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Speech and Debate Showcase

Have you ever wondered how the UCM Speech and Debate operates or how they compete? Well if so, I have an event just for you! The Talking Mules will showcase their national placing performances on April 14, from 6:30-8:30 pm, in Union 235. Come on out to learn more about your UCM Speech and Debate team, the Talking Mules!

Global Vision Applications Open

Students interested in studying abroad and serving may apply for the Global Vision Scholarship program.  Every student selected for the scholarship will receive free airfare to and from the chosen location, room and board, and fees on site.

Trips occur multiple times a year to locations such as Tanzania, Nepal, Peru, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, New Mexico and Texas.

For more information or to apply, go to ucmo.edu/globalvision.

MO Volunteers to Host Old Drum Fundraiser

MO Volunteers is hosting a fundraiser at Union Bowling Center to benefit Old Drum Animal Shelter on Wednesday, April 16 from 4-8 p.m. Those who bring dog or cat treats, wet food, dry food, peanut butter, spray cheese or cat litter will receive one free bowling game.

MO Volunteers is a student organization that allows students to develop their leadership skills, provide service to the community, and develop a sense of accomplishment.

Earth Week Swap Shop slated for April 22-23

The Student Government Association is sponsoring Earth Week Swap Shop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 22-23 outside the Alumni Chapel.

Patrons are invited to drop off or shop for gently used clothes on a first come, first served basis.

Independent Artists to be Featured at Elliott Union

Elliott Student Union will be hosting “Good on Paper Small Press and Zine Fest” Thursday, April 24 from 5- 8 p.m. in Union 236 and 238.

Independent artists and small businesses will be featuring their work, including original prints, comics, zines, stickers and shirts. Microcosm Publishing, an independent, worker-owned book publisher, distributor, and wholesaler, will be hosting a zine station, sponsored by JCKL Library.  A zine is a small-circulation, self-published work, often reproduced via photocopier, featuring original or appropriated texts and images.

The Carnival is Coming to Town

Elliott Student Union will be sponsoring Color, Chaos, and Carnival from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 23.

Carnival games, prizes, free food and free bowling will be provided in Union 229, Union 240, in the Atrium and in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

Royals Host Second Annual MIAA Day at the K

The Kansas City Royals will be hosting MIAA Day at the K on Saturday, April 26 at 6:10 p.m. as the Royals host the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium.

For the second year in a row, the Royals will be hosting schools from across the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.  Tickets include access to UCM’s tailgate with President Roger Best and Mo the Mule and an exclusive light-up Mule pin for those wearing UCM gear (while supplies last). The first 1,500 fans will also receive a KC Royals and UCM co-branded bucket hat, and the first 20,000 fans will receive a Mike Moustakas bobblehead.

Tickets may be purchased at ucmo.edu/royals, and UCM students and employees are reminded to use their $10 discount code for up to six tickets.

Gathering Hosting Second Annual BBQ Fundraiser

The Gathering Coffee Shop is hosting a barbecue fundraiser Thursday, May 1 from 5-8 p.m. at the shop, located at 108 Broad Street in Warrensburg.

The Gathering Coffee Shop is a nonprofit organization whose stated mission is “to provide a welcoming environment to enjoy high-quality coffee, share delicious food, and build relationships through meaningful conversations.”

Cost is $10 for individuals, $45 for a family and includes food and drinks, games, live music, a silent auction and coffee coupons.  All proceeds go to The Gathering.

Warrensburg Elections See Low Voter Turnout

by Gavin Moore (April 9, 2025)

WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Hundreds of Warrensburg residents went to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots for several important local elections. Warrensburg had one of the highest turnout rates in Johnson County with 10.2% of registered voters casting their ballots. 

For the City Council election, voters were asked to pick two candidates. Councilman Edie Osborne and Mayor Bruce D. Uhler ran unopposed and successfully won another term in office. Osborne received 47.7% and Uhler received 49.9%.

Warrensburg also had a school board election in which Julie Lewis was up for re-election. Four candidates were in the race, and voters could vote for two. Natalie Tye, a professor at the University of Central Missouri, received 29.7% of the vote and was elected to the board. Lewis received 24.4% of the vote and will serve another term. The two other candidates in this competitive race received a total percentage of 45.6%. 

Residents were also able to vote in the Johnson County Community Health Services Trustee election. Of the four candidates running, voters were asked to select three. Board chair Kit Lindsay earned 26.98%, and current secretary, Megan Jaegar, received 26.4%. Ashland Bell will serve her first term after receiving 24.9% of the vote. 

