Opinion

Editorial | Making Philly safer

Congratulations to Drexel for taking up arms. With crime on everyone's minds, it comes as no surprise that our neighbors to the northeast have new plans to ensure the continued safety of students. Drexel recently announced its intent to develop a campus police department over the course of the next year.

David Kanter | This is America - tolerate some diversity

Last time I checked, the United States didn't have an official language. English may predominate in the Land of the Free, but Spanish, or any other language for that matter, can rightly claim to be just as American. Yet if you stop by Geno's Steaks in South Philly, you might think otherwise.

Stephen Krewson | A truly alternative spring break

With the coming of spring break began the part of my life you could call my life on the road. The afternoon of March 8, 2008 found two college sophomores in Penn T-shirts and bulging backpacks standing by the side of I-495 south of Washington D.C., their thumbs turned skyward in the sun-warmed air.

Michael Nutter | Fighting back against filth

When I was a young boy, growing up at 55th and Larchwood Avenue, I remember Saturday morning clean-ups on my block during the spring and summer. We would spend a few hours outside, washing the stoop, sweeping the walk and picking up trash. Perhaps most importantly, we talked to each other and shared stories from our week.

Editorial | Preserving Penn's past

This summer, a 102-year old building moniker will bite the dust. University officials plan to rename Logan Hall as Claudia Cohen Hall, in accordance with the wishes of trustee Ronald Perelman, who was given the option because of his $20 million donation in 1995.

Opinion Art | Amira Fawcett

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

Editorial | Preceptorial problems

Two of Penn's student government groups need to sit down and discuss their differences - perhaps over a glass of wine. This year, the Undergraduate Assembly cut funding for the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education's preceptorial program, in hopes that the organization would then limit funding for its popular - but expensive - wine-tasting preceptorial.

Opinion Art | Daniel Schwartz

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

Jim Saksa | The Frankenstein on 40th Street

Yesterday was Easter Sunday, and across the world most Christians (and Jews for Jesus!) celebrated the resurrection of Christ. It's a celebration of renewal and rebirth, purposely scheduled to coincide with the advent of spring. Around this time in the liturgical calendar, Christians examine their lives and their faith in an effort to renew their connection with God.

Zachary Noyce | What's in a name?

Before too long, we won't know our way around campus at all. That's because Penn has a proud tradition of renaming anything and everything in response to large sums of money. In the latest demonstration of that tradition, Logan Hall will be re-christened (or de-christened, perhaps) Claudia Cohen Hall to honor the late ex-wife of Ronald Perelman (perhaps you've heard of his Quadrangle).

Christina Domenico | Misleading statistics

Yesterday The Daily Pennsylvanian reported on the projected decline in high-school graduates set to begin next year and last until 2015. The New York Times, reporting on the same study last week, noted that this trend could cause most universities to receive fewer applications and thus suffer from less selectivity among applicants.

Your Voice | Letters

UA isn't afraid of political issues To the Editor: Regarding "Stepping up to the soapbox" (3/20/08), the Undergraduate Assembly shouldn't shy away from politically charged issues that directly affect Penn students, and I absolutely agree with Adam Goodman.

Anonymous | Speaking out about rape

Editor's Note: The author of this column asked that it be published with her name. However, in an effort to prevent the potential for invasion of privacy and misidentification of anyone referenced, The Daily Pennsylvanian and the author have decided to publish the column anonymously.

Opinion Art | Avery Lawrence

Avery Lawrence is a College senior from Charlottesville, Va. His e-mail address is lawrence@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Editorial | Increasing our options

If there's one constraint that Penn students often complain about, it's the writing requirement. Many of the Writing Seminar courses follow a particularly rigid format. Only a handful of classes allow students to practice specific writing skills needed for certain majors or fields, such as business or journalism.

Opinion Art | Jennifer Lesser

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

Adam Goodman | Stepping up to the soapbox

So . how do you feel about the FDA's lifetime ban on the donation of blood by men who've had sex with men? The issue may not have even been on your radar a month ago, but if you're a semi-aware Penn student, it sure as hell is now. After the UA initially threw its support behind a proposal urging the University to examine whether the ban violated Penn's discrimination policy, the controversy received prominent exposure in these pages and was picked up by local news affiliates.

Penn Leads the Vote | Register like a champion

For more years than any of us have been alive, politicians and political pundits have discounted student voters, arguing that young people just don't turn out at the polls. On the campaign trail and in office, government officials from the White House and Congress have ignored the issues most important to us, assuming that youth voter apathy would preclude them from political punishment.

Mara Gordon | Unionization isn't the issue

When I met Bob Bark outside of Fresh Grocer last week, I thought I'd be writing a simple pro-union column. Bark had handed me a flyer that announced: "Newsflash! Campus Apartments has decided to hire an electrical contractor who does not pay what the government says is a fair wage.

Editorial | A worthy program

Thanks to a policy change by the Philadelphia School District, every school volunteer will have to undergo three background checks costing a total of $70. And that may put the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project - run by Civic House, Penn's community service center - in jeopardy.