Susan Finkelstein, a 43-old University of Pennsylvania grad student, posted an ad on Craigslist offering sex for money. Well, not exactly money. World Series tickets. They're as good as money.

According to FoxSports, the ad read:

DESPERATE BLONDE NEEDS WS TIX (Philadelphia) Diehard Phillies fan--gorgeous tall buxom blonde-- in desperate need of two World Series Tickets. Price negotiable--- I'm the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!

Well, the ad is certainly suggestive. (Who doesn't have a "gorgeous tall buxom blonde" friend, of "the creative type," "help" them out every once in a while?) But an undercover officer who replied to the ad claims that after meeting Finkelstein at a bar and having a few beers, she offered to perform explicit sexual acts. He slapped the cuffs on her, threw her in his car, and, err, took her to the big house for some punishment.

So is this an innocent he-said-"Will you..."-she-said-"If you..." situation? The Daily Pennsylvanian can explain the defense with two quotes:

“She was willing to — if she could afford it — pay money or work some type of deal to get tickets, but we completely dispute and deny that there was an offer a trade of sex for tickets,” [Finkelstein's lawyer] told KYW.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not embarrassed about my actions,” Finkelstein told the Associated Press.

After the jump, the full on explanation (in photos) of why this lady is awesome either way.

Read the rest of this entry »

The University of Pennsylvania appears helpless to stop a surge in assaults and robberies by several bands of tweens on campus in the last month. WPVI ABC local news tells us "the hunt is on" for a group of children as young as 9 years of age "terrorizing residents, on and around the University of Pennsylvania campus." The kids are "targeting Penn students and staff" and that there have been as many as ten incidents around the campus in the last few weeks.

They strike in groups of three to eight, according to a Penn security alert, and some may be up to 13 years old (gasp!). Luckily, the Philadelphia Daily News reports that patrols have been stepped up, including covert operations, while security cameras and footage are being monitored. Can someone explain what these "covert ops" might be? Are they sending grade schoolers to infiltrate these vicious gangs? Undercover officers dressed as students intended to lure them out of hiding?

Two boys have been arrested so far, but the remaining groups are still at large. Good to know the sharp team of police and University security officers can handle themselves against some tough West Philadelphia criminals.

In a related tots-on-trikes robbery story, two nights ago a pair of 14-16 year olds on bicycles robbed a Yale graduate student at gunpoint. On the bizarre summer crime meter, I give one point to Yale for David Smith's weapon stash and one to Penn for the munchkin gangs. With a good heat wave, Penn could easily pull ahead, but where are the other ivies?

If you have more information about these dangerous criminals, or any tips in general, send them in to ivygate.guest@gmail.com

 --SAM JACKSON