The Magnet Tribune, Vol. 25, No. 1, Jan. 8, 2018

TribunE T H E M AG N E T

A state- and nationally recognized student newspaper

Vol. 25, No. 1

http://magnettribune.org

January 8, 2018

Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts, 2102 East Lyon St., Laredo, Texas 78043

Bringing you the news for 25 years!

Mayor discusses DACA, Trump, more

National Hispanic Scholars Art student feels honored with recognition Ashley Martinez Staff Writer

Page 4 VMT hosts new and student teachers

Pages 6-7 Teachers describe trips with students

Page 11

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What is the National Hispanic Recognition Program?

Visual arts senior Catalina Berry said she felt honored to be recognized as a National Hispanic Scholar.

“I didn’t even know about the National Hispanic Recognition Program,” Berry said, adding she felt pretty honored to know she made the list.

“When I applied for the Gates Scholarship, there was a box to check if you are a National Hispanic Scholar,” Berry added.

The program mailed certificates in September to students’ homes. Berry received hers one day while her dad was present. She said her dad was very proud, while her reaction was neutral.

Berry said the NHRP took the score of her very first SAT. Berry recommended everybody practice before going to take the SATs. “I know my scores could have been better if I had used codecademy (a tutoring service) earlier, so yes, practice,” she stated.

MT photo by Ashley Martinez

CATALINA BERRY

In order to receive this recognition, one must be a junior who took the PSAT, be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino, and have a GPA of 3.5 at the end of the junior year.

NHRP does not provide a financial reward, but being named is an important academic recognition, and this achievement should be noted on college applications and scholarships, according to the website.

Most scholarship applications require students to submit their SAT scores.

The higher the score, the more likely one is to earn a scholarship. Adding NHRP recipient betters one’s chances as well.

Free hundreds push Friends, family glad hard work paid off Cruz to prepare Audrey Castillo Staff Writer Woodwind student Carlos Cruz’s desire for hundreds helped him become a National Hispanic Scholar.

He said he prepared for the PSAT with Khan Academy, which he said he utilized three times a week for about a month as an assignment from one of his teachers.

“I wanted that free hundred (grade). Let’s get it! I would do a lot and go a little beyond sometimes,” Cruz said.

Not only was this website helpful with his PSAT score, but it also helped him get free hundreds in class, he said.

Out of a 1520 scale score on the PSAT, Cruz received 1300.

“I was definitely pushing myself – I didn’t want to waste a single second on getting distracted,” Cruz stated.

Although Cruz received a letter at home in the mail he simply disregarded it. It was not until his Martin CRUZ High counselor informed him that he became aware of his accomplishment.

Not only was he stoked, so were his family and friends.

“This is that Hispanic scholar kid!” Cruz’ friends teased.

His mother and brother were shocked that he was the only Martin High Student to receive this recognition, and were proud of what he had achieved, he said.

Cruz offered tips for taking the PSAT. “Answer every single question. You never know if you’re going to get it right. Those See CRUZ, page 2

Xochitl Gonzalez Staff Writer Being recognized as a National Hispanic Scholar shocked senior journalism student Lauren Melendez.

“I was very excited because when I found out that I could qualify for this recognition, I wasn’t sure that I would meet the criteria, but I thought I’d apply just in case, so it was very surprising to be qualified,” Melendez said.

She said her friends and family were excited about her recognition.

“My family and friends were beyond excited for me,” Melendez said. “They’re always very supportive since they know I work hard to excel in academia, so I guess they were happy my hard work paid off.”

Melendez said she studied beforehand by using a website

called Khan Academy.

She said she was thankful for being recognized.

“I’m very grateful to be MELENDEZ named a National Hispanic Scholar,” Melendez stated. “It’s a good way to set you apart from other applicants when it comes to the college admission process, and I would encourage everyone to apply for the award.”

Melendez said she is uncertain of what college she will attend.

“I think it’s a good way to set a candidate apart for college admissions because, in this day and age, most students always strive to have a 4.0 GPA, but it’s recognitions like these, and extra-curricSee MELENDEZ, page 2

DACA recipients fear the future Kevin Garcia Staff Writer

“Jane,” who said she has never been to Mexico, is worried about her future.

“I have lived in Laredo ever since I was a child, I’ve never been to Mexico, I have a family here now, I have my own house, I pay taxes just like any other American who lives in the U.S, ” Jane, not her real name, said.

Jane, now an adult who falls under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, is one of many who may face problems since the Trump Administration ended the program September 5.

“The way that DACA affected me was that I was allowed to obtain a valid driver license and it allowed me to go to college. But now since the program was taken away by the Trump Administration I’m

Photo courtesy of Jesus Hernandez Former VMT student Jesus Hernandez, now at TAMIU, says he is concerned about the end of DACA.

