Felicity Paxton, the former assistant director of the Penn Women's Center, became the new director on Sept. 1. She also serves as the Faculty Fellow for Stouffer College House and is an adjunct professor in the English, Communications and Women's Studies Departments.

In a city suffering a population decline, some organizations are trying to share the Brotherly Love. Philadelphia's population decline from 2000 to 2007 was second only to New Orleans among major U.S. cities, with job losses and economic issues taking the blame.

College junior Sarah Martin sees volunteering during this year's presidential campaign as a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity, and she isn't letting it slip by. Behind the flyers, clipboards and Locust Walk tables are an especially dedicated few - students who are giving up their weekdays and weekends, their nights and days, to get Sen.

Last week Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) asked officials at the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department to develop a new tax form specifically for colleges and universities. The proposal for the new form is part of a wider governmental movement, led by Grassley, to examine how universities manage their money as tuition costs continue to rise.

With volunteers passing out voter-registration forms at every corner, it is hard to imagine a Penn student being unable to register. But for the underclassmen who won't celebrate their 18th birthdays until after Nov. 4, the phrase "four more years" has taken on a new meaning.

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.