UCSD Intercollegiate Athletics held the fourth annual Triton Power Hour at RIMAC Arena to promote athletics and student organizations for incoming freshmen on Sept. 20. UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox welcomed the freshmen to the campus, encouraging them to make the most of their time at UCSD. She also emphasized her desire to communicate openly with the students by attending student organization meetings.

After Fox’s speech, UCSD Athletic Director Earl W. Edwards presented her with a baseball jersey with the number one on it.

“We’d like to officially welcome you to our Triton family,” Edwards said to Fox. “You’re number one in our hearts.”

A.S. President Jenn Pae informed the freshmen about various activities they can participate in, like joining any of the 400 student organizations on campus. She also encouraged students to register to vote and participate in Rock the Vote for the upcoming presidential election.

The UCSD dance team and the UCSD cheerleaders performed while the men’s water polo team threw prizes out to the crowd. More prizes, including a surfboard and concert tickets, were also raffled off.

To conclude Triton Power Hour, junior Grant Nishio of men’s soccer and senior Kendra Canape of women’s volleyball talked about UCSD athletics and showed a brief video of highlights from the 2003-04 athletic season. Nishio and Canape stressed the importance of student support at sporting events and asked the freshmen to attend the upcoming home matches for the fall sports teams.

“The best part about playing is when you guys come support us,” Nishio said to the freshmen. “Come out because we have big games this week against Cal State Dominguez Hills.”

At the conclusion of Triton Power Hour, the Intercollegiate Athletics Department and a group of Triton athletes gave out free food to the students in attendance. The department also had an information booth set up outside RIMAC Arena while other student organizations worked their own booths to recruit new members.

John Muir College freshman Megan Wogan of Danville, Calif., found Triton Power Hour to be informative.

“I heard about Triton Power Hour from our Muirsaic Calendar,” Wogan said. “It was fun seeing who got the raffle prizes and I might go and watch [the upcoming home games].”

The event also sparked the interest of Eleanor Roosevelt College freshman Adam Jimenez of Santa Barbara, Calif.

“[Triton Power Hour activities] were fun and informative,” he said. “I want to join clubs and I want to go watch basketball and soccer.”