In contrast to the homicide and four major robberies that occurred over last year's winter break, University City experienced relatively few major crimes this vacation. Over the past month, three assaults and three robberies were reported in the Penn patrol zone.

When most astronauts go into space, they bring something special from home. Garrett Reisman, a 1991 Wharton and Engineering alumnus, is bringing an M&T; emblem and a piece of ENIAC, the very first computer, which was developed at Penn. Reisman will travel to the International Space Station for two months this March.

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Two students accused of committing crimes in dormitories during the fall semester are no longer enrolled at the University. Wharton senior Jason Myers, who allegedly burglarized rooms in Harnwell College House, and Diexia Wang, who allegedly stole bras and panties from Mayer Hall dorm rooms, are no longer enrolled at Penn, Vice Provost for University Life spokesman Matt Waller said.

Actually, they do care. While most students were busy catching z's over the winter break, some Quakers were bearing the cold of Iowa and New Hampshire in support of the 2008 Presidential candidates. In a departure from previous election cycles, this year's candidates are depending on youth involvement both within their campaigns and in voting booths for their success.

It's no small feat to reduce a major city's crime rate by 30 to 50 percent - but newly-inaugurated Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter plans to try. In his inaugural speech after being sworn in as mayor last week, Nutter described his plan for a "New Philadelphia," addressing the city's major issues and presenting a series of ambitious goals for his administration.

Penn's early decision acceptance rate decreased by 1 percent from last year to match the school's lowest-ever admissions rate of 28 percent. Of the 3,912 high-school seniors who applied to Penn early decision last fall, 1,147 were accepted in December. Those students will compose about 48 percent of the Class of 2012.

Meet Leo Charney: A Yale graduate with a masters in Film from New York University who is the public voice of Provost Ron Daniels. DP: Where are you from? Leo Charney: New York City. DP: Do you miss New York City now that you live in Philadelphia? LC: I'm happy not to live [in New York City.

Kurt Mitman, the Economics graduate student who took a leave of absence from Penn last January when his academic-release privileges from a Bucks County prison were revoked, has resumed classes after having been paroled in September.

Professor Sarah Tishkoff has spent nearly two decades traveling to and from Africa to study genetic variation and evolutionary adaptation. Now, she is traveling to Penn's campus to become the sixth Penn Integrates Knowledge professor - and the first woman to be appointed.

Poverty is rising in Philadelphia - faster than in the nation as a whole. As of 2005, 24.2 percent of the city - about 340,000 people - was living in poverty, according to data released this month by the U.S. Census Bureau. That number represents an increase from a poverty rate of 18.

A Nov. 19 jury verdict finding the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania guilty of medical malpractice and responsible for damages totaling $1.74 million will come under question on Feb. 5. Following the death of her husband in 2003, Donna Traina, represented by attorney Timothy Lawn, filed a lawsuit against HUP, Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown and several doctors and medical personnel from both hospitals.

The word is out, and so are the papers. Free copies of The New York Times will be available to students every weekday, starting today and continuing through April 19.

Last Friday the family of College sophomore Anne Ryan, who died from meningitis at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on Sept. 9, filed a lawsuit against HUP alleging misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

Former University Chaplain William Gipson is making the leap from the chapel to College Hall. As the new Associate Vice Provost for Equity and Access, a position created this semester within the Office of the Provost, Gipson is taking the lead in maintaining Penn's reputation for prioritizing diversity in higher education.

Parents sending their kids off to Penn undoubtedly hope to receive calls about their child's progress through college. They probably hope those calls are not notifying them that their children have been abusing drugs or alcohol. According to a Wall Street Journal article published last week, an increasing number of universities are contacting parents about their underage children's alcohol and drug violations, sometimes for the first offense.

Alleged panty thief awaits arraignment Legal proceedings against Diexia Wang, the Wharton senior who allegedly stole female undergarments from Mayer Hall, will continue next week. Wang, 21, is scheduled to be arraigned in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on Dec.