Drag racing on Sunset Boulevard results in death
One man died and another was arrested on charges of gross
vehicular manslaughter early Thursday morning after an accident on
the northern border of UCLA.
According to West Traffic Division of the Los Angeles Police
Department, two cars  one a late model BMW MR3 and the other
a Ford Mustang  were drag racing on the westbound side of
Sunset Boulevard when one of the cars lost control and crashed.
For some unknown reason, the BMW lost control, skidded off the
road and then hit a light pole, killing the car’s passenger and
injuring the driver, police reported. The other car, described only
as a Mustang, sped away from the scene of the accident.
University police received the 911 call at 12:26 a.m. yesterday
morning along with the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles
Fire Station 37 and UCLA Emergency Medical Technicians.
City fire paramedics pronounced the car’s passenger dead on
arrival at the UCLA Medical Center while the car’s driver was
admitted to the hospital for the treatment of "multiple bruises,"
according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Los Angeles Police arrested the driver on charges of gross
vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after he allegedly showed
signs of being under the influence. The driver will be "booked at a
later date," police said.
The name of the victim has yet to be released, pending
notification of family members.
Senior named to USA Today’s academic team
When UCLA senior Gloria Amador was honored Feb. 6 as a member of
USA Today’s 1997 All-USA College Academic First Team  one of
only 20 students selected nationally by the newspaper  she
declared the award her "second greatest honor."
First prize was claimed by research she had conducted in the
UCLA laboratory of V. Reggie Edgerton, professor of physiological
science  which she has done for the past three years.
Amador’s research has focused on the adaptation of skeletal
muscles to altered states of gravity, which contributes to the
understanding of why muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction occur in
astronauts and older patients.
Amador, a mathematics student, hopes to earn a Ph.D., become an
astronaut and conduct experiments in space  a dream of hers
since she was 4 years old.
"Research is so much fun," Amador said. "You constantly learn
something new. I’ve learned so much from Professors Edgerton and
(Associate Professor Robert) Talmadge, and still have so much more
to learn."
Amador has volunteered her time at a school in South Central Los
Angeles, tutoring sixth- and seventh-graders who read at a
first-grade level.
"The students realize they need the help, and many of them are
motivated to learn," Amador said. "I have learned from them as
well."
She has developed a mentorship program at UCLA, where juniors
and seniors in UCLA’s Center for Academic and Research Excellence
serve as mentors to first-year students.
Born in Managua, Nicaragua, Amador came to California with her
when she was 4 years old. She spoke no English when she began
kindergarten.
"I didn’t understand anything," recalls Amador, who today speaks
flawless English.
She has high praise for her years at UCLA, saying "I love UCLA;
I’m making all my dreams come true here."
Amador is the fourth UCLA undergraduate in recent years to be
selected to USA Today’s Academic First Team. The Academic First
Team is chosen from a national panel of educators and consists of
20 outstanding students from more than 1,200 nominees who represent
and consists of 20 outstanding students from more than 1,200
nominees who represent hundreds of colleges and universities
nationwide. Criteria included scholarship and intellectual
achievement, university leadership and community service.
Compiled from Daily Bruin staff and wire reports