On Tuesday night, The Lambda Alliance, the umbrella organization for campus groups serving the LGBT community, elected a new board. Wharton sophomore Dennie Zastrow, stepping up as chairperson, will use his term to push for policy changes at the University level and to further collaboration with the LGBT community both on campus and off.

I hate cheaters. I generally believe they belong in the lowest circles of the Inferno, chilling with Judas, Brutus and Cassius in Satan's mouth. But, unlike many professors at this fine institution, I'm realistic. Cheating exists everywhere, and Penn's no exception.

When do Penn students, staff and administration collaborate to promote a cause? Yesterday - at RecycleMania's latest event, the signing of the Recycling Pledge in Houston Hall. Students signed the pledge, which encourages them to take action by learning about recycling and waste reduction and lead by example.

Wednesday night at Ringe Courts played out more like a Disney movie than a squash match. And as they seem to do only in the movies, the underdog Quakers pulled out a seemingly miraculous 5-4 comeback win over undefeated No. 1 Princeton. It was a perfect setup: a heated rivalry pitting two undefeated squads against each other, a coach looking for his first win over his alma mater and an underdog looking to avenge last year's loss .

From 50 Cent to Eminem, hip-hop artists have been accused of inciting violence and sexism, but are they also trying to inspire? Last night at Houston Hall, the Race Dialogue Project held the event "Soulja Boys: Hip-hop, Violence, and the New Civil Rights" to address such a question.

One participant's aunt has terminal cancer. She has three more weeks to live. Another participant had leukemia at age three. Together they are working to find a cure for cancer. Colleges Against Cancer at Penn is sponsoring the fifth annual Relay for Life event.

Winning an Ivy League championship two consecutive years is a lofty goal, but the Penn women's tennis team plans to do just that. Mike Dowd, head coach since 1996, believes he has the unique combination of players to do it. "This is a special team," Dowd said.

Two years after the implementation of Operation Safe - Penn's $5-million safety initiative spurred after a student was shot on campus in 2006 - officials and students say safety is improving and measures to improve security are continuing. Started after then-Engineering sophomore Mari Oishi was hit in the thigh by a stray bullet near 38th and Walnut streets in January 2006, the security plan has added lighting and cameras, as well as increased the number and visibility of Penn Police and security guards.

Colleges across the country are rolling out new financial-aid initiatives and, at the same time, ramping up efforts to reach out to the students these policies will benefit. Mailings advertising bigger and better aid packages, admissions representatives traveling the country and private college-matching services are quickly gaining favor with selective institutions around the country.

Most students at Penn and other highly selective institutions are smart - at least book smart. Throughout high school, they received good grades and earned top test scores. Four years at an elite college or university is then supposed to accelerate their academic growth.

Some join them out of legitimate interest or for a heightened sense of community. Others just use them to get into the Quad. But whatever their ultimate purpose, several residential programs are changing at Penn. Residential programs "give a place like Fisher Hassenfeld, which is a house of about 500 students" a place "to feel more connected and a little more at home," said College Houses and Academic Services director Leslie Delauter.

Over the past couple of days, a rumor quickly spread that the University had selected Emeril Lagasse, celebrity chef, as commencement speaker. For a while, seniors probably wondered if their graduation speech would focus more on Cajun cooking than inspirational advice.

The Division of Public Safety is launching an anti-theft campaign today with the goal of raising awareness and bringing opportunity theft down, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said. DPS decided to launch the campaign because 80 percent of all crime reported in the Penn patrol zone during the fall semester was theft.

Columbia is the most veteran Ivy League team. It returned a roster that had 27 percent more Division-I minutes under its belt than the next-closest Ivy. But January is annual reality-check time for the Lions, who always seems to generate more buzz than they can back up.

With two courses in management under their belts, some Wharton sophomores are invited to put their skills to the test - by managing their own classrooms. Management 100 team advisors, unlike traditional teaching assistants, are educators, facilitators, mentors, fans, even friends, all at once.

College can be hazardous. Coughs spread germs through lecture halls, stress- induced migraines can leave you incapacitated and drunken weekends can leave you bumped, bruised or worse. Fortunately, if you're unfortunate enough to make a trip to the emergency room, you will be in good hands with Dr.

To say Nik DeVore is driven is an understatement. The first-year men's tennis coach left his job at Loyola Marymount in the sunny confines of Southern California and drove 45 hours to blustery Philadelphia. He interviewed to be the Quakers coach seven years ago, and now he's back, despite the distance.