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Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Exodis Ward

Exodis Ward

Exodis Ward is a Multimedia Journalism major, English Rhetoric minor at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is Entertainment editor at The Prospector, UTEP’s student newspaper. Though Ward is a writer by nature, she enjoys photography and aspires to be a Jack-of-all-trades. When she’s not writing, she enjoys taking ballet classes, reading a good book or playing video games. 

All content by Exodis Ward
The 14th annual Plaza Classic Film Festival will be July 29-August 8 in and around the Plaza Theatre in downtown El Paso.

Plaza classic film festival releases summer schedule

Exodis Ward, Entertainment Editor July 9, 2021

The 14th annual El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival returns to the Plaza Theatre from July 29 to Aug. 8. The festival will take place in and around the Plaza Theatre in downtown El Paso. The festival shows a variety of films including...

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UTEP Dinner Theatre presents the  Off-Broadway hit musical 'Nunsense" through July 18

UTEP’s Dinner Theater returns with ‘Nunsense!’

Exodis Ward, Entertainment Editor June 30, 2021

UTEP’s Dinner Theatre is currently having in-person performances through July 18 of the  hit musical comedy and crowd favorite “Nunsense!” The show runs at 50% of audience capacity and follows other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. “It...

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Courtesy of Plaza Film Festival

Plaza Film Film Festival returns for summer

Exodis Ward, Entertainment Editor June 21, 2021

After a brief pause in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19  pandemic, The El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival returns to the Plaza Theatre this summer. The 14th annual Plaza Classic Film Festival will be July 29 to Aug.8  in...

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The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, published in 1985.

‘Handmaid’s Tale’ dives into the history of women’s rights

Exodis Ward, Entertainment Editor March 2, 2021

Recently, I began watching The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu. My initial thoughts were, “Wow. This is bizarre. Like, really bizarre,” so I set out to go find the book and read it.   Some notes before I review the book: the author, Margaret Atwood...

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I rediscovered myself during the pandemic

I rediscovered myself during the pandemic

Exodis Ward, Entertainment Editor January 28, 2021

It shouldn’t have taken a pandemic for me to return to my hobbies, but it did. My first love has always been reading because there is literally a word for everything. Cadence is for the rhythm they create. Mull is for when they stick in your...

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[Photo] Exodis Ward

November 18, 2019

UTEP reschedules COVID-19 vaccinations following shipping conflicts

UTEP reschedules COVID-19 vaccinations following shipping conflicts

Exodis Ward, Entertainment Editor January 20, 2021

In an email sent out to the UTEP community, President Heather Wilson announced the University’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic is rescheduled for Friday, Jan. 22 and Saturday, Jan. 23 following a delivery delay.   The first delivery of vaccines, which...

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Title IX changes create further concerns of underreporting sexual misconduct

Title IX changes create further concerns of underreporting sexual misconduct

Exodis Ward, Reporter December 16, 2020

Title IX was federally amended August 14 with changes to how cases are officially handled, which makes it more like a regular court hearing.   Title IX is a federal law implemented in 1972 with the goal of protecting people...

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KTEP is El Paso's strongest public radio station, serving El Paso and the surrounding areas up to 100 miles in radius.

Photo courtesy of KTEP

KTEP celebrates 70 years on the air

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter November 11, 2020

KTEP 88.5 FM celebrated 70 years of providing news and music to the border region. The channel that began broadcasting educational instruction for the El Paso School District, now broadcasts jazz and classical music 24 hours a day, while hosting news...

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Animal Crossing New Horizons for Nintendo Switch.

Hugo Hinojosa

In Review: Animal Crossing soothes my mid-semester anxiety, pandemic apprehension

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter November 2, 2020

As the semester chugs along, I’ve been looking for new ways to wind down before bed. I’m a huge fan of reading, but lately I’ve been reaching for my switch to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It’s easy to see why; between the calming music,...

