Opinion

G.J. Melendez-Torres, Working Group on Minorities in Undergraduate Education | Addressing issues of inclusion

One student reported that at times he felt his peers looked at him like he "fills a quota." Another student reported that the atmosphere felt like he "fills a quota." And another student explained that he cringed every time a class discussion started with "I don't mean to be racist, but your people ." The stark truth is that as a community, we have much work ahead of us in creating a wholly inclusive classroom environment.

Editorial | Moving quickly

Last week, Penn announced that the much-anticipated updates to Penn InTouch will take place over the summer. The best part about this announcement of the long-overdue makeover - which will modernize the interface of the current layout - is the timeliness of the process.

Julie Steinberg | Comfort restaurants

In a scene straight out of Alice in Wonderland, I went to a very merry unbirthday party last week. Several of us caroused around a table at an intimate BYO, celebrating, well, nothing. No one had a birthday. No one had an anniversary. Instead, "My job offer just got rescinded!" someone declared, passing around the tomato and mozzarella salad.

David Lei | Computing the need

Opinion Art | Alicia Puglionesi

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

Editorial | Catching up with times

Sarah Cantin | Moving beyond sex-violence stereotypes

Last Thursday evening was warm, and the energy at the rally portion of Take Back the Night was high. "Tonight is a night about emotions. However, there's one emotion we're not going to feel - fear!" proclaimed Kristie Thomas, a School of Social Policy & Practice doctoral student.

Katherine Rea | Concealing the true value

When shown a photograph of a condom and a gun and the statement "Which would keep [a rapist] from coming back for more?" would you do a double-take? I did when I first visited ConcealedCampus.org, the Web site for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. That photo is one of the first images shown on the site.

Patricia Liu, Nominations and Elections Committee | Get out and vote

On Nov. 4, 2008, 96.4 percent of Penn students made it to the polls in what is now remembered as a truly historic election. That night, students flocked the campus en masse in celebration of President Barack Obama's victory. In those months leading up to Election Day 2008, I recall walking down Locust Walk and seeing the vibrant and energized student body here at Penn.

Opinion Art | Daniel Schwartz

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

Your Voice | Letters to the Editor

An open call from Mayor Nutter To the Community: During last year's 1st Annual Philly Spring Cleanup, friends, family and neighbors got together, rolled up their sleeves and went to work cleaning our neighborhoods and parks. The first Philly Spring Cleanup set a record as the largest single-day cleanup effort in U.

Lisa Zhu | Reforming school reform

For longtime Philly resident Tamara Ali, William Penn High School changed her life. A 2000 graduate of the North Philadelphia school, Ali participated in its communications and journalism program, which at the time was one of the best in the city. "I transferred to William Penn from Strawberry Mansion, which was in a bad neighborhood," she said.

Brandon Moyse | Disincentivizing donations

Lately, President Obama has been all over talk shows, Sunday morning news programs and the Internet trying to sell his bloated budget. But he hasn't sold me. Among his numerous planned tax increases on the upper income brackets is a proposal to cut tax breaks on charitable donations from 35 percent to 28 percent, effectively increasing the cost of giving.

Editorial | Falling into line

Two days ago, potential members of the Class of 2013 logged on to the MyPenn Admissions Portal to find out whether they could stop praying for admissions and start praying for a room in the Quadrangle. This year, Penn accepted 17.11 percent of overall applicants, a negligible increase from last year and not a number to scoff at.

Opinion Art | Amira Fawcett

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

Ashley Takacs | You're my inspiration

We've all been told to stop and smell the roses - but this is Penn. We don't stop for anything. I get annoyed if someone breaks to tie his shoes on a busy Locust walk. I don't even know what I would do if I saw a student stopping to sniff the daffodils in front of Huntsman Hall.

Emerson Brooking | Taking a hit, so the economy avoids one

Last Thursday, President Obama hosted a small town hall in which he fielded a variety of questions submitted and voted on by an online audience. One of the most popular questions posed was whether decriminalizing marijuana might help the economy by creating a new source of tax revenue.

Opinion Art | Janice Dow

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

Editorial | Hats off to Hey Day

Junior and Senior Class Presidents | A new tradition for Hey Day

Tradition is the name of the game here at Penn, but we should realize that the best traditions are those that maintain their heritage while being relevant in the present. This year, more than ever, it was clear to us that Hey Day had to be carried out with an openness to change.