Related content:

• Mayor’s interview includes DACA views, page 4 • The Bug: Give DACA recipients a chance, page 8 • Observations: No free ride for DACA recipients, page 8

Page designed by Maddie Dion

scared that I might be deported to Mexico,” she said.

According to Immigration Equality website, DACA was created to assist some people now in the U.S. “On June 15, 2012, President Obama created a new policy calling for deferred action for certain undocumented young people who came to the U.S. as children. Applications under the program which is called Deferred Action for Children Arrivals (“DACA”) began on August 15, 2012,” according to the website.

To be eligible, applicants had to have arrived in the US before age 16 and have lived there since June 15, 2007.

They could not have been older than 30 when the Department of Homeland Security enacted the policy in 2012, the website states.

Dr. Pablo Arenaz, president See DACA, page 2

School News Chess Club members play to win The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

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Addy Melgar Staff Writer

Chess Club sponsor Aemie Martinez started learning how to play chess along with some of the Chess Club members.

“I enjoy having the students teach me how to play, and I think I have gotten a little better over the last few months because I get to play them,” Martinez said.

Martinez said she had no background in chess until she joined the club.

“I had never played before until I started sponsoring the club last year,” she said.

Martinez began obtaining skills from her Chess Club members and learning along with her students.

“I think it gives me an opportunity to get to know my students outside of the classroom and help them develop strengths that are going to help them in other areas of their lives,” Martinez said.

Martinez said that some of the things she has learned so far are the basics and the rules of chess and by going to the Chess Club events she learned that there is a big community of chess enthusiasts in Laredo.

“They put on tournaments and it’s a really nice community, people who help each other, teach each other and they really have a passion for the game,” she said.

Martinez affirmed that there are two major tournaments this season, October 7 and October 28, then after those, there is two more in spring.

“The first week of October and the last week of October on a Saturday and then we don’t go to a tournament again until this spring. There is usually one in March and one in January so basically two per semester,” she said.

MT photo by Addy Melgar Chess Club sponsor Aemie Martinez watches as Angel Calleja and Joshua Ramos play during a lunch-time practice in her classroom. perts have developed ways of predicting and anticipating what their opponents are going to do, and they also study ways which they can counter the moves of the people that they are playing.”

Junior Alexa Sanchez said she joined the club because all her friends are in the club, she then started liking the game also.

“It’s actually fun to play chess even though I didn’t know at the beginning how to play,” she said.

She encourages people to join the club and learn more about it.

“Because many people think it’s a really difficult game but basically you just need to know all the rules and you are going to learn it’s really fun, “she said.

Even though she has barely been

The Chess Club sponsor expects the team to take part in all the events.

“We are going to participate in all of the tournaments. We did it last year and we were pretty successful,” she said. “We brought back three trophies and we had several competitors win individual certificates and ribbons so we are hoping to do that again this year.”

Martinez said that the game of chess is important because it requires a lot of critical thinking and helps people obtain skills that they would use later in their lives outside of the game.

“People who play chess develop skills that would help them do better in subjects like science and math because they will become really good problem solvers,” she said. “People who are ex-

Gaynor also grades AP exams Briana Sepulveda Staff Writer A teacher who is also an AP reader is filled with inspiration and dedication and aspires to help students strive to be the best.

Sean Gaynor has been teaching Social Studies for about 12 years; 7 of the years of being an Advanced Placement teacher. Along with his career, he decided to become an AP reader.

An AP reader consists of high school teachers and college professors that gather to score AP exams.

“In 7 days we find a way to score hundreds of thousands of exams,” Gaynor said.

Becoming an AP reader requires being an AP teacher for at least three years and applying for the position.

One then has to be accepted by the College Board.

Traveling is a part of the job and Gaynor finds that as something to really look forward to.

“I really like going on site because as you go there you start making friendships. This was my fourth year and I look forward to seeing teachers from other parts of the country and old roommates,” he said.

Not only does Gaynor work and score thousands of papers but also enjoys being out there and doing what he loves.

DACA,

from page

from page

ulars that set you apart from others,” she said.

She urged underclassmen start preparing early when it comes to taking the SAT. “I just recommend they start preparing early, rather than trying to cram

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CRUZ, from page 1 everything on a week before,” Melendez said. “I have a tendency to do that, but since this was such an important test, I sat down and told myself that I would study with enough time to improve my score.”

might be the extra points that make the difference between Hispanic scholar or not, 1200 or 1300, it might just give you that extra boost,” he said.

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of Texas A&M International University, issued a statement about the DACA program to The Magnet Tribune.

“As a public institution, we abide by all federal and state laws. Because we do not track information regarding the immigration status of our students, we cannot say how many might be affected by changes to the DACA program,” the statement said. “We will continue to foster a safe, welcoming learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds seeking to expand their opportunities through education. As a general rule, we cannot provide students with individual legal counsel, but we encourArts Schools Network

Gaynor has taught both AP and regular classes and said they definitely have differences between the two.

Students have a lot more pressure in an AP class and have to study and focus a lot more, he said.

Gaynor as an AP teacher tries his best to get his students on the path to success.

“It’s not where you start out in the class, it’s where you end up,” he said.

He said he is very caring of his students and wants only the best for them. He is glad that he is able to share his experiences with them and use his skills as an AP reader to benefit them.

“Students sometimes say ‘The AP exam is too hard I can’t do it’, and I know that they can,” he said.

Gaynor said he is blessed to work at a school with very motivated stuMT photo by Briana Sepulveda dents.

Social Studies instructor Sean GayOverall, he said he encourages his nor is also an AP Reader, and helps students to look at their different opgrade thousands of AP exams. tions, get the help they need, figure 4 years at several campuses and was out the best path, and never give up. even a testing coordinator as well.

“If someone tells you that it’s too “I’ve been to many campuses, but hard and you can’t do it, it’s not true.

I’ve never taught at any of them be- It’s like anything in life; if you want to sides the two. I played different roles at do it badly enough you will find a way each,” he said. to be successful,” he said.

“You’re surrounded by people who love the same thing you love,” he said.

While Gaynor said he takes pleasure in his career, he said his long-term goals would be to get into administration, preferably an assistant principal.

He said he wants to eventually try and pursue a career as an administrator because of the fact that he wants to help students succeed and strive to be at their fullest potential.

“I definitely want to do more to help students at my school to become more successful. In a classroom, I can help a limited number of students become successful, but as an administrator, you impact all of the students,” he said.

Being a teacher for many years Gaynor has not only taught at Vidal M. Trevino but also at Mary Help of Christians School.

He said he’s been to many different campuses, and had different roles at each of those campuses.

Gaynor was a technology trainer for

MELENDEZ,

playing chess for a month, she said that she would like to participate in all the events.

“I like to be determined and I want to show others that even though I just started playing chess I can still beat them,” she said. “It’s fun and it’s not the scary game I thought it was when I was little. It’s actually pretty fun.”

Even though the club has a lot of benefits it also has challenges like not much time to practice. Martinez said members make the most out of every minute they have in practice.

“At VMT we don’t have the time to meet as a formal club like after school because we have to adjust to the different schedules. We have students who aren’t here in the morning and it would be difficult for them to travel back for practices. Practice times have been more challenging but we make the most of it. You can have your lunch here during your lunch period and play a game while you are eating your lunch.

We have the kids take pictures of the games so they can continue them the next time we meet. We can also have virtual games through apps like Chess with Friends,” she said.

Martinez said the game is both an art and a science.

“There is definitely a lot of strategies involved. People who are experts have developed ways of predicting and anticipating what their opponents are going to do and they also study ways which they can counter the moves of the people that they are playing so there is definitely a lot of science in that. It could be an art because it’s also something that is done for fun and entertainment.

There is also a lot of history behind it as well and that is why I think it’s a blend of both,” she stated.

age those who need it to seek outside assistance.”

“Lesly,” a high school student, said she didn’t care about the end of the DACA program.

“DACA does not affect me, and I could really care less if they get rid of it. If you want to live in America then do it the right way, not come over illegally and get citizenship, not get a pass. If you came over as a little kid then your parents have had plenty of time to get it or try to get citizenship,” Lesly, who did not want to be identified, said.

Luis Gutierrez, a cashier at JC Penny at Mall Del Norte, said DACA gave him an opportunity to work and to study.

“The way I see it is that Apple News

DACA had helped me get a job and for me to attend college at Texas A&M International University. When I was four I had moved to Laredo with my mom and my two sisters. At first, we didn’t know what was going on because we were kids. We never thought we were labeled as immigrants,” he said.

He is concerned about how his life could change because of DACA ending “For years, I have been working hard to get my bachelor’s degree to become a teacher for AP history, and I heard about the news that DACA was officially terminated. I’m worried that me and my two other sisters might be deported. I’m an

Twitter: @Magnet_Tribune

American just like everybody else. I help my community by helping at the Bethany House in downtown Laredo,” he said.

Jesus Hernandez, a former VMT student who is now attending Texas A&M International University, spoke about his situation under DACA. “Well, under DACA I was able to get a work permit, get a driver’s license and just, in general, be an average American,” he said.

Hernandez is concerned about his hopes and dreams disappearing.

“I used to be afraid of just people finding out I was undocumented. When I heard about the Trump Administration Facebook: MagnetTribune

ending the program I was completely disappointed. All those hopes and dreams I had sort of vanished. This whole 6 month waiting period for the program to end has my future in a limbo,” he said.

