Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program, which uses art to improve local communities and collaborates with Penn's Fine Arts Department, will lose $500,000 in funding with the city's recent budget cuts. The cuts will have an immediate impact on MAP, which plans to turn to philanthropists and other organizations in order to continue projects affected by the cuts.

At last night's State of the School, heads of the six branches of student government recounted the past semester's progress, outlined future plans and fielded questions from students in attendance. To increase interaction between the student body and leaders, the annual update on student government activities featured a question-and-answer period for the first time.

Former Economics professor Rafael Robb is "remorseful" for killing his wife, Ellen, Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Paul Tressler said yesterday, and Robb is not likely to commit another similar crime. But Tressler also said he wanted to ensure that Robb would not interfere too much in the life of his tee

DP Staff Photographer Katie Rubin recently traveled to Makuleke, South Africa where she lived with and documented the life of the villagers. Penn men's soccer team, who won the 2008 Ivy League title recently committed to donate used equipment and supplies.

Government officials are considering steps to make applying for financial aid a little easier in 2010. Proposals are being drafted to simplify the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid, which students seeking financial aid must fill out. Today, the FAFSA is five pages long with about 100 questions.

What exactly is it like to run a multi-billion dollar, Fortune 100 corporation? That's something Muhtar Kent knows quite a bit about. Kent, the Chief Executive Officer of the Coca-Cola Company, spoke yesterday to a packed auditorium of Wharton students about leadership in these challenging economic times.

The four Class Board presidents came together Tuesday night for the first time this year to discuss their new constitution and collaboration for the upcoming year. The new constitution - which codified several rules about attendance and meetings between the presidents - will be key in ensuring the boards work together closely this year.

According to a recently published book, Philadelphia has a glorious past and an uncertain future. However, there is potential for the city to reclaim its former glory. College and Design School alumnus Nathaniel Popkin examined both historic and present-day Philadelphia during the reading of his new book The Possible City: Exercises in Dreaming Philadelphia at the Penn Bookstore last night.

If midterms and finals are running wild in your mind, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity wants you to relax and enjoy some comedy, while helping an important cause. The fraternity is bringing comedian Steven Hofstetter to campus this Sunday at 7 p.m. in Houston Hall.

The University has a bright idea for making off-campus apartments feel safer. The Division of Public Safety is working with the University to implement phase four of the University City Lighting Project, which involves collaborating with the area's landlords to add extra lighting outside apartments and in the areas around off-campus housing.

The Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council recently elected College junior and Daily Pennsylvanian editor Alissa Eisenberg and Wharton junior Shawn Woodhull as presidents for the upcoming year. Eisenberg, who is in Delta Delta Delta, and Woodhull, who is in Phi Kappa Sigma sat down with the DP last night to discuss their plans for Penn's fraternities and sororities.

The South Street Bridge will close for repairs on Dec. 8, according to Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush. The bridge will remain closed for the next two years while a new bridge is being built. All traffic across the bridge will be diverted to Walnut and Chestnut streets.

The future of U.S. and European Union trade relationships revolves around collaboration and harmonious relationships, according to U.S. Department of State representative Janet Shannon. Shannon, who works in the Office of Bilateral Trade, shared her insight yesterday in a presentation sponsored by the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies.

Despite rumors that Alpha Chi Omega's annual Big Man On Campus philanthropy event was going to be canceled this year, the event is expected to occur as planned tomorrow evening. The participating students have signed a pledge not to consume alcohol during the pageant and several members of Alpha Chi Omega national headquarters will be present to supervise the event, said Wharton senior and Interfraternity Council President David Ashkenazi.

U.S. News and World Report may say Penn is tied for sixth place, but it's number two for the quality of its students' note-taking, according to GradeGuru.com. GradeGuru is a Web site that lets students from any university post old notes and study guides from classes and get paid for them.

Legal Studies and Business Ethics professor Kevin Werbach is serving on President-elect Barack Obama's transition team. Werbach, who was a technology policy advisor to Obama during the campaign, is the co-leader of the Agency Review Team for the Federal Communications Commission.