i E - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, May 4, 1999 HERE COMES THE SUN 'U' team unveils solar car By NikaeSchutte Daily News Editor DEARBORN, Mich. - Although many University students plan to use their summer months to catch some rays, not many spent more than 40 hours a week throughout the past aca- demic year strategizing how to do it in the most efficient manner. Since 1997, the University's Solar Car Team has logged countless hours working on the 1999 car MaizeBlaze, which is the fifth-generation vehicle produced by the team. The tasks, which included everything from secur- ing corporate sponsorships to cover the 1.5 million cost to designing a stick steering mechanism, required the efforts of nearly 200 students. Last Friday, the team unveiled the 2-foot-9 inch tall MaizeBlaze during a ceremony at the Henry Ford Museum. The car, which weighs only 400 pounds without the driver and battery, is scheduled to compete against 39 other student-built cars in Sunrayce, a biennial event set to begin June 20. Race Manager Jed Christiansen said he is looking forward to the race as an opportunity to show the strength of the Solar Car Team. "This is our chance to shine," Christiansen, a recent Engineering graduate said adding that "this is our chance to prove that for the last two years we have been the best solar car team," he said. cHRISCAMPERNEL/Daky Members of the University's Solar Car Team look on as past member Susan Fancy unveils the 1999 MalzeBlaze. The car is scheduled to race in June. University Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford said she believes the team truly exemplifies the characteristics of the "leaders and best" and notijust because ofthe team's winning reputation. Hartford said the team allows its members to "design, strategize, and problem solve," adding that "I can't think of better skills to leave the University with." Recent Engineering graduates Jason Kramb and Vikram Sahney are sched- uled to drive MaizeBlaze on the 10- day, 1,500 mile trek from Washington, D.C., to the race's finish line in Orlando, Fla. Because of the car's small stature, the design requires the drivers to lay on their backs while navigating the vehi- cle. The car lacks air conditioning and windshield wipers, but Kramb said he doesn't mind enduring the hardships in order to win. "It's a purpose-bred car" Kramb said. Engineering senior Dave Jordan, the team's crew chief, said MaizeBlaze is "lighter and faster" than previous solar cars, which will help the car be "faster off the line." Jordan said the team has also improved the vehicle's equipment so data can be more accurate and sam- pled at a faster rate. "Not only can we find out the weather and the road conditions, we can also find out where we stand in the race;" Jordan said. Because the race is driven on ordi- nary U.S. highways, drivers must also combat regular road obstacles like pot holes and traffic. "If a train's crossing the tracks, that's something I've got to deal with" Kramb said. Kramb said he is ready for the jour- ney and is confident with the team's efforts. "There is no reason UM can't win. We have a car with an optimal design" Kramb said. JERUSALEM GARD I1 Offa Limit I Per Person Per Order 307 S. Fith Ave. Phone #: 734-995-5060 exp. ........ ... .......0..-- ...-- .--- ---- A Iaste 0fCkicaq - I 1 I 1 X 0 u I ~~t 1 ~when you p 1 , Chica I I CIUChicago Stu 1 2 Medium Call 995-5095 for a map go to N 1 www.pizzahouse.com D-inin P-em -&-el-iv-----I- ANNAN Continued from Page 1 to come to Ann Arbor "to spend some time with leaders of the 21st Century." As two planes circled the stadium overhead carrying ban- ners protesting NATO's attacks on Yugoslavia, Annan addressed human rights, the role of the United Nations and the graduates' role in the next millennium as part of his speech. Annan told the audience although "the United Nations is committed to the maintenance of national sovereignty and territorial integrity ... by law and by conscience, whe are equally committed to protecting universal rights, regardless of frontiers." lie said the .fight for human rights contmues with the graduates. "More than any other aspect of our work, I believe the struggle for human rights resonates with you our global constituency of the future," Annan said. Annan added that human rights are "deeply relevant to the lives of those most in need: the tortured, the oppressed, the silenced, the victims of ethnic cleansing and injustice' Annan praised the University's choice to embrace diversity. "Michigan's commitment to tolerance and dialogue is well- established," Annan said, adding that "it is based on the belief that a diverse environment will give all of you the best prepa- ration for an increasingly diverse world. Stressing the importance of tolerance and diversity as ele- ments of humanity, Annan said the current political and human- itarian crisis in the Balkans can be blamed on their absence. "But it will not have come too late for your generation, if it emboldens you to enter a new century with a renewed corn- mitment to protecting the rights of every man, woman and child," he said. LAWSUIT Continued from Page 1 court last month, Barry said. The motion's main argument is tied to the U.S. Supreme Court case Regents ofl'Universitr of California v. Bakke. In the 1978 Bakke ruling, the Supreme Court justified the use of race in admis- sions processes as long as quotas are not used and that all students who are accept- ed are fully qualified. "We argue that Bakke is the law of the land,' Barry said, adding that "wse're using race in the best way to achieve diversity" University spokesperson Julie Peterson said many institutions yester- day filed amici curiae briefs. These admitted "friend of the court" briefs from the U.S. Department of Justice, the State of Ohio, the American Council on Education, the Association of American Law Schools, Wayne State University and the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, all sup- port the University's argument that diversity is an important educational principle. "We're really appreciative that a lot of respected institutions have weighed in early in the game," Barry said, "this is a very strong shoving."