Hernandez was unsure if he would stay in the U.S. or be returned to Mexico.

“Will I be allowed to stay? Or will I have to get deported and go back to a country I barely even remember? I came to the United States when I was 4 and I thought I was a regular American boy. So now, I don’t know what will be of my future.

I don’t want to return to those days where I had to live in the shadows.” Hernandez said. http://magnettribune.org

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

Remembering Sept. 11

3 Students honor 9/11 victims

Lauren Melendez Staff Writer At VMT’s 16th annual 9/11 ceremony, guest speaker Dr. William Ozinsky shed some light on what it’s like to live in service of this great nation, in the context of the fine arts -- a concept all VMT students are familiar with.

Ozinsky is a music professor at Laredo Community College, as well as a captain in the United States Army Reserve and participates in psychological operations. During his speech, he shared his initial reaction when the news of 9/11 broke. He was able to recount the moment with a startling amount of detail, down to the very street he was driving on at that moment.

When asked about this after the ceremony, he said he was “confused at first, and then angry; very, very angry, and then after that lots of grief.”

He said he spent the next few days glued to his television and CNN.com, anxiously awaiting more news.

Eight months later, he enlisted to play the trumpet in the United States Army Band.

Wosinski then recounted on the time he spent in service of this country, as a musician.

He said he has played “Taps” at over 1,200 funerals for veterans, calling this experience “intense and humbling.”

He has played at funerals for veterans from all walks of life, whether they were killed in action or committed suicide, for they “deserve [his] precision, nuance, and artistry.”

“I tell you this because what you do as artists matters,” he said to the audience.

September 11, 2001, marks a sad day in American history;

MT photo by Milton Hattem Student Gadiel Quintero bows his head after ringing the fire bell 10 times, once for every 300 people who perished in the 9/11 terrorist attacks during the 9/11 ceremony in the auditorium.

“This nation will always prevail and stand proud. God bless America. God bless the USA.” --Dr. Martha Villarreal, school director See more photos and video online at: https://magnettribune.org/?p=13556 https://magnettribune.org/?p=13557 a day that changed the nation impermeably and forever. On that fateful day, a group of militants affiliated with the terrorist group known as al-Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 Americans when they hijacked four planes with the intention of targeting four of the nation’s landmarks.

They carried out these heinous suicide attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but thankfully were unable to reach their

fourth destination, thanks to four brave passengers on the infamous Flight 93.

When asked after the ceremony how the 9/11 attacks have shaped our future as a nation, Wosinski stated that it was important to “be vigilant of the past… from world wars to having a knowledge of history in general, things that lead to these kinds of events. I think we just have to value our American freedoms.”

The Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts hosts an annual ceremony to commemorate and honor those who lost their lives that tragic day in 2001. This year, the ceremony recognized a myriad of local veterans and police officers, who risked their lives to maintain the principles of freedom we Americans hold dear.

The ceremony began with a few words from the school’s principal, Dr. Martha Villarreal. She welcomed the day’s honored guests, including Dr. Sylvia Rios, LISD’s new superintendent; Jose Ortiz, captain

of the fire department; a representative for Congressman Henry Cuellar; and the aforementioned guest speaker William Wosinski, among others.

Villarreal was eloquent in her remarks by saying “this nation will always prevail and stand proud. God bless America. God bless the USA.” Senior Alexa Garcia read an excerpt from George Bush’s Patriot Day Proclamation, in which the then-president stated that the day must be memorialized with remembrance services and candlelight vigils, as well as a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m.

At the 16th annual VMT 9/11 ceremony, students honored this tradition, remembering the victims of these violent attacks, and recognizing those who risked their lives to ensure our safety.

The ceremony also featured the VMT choir, which sang the national anthem as well as the VMT strings department. Later, Wosinski asked the audience to observe a moment of silence, which was followed by 10 chimes of a bell -- one for every 300 people who lost their lives that day.

Also in the audience was Douglas Alford, a Navy veteran, who spoke passionately about how American citizens take action in times of crises such as 9/11, calling this “the American way.”

“You’ve seen it with Hurricane Harvey, you’ve seen it with Irene … The American individual steps forward … and they don’t do it to be recognized, they do it because it needs to be done, and that’s the American way," Alford said.

"It takes a special type of person to do that, and we have millions of them.”

FBI agent recalls terrorist attack

Zoe Alvarez Staff Writer

“Kieran, wake up and turn on the TV,” she said.

He was so tired but woke up.

“Aunty, what are you talking about? I’m going back to sleep,” Kieran said Something happened,” she yelled. “Turn on the TV. He knew his aunt never yelled so he turned on the TV. Thirty-three seconds later the second plane crashed into the World Trade Center.

The day was September 11, 2001, terrorists had attacked the twin towers, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and crashed a plane in rural Pennsylvania.

