People

By Michele Orecklin

AT LEAST HE WON'T HOG THE KEG

This spring the rapper MA$E gave up singing about the glories of excess to devote himself to the glory of God. Now the 20-year-old has decided to add homework to the Lord's work and enrolled as a student at Clark Atlanta University. A protege of Sean Combs (a.k.a. Puff Daddy), Ma$e sold 3 million copies of his 1997 album Harlem World and was one of the biggest stars in rap before retiring from the business. Now he's just an oddly named coed. A spokesperson for the university said Ma$e, born Mason Betha, "fits right in and acts just like any other student," albeit one who has been granted special parking privileges. And while he no longer writes paeans to the high life, his academic interests suggest he has not given up on the material world altogether: he has reportedly decided to major in business.

PRINCE OF PEEVES

Only someone raised in the glare of Fleet Street could consider Hollywood a "breath of fresh air." That's how PRINCE EDWARD, Queen Elizabeth's youngest son, described Los Angeles last week when he visited to drum up business for his fledgling TV company. Edward told the New York Times that unlike Angelenos, Britons "hate anyone who succeeds." It turns out they hate perceived traitors even more. Member of Parliament John Cryer pointed out that the Prince "has never had to do anything for his wealth," while the Times of London editorialized, "It ill-behooves a prince to diminish his people for his own ends." The Sun labeled the Prince "tactless and talentless," which, if true, won't hurt his fortunes in Hollywood, where such attributes have never stood in the way of success.

CAN SKY DIVING BE FAR OFF ?

Adopting the wardrobe of a beatnik and the eating habits of a monk, RUPERT MURDOCH is easing into a new phase of life. In the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, Murdoch, 68, reports that his updated look, featuring a preponderance of black, is due less to WENDI DENG, 32, his wife of three months, than to his sons. "I wanted to look like them," he says, "40 years younger." To that end, he has been visiting "some institute at UCLA--they've got me on a morning drink [of] fruit and soya powder" and exercising with a trainer who "tortures me for an hour every morning." While he works on the man, Deng is working on the manor. "Wendi is busy decorating the new apartment," he says. "She could get a job anywhere, but she cannot do that and travel with me." With him looking so dashing, it's no wonder she doesn't want to leave his side.

FEUD OF THE WEEK

NAME: Martina "Not Navratilova" Hingis OCCUPATION: Teen-age tennis phenom BEST PUNCH: After Serena and Venus' father predicted an all-Williams U.S. Open final, Hingis said he had a "big mouth" and the family "talk[s] a lot"

NAME: Serena "Not Esther" Williams OCCUPATION: Teen-age tennis phenom BEST PUNCH: The high school graduate noted that Hingis' habit of speaking out might have "a little bit to do with not having a formal education"

WINNER Women's tennis, especially since Hingis and Mr. Williams hugged and made up. Until next time...