Got a news item you’d like to share? Email us at ucmthebeat@gmail.com or our News Director, Beth Del Vecchio, at emd39150@ucmo.edu.

**Special Edition**

Talking Mules compete in 28th Montgomery Cup

The Talking Mules, University of Central Missouri’s Speech and Debate team, recently returned from their annual journey overseas to compete in the Montgomery Cup.  The  team faced off against students from University College Cork in Cork, Ireland, and Trinity University in Dublin, Ireland, then closed out the Cup with Cardiff University in Wales, and Imperial University in London, England. The series ended in a tie across the four debates. In case of a tie, the Cup is retained by the previous year’s winning university, thus, the Cup remains in the care of UCM and the Talking Mules.

Be a judge for the Talking Mules! 

Do you need volunteer, service or tutoring hours? If so, you can become a judge for the Talking Mules, speech and debate tournament. No experience is necessary! You can contact Sydney Crank at scrank@ucmo.edu for more info or to get started!

STAY INFORMED

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.

Politics and Social Justice Week

The Students For Political Action or SPA are hosting a discussion of Palestine and Isreal: Struggles for Dignity Under Crisis on April 3 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. in UU213. 

How to Build Power and Community
When Things Fall Apart

Kelly Hayes, author, organizer, and movement educator will be speaking about this topic Tuesday, April 8, from 5-6 p.m. The best part, it’s on Zoom, so you can join in from anywhere! There is a QR code floating around on campus billboards, but you can also e-mail rondot@ucmo.edu to get the link. 

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.

Central Connect

Central Connect is a website and app made to serve as your main resource for involvement at UCM. You can explore recognized student organizations, upcoming events and so much more. You can visit Central Connect at www.ucmo.edu/centralconnect or you can go to your app store and download the Modern Campus Involve app and select UCM as your campus. From there, you can pick any event to attend for the Spring 2025 Passport! If you attend 3 events, you can get a free t-shirt. The app is also a good spot to find out more about organizations on campus to get involved. 

Parking Policy Update

Vehicles in UCM lots must be parked in a manner that allows the license plate to be viewed from the driving lane of the lot. This means that if you only have one plate, you will need to park with your plate facing the driving lane of the parking lot. This also means you can now be ticketed for improper parking. If you have questions, you can call parking services at 660-543-4098.

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!