He called his FBI partner, woke her up, and told her what happened.

Shortly after, Ramsey called his boss and asked him what he could do to help. They met at a site away from the office and were told to call everyone else to join them.

Then he began to put together the lead crime team, and others were chasing leads and false information having to do with New York, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania.

Three to four days later he and his team went to New York to help with recovery efforts.

They proceeded to work the next month at Ground Zero.

At Ground Zero They began at Ground Zero where Ramsey said they were “quite literally” looking for human remains as they brought out the rubble. The team would look for human remains in big dump trucks full of rubble, and anything that was of evidential interest even though they weren’t really focused on Arts Schools Network

Creative Commons license This picture shows the World Trade Center after two airliners taken over by terrorists crashed into the towers on September 11, 2001, in New York City. evidence.

He and his team in some sense knew what had already happened at that point. They had conducted searches on top of nearby buildings where various objects were found such as some of the passports or pieces of passports of the hijackers. But still, their focus was the search for human remains he said.

After the searches, agents then went to a place that was called the “fresh kill’s landfill” a place where all the rubble from Ground Zero was brought and they would sift through rubble in search for human remains and other items, he said.

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The atmosphere at Ground Zero was absolutely horrible according to Ramsey noticed that everyone was in a frantic pace to remove the rubble and look for missing people.

“You wouldn’t find people all at once in the rubble. You would only find body parts in the rubble and damage,” he said.

Every time someone was found in the rubble, the search crew would sound the sirens and they would let out a loud wail alerting everyone around.

They would then check if the person was dead or alive, Ramsey said.

Twitter: @Magnet_Tribune Page design by Zoe Alvarez

Reactions After watching the planes crash into the two towers, Ramsey was uncertain of what he felt at the moment.

“I was shocked I think, not unlike anybody who saw it,” he said. “I was shocked and I think maybe a little more emotional because I’m from New York originally.”

When he saw the plane hit the tower live on TV as he was on the phone with his aunt, it was almost unbelievable. He had to convince himself that it was actually real he said.

While working at Ground Zero two weeks later, Ramsey and his family had arrangeFacebook: MagnetTribune

ments for lunch. He remembered that he had walked 15 blocks in the city to find the restaurant and meet his family.

When he saw his family, his siblings, and father, they all broke down into tears and were overcome by emotion because of what had happened, he said. The attack on the World Trade Center had happened two weeks prior and was still very fresh in their minds and hearts.

They were also emotional since their father had lost his close friend which they were very close to as well. It also made them emotional to see that he was helping there at ground zero which meant the world to them.

Not only did it shock Ramsey and made him emotional, it had changed his perspective personally and professionally as well.

“Once I was finished working at Ground Zero, I flew back home to Seattle and the first thing I told my wife was I wanted to have kids,” he said.

This shocked and very much surprised his wife, he said. She had thought this was a result of his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and he had partially agreed. She would never forget the first thing he told her. Ramsey said.

They had children six years later but the concept of raising children to be good people never left, he said.

Sixteen years later Ramsey is still emotional on what took place September 11, 2001.

“Even now I get teary-eyed talking about this. I am still in disbelief that this could happen, that under the circumstances it could happen,” he said. http://magnettribune.org

Politics Laredo’s mayor speaks out

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

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Saenz discusses DACA, politics, Trump, and more Justyne Bernal Staff Writer

A

fter growing up in Laredo, Texas, and moving away for a while, Pete Saenz decided to be the positive change that he always wanted to see in the place he grew up in. With his bright outlook and respect for the border town and its future, he was elected mayor in November of 2014.

Saenz creates positive outlook In the beginning, Saenz created his own agenda, “New Voice, New Vision.” A goal that he works to achieve each day to be influential in Laredo.

“We needed a change. I felt that it was more the same, more the same. I’m doing my best to be different,” Saenz said in an interview with The Magnet Tribune in his office at City Hall.

He was able to win the election due to his hard work, positive mindset, and ambition that he portrayed during his campaign election.

“I think that there is a lot of opportunity to do a lot of good. But, (there are) a lot of obstacles and different thinking. You just have to be patient and try to stay focused on your platform and what the people elected you to be and pray every day,” Saenz said.

Success is earned During his term of being Laredo’s mayor, he has been tested in high waters but somehow has seen this experience as a fascinating and memorable one.

“I’m here and I enjoy being mayor. It is very challenging and interesting. (It is) Never a dull moment. Politics is a world in itself,” Saenz said.

Although he faced hardships growing up, those rough times have contributed to shaping him into the man/politician he is today. While Saenz attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, his family made their living by selling cabritos (young goats), calves, and horses. Being raised around hardworking people, the mayor has experienced and observed what earning success is like.

“I have learned what hard work is all about,” Saenz said.

