Penn in the News

David Sarwer of the Perelman School of Medicine says, “Individuals with features of body dysmorphic disorder have been described in the medical literature for well over 100 years, but it didn’t receive acceptance as a formal psychiatric disorder until about 30 years ago.”

It didn’t take long for the criticisms to begin rolling in after Harvard University announced a $400 million donation to its engineering college. The gift was proudly touted by the university as its largest-ever gift, and a significant step toward reaching the towering $6.5 billion fund-raising goal of its ongoing capital campaign. Yet for many others, the gift didn't make sense.

It has been a rough year for fraternities. From racist chants to allegations of roofie-spiked punch, sexual assault, drug use and Taser assaults, it has sometimes felt like there are too many scandals in Greek life to keep up with. Not for Bloomberg: As the last of the commencements wind down, and students head home, they compiled an exhaustive graphic. Just this past semester, Bloomberg reported, 133 fraternity and sorority chapters were disciplined — whether shut down entirely, suspended, or otherwise punished — after allegations of bad behavior.

Mark Pauly of the Wharton School writes about the costs associated with developing a new drug.

Wesleyan University made a splash in

Lisa Chen and Daniel Gianola of the School of Engineering and Applied Science are quoted on their study of stretching atoms.

Are British universities finally ready to introduce an alternative to traditional degree classifications?

Michael A. Grandner of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on the importance of reducing stress for good sleep.

Barnard College announced on Thursday that it will begin accepting transgender women, joining a slate of women’s colleges that have created formal policies on whether to admit students who do not identify with their birth sex.

Etienne Benson of the School of Arts and Sciences examines voluminous streams of bird excrement as the possible cause of large power outages.