Go ahead, pick a sword-fight with Penn's fencing team. They dare you. All jokes aside, this season should be another strong one for the men's and women's teams. Coach Dave Micahnik has never had a losing season in his 33 years coaching both teams, and his 34th season shouldn't be any different.

Thanksgiving is family time - maybe that's why it's a brief holiday. I like my family, but since we're divided by the Atlantic, I'm stuck with a surrogate family for most of the year - the Penn family. No, I haven't been hired by the administration to whip you into a frenzy of love for your peers.

Theft Nov. 24 - Russell Thomas, 56, of the 1400 block of N. 30th Street, was arrested by Penn Police after they observed him allegedly attempting to take a bicycle from the 4100 block of Pine Street at about 2:35 a.m. Nov. 24 - Shakel Muhammad, 22, of the 2600 block of Dagget Street, was arrested by Penn Police after allegedly leaving Gap, located at 3420 Walnut St.

Job-seeking seniors, breathe a little easier. Firms are looking to hire more bachelor's-degree graduates for jobs beginning next year. According to Recruiting Trends 2007-2008, a report released by the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University, employers are expected to increase the number of jobs by seven percent.

Economics professor Rafael Robb resigned from the University yesterday, a day after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, Ellen.

Even when Ron Berkowsky screws up, he wins. The senior fencer still remembers - with a twinge of embarrassment - a miscue during a 2005 championship match. His hand (with a foil in it) collided with his opponent's head. The opponent stopped, took off his mask and started spitting blood.

Two females unaffiliated with the University were robbed on the north side of campus over the last two weeks, Philadelphia Police officials said. On Nov. 25, a 51-year old female was robbed while walking along the 4000 block of Ludlow Street, located between Market and Chestnut streets, at about 9:10 p.

Thanksgiving is family time - maybe that's why it's a brief holiday. I like my family, but since we're divided by the Atlantic, I'm stuck with a surrogate family for most of the year - the Penn family. No, I haven't been hired by the administration to whip you into a frenzy of love for your peers.

Lafayette lives and dies by the three. For a Penn team that has struggled defending the long ball thus far, that could spell trouble. The Leopards (3-2) have made ten or more three-pointers in four out of five games this season, and they will get another chance to tonight when the Quakers (2-4) visit.

A man exposed himself to a Penn student walking home from class Monday evening - the second such incident in the past two weeks.

Ellen Robb was brutally beaten to death last December after years of a rocky marriage. Now, her relatives have formed a foundation to help other troubled women. Former Economics professor Rafael Robb pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter, admitting that he killed his wife, Ellen Robb, in the couple's Upper Merion home by bludgeoning her with a chin-up bar after an argument.

Mayor-elect Michael Nutter appointed Temple University Executive Vice President and Penn alumnus Clarence Armbrister as chief of staff for his administration yesterday. Nutter, who made the announcement yesterday in City Hall, said Armbrister's "background in finance, education, management and law makes him perfect for the position.

Ireland is famous for a few things: potatoes, U2, soccer, beer, and the drunken brawls and all-around hooliganism that usually ensues after the latter two. Basketball is not one of those traditional Irish pastimes. But Paul Cummins was able to parlay his skills into a scholarship to an American high school and a successful collegiate career.

Police have arrested three men in connection with the Monday-morning shooting of a disc jockey at a local strip club. The men are expected to be charged with assaulting the disc jockey, who was then allegedly shot by another patron at Club Wizzards, located at 38th and Chestnut streets.

Fun loving SF NS in search of athletic M, 18-25, for NSA relationship, NBM, enjoys long walks on the beach, romantic dinners - and Latino culture. QuieroLatino.com, a new online-dating site started by two Penn alumni, will aim to bring together young Latino professionals when it launches in January.

The Rider women's basketball team compiled a dismal 2-28 record last year, including a 77-65 home loss to Penn. But the Quakers are catching the Broncs at the wrong time. Despite very little turnover on the roster, they have already surpassed last year's win total with a 3-2 start under new coach Lynn Milligan, including a 76-74 victory over Central Florida in their last game.

Penn Medical School researchers have discovered that using an immune-system gene to enhance a vaccine used to study HIV can help prevent simian HIBV, according to a report released last week. When given a vaccine enhanced with a molecule called Interleukin-15, macaque monkeys had greater protection against simian HIV than those with an unmodified vaccine.