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The Sims 4 is the life simulation game that gives you the power to create and control people.
Photo courtesy of EA

Books, shows and music to binge during a pandemic

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter November 2, 2020

The adjustment period for quarantine was rough for many of us. We went on Spring Break last semester and never returned to in-person lectures. Nothing could’ve prepared us for the way this year would go. As we prepare for our potential second lockdown,...

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In Hispanic American folklore, La Llorona is a ghost who roams waterfront areas mourning her drowned children. In a typical version of the legend, a woman named Maria marries a rich man with whom she has two children. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Leyendas keep folklore alive in families

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter October 25, 2020

“La Llorona,”El Cucuy” and “El Chupacabras” may be familiar names to some El Pasoans, who grew up hearing scary stories in the border land. Though it seems that these stories are just to scare children, they play an integral part in El Paso’s...

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Photo courtesy of
Edgar Picazo prepping a LosDos mural in gallery before shipping to Netherlands exhibition.

Rubin Center Community Curator aims to bring opportunities for UTEP artists

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter October 19, 2020
The Rubin center’s community curator, Ramon Cardenas has plenty of hands-on experience in the art world. He ran his own commercial screen-printing company, Maintain Studio. 
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Although the coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to many activities throughout the year, La Union Maze and Mesilla Valley Maze will be up and running this season with some restrictions.

Pumpkin patches open despite pandemic

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter October 3, 2020
As the summer ends and the new season begins, fall enthusiasts can celebrate the beginning of “pumpkin spice everything” with limited activities at local pumpkin patches and corn mazes. 
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Fall Guys is an indie multiplayer party game developed by Mediatonic and published by Devolver digital.
Photo courtesy of fallguys.com

In Review: ‘Fall Guys’ is the perfect videogame for leisure time

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter September 25, 2020
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is an indie multiplayer party game developed by Mediatonic and published by Devolver digital. It was released Aug. 4 and features mini games that put players in a free-for-all struggle until there is one victor remaining. 
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Photo courtesy of Frontmeme.

In Review: Disney’s 2020 Mulan, gathers greater focus on female empowerment and self-acceptance

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter September 18, 2020
 My favorite trait of Mulan is that she isn’t feeble. Mulan taught young Exodis that she could be her own hero and I think that’s something girls could use more of. 
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Photo courtesy of UTEP.

Minerpalooza dazzles viewers from home, Jon Pardi performs

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter September 6, 2020
The show welcomed the new academic year by featuring online performances by country music star Jon Pardi, UTEP band and UTEP’s cheer and dance teams. 
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Photo courtesy of Sergio Muñoz.

‘Ayúdame, Por Favor’ by UTEP student filmmaker to be shown at 2020 Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter September 4, 2020
 In 14 minutes and 12 seconds, the short film takes audience members alongside the young main character as roams around town, looking for adventure.
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Illustration by Hugo Hinojosa.

UTEP’s Center for Community Engagement encourages college students to vote

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter September 2, 2020
The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) at UTEP gave a presentation Aug. 26 about the importance of voting, especially for college students, after finding the 18 to 24 age bracket to be the least active in past elections.
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UTEP’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents ‘Creating and Connecting in Quarantine’

UTEP’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents ‘Creating and Connecting in Quarantine’

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter August 26, 2020
UTEP’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents “Creating and Connecting in Quarantine” for the fall 2020 season.
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While some production companies pushed released dates in anticipation of theater reopening's, others found ways to get their work to viewers.

Movie theaters fight for attention as streaming apps and drive-in theaters accommodate movie goers

Exodis Ward, Staff Reporter August 25, 2020

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, a mass shutdown order of non-essential spaces was put in place in March, leading El Paso movie-goers to find new ways to consume media. While some production companies pushed...

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El Paso high schools prepare seniors for college during COVID-19 crisis

El Paso high schools prepare seniors for college during COVID-19 crisis

Exodis Ward, Contributer May 30, 2020

The spread of the Coronavirus is raising concerns about how college students will return to campus in the Fall. While current college students will not have much of an adjustment to make, incoming freshmen may struggle. Here is how two...

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Brandon Cortez is currently working at Whole Foods.

