The six branches of student government have begun efforts to increase minority representation by collaborating with six of Penn's cultural and minority coalitions. The initiative is meant to address a noticeable decline in the presence of minority and female undergraduates in student government in recent years.

Hearing about emergencies on campus is about to take on a new meaning. DPS is planning an audible-alert system, which will include audible sirens and a public-address system spanning the area from 33rd to 40th Streets. Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush explained that the system would benefit University visitors and nearby residents -- people not included in UPennAlert, Penn's emergency-notification system that alerts students and faculty through e-mail and text messages.

Sometimes you can't leave something dead and buried. That was apparent in many of Edgar Allan Poe's stories, and it now seems to be true in an ongoing debate over the author's remains. Last October, local writer Edward Pettit began arguing that Poe's body should be moved from Baltimore to Philadelphia.

On Friday, Wharton officials released a statement revealing that three current and past students' scores for the Graduate Management Admissions Test were cancelled last week because of cheating. "We are in the process of investigating the matter and, after we have completed our review of the facts, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with our policies," said Anjani Jain, vice dean of Wharton Graduate Division.

Despite a new dean, Penn's major undergraduate admissions policies and initiatives have remained intact. Early decision enrollment and Exploring College Options have become standard admissions programs at Penn, and according to Dean of Admissions Eric Furda - who took over the position in July - both are here to stay.

Information Systems and Computing has reconfigured Penn's wireless settings. ISC has remodeled the available wireless networks on campus, consolidating older networks and creating new ones to provide better access and support. Prior to this summer, AirPennNet, AirSAS, AirSEAS and Wireless-PennNet were all wireless networks available in specific areas around campus.

Some students and University officials are praising a move to discourage tray use in campus dining halls, but others are finding it difficult to adjust. In an effort to reduce food waste and conserve energy, trays in the dining halls are no longer easily accessible, though officials say they are still available.

Fay Ajzenberg-Selove has proven time and again that persistence and hard work can overcome any stereotype. And on Sept. 29, the White House will celebrate these traits by awarding her the 2007 National Medal of Science. President George Bush announced earlier this month that the professor emerita of physics is among the eight recipients of the Medal, the nation's highest honor for science.

Concerns over bisphenol-A - the chemical found in Nalgene bottles and other plastic goods - has sparked nationwide-debate over its safety for consumer use. Since concerns over the chemical surfaced this spring, universities have been paying attention to any possible risks.

Mayor Michael Nutter announced "Philadelphia's Education Promise" - his plan to improve the city's education system - last night before a crowded auditorium at South Philadelphia High School. The speech outlined Nutter's plans to involve the entire Philadelphia community in working toward goals that include decreasing the drop out rate and increasing college enrollment.

Athletes weren't the only members of Penn's community participating in the Olympics last month in Beijing. Three of Penn's chefs and food coordinators worked with 250 other employees of Aramark, Penn Dining's official partner, to serve 3.5 million meals during the Olympics and Paralympics this August.

Students whose expensive cultural tastes are stifled by less-than-extravagant budgets are now in luck. On Sept. 25 the Philadelphia Orchestra will host a free concert to kick off its new student-membership program, eZseatU. eZseatU is a subscription to a series of Philadelphia Orchestra concerts offered exclusively to college students.

Safiya Shabazz, a family-care physician at the Penn-Presbyterian Medical Center, expects this fall's work on the South Street Bridge to be a "huge inconvenience." Nursing graduate student Alexis Udalovas groans that, "It's going to be terrible." The two are concerned about the Philadelphia Streets Department's plan to reconstruct the bridge starting this fall - a major engineering feat that will close the bridge to all traffic for about two years.

Compared to the freshmen of a century ago, this year's Class of 2012 has it relatively easy. Unlike their forbearers, they face no threat of violence or hazing if they forget to wear "freshman beanies," walk on "sacred spaces," or are seen with a member of the opposite sex - just three of the many regulations listed on the broadsheets on display at Van Pelt Library's exhibit, "Oh Fresh! Sophomore Proclamations of Freshman Rules, 1866-WWII.

It's all about location, location, location. Foxwoods Casino and state and local officials announced at a press conference yesterday that the casino would consider building its planned multi-million dollar venue at the Gallery shopping center near 10th and Market streets.

While attending college in Philadelphia, Nick Miccarelli's experience was twice interrupted to serve in the military overseas. The 2007 Penn alumnus and Iraq War veteran has long been preparing for a life of service - he completed basic training with the Pennsylvania National Guard before finishing high school - and is now running for a position in Pennsylvania's General Assembly.

When College sophomore Pamela Putnam was deciding which classes to take this fall, she knew she wanted to take a Political Science course along with her pre-med ones. Putnam said November's presidential election motivated her to learn more about American government.