It's all part of a test run by the Triton Rocket Club, a pre-professional student organization founded in fall quarter 2011 at UC San Diego. The group's goal is to help students interested in rocketry get practical and technical experience. Another goal is to help students get internships.
The club is made up of a solid rocket team and a liquid rocket team this year. The solid rocket team is designed for beginners and successfully ran a static fire test earlier this year. The liquid rocket team is composed of more experienced students and is powered by liquid oxygen and alcohol.
Learn more about the club here: http://tritonrocket.ucsd.edu/
Here's a fun video recapping their activities this academic year: