Penn's early decision acceptance rate decreased by 1 percent from last year to match the school's lowest-ever admissions rate of 28 percent. Of the 3,912 high-school seniors who applied to Penn early decision last fall, 1,147 were accepted in December. Those students will compose about 48 percent of the Class of 2012.

It's no small feat to reduce a major city's crime rate by 30 to 50 percent - but newly-inaugurated Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter plans to try. In his inaugural speech after being sworn in as mayor last week, Nutter described his plan for a "New Philadelphia," addressing the city's major issues and presenting a series of ambitious goals for his administration.

Actually, they do care. While most students were busy catching z's over the winter break, some Quakers were bearing the cold of Iowa and New Hampshire in support of the 2008 Presidential candidates. In a departure from previous election cycles, this year's candidates are depending on youth involvement both within their campaigns and in voting booths for their success.

For many students, Christmas came early last month. In response to Harvard's sweeping financial aid initiative, which extends coverage to middle and upper-class families, Penn announced last month that it would work toward loan-free aid for all eligible students by Fall 2009.

Two students accused of committing crimes in dormitories during the fall semester are no longer enrolled at the University. Wharton senior Jason Myers, who allegedly burglarized rooms in Harnwell College House, and Diexia Wang, who allegedly stole bras and panties from Mayer Hall dorm rooms, are no longer enrolled at Penn, Vice Provost for University Life spokesman Matt Waller said.

'We would like to return to work with our writers. If we cannot, we would like to express our ambivalence, but without our writers we are unable to express something as nuanced as ambivalence." With characteristic wit, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert announced their intentions to resume their respective Comedy Central shows last week without their striking writers.

The biggest concern was rust. Heading into their match on Saturday, the No. 9 Quakers had not played a match in over five weeks, thanks to inclement weather and a long winter break. Yet No. 10 Navy had not competed in even longer - dating back to November - and it was unable to right the ship against Penn.

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When most astronauts go into space, they bring something special from home. Garrett Reisman, a 1991 Wharton and Engineering alumnus, is bringing an M&T; emblem and a piece of ENIAC, the very first computer, which was developed at Penn. Reisman will travel to the International Space Station for two months this March.

In contrast to the homicide and four major robberies that occurred over last year's winter break, University City experienced relatively few major crimes this vacation. Over the past month, three assaults and three robberies were reported in the Penn patrol zone.

Alicia Puglionesi is a College junior from Havertown, Pa. Her e-mail address is puglionesi@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Facing its biggest hurdle of the season so far, Penn fencing thrusted and parried its way to seven victories Sunday at the Philadelphia Invitational. The men thrashed both their competitors, Duke and North Carolina, en route to 20-7 and 17-10 victories, respectively.

After the men's basketball team struggled to find a groove through the first half of the season, winter break brought much of the same. Penn split its four games, 2-2. Here, The Daily Pennsylvanian recaps all of the hoops action from the last three weeks.

Meet Leo Charney: A Yale graduate with a masters in Film from New York University who is the public voice of Provost Ron Daniels. DP: Where are you from? Leo Charney: New York City. DP: Do you miss New York City now that you live in Philadelphia? LC: I'm happy not to live [in New York City.

Kurt Mitman, the Economics graduate student who took a leave of absence from Penn last January when his academic-release privileges from a Bucks County prison were revoked, has resumed classes after having been paroled in September.

Former University Chaplain William Gipson is making the leap from the chapel to College Hall. As the new Associate Vice Provost for Equity and Access, a position created this semester within the Office of the Provost, Gipson is taking the lead in maintaining Penn's reputation for prioritizing diversity in higher education.

Ten straight losses. Nine by double digits. And to cap it all off, a stumble out of the gate in the Ancient Eight. Any way you slice it, Penn women's basketball has seen brighter days. "It hurts, but we need to move on," said coach Pat Knapp after his team's 69-57 loss at Princeton on Saturday.