The final issue on the ballot was a $16.5 million dollar bond issue for Warrensburg schools. The bond passed with 69.5% and will go toward school renovations and infrastructure improvements, including a renovation of the old Woods Supermarket on South 13 Highway to become a new preschool center. The bond will keep the current debt service levy at $0.82 per $100 of assessed valuation.

JUST SO YOU KNOW

Connect to UCMO.edu, ucmo.edu/textcaster

Any modifications to university operations will be announced through official UCM channels, including the UCM website, email, social media feeds and the TextCaster text messaging service. If you haven’t signed up for Textcaster, please visit ucmo.edu/textcaster. Notifications will be made to local and Kansas City area media, but the best source of information is always UCM’s official channels.

Students for Political Action

Students for Political Action or SPA is a bipartisan organization whose goal is to develop an interest in politics among students at UCM. If you want to learn more, you can contact Annie at aja64940@ucmo.edu

Earth Week Swap

So it’s officially Spring and that means Spring Cleaning time. April is also our Earth Day month (on the 22nd), so if you want to combine those two powers for good, start getting ready for the Earth Week Swap. The swap will go down April 22 and 23 from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. outside of the Alumni Chapel. You can stop by to drop off or shop gently used or unwanted clothing. What a great way to refresh your closet, while being kind to Mother Earth.

Aerial Arts Class

The Student Rec and Wellness Center has added an Aerial Arts class for the Spring semester. The class will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. in room 165. The class is designed for all levels, so no experience is needed. Check in at the Rec Center desk for more info! 

Student Government Association

For those who want to use your voice to make changes around you, but are not sure where to start, UCM student government may be just what you need. In order to file for candidacy, you must be a full time student at UCM and must have a GPA above 2.5. If you would like more info, you can contact the Student Government Association at sga@ucmo.edu or by calling 660-543-4094.

Title X (Title 10) Student Advisory Committee

Are you interested in improving sexual and reproductive health education at UCM? If so, you can join the Title X Student Advisory Committee! They’re seeking students from diverse backgrounds and majors to provide feedback on Title X materials designed to support our campus community. This is a great opportunity to gain leadership experience, contribute to health initiatives, and earn a UCM Experience Transcript notation. The time commitment is minimal—about 6 hours per semester—focused on reviewing materials via email. Sign up for e-mail notifications here! 

UCM Scholarship Finder

It’s scholarship season! Log in to UCM Scholarship Finder to complete your general application and explore available scholarships. Click here for the UCM Scholarship Finder!  

Campus Cupboard

The Campus Cupboard is a volunteer-based charity dedicated to alleviating hunger and financial burdens in the UCM community. They have food and personal care items and it’s all free for you. Campus Cupboard is located in the lower level of the Student Rec and they are open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 3:00-5:30 pm. You can also volunteer there, if you would like to help out. Click here to get more info! 

Student Recreation and Wellness Center

Who’s trying to get healthy or stay healthy in 2025? If that’s you, don’t sleep on the Rec!! The Student Rec and Wellness Center is here for all your physical fitness needs. They have group classes and personal training or tons of cardio equipment and weights that you can use on your own. You can visit ucmo.edu/rec or check in at the front desk for more info!

Central Speaks

Have you heard of Central Speaks? Central Speaks is a UCM podcast that puts the spotlight on the dedicated individuals who propel the University forward. Each episode highlights stories of those who embody UCM’s spirit of innovation and service, showcasing the transformative work that redefines what’s possible on our campus and beyond. Central Speaks is all about hearing directly from UCM’s changemakers as they share how they push boundaries and inspire colleagues and students—redefining what’s possible, every day.

Subscribe to Central Speaks on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

You can check it out at www.ucmo.edu/news/central-speaks/

UCM Crisis Support Line

The UCM Counseling Center (part of Campus Community Health) has a 24-hour Crisis and Counseling Support Line (660-543-8008) for students. Crisis line support is available for students who are in a crisis and want to talk with a trained professional any time of day or night (24/7/365). Students may also want to call if they are not in a crisis but want to talk to a professional after hours, on weekends, or during breaks. The UCM Crisis Support Line is an addition to the Counseling Center and Campus Community Health’s existing services.

The Crisis Support Line phone number does not replace the Counseling Center’s phone number, which is answered during business hours (660-543-4060). For more information, visit counselingcenter@ucmo.edu

Listen to the current episode of Central News below!