The bleak reality of being an essential worker during COVID-19

Exodis Ward, Contributor May 26, 2020

It is almost like sleepwalking. Junior Brandon Cortez walks into the store and checks his temperature at the door. Under 100.4  degree, he is good. The florescent lights seem to be brighter than usual at this early hour. He puts his belongings away and...

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Lindsay Hearon has a keen eye for detail and finds ways to incorporate it into every show. Photo courtesy of Christ J. Morere.

The pandemic won’t stop this graduating senior

Exodis Ward, Reporter May 11, 2020

Lindsay Hearon is a theatre arts major graduating this spring from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and she’s had a passion for the magic of live theatre her entire life.    “Theatre is my entire life. I love working in any...

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The study found, between February and March of this year, unemployment increased 1.2 percent, bringing the total to 4.8 percent.

El Paso unemployment increases, nearly at 5 percent

Exodis Ward, Contributor April 30, 2020

El Paso’s unemployment increased to almost 5 percent since stay-at-home orders were put in place last month, according to a study done by El Paso Workforce Solutions.   Workforce solutions accesses data for the Texas Workforce Commission for...

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UTEP students can tell how they’re handling work or school from home by sending their pitch to ProspectorGallery@gmail.com

During quarantine, UTEP students live, work online

Exodis Ward, Contributor April 8, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyday life in the borderland.   El Paso Mayor Dee Margo and the City of El Paso have enacted many changes in hopes to slow the spread, resulting in a lot of shutdowns and minimizing community movement.   On March...

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The Last of Us is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.

Four things we can learn from this video game about a devastating pandemic

Exodis Ward, Contributor April 6, 2020

With all this COVID-19 craziness going on, it seemed quite appropriate to play “The Last of Us” (TLOU) on my PS4 — an action-packed video game about the aftermath of a cordyceps fungus pandemic that morphed humans into infected...

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El Paso is one of the cities affected by Coronavirus.

Officials amend emergency directives, tighten restrictions

Exodis Ward, Contributor April 1, 2020

The City of El Paso announced in a virtual news conference that it has amended its emergency directive regarding business and civilian activity Wednesday evening, imposing even tighter restrictions.  All parks and recreational areas are...

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In 2018, women made up 47 percent of the total workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Gender-wage gap decreases as women become more educated

Exodis Ward, Contributor March 9, 2020

A study found that the gender-wage gap is decreasing as employers hire more women to fill the need for skilled workers.   The Pew Research Center (PRC) studied women’s careers from 1980 to 2018 and found that the average hourly wage has gone from...

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Juliette Caire  has been the director of GEAR UP since 2001.

Juliette Caire pulls $13 million grant, invests in El Paso Youth

Exodis Ward, Contributor March 2, 2020

There is an assortment of knick knacks in Juliette Caire’s office. In her 20 years as executive director of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) partnerships at UTEP, she’s collected quite a few. The Frida Kahlo...

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Monsters We Create is an original piece written in collaboration between Professor Georgina Escobar and the 2019 UTEP Playwrights, directed by Kim McKean.

‘Monsters We Create’: A play co-produced by students focuses on border, climate change, mental illness

Exodis Ward, Contributor February 10, 2020

“Monsters We Create” is a new play about political chaos and one girl’s tale of resilience written by playwright Georgina Escobar in collaboration with student playwrights.   It’s set to premiere at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Studio Theatre...

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Anastasia Elliot performs at The Lowbrow Palace for The Great Khalid Foundation benefit concert Thursday Jan. 23, 2019.

Alternative singer Anastasia Elliot performs to support music education, El Paso shooting victims

Exodis Ward, Contributor January 27, 2020

Alternative singer and songwriter Anastasia Elliot headlined a concert Jan. 23 at the Lowbrow Palace to support The Great Khalid Foundation and the victims of the Aug. 3 shooting that left 22 dead and several dozen injured at an El Paso Walmart.  Elliot is...

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Linda Wolfe, executive director of The Great Khalid Foundation gives out scholarship check to student from El Paso, Texas.

