The Scandinavian population at Penn isn't huge. Nor is there overwhelming Polish or Vietnamese representation in the Penn student body. Even so, these are just a few of the growing number of heritages at the forefront of student clubs on campus. Such denominations can be a significant part of students' lives and one that many choose to explore or celebrate within a club structure.

Getting credit for courses taken outside of Penn just got a whole lot easier - or so the School of Arts and Sciences says. This past summer SAS launched a new computerized program designed to make credit transfer easier for students who have transferred from another school, earned cre

David Thornburgh was recently appointed executive director of the Fels Institute of Government, Penn's graduate program that educates and trains leaders to achieve results in public work. Thornburgh will succeed Donald Kettl, who recently retired from the position and returned to full-time research and teaching in the Department of Political Science.

Engineering sophomore Joe Weinhoffer says that among his group of friends, Michael Sheahan was "the glue that brought us together." Those friends and classmates of Sheahan, an Engineering sophomore who was killed in an Aug. 25 car accident, came together last night in McClelland Hall to share memories and honor Sheahan's life.

Every year, Penn students and their families face rising tuition costs and high-interest loans. But don't expect either presidential candidate to make those issues a campaign focus anytime soon. Both Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and Democratic nominee Sen.

Mornings begin for Engineering student Rob Yaffe at 8:15, when he stumbles out of his double suite in Riepe, devours a bowl of Trix and wanders, bleary-eyed, to his 9 a.m. class. Like most freshmen living in the Quadrangle, Yaffe appreciates his air conditioning, beautiful view and the food carts next door.

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It was no surprise that inviting the son of the Democratic vice presidential nominee to campus during election season would spark student interest. So when 1991 alumnus Joseph "Beau" Biden spoke Monday as part of the College Alumni Mentoring Series, he let students know he was "happy to talk about Barack and Joe" as well as his own path to becoming attorney general of Delaware .

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission unanimously recommended yesterday that the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment approve plans to build an 11-story hotel at 40th and Pine streets. For the past year, the hotel has been a source of contention between developers and local residents.

Crime is down nationwide and in Philadelphia, according to the FBI's annual crime report for 2007. This week, the FBI issued its annual Crime in the United States report, a compilation of crime statistics for the nation, states and individual agencies. The report also includes arrest, clearance and law-enforcement employee data.

Uncertainty and confusion over this week's financial meltdown drew more than 1,000 students to Zellerbach Auditorium last night to hear Wharton professors' take on the situation. Penn students were shocked to hear on Sunday that Bank of America would acquire Merrill Lynch & Co.

When students apply to Penn this fall, the admissions office will not print out their essays, grades or test scores. Instead, their applications will form the basis of a digital file that will stay with them throughout their years at the University. Admissions officers will manage student applications on Penn's new digital media imaging system - Oasis.

The annual ritual of freshmen elections began yesterday as students gathered at the Office of Student Life to formally declare their candidacy. Freshmen from all four undergraduate schools are represented with 23 students from the College, 20 from Wharton, eight from Engineering and one from Nursing.

The second Undergraduate Assembly meeting of the year was spent mostly on member suggestions for improving student life and internal business. With freshmen elections around the corner, many students who are running for a seat on the UA attended the meeting to learn more about its work.

Biden, a last name that may have meant very little to most college students just a month ago, is now a surname on the tip of everyone's tongues. Joseph "Beau" Biden, a 1991 College alumnus, Attorney General of Delaware and son of Vice Presidential nominee and Delaware Sen.

One of the hottest debate topics for the upcoming presidential election has been the choice between universal or free-market health care insurance. However, health care is just damage control, according to contributing doctors of the TV series "Unnatural Causes" on PBS.

When College junior Cameron Clark looks back on this fall semester, he will fondly remember fine dinners paired with appropriate wines in the company of friends. But these memories aren't from Philadelphia, where the minimum legal drinking age is 21. Instead, they are souvenirs he is accumulating during his semester abroad at the Universite Lumiere Lyon in France.