We've long been told to drink eight glasses of water a day - but that may not be necessary. Penn researchers Stanley Goldfarb and Dan Negoianu reviewed research on water intake and concluded that there is no reliable scientific data to support the idea that drinking those eight glasses makes a person healthier.

The governor and mayor of Philadelphia aren't the only political leaders endorsing a candidate for the upcoming presidential primary. Last week, student government leaders at several Philadelphia universities, including Penn, Temple and Villanova Universities and Haverford College, jointly authored a letter endorsing Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for president.

After graduation, most seniors are looking forward to stepping out into the real world alone. But this summer a group of six seniors will travel to New Orleans to try to make a difference - together. Inspired by an Urban Studies class that explores various models for revitalizing impoverished communities around the world, College senior Yasmin Radjy decided she wanted to turn her classroom lessons into reality down in the Big Easy.

A small fire broke out in Rodin College House Friday evening, causing no injuries but forcing residents to evacuate. A plastic container that was too close to the stove top while students were cooking caused the blaze, Rodin House Dean Ken Grcich said. The plastic caught on fire at about 8 p.

Between farmers' markets, sword fights, local sports leagues and flea markets, Clark Park is constantly abuzz with activity. This summer, a local theater company will provide even more action for students staying on campus with its third-annual free show in the park.

On one of the nicest days this semester, College Green was filled with guitar players, tie-dyed T-shirts and a solar-powered grill - all to celebrate the environment. Friday was Penn Environmental Group's fourth Green Fest, a twice-yearly celebration of sustainability and green alternatives for Penn students.

For the past seven weeks, Penn for Hillary and Penn for Obama have competed for the votes of students across Penn's campus. But with Penn overwhelmingly Obama-friendly -- 73 percent of students said they supported Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in a recent DP/CBS News poll - Penn for Hillary has pivoted its resources into the suburbs and the inner-city, where undecided voters abound.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may not be a rock star, but he can draw a bigger crowd than most musicians. Despite the 85-degree heat, Philadelphia residents came out in record numbers to hear Obama speak at Independence Mall Friday night.

Penn's class on mural painting in Philadelphia is mixing more than just paint. The fine arts class, called "Big Picture: Mural Arts in Philadelphia," aims to mix the practical and the theoretical by teaching students about mural painting and how to "use art as a vehicle for social change," said Fine Arts professor Donald Gensler, the co-professor of the course.

It's been a long time since the Pennsylvania primary has had such an influential role in determining the presidential nominee for either major party - 32 years, in fact. Usually, Pennsylvanians vote so late in the primary season that both parties have a clear frontrunner for the nomination.

In light of the crunch in the credit markets, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that will increase the maximum amount that a college student can borrow from the government for educational purposes. "It's been [a priority] for a while now," Tony Pals, spokesman for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said.

Five gun-control measures unanimously passed by City Council and signed into law last Thursday by Mayor Michael Nutter have been met with heavy opposition throughout the past week. The laws prohibit the possession of an automatic weapon within Philadelphia, limit the number of firearms an individual can purchase to one a month, mandate that owners of lost or stolen guns report the loss within 24 hours and ban persons with orders of protection against them from owning guns.

For some international students, post-graduation visas are now more attainable than ever before. On April 4, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new rule that allows qualified international students pursuing a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics to apply for an extension of the time they are allowed to work in the U.

Too many papers, too few consumers. That seminal problem was discussed last night at Kelly Writers House by Philadelphia City Paper editor-in-chief Brian Howard, news editor Doron Taussig, senior editor Patrick Rapa and agenda editor and College alumna Monica Weymouth.

With the Pennsylvania primary four days away, Penn for Obama and Penn Democrats plan to continue Baracking the vote - only more so. In the days leading up to Tuesday's primary, Penn for Obama will "pretty much ramp up everything we have been doing," Wharton freshman and co-president of Penn for Obama Mike Stratton said.

There's now yet another way to chat with friends online. In the latest of a series of updates, the online social-networking site Facebook released a new chat application last week. Users can now see when their friends are online and chat with them in real-time, eliminating the need for a separate buddy list.

As is often the case with politicians, Pennsylvania House speaker Dennis O'Brien has been accused of occasionally practicing contradictory politics. His desire to keep criminals from going unpunished is unmistakable, as is his concern for the safety and well-being of Pa.