URBANA — It's no secret that Uni students love to eat, so selling any kind of food is generally a profitable venture.

But Monday's Saltine cracker sale in the kitchen was no ordinary fundraiser. X-Week '09 kicked off with this challenge: Swallow six Saltine crackers in under a minute. Pay $1 to play, win $5 if you can finish, with all proceeds going to this year's charity, the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club.

Sounds easy.

But of all those brave enough to attempt the challenge, only one succeeded: sophomore Mohammad Jaber, and only by a hair.

Tuesday's event, a watermelon-seed-spitting contest, was not quite as successful. The contest became a watermelon sale when it was realized that the watermelons purchased were, in fact, seedless.

Numerous people within the Uni community donated food for Wednesday's bake sale. In fact, there was so much food that the sale continued today.

The selection varied widely and included cookies, brownies, cookie bars, cake, cupcakes, muffins, bread, lemon bars, scones, creme puffs, and more. Wednesday's profits topped $160, and today's sale raised just over $100.

The water-balloon toss that was originally scheduled for today was canceled due to weather conditions. It is not clear whether the toss will be rescheduled.

The culminating event this week, the traditional senior auction, will be held tomorrow. Also at the auction, the winners of the weeklong raffle organized by the freshman class will be drawn. The grand prize will be an iPod Touch. Runner-up prizes include gift cards from iTunes, Best Buy, Starbucks, and Custard Cup.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention senior Caroline Brown's own contribution to X-Week. She will get her hair cut in a mohawk if she can raise $100 in donations.

But the biggest fundraiser of X-Week won't take place until May 15-16. That's when Big Show, the annual sketch-comedy production written and directed by students, will be performed in the North Attic. The show was moved back two weeks to give the cast more time to prepare.

In the meantime, check out the photos below and get caught up with what's been happening this week as the school unites to raise money for a great cause, the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, which provides facilities, services, and support to help the youth of Champaign County develop a sense of community and achievement.

A Recap of X-Week So Far

Sophomore Will Fernandez digs into the Saltines. All photos by Katy Metcalf (click any photo to enlarge and to create your own slideshow).

Junior Chris Yoder is ready to go.

Sophomores Ian Slauch and Wynee Bao get ready to try, while Fernandez makes another attempt.

Junior Brittany Scheid almost finishes her last cracker.

Oh, no! Yoder can't seem to keep it down.

Downing six crackers is just too much.

Junior Arnav Pamidighantam can't seem to finish … ew!

Freshman Chris Nguyen is frustrated after almost finishing.

Fernandez, Goldbart, and Pamidighantam fail to finish.

Students look on as StudCo gets ready to sell some watermelon.

There was watermelon aplenty in the kitchen Tuesday.

Senior Avanti Chajed hands out the refreshing slices.

Money in hand, students line up as the X-Week bake sale begins during lunch Wednesday.

SFAC rep Laura Dripps (left) and secretary-treasurer Maritza
Mestre were among the juniors in charge of the sale.

A look at just a few of the many baked goods available. The sale
raised more than $160 Wednesday and about $100 today.

Another view of Mestre and the baked treats. The junior class organized the sale, which was so successful that it continued for an extra day.

Junior class president Rachel Harmon (second from right) and Brittany Scheid have things well under control. X-Week will end — temporarily — with the senior auction Friday. The truly last fundraising event will take place May 15-16 when Big Show hits the stage in the North Attic.