The Great Khalid Foundation offers nationwide scholarship

Exodis Ward, Contributor January 27, 2020

The Great Khalid Foundation announced Jan. 15 that its performing arts scholarship for high school seniors is available nationwide.  The foundation will choose three students to receive a scholarship of $10,000 for any college fine arts program they will...

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Born in Houston, Anastasia Elliot's approach to writing melodies is heavily influenced by an upbringing steeped in classical music, operatic vocal training, and classical piano.

Anastasia Elliot to headline the Great Khalid Foundation benefit concert tomorrow

Exodis Ward, Contributor January 22, 2020

Singer and songwriter Anastasia Elliot is set to perform in a benefit concert honoring the victims of the Aug. 3 shooting while raising funds for the Great Khalid Foundation’s music education programs Thursday, Jan. 23.  The performance...

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There is no specific key for ambient music but the overall mood of the music is scientifically proven to be calming for listeners.

Soothing, minimal music scientifically linked to higher levels of concentration and productivity

Exodis Ward, Contributor January 21, 2020

Several studies on the physiological effects of listening to music while studying or doing any kind of activity, indicate that certain kinds of music boost concentration and productivity among several other benefits. A recent study done by Florida...

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Senior Aibhlin Esparza at the College of Engineering Building.

Engineering major empowers women, crushes goals

Exodis Ward, Contributor December 3, 2019

Senior Aibhlin Esparza is blazing a trail for women in engineering.    “I’m one of the people where, if there’s an opportunity in front of me, I’m gonna go ahead and take it. I’ll work out the rest of the details later,” she said....

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πko by Marina, a local business showcased their bags and wallets at Viva Los Muertos Day of the Dead Festival on Saturday, Nov 16, 2019.

GALLERY: Viva Los Muertos Day of the Dead Festival

Exodis Ward, Contributor November 19, 2019

El Paso Punk Rock Flea Market hosted the “Viva Los Muertos Day of the Dead Festival” Saturday, Nov. 16 at El Maida Shrine auditorium.   In a post, coordinators described the event as “A sacred thing for us and we want to share this...

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It is normal for students to use social media often. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are very popular social media platforms among young people.

UTEP students use social media to connect with the world

Exodis Ward, Contributor November 12, 2019

A Pew Research Center survey found that smartphone users are more often exposed to people who have different backgrounds and are more connected to friends they don’t see in person.  Students on campus were asked how they used their smartphones...

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They city of El Paso works to create awareness of the importance of Census 2020.

Census workshops encourage El Paso to participate

Exodis Ward, Contributor November 12, 2019

UTEP is hosting 2020 Census workshops to inform the community about the decennial survey of the U.S. population.   Paulina Lopez and Richard Cerros, two partnership specialists with the U.S. Census Bureau, led the first event Thursday,...

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The letter was sent out to the entire administration and the head of the Education Department.

After a hate letter, College of Education counteracts homophobia

Exodis Ward, Contributor November 5, 2019

Editor's note: The story was updated Nov. 21 to correct Alberto Esquinca's employment status.  In March 2017, UTEP’s College of Education received a hate letter.    The letter, written from the point of view of an anonymous student, targeted...

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Día de los Muertos is a Mexican celebration that is also celebrated in the border.

Fall celebrations are as diverse as the citizens participating

Exodis Ward, Contributor October 29, 2019

The many ways Día de los Muertos and Halloween are celebrated in El Paso reflect the dual culture of citizens near the U.S.-Mexico border.  To get a taste of how the holidays are celebrated, students and faculty on campus explained how...

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A student reads one of the audience lines during the play Queer as a Second Language from the Queer(in)g Our Classrooms event held Monday, Oct. 14, 2019.

Students, faculty promote queer inclusiveness in classrooms

Exodis Ward, Contributor October 22, 2019

UTEP students and faculty from the UTEP’s College of Education hosted the second annual Queer(in)g Our Classrooms Oct. 14 at the El Paso Natural Gas Conference Center.    As implied by the title, the event’s theme was discussing LGBTQ topics...

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