Mule
Muleskinner University of Central Missouri Publication Since 1878
Mule
@MuleskinnerUCM
NEWS FEATURES SPORTS
Mule
muleskinner_ucm
@Muleskinner_UCM
Check out our website! Muleskinnernews.com
p. 2 p. 4 p. 7
• Vol. 114 • Issue 5 • Feb. 19, 2021
We Are UCM Replaces Fall 2020 Homecoming MATTHEW GOLDSMITH News Editor With the cancellation of Homecoming this
a student here. I think of the friends that
fall, “We Are UCM: Education for Service”
I have in my work environment, and then
served as an alternative way to bring the
also the community as a whole and how
UCM community together.
they have embraced our family … It is our
A week of events culminated in the We
home,” Rutt said.
Are UCM celebration on Feb. 12 at the
Christina Kerns, Assistant Director of
Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Student Activities, said it was important to
Beth Rutt, director of student activities,
have We Are UCM to promote school spirit,
said 15 organizations participated and each
especially with the lack of a traditional
had 15 attendees. There were also about
homecoming experience in 2020.
45 other people who attended.
“We want people still to be excited about
Rutt said We Are UCM is a part of UCM’s
The “We Are UCM” celebration featured the announcement of Donation Creation, Bowling for Kids’ Sake and royalty court winners. Photo by Skye Melcher
being Mules and to be here on campus,
Are UCM. Ford created biographies for
150th anniversary celebration, with next
and so if it was a way for us to encourage
the candidates and helped provide their
fall’s Homecoming being the culminating
community and school spirit,” Kerns said.
information to the public.
event.
Kerns said that while it has been a
“It’s an opportunity for us, all of these
“I created some of the bios ... so that people could vote,” Ford said. Ford’s role at We Are UCM gave her the
over the past 150 years and where we are now,” Rutt said.
“What I’m really excited about is the number of student organizations that were
For Rutt, who graduated from UCM in
opportunity to encounter multiple student perspectives on campus. Ford spoke about
still involved,” Kerns said. “There was
1978, We Are UCM brings to mind the
some really good energy going into this
people she has met during her time in
week, and so I am happy with how things
Warrensburg.
happened, especially in a pandemic year.”
“When I hear We Are UCM, I think of
Senior public relations major Faith
my close friends that I made when I was
Ford served as the royalty chair for We
enjoyed it,” Ford said. Drew Nardolillo, programming graduate organized the door decorating competition for We Are UCM and helped out at the celebration, which he thought went well. Nardolillo said We Are UCM was important to have because it provided a safe alternative to a culminating college
Are UCM as a whole. “It’s all great coming together for this We
event like Homecoming for seniors. “This was our attempt at giving students something that was socially distanced and
to see all sides of UCM through this. So,
safe and scratched that itch, so to say, for
it’s been a great experience, and I’ve really
that sort of event,” Nardolillo said.
University of Central Missouri Celebrates 150 Years ANNA FURNEY Reporter
events throughout the year, including
This year is the University of Central
exhibits, historical tours, picnics,
Missouri’s 150th anniversary. During
shows, pep rallies and concerts.
the anniversary, students and faculty
“We’ve survived a lot in 150 years, so we’re celebrating a little bit and we’re
school.
just hoping that everybody will come
Amber Clifford-Napoleone,
and celebrate too,” Clifford-Napoleone
professor of anthropology and the
said.
director of the McClure Archives
Best also said UCM’s 150 years have
and University Museum, is an expert
positively impacted the community
on UCM’s history. She said she is
and are worth celebrating.
excited to celebrate the school and its
“From my perspective as president,
accomplishments this year.
it’s certainly an honor to serve
“When the university opened, it
the university during a time
wasn’t a university, it was Warrensburg Normal No. 2,” Clifford-Napoloene
accomplishments of the university over
said. “It was a teachers’ college and
the last 150 years,” Best said. “It also
it was one building, and everything happened in that one building.” In 1871, the school we now know
puts into perspective the need for us to Built in 1871, the same year the University of Central Missouri was founded, Old Main was the hub of
Taryn Duffy, president of History Club
as the University of Central Missouri opened its doors to 30 students. Over the
and admitting women. Additionally,
years, the name changed four times —
international students started attending the
Central Missouri State Teachers College
university in the 1920s.
in 1919, Central Missouri State College in
UCM President Roger Best, who became
and a half buildings by that time. But they
Even though the school burned, the
president of UCM in 2018, has been
faculty did not allow for it to negatively
in 1972 and the University of Central
working for the university since 1995. Best
impact the students.
Missouri in 2006.
said he is also excited for this anniversary.
“The campus burned to the ground and
“The one thing I haven’t seen change, in
what happened the next morning was that
Napoleone said. “The place where people
the 25-plus years that I’ve been here, is
faculty and boarding houses and hotels
used to tie up their horses and mules is
our faculty and staff’s dedication to our
opened their doors and faculty members
the place we call the Quadrangle … And
students,” Best said.
taught in their homes, and students came
that’s pretty indicative of how the campus changed.”
UCM has also had its fair share of challenges throughout its 150 years.
Clifford-Napoleone said some
there and took classes,” Clifford-Napoleone said. “We never missed a single day of class, and the class of 1915 graduated on
characteristics have been progressive since
nearly the entire campus to the ground,”
the school’s opening, including employing
Clifford-Napoleone said. “There were three
and Phi Alpha Theta, which is UCM’s history honor society, said she believes this year’s celebrations are a way for students
1945, Central Missouri State University
“Everything has changed,” Clifford-
continue that hard work.”
time.” UCM has planned several celebratory
to connect with the past and explore broader themes. “I am sure not many people realize, but this school was founded the same “Oftentimes people approach history as a large, global idea of what happened in the world on this day and so on, but local history is important, too.” Duffy said she believes this year’s events are a perfect opportunity to show students how the university began. “This school has a story, and it is our job to tell and celebrate that story,” Duffy said.