This politician has worked hard to get where he is now by being unselfish of his time in college, using every moment he had to reach his goal to support his family and become a successful person. Never did Saenz have it easy, but he refused to let himself give up.

“I was married with three kids and working at night.

Things worked out. You just do what you have to do for your family, career, and sacrifice,” Saenz said.

Accomplishments

after

high school

After high school, Saenz graduated from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s in agriculture. Following this achievement, he married and continued his education at St. Mary’s Law School and earned his Ph.D. in law.

Saenz passed his bar exam and moved back to Laredo, Texas. He then began his journey and worked for a local firm as an associate, then a partner for 17 years. As time passed, he opened his own firm, but he was not able to run the firm once he became mayor.

“Being mayor is a full-time job,” Saenz said.

Before returning to Laredo, he lived in San Antonio, Texas, a city just about 3 hours from the place he had always called home. Despite the milestones he earned in that city, he believed that it was a part of his destiny to run for mayor. Saenz felt that as mayor, he could be the positive shift in the border Arts Schools Network

town.

“It was a calling to become mayor. To bring a new voice, an honest voice. Politics in Laredo have been known to be highly questionable. I felt that our city was worthy of a lot more,” Saenz said.

Stay focused Each day the mayor goes to City Hall with the ambition to be perfect and influential for the citizens of Laredo that see no light in their future.

“I’m focused every day. I try to be a good example. I try to make the right decisions and be the voice for the people who were voiceless and really feel hopeless,” Saenz said.

When first elected mayor, Saenz said the biggest conflict he faced was “to enter a world where there is a lot of criticism.”

MT photo by Justyne Bernal Mayor Pete Saenz reacts in his office in City Hall downtown during an interview with The Magnet Tribune.

No

need for a wall

One idea that the Trump Administration has planned to do since the elections is to create a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Despite his support of the U.S. needing more border security, Saenz does not agree Differences between the Trump with the wall.

Administration and Saenz on “I have been against the immigration A conflict that he has en- wall. It is offensive to us and to countered since being in office Mexico. There are better ways is the way his Laredo residents of securing our borders. I feel have reacted to the presidential that we don’t need a wall, we election of Donald Trump and could do without,” Saenz said.

“On a more global view, I the way he portrayed himself as during his campaign. The think a wall would hurt more,” mayor feels that the way the Saenz added.

Laredo’s border to Mexico is administration is running itself protected by the Rio Grande, offends the Mexican ethnicity.

“I know there was a lot which is a natural barrier, U.S. of criticism on the Mexicans Customs Officers, and Borand the immigrants. The ap- der Patrol Officers. Instead of proach that the president has investing in a wall, Saenz bebeen taking, an aggressive ap- lieves the money should be proach, I question. It can be used to create a “virtual wall.”

“We are basically saying done in a different way without creating this fear with both the ‘look we have the technology, populations of undocumented clear the river, negotiation, people and those around them. add visibility, create roads.’

We just have to stop, be rea- We would invest just a fraction sonable, and approach these of the money that they would spend on the wall,” Saenz said. things,” Saenz said.

The mayor argued that it Laredo is a border town to Mexico which means that a would negatively affect our greater number of the city’s’ close associations with the residents are immigrants and country across the river, creating “anHispanics. imosity “Undoc- “I know there was a lot of between u m e n t e d criticism on the Mexicans nations.” p e o p l e , and the immigrants. The “Being we do not approach that the president Hispanic know how has been taking, an aggresand having many there sive approach, I question. this close are, but It can be done in a different relationthey are way without creating this ship with very much Mexico, we a part of fear with both the populaour com- tions of undocumented peo- need each other. We m u n i t y . ple and those around them. are here; Laredo is a We just have to stop, be we have to city of im- reasonable, and approach work with m i g r a n t s . these things.”

Majority --Mayor Pete Saenz them. They are not goof us are ing away.

Hispanics,” I have worried especially beSaenz said This is a major factor why cause we are so dependent on the Trump Administration in- Mexico,” Saenz said. tends to fix immigration laws and the way our country en- Laredo needs NAFTA One way that the city is forces them. The mayor agrees these issues need to be re- closely involved with Mexico is through the North American solved but in a peaceful way.

“I feel very strongly that we Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). need comprehensive immigra- This is a deal between the U.S, tion reform. We need to secure Mexico, and Canada that has our borders. We all agree on se- been an asset towards boosting curing the border. We want to Laredo’s economy.

“This is why Laredo has see who is coming in and out,” been so successful in trade. If Saenz said.

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that goes away, it is going to heavily impact our economy.

The industry is easy 40 or 50 percent of our economy. We depend heavily on it. I think there has to be a balance,” he said.

Better

ways to improve

border security

With an increase of U.S. Border Patrol and Customs Officers, Saenz sees the nation’s borders to become more secure.

“We have a lot of Border Patrol and Customs people here.

