ANNE DOBSON

Shortly before I graduated from high school, I opened a fortune cookie that would change my life forever. "The work of the world cannot wait for perfect people," it read. I was a girl who was plagued by self-doubt throughout high school - a girl in love with the idea of going off to college (proudly sporting a Penn sweatshirt during her senior spring) but who was terrified of messing up an experience that she knew could impact her entire future.

One of Penn's most popular student organizations may be in jeopardy following the School District of Philadelphia's proposed implementation of stricter volunteer policies. The West Philadelphia Tutoring Project partners with local schools to provide one-on-one tutoring and mentoring opportunities with over 300 Penn students.

Could College Hall become the next campaign soapbox? Several university presidents have chosen to endorse a candidate in the 2008 presidential election, but Penn President Amy Gutmann says she will not be one of them. As nonprofit organizations, universities are legally prohibited from engaging in campaign-related activities, Political Science professor and Fels Institute director Don Kettl said.

The campaign for the United States presidency is reaching a feverish pitch. And as the group of Democratic and Republican candidates diminishes, the level of swift-boating and misleading statements will only continue to rise, according to Brooks Jackson, director of the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit whistle-blowing organization FactCheck.org, which is run through Penn's Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Harvey Rubin, director of Penn's Institute for Strategic Analysis and Response, has contributed to a five-point roadmap for increasing worldwide biosecurity, according to a University press release. A Consensus Statement of Priority Actions for the Promotion of Global Biosecurity presents recommendations - such as the development of an international database monitoring biological holdings and infectious disease patterns and the promotion of global compliance standards and law enforcement - in order to better prevent and respond to biological terrorism.

Physicians at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will offer complimentary screenings for vascular conditions such as peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms today in the Bodek Lounge of Houston Hall. Peripheral artery disease, or P.

Upon entering El Vez, one of the first things to catch the eye is a glittering low-rider bicycle slowly rotating above the bar. The installation, says hostess manager Nicole Bell, epitomizes the "Mexico meets East L.A." theme prevailing in both the ambiance and cuisine of popular restaurateur Steven Starr's ninth dining venture.

University researchers have determined that particular brain waves help distinguish real memories from false ones, according to a press release. Their study is the first to show that brain waves predict the veracity of human memories. The findings from the experiments may also help advance research into epilepsy.

Penn's Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics will receive $4 million to continue research into infection therapies, according to a press release. "This award allows us to continue and expand our work in improving the use of antibiotics, incorporating the new tools of health IT," said Penn CERT director Brian Strom.

Researchers at the School of Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center will lead a nationwide trial of anti-cancer drug combinations in patients with advanced kidney cancer, according to a Penn Medicine press release. "This trial takes three proven drugs, and combines then into two drug combinations," Medicine Keith Flaherty said in a statement.