For many freshmen, today isn't just the beginning of a new semester - it's the start of their introduction to the Greek system on campus. Penn's fraternities and sororities are putting on their best show for prospective members, offering free food and a good time spread out over a wide variety of events.

Five years and nearly 35,000 lawsuits later, the Recording Industry Association of America is stopping its legal war against individuals for file-sharing activities. The announcement comes as a relief for many students who worried about facing fines; however, the University has not yet determined how it will affect its policies, if at all.

Today, the Penn student body has two fewer students than it did last time regular classes were held. College senior Kambili Mouwka and Engineering sophomore Ryan Smith both passed away unexpectedly in the last few weeks. Compounding the losses to the greater Penn community was the death of Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania trauma surgeon John Pryor, who was killed in Iraq.

The armed home invasion and sexual assault involving two Penn graduate students over winter break has received close media attention. But in addition to this incident, which occurred at the victims' residence on the 4400 block of Spruce Street on Dec. 19, University City also saw a number of other violent crimes over break.

In response to intensified conflict in the Gaza Strip, the University announced last week that it will not permit students to study abroad in Israel and the West Bank through Penn-approved exchanges this semester. Ten Penn students planned to study in Israel or Palestine this semester.

A water shutdown will occur in parts of the Quadrangle for most of the day today.

Community members returning to campus are mourning the deaths of Engineering sophomore Ryan Smith, Penn trauma surgeon John Pryor and College senior Kambili Moukwa. Smith, a Digital Media Design major from Rose Valley, Penn. and a resident of Harrison College House, fell from the roof of the south side of Fisher Hassenfeld College House the morning of Dec.

Penn men's and women's fencing coach Dave Micahnik describes himself as a perfectionist. As a recent inductee into the U.S. Fencing Hall of Fame, Micahnik is always looking to improve his teams' performances. On Saturday and Sunday, both teams began their seasons at the Philadelphia Invitational Multi-Meet in Hutchinson Gymnasium.

Janice Dow is a College sophomore from Los Angeles. Her e-mail address is dow@dailypennsylvanian.com.

At his funeral last month, Engineering sophomore Ryan Smith's father spoke of "the different Ryans" that Smith's family and friends knew. He was a passionate computer enthusiast, a trombone-player in the Strath Haven High School band, a diving coach at the Rose Valley Pool pool, a member of his high school swim team and a neighbor in a small town where "everyone so much enjoyed talking and spending time with [him] because of the enjoyable, funny, brilliant and happy guy he was.

It's a good thing that coaches can't play for their teams. If they could, the Penn women's squash team would be facing a tough task in tonight's match at Franklin and Marshall. The Diplomats' men's and women's head coach, John White, was ranked No. 1 in the world in March 2004, and retired from professional squash in October as No.

The financial fraud of New York financier Bernie Madoff did not affect Penn's endowment, University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said - but that doesn't mean the University wasn't affected in other ways. Last month, the Picower Foundation of Florida - which funded two Penn research projects - announced that it would cease all grantmaking because the foundation lost its entire endowment with Madoff.

To start its 2009 season, the gymnastics team fell to Ball State 190.725-184.350 Friday at Hutchinson Gymnasium. Despite the disappointingly close result, the Quakers still saw some positive signs for the future, as five freshmen competed, including Megan Metsgar who scored a 36.

Many students returning to rooms in the Quadrangle yesterday afternoon found their sinks dry. At around 12:45 p.m. facilities turned off the water in the Upper Quad due to "a substantial leak in the water line," residential services administrator Paul Forchielli wrote in an e-mail to residents.

The Quakers have 24 long days - a program record for time off - to stew over what went wrong against Navy on Friday night. At least when Dec. 29 finally rolls around and Penn tips off again, the Palestra will be a good 900 miles away. They'll be in Orlando, Fla.

Ib-by Jaa-ber! I can still hear it. The chant, followed by five quick claps, would echo off the Palestra walls after Ibrahim Jaaber delivered one of his devastating fast-break dunks, sending a buzz through the crowd. And before that, "UUUU," for Ugonna Onyekwe.

Friends and family gathered at St. Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church this afternoon to say a final good-bye to Engineering sophomore Ryan Smith. Packing the parking lot of both the church and its nearby parish school, they clustered around the central isles of this newly constructed building, some crying quietly to themselves, others silent as if deep in thought.