Students from Western Washington University's Vehicle Research Institute took Viking 45 to the test track this week, cruising the roads at Pacific Raceways in Kent. WWU is one of just two universities still in the running for the Progressive Automotive X-Prize, the first stage of which begins Monday, April 26, in Detroit, and runs through May 7.

The Puget Sound Blood Center is on the Western Washington University to conduct a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through today, April 22.

The donation locations are at the Viking Union 565 and at the Mini Mobile on Red Square near the Humanities Building.

According to Catherine Vader from WWU's Prevention & Wellness Services, 131 donations were given on campus Tuesday, April 20, and 157 donations were recorded April 21.

Western Washington University faculty member Arunas Oslapas, a professor of engineering technology, made this video of the ReMade project in Lithuania during his sabbatical fall quarter. Oslapas' 28 Lithuanian students made products from trash in the capital city of Vilnius and sold them in a design boutique called The Hotel of Things. More than 200 people went to the opening night, and it was picked up by national television.

Associated Students Recycle Center educator Rachel King hands out "recycle" bumper stickers and reusable grocery bags in Red Square on the Western Washington University campus Friday, April 16.

"We're trying to promote recycling awareness and help students understand what is good to recycle and what isn't," King said.

Among the pile of non-recyclables were a Starbucks cup and sticker paper, which King said many students try to recycle even though they are not recyclable.

Spring is a great time to be out and about on campus, especially when the sun is shining and the trees are in full bloom. High temperatures have been in the upper 60s, but forecasters expect a bit of cooling and rain to roll in on Saturday.

Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed visited the Western Washington University campus this morning to chat with students and WWU President Bruce Shepard. The visit was part of Reed's week-long college civics tour, during which he's visiting 23 schools throughout the state to promote students' participation in government.

Western Washington University Web developer and graphic designer Rochelle Parry, an avid riverboarder, aims to get faculty, staff and students involved in riverboarding through the WWU Outdoor Center. Riverboarding is a sport in which participants cruise through river rapids on a small body board.

Two short films by Western Washington University Associate Professor of Industrial Design Jason Morris will be shown at the Northwest Projections Film Festival occurring Friday through Sunday, April 16-18, at the Pickford Cinema in Bellingham.

One of Morris’ films, “Form Function,” shows how the industrial design creative process starts with an abstract sculpture and ends with a functional object. The film features the Western Washington University Industrial Design class of 2010.