The Daily Pennsylvanian

A happy GOP in Pa.? For now, that's the case

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In the midst of falling national approval ratings for the Republican Party, a smile should be the last thing on the face of John McCain, the Republican nominee for president.

But in Pennsylvania, McCain has reason to be happy.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's primary win over Illinois Sen.

Crime Log | Interactive Feature

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Assault April 25 - Two complainants unaffiliated with the University, one male and one female, reported that an unknown suspect tried to take the woman's laptop and assaulted the male by punching and kicking him on Franklin Field at 1:30 p.m. April 26 - Demaris Peters, 25, of the 400 block of 60th Street, was arrested for allegedly swerving his car toward police officers on Locust Street at about 1:30 p.

Dental insurance, the write way

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Hillary Clinton isn't the only one who wants to make sure everyone is insured.

SASgov, the School of Arts and Sciences branch of graduate student government, hosted an essay competition in which participants wrote a 125-word essay to answer the question, "Why do I need dental insurance?" The winners won $250, allowing them to purchase insurance.

Fighting cancer - with a $20,000 plan

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Second-year MBA students Irene Susantio and Brian Smith are $20,000 closer to achieving their dream of fighting cancer.

On Wednesday, their team, named Solixia, secured the title of Grand Winner at the tenth annual Wharton Business Plan Competition.

A radiopharmaceutical company, Solixia has created an agent for diagnosing breast cancer and a treatment for ovarian cancer.

From canes to condiments

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

It was their turn to play, and play they did.

Decked out in bright red T-shirts with straw hats and canes, the Class of 2009 followed in the footsteps of 76 classes before them to celebrate Hey Day and officially become seniors last Tuesday.

The juniors marked the event with a picnic on Hill College Field before making the traditional march down Locust Walk, lined with seniors clutching everything from streamers and silly putty to eggs, fish and Windex and ready to throw it all at the newest reincarnations of themselves.

Going green - without LEED

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification standards hold a monopoly over colleges' sustainable construction projects. But a lesser-known alternative is beginning to make a mark at universities.

Penn's master plan calls for the construction of a number of environmentally sound buildings, which will be certified as such by LEED, the widely used and expensive third-party review system.

HUP again denies wrongdoing

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Lawyers for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania again denied any wrongdoing in College sophomore Anne Ryan's meningitis death last September.

Jed Ryan, the brother of Anne Ryan, filed a lawsuit against HUP in January alleging negligence, wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

News Brief: Robb's sentencing hearing postponed

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The sentencing date for former Economics professor Rafael Robb, who confessed to killing his wife last year, has been postponed.

Robb was slated to be sentenced in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Monday, but a hearing will be held instead. The hearing will be to examine a motion to disclose relevant case records.

Penn pushes Ph.D. students to finish faster

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

When seventh-year English Ph.D. candidate Anna Foy enrolled at Penn, she planned to be here for at least seven years before finishing her dissertation.

Now, about a year from completing her dissertation on 18th-century poetry, she finds herself facing pressure from the University to hurry up or pay up.

Renovations to nursing building will be completed by this fall

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The $26 million, three-phase construction project of Claire M. Fagin Hall, the building that houses the School of Nursing, will be completed on time and on budget for the fall semester.

The final phase, which is already underway, will bring newly renovated research laboratories to the school, creating a "futuristic environment," according to Nursing Dean Afaf Meleis.

Safe sex and safe credit - not all that different

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Second year Annenberg graduate student Angel Ho wants us all to keep it in our pants.

On April 22, Ho was named winner of the "Keep It In Your Pants" Student Video Contest for creating a public service announcement about the threat that credit debt poses to American consumers.

Stolen items unlikely to be found

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Out of the $15 billion worth of property stolen nationwide in 2006, only about 31 percent - property worth about $4.6 billion - was recovered by police forces across the country, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"Everything is difficult to recover," said Penn Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush.

Students say Kal Penn's Asian American studies class was a hit

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Actor Kalpen Modi-more fondly known as Kal Penn - conquered Hollywood after his hit movie Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. But, with students raving about his Asian American Studies class as the semester ends, it seems Modi has conquered something perhaps more significant than teenage humor: the field of academia.

U. welcomes new administrator

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

After 33 years away from Penn's campus, 1975 Law School alumnus Jeffrey Cooper will return on July 1 to take over as the new Vice President for Government and Community Affairs.

Currently the chief counsel for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the executive deputy general counsel to Gov.

University increases wind energy purchase

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A greener future is blowing in the wind.

The University recently made a commitment to increase its expenditure on wind energy for the next two years, making it the biggest patron of wind power among universities in the United States.

Renewable wind energy will account for nearly half of Penn's power because of the University's purchase of an additional 80,000-megawatt hours per year from Community Energy Inc.

Rising food prices hit organics

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Although shoppers have generally accepted that eating organic foods will be more costly, a recent and rapid rise in prices may force some consumers to alter their eating habits.

