College senior Hannah Marcus knew she had something when she stumbled across 2,200 pages of a medieval manuscript in Bologna, Italy, that nobody had ever really written about or even read. So she decided to. The history major and religious studies minor turned the 16th century manuscript about the cross of Christ by Renaissance scientist Ulisse Aldrovandi into her senior thesis project - and now has 111 pages of her own on the topic.
Student manslaughter case | Irina Malinovskaya released from prison
May 1, 12:14 p.m. Former Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya was released from prison today after serving a sentence for manslaughter, according to John Painter, a spokesman for the Delaware Department of Corrections.
Sample sale brings affordable fashion
For female Penn students, the hotter temperatures have officially welcomed in new outfits - without riding boots and North Face fleeces. In this economic crunch, however, the ideal complete summer wardrobe may not be feasible. College Sample Sale presents a more affordable option: On Wednesday and Thursday, this company will offer Penn students high-end living brands with discounted prices in the Bistro Room of Houston Hall.
The Undergraduate Assembly made it a priority this spring to find out what students want by polling students with the Survey of Undergraduate Priorities. However, only a small percentage of undergraduates actually responded, leaving some UA members to question the findings.
Student manslaughter case | Irina Malinovskaya released from prison
May 1, 12:14 p.m. Former Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya was released from prison today after serving a sentence for manslaughter, according to John Painter, a spokesman for the Delaware Department of Corrections.
Sample sale brings affordable fashion
For female Penn students, the hotter temperatures have officially welcomed in new outfits - without riding boots and North Face fleeces. In this economic crunch, however, the ideal complete summer wardrobe may not be feasible. College Sample Sale presents a more affordable option: On Wednesday and Thursday, this company will offer Penn students high-end living brands with discounted prices in the Bistro Room of Houston Hall.
After 15 hours in elections, UA unveils new executive board
The Undergraduate Assembly concluded its internal elections yesterday morning after a grueling two-meeting, 15-hour affair that ended just after 4 a.m. The UA body elected College sophomore Alec Webley chairman, College junior Lucia Liu executive vice chairwoman, College sophomore Matt Amalfitano vice chairman for external affairs, College junior Sakina Zaidi treasurer and Wharton freshman Faye Cheng secretary.
Interactive graphic: Revised South Street Bridge design
Grad students awarded for excellent teaching
Ten graduate students will be awarded the College Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching by Graduate Students on Thursday. The award is one of several dean's teaching awards. Most recognize faculty, but all exist because "we want to recognize our most successful and innovative teachers," College Dean Dennis DeTurck said.
Dental students create LGBT group
Although many agree that Penn is supportive of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community, two students are trying to increase that support in the School of Dental Medicine. That was goal of Dental students Yizhaq Alkolomber and Zane Haider when they began an LGBT and ally group to increase support for those students in what they perceive to be a conservative environment in the Dental School. And so far, they say, professors have been very receptive.
South Street Bridge design changes put towers on hold
At last night's South Street Bridge Coalition meeting, Philadelphia's 30th Ward residents learned that they will have to wait a bit longer for finalized designs for the bridge's upper deck. The project has been divided into two phases, said Marcia Wilkof, Democratic 30th ward leader and David Perry, chief engineer for surveys and design at the Philadelphia Department of Streets.
Researchers draw inspiration for their robot from animals
When a lizard runs across a sandy desert it may seem effortless, but crossing sand has proved to be nearly impossible for robots until the advent of SandBot. Researchers at Penn and the Georgia Institute of Technology have collaborated to study how animals can accomplish what wheeled and tracked robots have not been able to do.
As many students look forward to leaving Penn for a summer of relaxation, the Division of Public Safety is preparing for what is one of its busiest periods of the year. "It's a fallacy that as the vast majority of the student population leaves, out workload decreases," Captain Joseph Fischer said. "The challenges are in fact even greater over the summer.
Updated April 30, 5:41 p.m. Three probable cases of swine influenza have now been reported in Philadelphia. Further testing in those cases -- a two-year-old child, a 46-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man -- must be done to confirm swine flu, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Penn's study-abroad program in Cuba ahead of the game
In the wake of the Obama administration's relaxation of policies toward Cuba, educators are calling for easier student travel to that country. But Penn is already ahead of the game with its study-abroad program in Cuba. "Whether or not the [Penn program in Cuba] will run each year is always contingent upon us getting our license renewed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the U.
'Spoon' stirs nearly 150-year-old history of honors
Studying alone in Huntsman Hall last week, Senior Class President and College senior Brett Perlmutter got an e-mail that connected him to a nearly 150-year-old tradition. He found out that he, along with seven other soon-to-be graduates, will be awarded Senior Honor Awards at Ivy Day during this May's Commencement celebrations.
Amalfitano, Zaidi join UA executive board
Both College sophomores, second-year UA members and chairmen of two prolific committees, Undergraduate Assembly members Matt Amalfitano and Mark Pan were well-matched in the election for Vice Chair for External Affairs. Even more fitting of their closeness, each candidate nominated the other for the position.
Research round up: Galaxies, academic achievement, snails
These days, Penn researchers are studying everything from skies to the seas - and the people in between. One team of Penn researchers has discovered about 1,000 galaxies since 2006 with the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope. Physics and Astronomy researcher Matthew Truch, who has worked on the project since 2002, said BLAST is the only way to see the earliest starburst, or newly formed, galaxies because the atmosphere is too opaque on the ground.
Reporter's Notebook | Hazing continues to divide Hey Day
Hey Day has historically been the day juniors look forward to the most - but it has also become a tradition surrounded by a heated debate. The Junior and Senior Class Boards worked together this year to decrease hazing during Hey Day and the Final Toast. However, Hey Day 2009 only proves that the event continues to be a divided one: partly a junior celebration, and partly an excuse for seniors to haze their replacements.
Two more phases of crisis-management project to be complete by summer
The Division of Public Safety is on track to complete Phases Four and Five of its Blue Book Project by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. Blue Books are crisis-management action plans located in every University-owned building that help authorities respond to emergency situations.




