The last thing the Quakers wanted to do was count themselves out. Then, just like that, they were forced to. After dropping the first of its four-game set with Columbia, 5-4 on Saturday, Penn's faint hopes of forcing a playoff with the Gehrig Division-leading Lions were dashed, to be replaced with the inevitability of a season that was more of a learning experience than a winning one. The Quakers had needed a sweep (and then some) to prolong their season.

With gas prices sitting at $3.51 a gallon nationwide, many people are finding it harder to get around. These same prices are making it more expensive for institutions like Penn to fund construction projects. Recent economic troubles - especially rising fuel prices - are driving up construction costs, forcing universities and developers to plan ahead and take steps aimed at saving money.

Penn senior Tim Kaijala remembers track coach Charlie Powell sending him out on the last day of the Penn Relays four years ago. Kaijala was to be the anchor of the Quakers' 4x800-meter team. "It was the most nervous I've been in my whole life," he recalled after this year's Relays.

Who do Senator John McCain's advisors want him to face in November's presidential election? According to Elisabeth Bumiller, a political affairs reporter for The New York Times, the answer is Illinois Senator Barack Obama. "They feel they have a better case against Obama," said Bumiller, who has covered McCain's campaign ever since he won the New Hampshire primary in January.

Tomorrow, Penn's juniors will pick up their canes and march their way into senior year. But since the last day of classes falls on a Tuesday rather than a Friday, many juniors this year won't be able to participate in Hey Day festivities because of class presentations or exams.

With the desire to learn foreign languages steadily increasing, graduate students have found a way to hone their conversation skills outside of the classroom. "Language chats" - organized by and often conducted at the Graduate Student Center - bring together students to discuss anything from politics to spring break plans in a foreign language.

So this is my last column for The Daily Pennsylvanian - unless my editor talks me into writing one for finals week, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. Since this will be my last glorious chance to bestow my sagacity and insight upon you, my public, I have scribbled down some advice that some of you will hopefully take to heart during your time here at dear old Pennsylvania.

If the men's lacrosse team had any prayer of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, Towson shot down those dreams. Eighteen times, to be exact. The Quakers struck first on Saturday, taking a 3-1 lead in the first quarter, but their opponents sealed the victory by halftime with a 10-1 run.

The girls from the high school relay team returned to their seats, pictures in hand. They had no idea who Jeremy Wariner was, but damn, was he hot! Wariner was the only runner at this year's Penn Relays to run 400 meters in under 44 seconds. He was also the only one to hold an autograph session, signing photos that bore his Adidas endorsement.

Amid such a trying season, the men's heavyweight rowing team is looking past its competition against other teams and instead focusing on personal improvement. And after losing to top teams like Harvard, Navy and Northeastern in the Adams and Burk Cups, that attitude has never been more crucial to the development of the program.

Daniel Schwartz is a College sophomore from Decatur, Ga. His e-mail address is schwartz@dailypennsylvanian.com.

A Philadelphia judge found Wharton junior Felix Qu not guilty on assault charges last week. Qu, 20, had been accused of striking his girlfriend in the face after an argument during winter break. He had been charged with simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Have you ever dreamed of breaking into the performing arts industry? Five alumni have done just that and shared their experiences with students yesterday at the Platt Student Performing Arts House 2008 Alumni Performing Arts Career Symposium. The five College alumni panelists featured included David Hilder '89, Gabriel Mann '95, Eduardo Placer '99, Lillian Ringel '07 and Jennifer Weber '00.

As spring comes into full bloom and talks of graduation can be heard, tomorrow will mark another change for the University of Pennsylvania. In the afternoon, the 253rd Graduating Class will march from Hill Field to the Quad, up the stairs to the Junior Balcony and down Locust Walk to the steps of College Hall.

Penn coach Brian Voelker said that there are a lot of "lasts" this time of year. He was referring to the team's last road trip of 2008 and the seniors' last of their careers. More noticeable, however, is the last time that the Red and Blue scored more than five goals - April 5.

Penn senior lacrosse captain Sarah Waxman has accomplished a lot in her career: She's has been named National Goalkeeper of the Year, has been to the Final Four, and is currently leading the nation in goals against average. But one thing she hasn't done in four tries is beat Northwestern.