Beth Sussman

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Both political parties know they need Pennsylvania to win the presidential election, and both parties think they can get it. All eyes were on the state - which is considered one of the most important battleground states and has given its electoral votes to the Democratic Party since 1992 - at the Democratic and Republican conventions, and Pennsylvania's politicians were given prominent speaking roles.

The reporter recounts her experiences at the Democratic and Republican conventions. DENVER - Last week, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama stood on a stage in a football stadium packed with more than 80,000 cheering supporters. Waving to the crowd were his wife and two daughters as confetti rained down and fireworks went off.

Jordan Grossman is willing to put himself into pretty much any situation if it will benefit the Barack Obama campaign. In South Carolina, the College senior went door-to-door in an impoverished neighborhood. When a car full of young men stopped next to him, glared at him and asked, "Who are you with?" Grossman enthusiastically offered that he was with Obama, going on to convince them to vote in the state's primary the next day.

During junior year, everyone wants to know where you're studying abroad. But for around 75 percent of Penn's junior class each year, the answer is "nowhere." Whether for obligations on campus or to stay on-track with coursework, a majority of students have legitimate reasons for remaining in Philadelphia all four years.

It took some practice, but 2006 Penn alumnus Pierre Gooding has the essentials of being a teacher down pat. He's learned how to take attendance, field requests to go to the bathroom, write on the chalkboard like a pro, check-up on nightly homework assignments and, most importantly, teach his students the English skills they will need for life.

Campus is growing. But how big is too big for students to get around on foot? The addition of the postal lands to campus will increase the length of campus by several blocks, but University officials are working to ensure that getting to the new parts of campus will be relatively easy - and maybe even enjoyable.

When it comes to capital campaigns, the University has a history of reaching some hefty goals. Since Ben Franklin's first fundraising efforts to establish the University, Penn administrators have embarked on six capital campaigns, including the campaign launched Saturday night.

The Peace Corps holds a three-day "staging event" for new volunteers before they leave the country to give them an overview of Peace Corps' practices and what to expect once they arrive at their destination.

Just as Penn students are graded on multiple exams, papers and participation, universities are also judged on a variety of factors. U.S. News & World Report puts out an annual ranking of the nation's universities and colleges in an effort to guide readers through the process of choosing which schools to consider.

As the fourth season of the hit show about a movie star and his friends living in Los Angeles drew to a close, guys all over campus watched together - and perhaps even bonded.