President Barack Obama wants to make sure you can pay for college next year. His financial stimulus package, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 244 to 188. The $819 billion bill has a variety of measures aimed at bolstering the economy, but a large section is devoted specifically to financing education.

The University's health-insurance policy may be in violation of its nondiscrimination policy, many members of the Penn community say. Currently, the University employee-benefits program does not cover sexual reassignment surgery, but it is in direct violation of its nondiscrimination policy by not covering these procedures, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center associate director Erin Cross wrote in an e-mail.

Through a round of "speed-friending" and a game of Taboo last night, Hillel and Penn's chapter of the NAACP hoped to tackle the taboo topic of race and religious relations on campus and help students from Penn's Jewish and black communities get better-acquainted.

According to Christian Lander, the idea behind his popular blog "Stuff White People Like" began when a "shamelessly racist" friend advised him not to trust white people that don't watch The Wire. Instead of watching the HBO series, Lander said, these white people were spending their time doing such white things as going to yoga, receiving therapy and getting divorced.

For the Hub buildings on the west end of Penn's campus, the third time seems to be the charm. Hub 3939, an avant-garde apartment building, will break ground this spring, according to Paul Sehnert, director of real estate development at Penn. "Hub [3939] will bring a new vibrancy to the corner," he said.

Taking the concept of the "social Ivy" to heart, some students spend their NSO stumbling down Beige Block, while others opt to stay in with cocoa and online Scrabble. The Undergraduate Assembly believes a happy medium exists between the two. The UA is developing more diverse late-night activity options for freshmen hoping to taste the Penn party scene during next fall's NSO.

Last night, Penn students and employees assembled in the Penn Women's Center to discuss how the University can "take back the night" this year. The meeting began a little after 7:30 p.m. with almost 20 women and a handful of men gathered to hear School of Social Policy and Practice graduate student Lauren Willner elucidate the subject.

The Penn Women's Center, with the help of $1,200 donated last summer by the Trustees' Council of Penn Women, has begun a series of initiatives to help students, faculty and staff with young children. PWC is converting a first-floor office - previously a "nap room" - into a nursing room open to all community members.

Yesterday the University announced plans to renovate Du Bois House beginning in March. The updates will be completed by fall of this year. The renovation is part of the administration's continuing efforts to improve the 11 college houses and Sansom Place East and West.

With the end of rush last week and the beginning of a new pledging season, there will be a large amount of traffic in and out of Greek houses. But in light of the wave of thefts that hit fraternity houses in the late summer and early part of last semester, potential residents could be harboring concerns about the general safety of Penn's chapter houses.

Many Americans are glued to their BlackBerrys - and President Barack Obama is, too. For students, Obama's use of the smartphone and other new media represents more than just an e-mail addiction - it signals his connection with the next generation. "Among the many molds that Obama is trying to break, him stepping into the 21st century with all the technology he's incorporating adds to his image as being modern and well-connected," College junior Megan Calpin said.

Last night, Pennchants, one of Penn's all-male a cappella groups, opened the Relay for Life Kickoff with a rendition of "Don't Stop Believing," vocalizing this year's theme: "Fighting Cancer is a Journey ... Don't Stop Believing." The Relay for Life Kickoff took place in Houston Hall's Hall of Flags at 7 p.

In the world of acting, not all colors are created equal - or at least that's how many people feel when ethnic roles are "whitewashed," or cast with white actors. Casting for extras in M. Night Shyamalan's Avatar: The Last Airbender took place last Saturday at the Spectrum, where protesters accused casting officials of such discrimination.

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Philip Florio is the Newman Center's new chaplain-director. He is the first Jesuit to hold the position, according to the Penn Almanac. Florio, who started in the position Jan. 15, succeeded Charles Zlock for the position. As chaplain-director, Florio will also serve as an assistant pastor at Saints Agatha and James Church on 38th and Chestnut streets.

In an effort to bring low-income students to selective universities like Penn, the QuestBridge National College Match program is helping 260 of the nation's brightest high school seniors pay for their college education. QuestBridge awards match scholars a full, four-year scholarship to any of their 26 partner schools.

God is in the trenches, or at least that's where Dr. David Gilman Romano is looking. Romano, senior research scientist at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, delivered an hour-long lecture last night describing the progress of his ongoing excavation of Mt.