Yesterday, the NYTimes cast a spotlight on a group of eight Penn freshmen who are questioning not only traditional gender norms but traditional LGBT norms as well, and dubbed them Generation LGBTQIA.

“Q” can mean “questioning” or “queer,” an umbrella term itself … “I” is for “intersex,” someone whose anatomy is not exclusively male or female. And “A” stands for “ally” (a friend of the cause) or “asexual,” characterized by the absence of sexual attraction.

Despite the booming activity and many successful efforts of the LGBT community at Penn, these freshmen hope particularly to expand the definitions and awareness of “non-cisgender” people, or people whose gender identities don’t align with their biological sex. While the L, G and B are heavily emphasized at Penn, these students aim to address the void left by the other letters.

It’s a post-gay world out there, folks. Read about it.

Today, the NYTimes travel section takes us on a journey across land, sea and time to the mystical land of Philadelphia. Oooooh. Exotic.

But only for 36 hours—two of which you will spend in Rittenhouse Square because, duh, that’s how long it’ll take you to look at “bronze sculptures, like the 1832 allegory of the French Revolution, ‘Lion Crushing a Serpent,’ by Antoine-Louis Barye.” Amirite?

Snark aside, the article does highlight a bunch of Philly notables including the Barnes, Federal Doughnuts, the up-and-coming Fishtown scene, and the city’s weird fixation with the Prohibition era. (Maybe because like Philly’s nightlife, it ended before it even started.)

We’ve all heard the same spiel: Drugs are bad. You shouldn’t do drugs. If you do them, you’re bad, because drugs are bad, mmmkay? But then along come those pesky, know-it-all scientists who barge in and claim that, well, maybe not all drugs are entirely bad! Ugh, science! Why you gotta be so contrary?

According to CBS, a team of Penn researchers is exploring the potential clinical uses psychedelic drugs with hallucinogenic effects to treat patients with a wide variety of conditions, including depression. Interestingly enough, the study comes on the heels of a Times article detailing the advantages of psychedelics for terminally ill patients, many of whom were able to come to terms with their impending deaths as a result of these controversial substances.

Though the Penn researchers note the advantages of hallucinogenics, the team is also very wary of the potential risks. Jonathan Moreno, a professor of Medical Ethics, notes that the drugs can be very dangerous if not used properly and under medical supervision, but adds that “it is time to open up the question of whether any of these hallucinogens can have some good medical purpose.” Far out!

No, not that kind of dirty, ya PERV. Paul Rozin, a psychologist and emeritus professor here at Penn was featured in an article in today’s New York Times for his expertise regarding the evolution of disgust as an emotional response.

According to the article, disgust, which up until recently was not fully understood from a psychological perspective, is one of the most universally elicited emotions–more so than anger and even fear. Initially, disgust evolved so we would avoid putting dirty things in our mouths (as if that’s ever stopped anyone). Rozin and his colleagues conducted research to elaborate this hypothesis, finding that another reason disgust exists is to separate ourselves from animals–which explains why we (well, some of us) find behaviors like pooping, dying and sex super icky.

The rest of the article reflects on the immunological response to disgust and how it’s used to promote cleanliness in advertising. Yay, science! Yay, Penn! And most of all: YAY, POOP.

New York Times blog The Choice, created to “demystify the process of applying to American colleges and universities,” will now also have some of its content featured on India Ink. And perhaps the only thing better than The Choice‘s South Asian expansion is the fact that Dean Furda, who you know from this, this and/or this, is part of the inaugural post.

Furda, along with regional director of Admissions, Patrick Bredehoft, chats in a mini Q & A intended to answer any inquiries that prospective Indian students will likely have about the admissions process. The run down: Penn is impressed by many Indian applicants and is down to continue increasing diversity. Also worth noting is the shout out to Penn Masala.

Amy’s back in action today, proving that being a college president is not only about throwing parties and nomming gelato, but also being really smart. In an opinion collaboration with Dennis Thompson of Harvard (he’s the Kanye to her Jay-Z), she discusses the lack of compromise in Congress. While that’s a lofty topic (really, we’ll be sure to check out the forthcoming book), we can’t help but feel a little disappointed. In the spirit of protecting our fair institution, we think Amy should’ve held her op-ed hostage until a certain other opinion writer apologized for almost destroying Penn’s reputation.

Homegirl is trashing our reputation! The mistake has been corrected on the Times‘ website, but seriously, world, stop confusing us with the brouhaha at Penn State. Maureen Dowd, if you’re reading this, you should apologize to our entire University immediately. Then come give an awesome talk on campus to make up for it.

Update: Per our commenters (always on their A-game!), it appears the end of her column’s still got us confused:

I can only hope that by the time Anthony’s parents work up their nerve to have what they call “the conversation” with him about his fallen idol, St. Joe and the other Penn scoundrels will have been ignominiously cast out of what turns out to be a not-so-Happy Valley.

Update, 1:16 p.m.: The Times finally fully corrected the online version! We’re still mad though.