide each year. The event, Send Silence Packing, is part of the 5th National Active Minds conference, which is being held on campus today and tomorrow.

It could soon take just the swipe of a card to ride the subway. SEPTA took the first steps toward revamping its fare-collection system by requesting proposals for an electronic "smart card" payment system last week. The new system, which officials say could be completed within two years, will allow SEPTA passengers to wave a pre-loaded "smart card" to ride the subway.

With three Big 5 squads making it to the NCAA Tournament, last season was a banner year for the informal Philly conference. Temple and Saint Joseph's both fell in the first round, to Michigan State and Oklahoma State, respectively. But No. 12-seeded Villanova upset Clemson in the first round and won another over No.

It wasn't the blowout that it has been the past two years, but a Tyler Hansbrough-less North Carolina team beat the Quakers in their season-opener, 86-71, last night in Chapel Hill, N.C. Penn sophomore Tyler Bernardini picked up where he left off last year, leading all scorers with 26 points on 9-for-18 shooting.

In her latest book Between Keys, '83 College alumna Suze DiPietro spiced up her rock and roll past with an unusual twist of blood-sucking intrigue. At the Penn Bookstore last night, DiPietro described her personal inspiration for the novel and her transition from Penn grad to rock and roll band member to vampire murder mystery novelist.

In their three seasons suiting up for the Red and Blue, Carrie Biemer and the three other seniors on the Penn basketball team have gone undefeated. In season openers, that is. "We have a good record going into first games," the senior forward said. "We'll come out with a lot of energy, and we'll see if we can go 4-0.

Cornell may be the unanimous choice to defend its Ivy League hoops title, but the rest of the conference isn't holding up the white flag just yet - especially with star Big Red guard Adam Gore out with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (his second such injury in three years).

For the the men's soccer team, it's pretty simple. Beat Harvard, and take home Penn's second Ivy League Championship in 28 years. Lose or tie, and start praying for an at-large bid. When the Quakers face off tomorrow night against the Crimson (11-4-0, 5-1-0 Ivy) - who lead the Quakers (10-2-4, 4-1-1) by only two points - the Ivy trophy will be on the line.

On Nov. 4, most were happy to avoid a repeat of election night 2000 - the winner was clear. The outcome of Penn's voting competition with Dartmouth, however, is not as clear. Although Penn initially claimed a win, Penn and Dartmouth student government leaders decided to call a tie earlier this week, according to Undergraduate Assembly chairman and College and Wharton senior Wilson Tong.

The Food Network's Bobby Flay is "looking into" opening a Bobby's Burger Palace in the Radian, according to a senior leasing representative at Madison Marquette, the property manager Penn hired to lease the retail space in the Radian. The representative, who was not authorized to disclose the information, emphasized that no lease has been signed, but one may be signed in the coming month.

After a spotty first 40 minutes, the Quakers' offense finally found its rhythm. A second-half comeback seemed in order. And then, like in so many Penn games of the past few years, it all came crashing down with a failed red-zone conversion and botched field goal.

Lucas Tasigianis' goal was golden indeed. In the fifth minute of overtime, the sophomore midfielder put one past Harvard's keeper on a breakaway, earning Penn a 1-0 win and a trip to the NCAA tournament. The Quakers (11-2-4, 5-1-1 Ivy) will share the Ivy crown with Dartmouth, but the Penn's 1-0 win over the Big Green on Oct.