Food prices have been rising for several months now, and at first, organic prices stayed steady.

Students, admins criticize University survey

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, minority student groups reached a significant milestone in their push for a comprehensive campus climate assessment with the release of much-anticipated 2006 survey data.

The results, however, weren't entirely satisfying to student leaders.

Associate Provost Andrew Binns presented the data at the last University Council meeting of this academic year.

Colleges network to reach young alumni - online

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Alumni networking, once relegated mainly to reunions and Homecoming, is being transformed as more alumni join social-networking sites like Facebook - and schools are paying attention.

Alumni clubs, which help alumni within a certain geographic region connect, are discovering that the Internet is a faster and more interactive way to reach alumni, especially those who have graduated since Facebook opened to Penn in 2004.

Muslim journalist reaches out to youth

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

When Irshad Manji gets up in the morning, she checks her e-mail for death threats and forwards them to the police. It's a regular day for Manji, who has become a target for religious extremists after publishing her international best seller, The Trouble with Islam: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith.

An inspirational cheerleader on M. Lax's sideline

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

On the sidelines of every men's lacrosse game are the familiar faces - head coach Brian Voelker, his assistant coaches and, of course, the players. But for Penn, there's one more person who makes his presence felt as strongly as anyone else: 12-year-old Pat Kelly.

Doubles team hopes the 'Skayas the limit

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Off the court, senior Julia Koulbitskaya and sophomore Kate Kosminskaya are quiet, reserved and calm. But on it, they're fierce and aggressive, according to coach Mike Dowd. Yesterday, the NCAA officially announced what Dowd and the Quakers already knew: The two women from Moscow are heading to Tulsa, Okla.

Everything to lose for W. Lax

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Penn women's lacrosse team has everything to lose and nothing to gain in its final regular season game against Temple tomorrow at Franklin Field. That's thanks to the latest ranking by Inside Lacrosse's media poll, which places the Red and Blue squarely atop Division I.

M. Lax left to play spoiler

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

After hitting double-digits in scoring in last week's loss to Towson, the men's lacrosse team appears to have put its offensive woes behind it. The only problem: It's about to face the nation's fourth-best defensive team. Penn (5-7, 3-3 Ivy) will look to end its disappointing season on a high note when it hosts No.

Men's Lightweight Rowing | Penn hopes to Engineer a win

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The men's lightweight rowing season is one filled with familiar races and familiar faces: the Navy Day Regatta, the Head of the Charles, the Princeton Chase, the Callow Cup - all year-in, year-out events. But this season brings a less familiar foe to the water: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

New Hoops asst. going back to roots

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

John Gallagher is man enough to admit to crying. He cried when he left Hartford last month, along with nine members of the basketball team he was leaving behind. But that was quickly tempered by the knowledge that he would be returning to his Philadelphia roots, not to mention taking a small step up the college basketball ladder.

Sports Briefs

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Late recruit to join Miller's squad Better late than never. Larry Loughery probably agrees. The Philadelphia Daily News reports that the 6-foot-6, 210-pound senior at the Academy of New Church - who previously played for St. Joseph's Prep - has gained admission to Penn and will play for men's basketball coach Glen Miller.

Track | Ivy Heptagonals | Hitting the track in New Haven

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Editorial | Cheers and Jeers

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

CHEERS

� To student political groups, for their impressive efforts in increasing voter turnout to record levels in the Pennsylvania primary.

� To the University, for unveiling a bold financial-aid plan that will replace loans with grants and greatly increase the affordability of a Penn education to middle-income students.

Collin Beck | Memoirs of a Penn student

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The year was 2004. It was a simpler time. Usher's "Yeah!" played on the radio, you never had to worry about your drunken actions becoming a Facebook album, and Britney Spears was hot. But most importantly, I started college.

I was excited when my cab pulled up to Hill House for the first time.

Your Voice | Letters

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Misleading rhetoric

To the Editor:

Sarah Rothman's recent opinion piece on the current administration's "war on science" was misleading. After 9/11, George Bush described a war against freedom being waged by the terrorists and suggested that they are against all forms of freedom since they attacked the U.

Simeon McMillan | Don't cry for me, Penn

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Whoever said the ending is always anticlimactic couldn't have been more right.

With only two weeks until graduation, I look at myself and realize how little has changed over the past four years. In many ways, I'm leaving Penn the same way I entered: broke, single and with a mild case of insomnia.

Eric Sukumaran | The most important lesson I learned at Penn

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

My time here comes to a close. I only got three years at Penn because I transferred here and I found out the difference between a good university and a great one (relax, this is the great one).

Yet I feel a certain sense of disappointment that we, at an elite university, are not coming away with the education we should have received.

Opinion Art | Alicia Puglionesi

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

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

Opinion Art | Daniel Schwartz

Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

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