64 freshmen candidates are vying for 74 student government-related positions for this academic year. They gathered last night in Logan Hall to confirm their candidacy with the Nominations and Elections Committee. Ten of the candidates are especially ambitious, running for both an Undergraduate Assembly seat and a position on the Class Board.

Forget Poe and Shakespeare - Tom Murtha prefers potatoes to poetry and soybeans to soliloquies. Murtha, a former College student, turned in his textbooks for tractors eight years ago when he set out to farm his way across the country. An English major slated to graduate in 1995, Murtha spent harvesting seasons in Connecticut, Oregon, Delaware and New Jersey before settling down on his own plot of land in Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania, not too far from his (almost) alma mater.

Theft Sept. 13 - A male student reported that an unknown suspect removed items from his unsecured room at Rodin College House, located at 3901 Locust Walk, at about 4:30 p.m. Sept. 13 - A female employee reported that she placed her pocket book unsecured on a bench on the 300 block of 40th Street at about 2:05 a.

WILMINGTON, Del. - Defense lawyers made a surprise move yesterday when they chose not to cross-examine Robert Bondar following the conclusion of his testimony in the case against his ex-girlfriend and Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya. Unlike the two previous trials, in which the defense grilled Bondar in one of the more crucial moments of the proceedings, attorney Joe Hurley said he would instead call Bondar back to the stand as a defense witness later in the trial.

With a calm demeanor and smooth delivery, Penn alumnus-turned-politician John Hinck urged a group of 21 students to actively seek leadership roles and become involved in legislative issues yesterday evening in Leadership Hall. Hosted by Fox Leadership, the conference was the first in the Lessons in Leadership series aimed at teaching students theories and principles behind leadership.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System has appointed William Welch to Chief of Neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Welch is a professor of Neurosurgery in the Penn School of Medicine and part of the neurosurgery team at the Penn Neurological Institute.

The Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships recently experienced staffing changes after three employees, including former director Arthur Casciato, left over the summer. In August, Casciato joined Rutgers University, where he is now the director of external fellowships and post-graduate guidance.

It's hard to believe that the 10 etiquette-conscious members of this Management 100 team are most likely the future Donald Trumps of the world.

WILMINGTON, Del. - Robert Bondar, the ex-lover of accused murderess Irina Malinovskaya, took the stand yesterday, testifying that she became obsessed with him and threatened to hurt herself when he tried to end their relationship. Malinovskaya is two days into her third trial for allegedly bludgeoning to death Bondar's then-girlfriend, Temple graduate student Irina Zlotnikov, in his Delaware apartment in December 2004.

The Undergraduate Assembly traveled cross-campus to Hill College House on Sunday night to hold its weekly meeting. The meeting, held at the mostly freshmen dorm in an effort to publicize the UA to first-year students, attracted student government newcomers and potential UA candidates.

When College sophomore Julianne LeGierse lost her dorm key five times last year, it cost her several hundred dollars and days of waiting to get replacements from Facilities Services. Julianne's then-roommate, College sophomore Alyssa Mendoza, pursued an alternative route: She visited the West Philadelphia Locksmith and bought a duplicate.

What do you get when a money-grubbing Jew, a cow-loving Hindu and a polytheistic Catholic walk into Huntsman Hall? An event that breaks down common religious barriers. Last night's introductory meeting of Programs in Religious and Interfaith and Spirituality Matters featured a heated discussion about religious stereotypes to kick off the organization's second year.

Gary DeVercelly just wanted to join Phi Kappa Tau. And for that desire, he paid the ultimate price. The 18-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., died in late March after a pledging ritual at the Rider University fraternity. DeVercelly, authorities said, had a blood alcohol content of 0.

Thomas Robertson's resume spans positions at several business schools stretching from Los Angeles to London. But Robertson, no stranger to Penn after he taught Marketing here 13 years ago, is settling in to a new office in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall.

Although Penn has had its fair share of hazing incidents in past years, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Directory Scott Reikofski said he's confident that his office has responded to each one appropriately, always conducting "a full investigation" and working with alumni and national chapter representatives when necessary.

The office of a West Philadelphia state representative was targeted by arsonists early Friday morning, an attack that officials say resulted from the politician's efforts to clean up the area. Police say that at about 4:05 a.m. Friday, an unknown person broke a plate-glass window on the side of state rep.

Freshmen interested in rushing a fraternity next semester may be able to do more than get their name etched onto another paddle. When Sigma Pi comes back to campus next month, they could end up as a founding father. Sigma Pi, which was first established at Penn in 1909, will have two expansion consultants on campus from Oct.