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Since 1919

The Prairie News

Since 1919

The Prairie News

Since 1919

The Prairie News

Olivia Spiezio

Olivia Spiezio, Senior Reporter

I am a senior Public Administration major from Bradenton, FL. I’m passionate about journalism, especially political journalism, and spent my freshman and sophomore years as a journalism major before transferring to WT and changing my major. I spend my spare time riding horses or watching crime TV shows with my cat.

All content by Olivia Spiezio
We are all desperate for some feel-good hormones in this time.

Taking a mental health break in the apocalypse

Olivia Spiezio, Reporter April 6, 2020

I won’t be the first to admit that this is stressful. Every time we check social media, turn on the TV, and even listen to our favorite podcasts, we are inundated with statistics about the latest...

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Op-Ed: How capitalism caused the COVID-19 pandemic

Op-Ed: How capitalism caused the COVID-19 pandemic

Olivia Spiezio, Reporter March 27, 2020

The novel coronavirus outbreak was officially labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11th, 2020. Since then, the global infected count has reached over 460,000 with a death toll...

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Staying cool in spring break hot zones

Staying cool in spring break hot zones

Olivia Spiezio March 13, 2020

West Texas A&M University students have just a few more days before spring break, and that means travelling. Whether your personal travel plans are domestic or international, odds are that any destination...

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WTAMU Equestrian's Western team wins 14 consecutive regional titles in the longest winning streak in WT Athletic history.

WT equestrian’s western team slides into 14th consecutive regional title

Olivia Spiezio, Reporter March 7, 2020

West Texas A&M University’s equestrian team won Western Regional Championships on Sunday for the 14th consecutive year, making them the only team in the history of WTAMU’s athletic program...

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Laws and rights of service animals. Courtesy Project Canine

Don’t get put in the doghouse: know the law about service animals at school

Olivia Spiezio, Reporter February 28, 2020

College is a very hard time for anybody attending. Between the vastly increased workload expected academically, living away from home for the first time and most students beginning to have ‘adult’...

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Dr. Temple Grandin during her lecture on Tuesday/Photo by Olivia Spiezio, reporter

Dr. Temple Grandin ‘steers’ students in the right direction

Olivia Spiezio, Reporter February 24, 2020

On Tuesday, Feb. 19, West Texas A&M University’s Distinguished Lecture Series brought Dr. Temple Grandin to speak to an audience of over 1,000 individuals in Legacy Hall at the Jack B. Kelley Student...

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Dr. McFarland briefs contestants before Whose Line Is It Anyway on Tuesday.

Comm Week: Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Olivia Spiezio February 17, 2020

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‘Ragnarok’ comes in hot to climate change discussion

‘Ragnarok’ comes in hot to climate change discussion

Olivia Spiezio, Reporter February 14, 2020
On January 31, Netflix premiered the Norwegian language series “Ragnarok.” Featuring a cast of characters who are disabled and in the LGBT community, “Ragnarok” tactfully blends teen drama, Norse mythology, and climate change to provide a unique look at a fictional town staring down the barrel of a modern ragnarok.
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Courtesy WT Rec Sports Facebook page

West Texas A&M’s climbing tower helps students reach new heights

Olivia Spiezio, Reporter February 2, 2020

Any student who has visited the Virgil Henson Activities Center has probably seen the climbing tower. The looming structure is always surrounded by individuals in various stages of frustration and excitement,...

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Courtesy WTAMU Buffalo Buckle Series Facebook Page/The buckle that will be awarded to the high point rider for the 19 & Over division.

WTAMU Buffalo Buckle Series: straight from the horse’s mouth

Olivia Spiezio, Reporter January 21, 2020

West Texas A&M University’s agriculture students are no strangers to creating new and enterprising projects for the Canyon community. The most recent endeavor is a series of horse shows held at the...

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Source: LoveToKnow.com

Monsters, myths, and legends of the Lone Star State

Olivia Spiezio, Senior Reporter December 6, 2019

In a place as old and historic as Texas, myths, legend, and folklore are bound to become a part of the culture of the area. Texas and the American Southwest have a variety of legends entrenched in the...

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Courtesy: West Texas A&M

WTAMU Nursing announces move to Amarillo

Olivia Spiezio November 23, 2019

West Texas A&M University’s president Walter Wendler announced Tuesday that the Department of Nursing would be relocating to the university’s Amarillo campus by fall of 2021 and they will buying...

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Explore the colleges of WTAMU

Olivia Spiezio November 15, 2019

  In 1983, developmental psychologist and Harvard professor Howard Gardner released his book “Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences” in which he proposed eight different...

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Source: ABC News

Why Americans should ‘Remember, remember, the fifth of November”

Olivia Spiezio November 15, 2019

While most American adults are familiar with the 2006 Warner Bros. film “V for Vendetta,” not many are familiar with the historical basis for the film. V’s poem in “V for Vendetta,” his plot...

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The Legacy brings ‘Weird Stories and Dark Tales’ to Barrel and Pie

The Legacy brings ‘Weird Stories and Dark Tales’ to Barrel and Pie

Olivia Spiezio November 1, 2019

West Texas A&M University’s creative writing journal The Legacy held its second annual Halloween reading at Barrel and Pie on October 29, sharing 13 macabre and chilling poems and short stories written...

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Courtesy Olivia Spiezio

Breast cancer awareness is for everyone

Olivia Spiezio October 25, 2019

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. Breast cancer is a common, deadly, and aggressive disease that can develop in any individual regardless of sex or age, not just menopausal...

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This week in American politics: Turkey, Syria, and Impeachment updates

This week in American politics: Turkey, Syria, and Impeachment updates

Olivia Spiezio October 15, 2019

This week in American politics, President Trump endorsed a Turkish military operation in Syria and more subpoenas have been issued in the ongoing impeachment inquiry. Trump and Turkey The White House...

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This week in American politics: impeachment updates, fundraising, and heart surgery

This week in American politics: impeachment updates, fundraising, and heart surgery

Olivia Spiezio October 6, 2019

In the past week, the third fiscal quarter ended on Sept. 30, Senator Bernie Sanders underwent emergency heart surgery, and there were important developments on President Trump’s impeachment inquiry.  Campaign...

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Pancakes and Karaoke 2019

Olivia Spiezio October 4, 2019

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Credit WTAMU Department of Communications

Communication Hall of Fame honors WT alumni, community partners

Olivia Spiezio October 1, 2019

The 2019 Communication Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sept. 27  honored five WT alumni in addition to presenting awards to additional alumni and community partners.  The ceremony was hosted...

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Fall 2019 Career EXPO brings new employers, new location

Fall 2019 Career EXPO brings new employers, new location

Olivia Spiezio October 1, 2019

The Fall 2019 Career EXPO made its debut at its new location in the First United Bank Center this Thursday, bringing a new range of employers to the larger venue in addition to new features that are able...

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This week in American politics: whistleblowers, impeachment, and the Bidens

This week in American politics: whistleblowers, impeachment, and the Bidens

Olivia Spiezio September 27, 2019

On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that the House of Representatives would be moving forward with a formal impeachment inquiry, stating that President Trump must be held accountable...

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