Defending clubs To the Editor: Regarding Alex Weinstein's column about Penn club sports ("No experience necessary," 1/11/07) doing a disservice to the Penn community: As the coach of club baseball when Weinstein tried out, I do not understand what he is complaining about.

37.3Million people who tuned in for the season premiere of American Idol on Tuesday.Source: The Associated Press

Good things are worth waiting for, as the expression goes. And West Philadelphia High School has been waiting for a long time. But the school finally got its wish last week, when the city's School Reform Commission declared that ground would be broken this fall on a new West Philadelphia High School campus, to be completed by the first day of school in 2009; the school has gone a century without a new building.

Gov. Edward Rendell has a new "Prescription for Pennsylvania." Before a packed audience in the School of Nursing's Fagin Hall yesterday afternoon, Rendell introduced a new health care reform program, which promises to redefine how the state addresses public health.

In the Quakers' 93-92 win over La Salle at the Tom Gola Arena last night, junior guard Darnell Harris gave Jaaber one more challenge and struck some serious fear into the healthy Penn student section.

Penn's rise to national prominence has been long and steady - but not always pretty. As the University climbed toward the top of the U.S. News and World Report's rankings in the late 1990s, a recent string of faculty misconduct cases has thrust Penn into the national spotlight in a less desirable context, the latest being the arrest of Economics professor Rafael Robb last week in connection with the death of his wife.

Coming into the season, the Penn women's swimming team had a goal: third place or bust. Having only lost to heavy favorites Harvard and Princeton and after beating another third-place challenger, Brown, the Quakers (8-3, 3-2 Ivy) have not disappointed thus far.

A convicted sex felon has been enrolled at Penn as a full-time graduate student since September, while still serving his sentence at a Bucks County prison.

M. Soccer's Cepero drafted by pro team Penn senior goalkeeper Dan Cepero was selected in the fourth round of the MLS Supplemental Draft by the New York Red Bulls. Cepero was a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection this year, He started every game during his junior and senior years, accruing a school record 23 shutouts for his career.

Last year, Director of International Admissions Elisabeth O'Connell walked into a high school and gave her typical admissions spiel. Boasting about Penn's interdisciplinary programs and answering students' questions, it was the same information session she had done thousands of time - just this time, it was in Africa.

Coming off a third-place finish against Towson and Maryland, the Penn gymnastics team has a chance to rebound in its first Ivy League meet against Yale on Saturday. Yale senior Miki Seltzer leads the Bulldogs into Hutchinson Gym this weekend. Her team came in fourth in its last meet at Rhode Island, where she won the floor competition with a score of 9.

Lack of communication is to blame for Pottruck's unnecessarily early Saturday night hours.

Mark Zoller, Ibrahim Jaaber and Stephen Danley, Penn's senior captains, have played a combined 38 Big 5 games. The 11 players on La Salle's roster have played 48 combined - and only five players had any Big 5 experience coming into this season.

Former Penn coach Fran Dunphy was known for his short bench, especially during the Ivy League season. Outside of Dunphy's seven-man rotation, the only player who saw four or more minutes per game last year was Tommy McMahon (8.8 mpg). Coming into this season, new coach Glen Miller seemed bound to switch this top-heavy lineup.

By Madeleine kronovet Staff Writer kronovet@sas.upenn.edu It's back to business for the retailers that recently vacated the 3900 block of Walnut Street. Off-campus staples like College Pizza, The Last Word Bookshop and Philly Diner reported that sales have not faltered since University construction forced them to move to new locations last semester.

By Eric Karlan Staff Writer karlan@sas.upenn.edu Women's basketball coach Pat Knapp discourages looking at the past, but one has to wonder how many close losses would have swung Penn's way had senior forward Ashley Gray not been ruled ineligible to compete first semester.

Muhammad Ali may be out of the boxing ring, but he's got a new challenge to tackle: the snack-food industry.