UMKC lanyards make a great gift for those you don't care for.

Top five gifts from UMKC

By: Jessie Burche

Posted: 12/3/07

It's almost impossible to buy nice gifts for people when you're a student. Unless you're a trust-fund baby, your budget is probably low in terms of what you can get for family and friends this holiday season. So why not get your loved one something that reminds them why your budget is so low? Buy a present from UMKC. Here's my top-five list of stuff to buy that represents UMKC.

5. The UMKC bookstore is an easy place to buy things for someone. Do you really love the person you're shopping for? Get them a UMKC hoodie with the new roo logo on it ($37.99). Or are you just getting this person something because you feel obligated to? A UMKC lanyard is just what they deserve ($4.95-$5.99).

4. Is your friend or family losing too much weight, coughing all the time (sometimes coughing up blood) and waking up with night sweats? Get them a tuberculosis test through the UMKC Student Health and Wellness Service ($8). They also have immunizations for your friend that's always getting sick. You're only able to give this to a UMKC student, but it may give you a little more peace of mind this holiday season.

3. Is one of your friends or family crazy about UMKC basketball? Go in with some other people on a general admission season pass for them ($160). Or, if you don't have any other friends, get them a lower level single game ticket ($15).

2. If you know someone who's really into music, Amy Burton, a New York City Opera soprano, is singing in White Recital Hall on Jan. 26. Tickets are $25 or $12.50 for students. You may also want to keep an eye on the Conservatory of Music and Dance's calendar of events (found at http://conservatory.umkc.edu/calendarofevents.asp).

They consistently have free events ranging from vocal recitals to symphony performances.

1. One of the best literary magazines in the country is housed at UMKC. New Letters is published four times a year. A one-year subscription costs the same as a nice lunch ($22). Plus, UMKC creative writing professors Michael Pritchett and Dr. Michelle Boisseau have been published in New Letters. If you see one of their pieces it can give you some of your school bragging rights back.

jburche@unews.com