Student delegates from around the world attend the National Model United Nations conference. This year, Western’s team of delegates won big, receiving an Outstanding Delegation award, which is only given to about 13% of groups that attend the conference each year, according to Riley Kessler, a Western Model U.N. delegate.
After years of conversation and planning, the Lhaq'temish-ew'xw e tse XwLemi' – House of Healing will open to the public on May 14, 2026, during the Native American Student Union's annual Spring Powwow and Coastal Jam. The longhouse sits at the south end of the Sehome Arboretum.
As the quarter picks up and deadlines begin to stack, some Western Washington University students turn to the yoga mat for relief. Yoga, often viewed through the American lens as a workout or just stretching and balancing, involves much more and is spreading through student communities at Western. On campus, the yoga community is growing and the benefits are noticeable, especially in stress and mood regulation.
With the election season wrapping up on May 10th for Western Washington University’s student government, the candidates are eager to share plans for initiatives such as renewing student fees and bringing about policies that support LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups.
As spring weather at Western Washington University arrives, it’s common to see groups of three to eight people standing shoulder to shoulder in the sun on campus lawns, bouncing around a small beanbag. At Western, students love the community this hands-free pastime – known as hacky sack – creates.
Organizers of Paddle and Flow, a paddling and yoga event, encourage students to step away from the academic grind and into nature on Saturday, May 9. The Lakewood Boathouse event combines outdoor activity and stress relief for attendees.
The City of Bellingham is considering raising the prices of city-owned electric vehicle charging stations for the first time since 2022. A proposal presented to the city’s transportation commission on April 14 by the city’s climate and energy manager, Seth Vidaña, suggests raising the price of level three fast charging from $0.25 per kilowatt-hour to $0.40.
The board of the Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA) unanimously approved a new contract with Western Washington University, ensuring the continuation of the student bus pass for another year. In a meeting on April 16 at WTA’s office, board members gathered online and in person to vote on a new contract that would cost the university more but keep the student bus pass.
With warming temperatures and a departure from the rainy winter months, Whatcom County finds itself entering prime fishing season once again. Starting April 25, the season officially begins, with seasonal lake openings and lifted fishing restrictions.
Just 30 minutes away from the twists and turns of Chuckanut Drive lies breathtaking fields of tulips. Countless rows of beautiful, brightly-colored flowers, just waiting for the sunshine season to finally arrive. On March 28, 2026, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival reopened for the season. This festival typically runs only in April, but due to a milder-than-normal winter and slightly warmer spring temperatures, the tulip fields opened early this year.
Music bumps, kicks fly and hands whirl as Western Washington University students dance their way through a Zumba class at the Wade King Recreation Center. Fitness classes at Western’s rec center provide a space for participants to move their bodies while surrounding themselves with peers who share a goal of staying active. A variety of classes are offered to fit many styles of movement and exercise goals including Zumba, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, spin and weightlifting.
While many senior athletes struggle to find their place after hanging up their cleats, Western Washington University graduates often find themselves back on campus after their playing time is done. Of the 61 staff members working for WWU Athletics, 21 are listed as alumni on the staff directory or on their individual rosters.
Every April, the roar of the Little White Salmon River is drowned out by cheers echoing from the canyon. Cars lined the shoulder of Cook-Underwood Road, near White Salmon, Wash., on April 18, as spectators and fans bushwhacked to the river. Within the lush, forested gorge, a roster of elite whitewater kayakers prepared to charge down miles of continuous rapids and waterfalls in the annual Little White Salmon Race.
Western Washington University’s track and field team hosted the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Civic Stadium. Athletes from universities and high schools around the region flooded the field as events began at 9:30 a.m.
When wandering the tightly woven one-way streets of Bellingham, you’re never more than a stone's throw from a music venue, with venue being a loose term for anywhere people have figured out a way to plug in an extension cord long enough to run an amp through. The gatherings of music often start in the funky houses of the York Neighborhood and Garden Street, with rattling windows and crowded porches overflowing with thick smoke and baggy jeans. The house show is the perfect stomping ground for fresh bands hoping to entertain burnt-out college kids, but the short-term reality of rental leases and college degrees creates inconsistency for concertgoers and musicians alike.
It has been three years since the last biennial faculty and staff exhibition, so this year's display was much anticipated by students and staff. With 20 artists from the art department, the Western Gallery is showcasing their pieces ranging from interactive sensory pieces to weaving to rings of photographs. This event works to showcase the reality of working within the art world, often seen as intimidating by students.
It’s no coincidence that the number of people who know basic sewing skills has declined with the rise of fast fashion. Recent trends show that cheap, readily available garments have directly limited the need for the skill.
Support from Bellingham community members is vital to keeping local restaurants alive. It's time to direct all of our support exclusively to locally owned eateries and combat the ever-growing expansion of chains.
Solutions by The State News