We depend heavily on them.

They’re good for the economy, too. We need their security.

We need more people on the ground,” Saenz said.

DACA

recipients

deserve a chance

The mayor believes these immigration cases need to be resolved to create tranquility and put this conflict to an end.

“We need to once and for all bring peace to the immigrant and to the U.S. Who would want to like to live a life with people following you?” Saenz said.

In recent politics, the Trump Administration has made plans to end The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and is calling Congress to deal with this policy removal. DACA gives people that were brought here as children by their parents to remain in the U.S. with certain regulations and requirements.

As a father, mayor, citizen, and a politician, Saenz approves of DACA. He believes this immigration policy should stay in place.

“I’m in favor of DACA. These kids that were brought here by their parents, majority because they seek a better place,” Saenz said.

A major reason why the mayor thinks it is only right to keep the DACA policy active is to avoid the separation of families.

“Border Patrol may catch you one day and split you from your family or send you back.

I’m totally for family,” Saenz said.

The strongest argument made throughout citizens is these DACA recipients only know the American way of living, since they grew up in this country and not their birthplace.

“They do not know any othFacebook: MagnetTribune

er culture. They are American.

They speak English, the majority are good students, they contribute, and have joined the military. They have done their part and are wanting to be as American as most Americans born here,” Saenz said.

“I would hope that Congress will give the DACA population a place in the U.S. because that is all they know,” Saenz added.

He believes that there should be more understanding, and considerations taken in by the Trump Administration and Congress towards these immigrants, the majority being Hispanics, an ethnic group that the Trump Administration has somehow appeared to target.

“There has got to be compassion here at some point. If I were him, I would at least give that to the Hispanics,” Saenz said.

The people who qualify for DACA want to come to the U.S. so they will have the opportunity to live the American Dream. Saenz said the removal of DACA would only bring a “dark cloud.”

“The majority of these people come here to seek a living. I would be doing the same thing if I had no hope. You will do whatever you can to provide a living for your family,” Saenz said.

There have been different opinions expressed and Saenz feels optimistic for the future of this policy.

“I feel hopeful that at the end of the day things will work out for the DACA people,” Saenz said.

Stay

positive and be the

voice for your community

Although cases where there is racism towards Hispanics do occur, the mayor says, “you do not hear those complaints in Laredo. We do not have these issues here in Laredo, we are respectful.”

These actions by the Trump Administration have affected this border town highly, but the mayor is doing everything in his power to prevent further complications.

“We are doing the best we can here on the border considering all the issues we have had,” he said.

In addition, he advises the community to keep fighting to be a voice in government despite the troubles.

“We are all concerned and should be working towards the reward we want to see. The only way we have is through advocacy. We have to express our opinion to the people who vote,” Saenz said.

“Speak up. Keep at it the best way you know. People of good conscientious need to step up although it is a mess.

Sometimes you got to do what is right. Ultimately, we will raise the level of integrity, so we could be better-governing people,” Saenz added.

To the teens that do not agree with the way the Trump Administration, Saenz urges them to stay open-minded and involved in politics.

“You have every right to feel that way. Life is a journey, stay open, search for the truth, and you will see that you evolve,” Saenz said.

Saenz continues to be patriotic about the U.S. and will continue to do so regardless of the differences he has with the Trump Administration.

“Despite all the issues that we have, we are still the best country in the world. Just look around, travel, read, go on the internet, and hear about other countries. We are still the best country,” Saenz said. http://magnettribune.org

Feature

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

5 UT student embraces ethnicity Justyne Bernal Staff Writer

people from all different kinds of backgrounds and cultures.

However, this did not negatively affect her judgment or attitude towards them, it only led her to understand where they come from.

“A campus full of 50,000 people from all over the world with different abilities, makes you really dig into not judging anyone by first impressions or on things they do not feel comfortable doing. I learned to appreciate other cultures that I see,” Keilah added.

R

acism, bigotry, discrimination: all issues that seem to occur daily despite laws that have been established.

With new U.S. president Donald Trump, some people say there has been a rise in the number of people who are being discriminated against, the majority being Mexican. This has given people with different ethnicities the fear to go out and live the American Dream.

With this issue, the stereotypes about Mexican ethnicity have also increased.

One individual, Keilah Granados, has not let these issues put her dreams on hold but rather as her ambition to continue.

Keilah describes herself as Hispanic – Latina and part Salvadorian. She grew up in Laredo, Texas, a border town across the Rio Grande from Mexico.

Her description of her hometown is it has “a small town vibe.” Additionally, she describes Laredo as “small minded but always a place to call home.”

She is now a sophomore attending The University of Texas, one of the most diverse universities in Texas. Many say that it is difficult for college students to move away from home, but Keilah had a positive mindset towards this new chapter in her life.

