Opinion

Wiktoria Parysek |Not a major problem

As I walked to Fisher-Bennett last October, armed and ready to declare my major, I quickly mapped out my life. A B.A. from Penn, a semester abroad and a few extracurriculars should be enough for a decent start in life. But I slowed and thought to myself, "I can't just be an English major.

Opinion Art | Daniel Schwartz

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

Ryan Benjamin |Being OK with Big Brother

Forget the fine print. Anyone who's been paying attention to the latest Facebook "crisis" - in which the site's terms of service removed the users' right to their own content after deleting their accounts, and then reneged - must realize that no matter what the words say, Facebook will always have access to our content.

Editorial | Letting information flow

Last Thursday, when the University received confirmation of the first student case of meningitis, officials had several tough decisions to make, and they knew that they had to be made as quickly as possible. Penn, as all students know by now, made many of the right decisions.

Opinion Art | Amira Fawcett

Amira Fawcett is an Engineering senior from Houston. Her e-mail address is fawcett@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Brandon Moyse | When we waiver on public-health issues

With meningitis, and now measles, on everyone's mind, many students are wondering: "How could this have been prevented? How can I keep myself safe?" If you don't believe me, just look at the 3,000-plus who went to Student Health to get prophylactic treatment last week.

Lisa Zhu | Treating mental side effects as well

A week after Penn's outbreak of meningitis, things seem to have finally calmed down. Social gatherings have resumed as usual, the collective paranoia over sharing drinks and food has diminished and the three patients are well on their road to recovery. With the incident almost behind us, now may be a good time to review some of the major takeaways from this latest health scare.

Emerson Brooking | Lessons from 1969

Forty years ago next week, a determined group of students filed into College Hall with sleeping bags under their arms and no intention of leaving. These students' actions sparked a six-day demonstration that would grow to involve nearly 1,000 people, encapsulating the counterculture movement of the late 1960s and marking arguably the most successful student protest in our University's history.

Opinion Art | Janice Dow

Janice Dow is an College sophomore from Los Angeles. Her e-mail address is dow@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Ashley Takacs | Taking a chance on castles in the air

Last year, the Radian rose from the 40th block of Walnut like some great postmodern giant. From my Rodin window, I watched the structure slowly eclipse the sun. With its metallic prefab rain screens and infatuation with industrial concrete, the building was rife with modernity and promised a new age of student living.

Editorial | Time to ask and tell

Last week members of Lambda Law organized a protest voicing dissent about the continued presence of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and military recruiters on Penn's campus, despite the fact that the military's dated "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is clearly not in agreement with the University's own nondiscrimination policy.

Editorial | Changing our clothes

In a positive step toward becoming more labor-friendly, the Penn Bookstore recently announced its intent to market and sell an apparel line made with labor standards exceeding the ones currently set by Penn, at the recommendation of the Worker Rights Consortium.

Opinion Art | Ilana Millner

Ilana Millner is an College junior from Washington Crossing, Pa. Her e-mail address is millner@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Christina Domenico | So close you can almost taste it

Random selection is no friend of mine. I've been signing up for preceptorials since I was a freshman, and I have yet to be among the chosen few in the small, non-credit courses that get lauded as a major selling point for the University. My first disappointment came after I registered for a Harry Potter discussion in 2005, and I don't expect to land a spot in wine or cheese tasting this semester.

Julie Steinberg | Accounting for actions

It was busy last week on Capitol Hill and in Philadelphia. In one room on the Hill, the House Financial Services committee grilled eight banking chiefs on how they used their portions of the $700 billion bailout. Down the hall, a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee vainly tried to get some answers from Stewart Parnell, the president of Peanut Corporation of America, the company responsible for shipping tainted peanut-based products across the country.

David Lei | The Vagina Dialogues

'Vagina." There, I said it. I'll be honest - deep down, I'm an immature 5-year-old boy who gets more than a little squeamish about certain topics and . words. Which is why it might surprise you that, last week, I got out of my fairly narrow comfort zone and went to see The Vagina Monologues.

Letter from the Editor | You talk, we listen

This year, The Daily Pennsylvanian wants to reconnect with its readers. In January, we told that we want to cover more of the issues you care about and answer the questions you want answered. But we're asking you to meet us partway - and we need your feedback to help us know exactly what issues and questions matter to you.

Opinion Art | Alicia Puglionesi

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

Sarah Cantin | Mixing a little body and a little soul

Today at noon, the Penn Women's Center is hosting its Sex Toy Social, a popular Women's Week event. You'll probably find some vibrators and flavored lubricant - but you probably won't find anything much more spiritual than a Kama Sutra, even though the Office of the Chaplain is just across the hall.

Your Voice | Letters to the Editor

Alumni pay PGSE's worth forward To the Editor: In his column "A Tough Lesson in Economics," (DP 2/06/2009) Ryan Benjamin poses the question "At what point do we say, 'Enough is enough', and let the overall health of the Commonwealth come first?" Good question, but the better question is what is truly best for Pennsylvania? Ryan suggests that the Governor's School programs here in Pennsylvania will not be missed.