‘Batman’ Wins Annual Junkyard Derby
Racing downhill from Peterson Hall to Geisel Library, Team Gotham captured the title of the annual Triton Junkyard Derby during Sun God on May 12.
Built by a team of electrical engineering students, the homemade soapbox car resembled the Batmobile, the driver even sporting a matching costume.
Team Gotham lost to the AC/DC team in time trials, but earned additional points for creativity, crowd support and decorations, thus capturing the title.
Presented by the UCSD Alumni Association and the Triton Engineering Student Council, the derby was inspired by Discovery Channel’s “Junkyard Wars” television show.
This year, 22 teams raked through piles of junk in parking Lot 703 on May 10 to create their cars, which were welded together by the Campus Research Machine Shop.
Team Pepitos won in the “best crowd support” category and the Preuss Chupacabras won the “judges’ choice” award.
Chancellor Fox to Hold Town Hall Meetings
Chancellor Marye Anne Fox will hold town hall meetings later this month and also in June to address campus issues and converse with students, faculty and staff.
The first meeting will be held at Faculty Club on May 22 at 3 p.m., and will be reserved for student input, while the chancellor will address faculty on May 30 at 3:30 p.m., also at Faculty Club. Staff will be given a chance to voice concerns at noon on June 22 at Eucalyptus Point.
All meetings will last approximately one hour, and free shuttle services will be provided so employees who work at Scripps Institution of Oceanography or campus hospitals can attend more easily.
At the meetings, Fox will give a brief overview of campus initiatives, which will be followed with a question-and-answer session.
UC Irvine Finds Air Purifiers Hazardous
In small, poorly ventilated rooms, air purifiers can produce up to a few milligrams of ozone, creating levels that exceed public health standards, according to a new study from UC Irvine researchers.
Scientists also verified for the first time that air purifiers add to naturally occurring ozone levels in indoor settings, a prediction that had never before been confirmed.
Air purifiers are designed to comb the air for dust, pollen and other organic molecules, and the ozone by-product can cause lung damage, chest pain, coughing and asthma. Lawmakers will review the findings to decide whether to regulate air purifier distribution.
