Opinion

Ryan Benjamin | Learning for learning's sake?

The time has come when I've begun to think about my post-collegiate future. I'm not talking about a career. Instead, I'm wondering about what to do with all the extra knowledge we've acquired over the last four years. In my case at least, as an Urban Studies major, I'm writing a thesis because I have to.

Opinion Art | Alicia Puglionesi

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

David Lei | Welcome to the 125

This past Friday and Saturday, The Daily Pennsylvanian held elections for its next leaders. After holding interviews and deliberations for nearly 20 hours, we chose the members of the DP's 125th Board of Editors and Managers. The new Board will officially commence on the occasion of our annual banquet, which will be held January 24, 2009.

Jacob Schutz | Checking the University's balances

I never much considered the way the health of my University was tied to the well-being of the financial markets. It is perhaps a naive state of mind, considering the presence of dear Wharton on our campus, but I always imagined that universities held a special position above the fray of economic cycles.

Your Voice | Letters

Paying attention to community needs To the Editor: Despite a witty column by Jim Saksa and objective reporting by Katie Karas, the DP's editorials have regularly supported the Campus Inn project, poo-pooing the concerns of neighborhood associations and immediate residents.

Opinion Art | Alex Jacobson

Alex Jacobson is a College junior from Los Angeles. His e-mail address is jacobson@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Ronald Daniels | Gratitude and community

Thanksgiving on Penn's campus is one of the quietest times of year. There are no office hours or classes and few unlocked doors. Wandering down Locust Walk becomes a solitary experience. The peace and quiet here belie the communal gatherings happening indoors - in kitchens over glasses of cider and wine, around crowded dining room tables, and - yes - in front of the television.

Emily Fox | Soap-opera journalism

Everyone knows that when there's a train wreck, it's impossible to turn away. And when local news anchors reporting on these disasters become the train wrecks themselves, it's even harder. The gods of guilty pleasure are surely smiling down on us, allowing this calamity to play out right before our very own television-strained eyes.

Editorial | Excuses, excuses

For a University that prides itself on research, Penn sure likes making it hard for students to do their due diligence. Last week, administrators said that the Online Syllabi Initiative won't happen until at least 2010. Unfortunately, we weren't entirely surprised.

Lisa Zhu | Taking on tenure

As 2008 slowly winds to a close, few Americans are optimistic about their year-end bonuses. But if you're a teacher in a Washington, D.C. public school, there may be good news. In the policy recently proposed by school district Chancellor Michelle Rhee, teachers could earn raises of up to $40,000 - in exchange for giving up tenure for a year.

Stephen Krewson | What's the point of college?

On Tuesday, President Amy Gutmann and her husband donated $100,000 to fund undergraduate research. Surely this is more than a gesture in these troubled times, when even Harvard president Drew Faust issues ominous warnings that her school may "absorb unprecedented endowment losses" (30 percent!).

Opinion Art | Jennifer Lesser

Jennifer Lesser is a College junior from Minneapolis, Minn. Her e-mail address is lesser@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Christina Domenico | NSO in the nighttime

We all know what NSO involves - a healthy dose of hellos, welcome backs and of course, partying. Freshmen spend their days at University events that introduce them to Penn and its workings. But once 11:00 chimes in, off-campus houses fling open their doors to those hoards of students exploring the campus party scene for the first time.

Editorial | Losing our libraries

City Hall is throwing the book at Philadelphia's libraries. In order to bridge the city's gaping budget shortfall, Mayor Michael Nutter recently announced plans to close 11 public libraries across Philadelphia - including the historic Kingsessing Library on 51st Street.

David Kanter | More time for giving thanks

This time next week, I'll unfortunately still be here at school. Don't get me wrong - I love being here. It's just that the next day is Thanksgiving, one of the few times during the year my family gets together anymore. But I have classes the day before Thanksgiving, thanks to the structure of our current fall semester calendar.

Opinion Art | Janice Dow

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

Emerson Brooking | Reefer madness

Two weeks ago, Massachusetts residents voted strongly in favor of Question 2, also known as the Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative, a measure that eliminates criminal penalties for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Similarly, Michigan voters passed Proposal 1, an initiative eliminating state penalties for registered use of medicinal marijuana.

Meredith Aska McBride | Betting against Center City

If you have time, head to Chinatown with your friends for dinner some time soon. Take a good look around over the next 12 months, because by December 2009, you'll see something very different: a casino in the Gallery. And once the casino shows up, it won't be long before crime and decay set in.

Editorial | A little tied up

There's no tying in politics. Last week, the Undergraduate Assembly and Dartmouth's Student Assembly announced that the voter turnout competition between the two schools ended in a tie. Soon after the election, both groups realized they had no way to accurately determine which school had the highest number of students turning out to vote.

Opinion Art | Amira Fawcett

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