The $2.5 million project, which covers half an acre, will have a raised lawn in the center, along with several paved walkways and benches.

People are encouraged to read their work, sing songs and — as the event’s tag line “poetry, prose, anything goes” suggests — perform whatever they like.

Lea Elementary at 47th and Locust streets is accepting donations of instruments and musical accessories for a new after-school music program.

SPEC and the Class Boards announced at midnight Thursday that Free Energy — a rock band based out of Philadelphia — will headline Skimmer Fest.

Penn’s Database Group aims to effectively tackle the seemingly simple yet challenging task of storing and manipulating vast quantities of data.

After pleading guilty to the attempted murder of 2004 College graduate Kevin Neary, Christopher Easter was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison following a lengthy court appearance Wednesday.

Through Penn’s “Take Your Professor to Lunch” program, students are able to have a one-on-one conversation with their professors while enjoying a meal on Penn’s dime.

Ramen Bar, located on 4040 Locust St., officially opened Tuesday night. This new Japanese noodle restaurant and bar promises to bring “authentic, exotic and affordable food” to University City, chef and owner Dean Leevongcharoen said.

As part of its ongoing efforts to become more diverse at the faculty level, Penn is looking to recruit from a somewhat surprising source: high schools.

Theft September 6 — A 21-year-old female student reported that her unattended laptop was taken by an unknown suspect in Van Pelt Library around 3:15 p.m. September 6 — A 28-year-old female employee reported that items were taken from her unlocked office by an unknown suspect in the Colonial Penn Center at 3641 Locust Walk at around 5:45 p.m. September 5 — A 22-year-old male student reported that his secured bike was taken by an unknown suspect at 3650 Chestnut Street at around 9:30 a.m. Robbery September 4 — An 18-year-old unaffiliated male of the 5100 block of Viola Street was arrested for requesting cash drawers from an unaffiliated 23-year-old male at the Wawa on 3744 Spruce Street around 4 a.m. Liquor Law September 4 — A 19-year-old male student of the 3600 block of Chestnut Street was arrested for being under the influence of alcohol at the 300 block of South 33rd Street at around 2:45 a.m. Vandalism September 4 — An unaffiliated female reported that her interior door windows were broken by an unknown suspect at the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology building at 3537 Locust Walk at around 8:20 a.m.

College senior Jacqueline Baron, who was elected president of Penn’s Multicultural Greek Council near the end of last school year, has big plans for the MGC moving forward.

The program, which was launched in 2011 and remains ongoing, aims to eventually secure perimeter access points for all Penn buildings with electronic access control locks, requiring students to swipe into buildings with their PennCards during business hours.

Penn dropped three spots to eighth place in the 2013 U.S. News and World Report rankings of the nation’s top colleges and universities. The Wharton School retained its spot as the top undergraduate business school.

The artifacts, which Penn had originally purchased legally in 1966 from an antiquities dealer in Philadelphia, are believed to have been previously stolen.

Over the summer, all student rooms, hallways and bathrooms in the Quad were repainted, and some of the study lounges were re-carpeted and re-furnished, according to Business Services.

The Working Dog Center, which opened at Penn’s South Bank on the 11th anniversary of 9/11, will house the inaugural class of working dogs, two of which will go on to serve in Penn’s police force.

The Center will grapple with issues such as how to cope with enemies who are non-state actors, how to justify the lack of symmetrical risk in warfare in an age when precision weapons are becoming more common and how to tackle cyber threats.