[naviga:h3]Math equations spark terror threat[/naviga:h3]

PHILADELPHIA — An Ivy League professor said his flight was delayed because a fellow passenger thought the math equations he was writing might be a sign he was a terrorist.

American Airlines confirms that the woman expressed suspicions about University of Pennsylvania economics professor Guido Menzio. She said she was too ill to take the Air Wisconsin-operated flight.

Menzio said he was flying from Philadelphia to Syracuse on Thursday night and was solving a differential equation related to a speech he was set to give at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. He said the woman sitting next to him passed a note to a flight attendant, and the plane headed back to the gate. Menzio, who is Italian and has curly, dark hair, said he was questioned by an official.

Menzio said he explained what he had been doing and the flight took off soon afterward.

[naviga:h3]Suit-wearing girl barred from prom[/naviga:h3]

HARRISBURG — A high school student said she was barred from attending her prom because she wore a suit rather than a dress.

Aniya Wolf said she’s a lesbian who has worn a shirt and pants for all three years she has attended Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg. She and her mother, Carolyn Wolf, said the family got a last-minute e-mail saying girls had to wear dresses to attend Friday’s prom.

Aniya tried to go to the prom anyway but was thrown out. The school said Saturday that the dress code was sent to parents three months ago specifying girls must wear formal dresses.