“I am someone who does not give up on trying no matter what obstacles get thrown at me,” she said.

During high school, she was able to balance her job, her education, and extracurricular activities. Throughout her four years, she was in track, basketball, softball, cross-country, tennis, Crime Stoppers, National Honor Society, science fair, EDGE (Science Honor Society), student advisory, and yearbook. She held offices of vice president, treasurer, president, and captain in most of these activities.

Education in a bigger city eilah attended school and graduated from J.W. Nixon High School in Laredo, then decided to move to Austin to attend college.

This 2016 graduate decided to pursue a college degree in the medical field.

“I’m planning on majoring in Human Development and Family Services with a background of sociology and physiology,” Keilah said.

With this education, she plans to become a physician assistant, physiologist, or another career in this field.

Not only does she plan on taking this path but eventually in creative writing or rhetoric.

“I would like to publish my own poetry into books once I feel comfortable sharing it. It is currently in the works,” she said.

K

College comes with change Although she moved just about 4 hours away from

Stereotypes can affect a student’s outlook t first, it was hard for Keilah to adjust to the university due to her ethnicity and unique cultures. Being a Hispanic Latina-half-Salvadorian female, she felt there would be a lot of stereotypes and discrimination towards her.

“I think since it is a huge university, diverse and all, you might find yourself already feeling less when you walk into a room or even raising your hand to ask a question,” she said.

She said how coming from Laredo, she was not always as positive as others were due to these stereotypes.

“It was overwhelming because you feel like just another number. Coming from Laredo, you do pick up an accent that could make you feel less than others. But, you see others confident with their own accents, and it makes you feel better,” Keilah said.

These issues resulted in Keilah having doubts about her ability to accomplish her goals.

“There was always a little doubt in me saying, “You know what? What if I cannot do this? What if I am not smart enough? What if I cannot pursue being a doctor?” she said.

Keilah’s drive to be successful has allowed her to overcome the opposing voice inside her.

‘You just have to keep pushing and pushing and later on you will soon realize that you should be proud of where you come from,’ she said.

A

Courtesy of Keilah Granados Former J.W. Nixon student Keilah Granados, seen here attending a UT football game, has found her voice at The University of Texas at Austin. She told The Magnet Tribune that she has found many new opportunities after moving away from Laredo.

“I am someone who does not give up on trying no matter what obstacles get thrown at me.”

--Keilah Granados home, it was a big change.

“It was a big eye opener because Austin is a big open-minded city that keeps up with what is going on in today’s world, but Laredo is hugely outdated with a lot of issues. In Austin, I really have that opportunity that not many in Laredo get to see,” Keilah said.

Back home, Keilah had not experienced a time where she felt discriminated because of her ethnicity. It was not until she moved that Keilah realized that there was more to it than she had ever faced.

“The racism that we Hispanics do face within our own city is not so bad because we all have similar backgrounds.

But when you move up, you actually face it and actually see people care about racism,” she said.

With time, Keilah was able to find organizations and people that have helped her grow into the person she is now.

With her new environment, she has been able to become confident and proud of where she comes from.

“I love the fact that I was able to find a group of people at UT that are very proud to say where they come from. At first, I was embarrassed but

then you start to realize that you should be proud. Especially if you hang out with people who embrace where they come from,” Keilah added.

Moving to a new city meant that she would receive better and different opportunities and she was eager for that.

“I was excited because I was finally out of Laredo. I knew I was going to a place where I would be able to relieve the real life issues that are going on and understand what others go through,” she said.

Along with the new people she met, living on campus has also been a factor in allowing her to adjust to change.

“Living on campus made me feel like I was able to grasp a lot of issues,” Keilah said.

She feels that there has been a change in herself that has led her to become more liberal than before.

“Coming from Laredo, I always knew that I was different than everyone else in a way.

But, my mind has opened a lot,” Keilah said.

“Once I moved, I said I was

gonna keep an open mind because once you go into college, you really do find yourself. You find your middle ground,” she added.

The people around her and their personalities including their past are different from those back home. Her experiences that she had growing up has helped her to relate and be aware of other people’s situations and past.

“The way I grew up and the difficulties I faced help me understand. Because of that, I am able to see where others come from and not judge them,” Keilah said.

Learning in a new environment ot only is she receiving a higher education in a new city, but a better understanding of how the real world works.

“When I moved up further, it was more than just your home background. There was more racism and disabilities.

People who have anxiety or depression. There is just a lot of things that go into people not being able to move on throughout their daily lives because something is holding them back,” she said.

Since Laredo is small city, it was surprising for her to learn that there are so many

N

“Coming from Laredo, I always knew I was different than everyone else in a way. But, my mind has opened a lot.”

--Keilah Granados

UT is home Keilah has managed to see the positive side of this new chapter in her life and has been able to deal with anything headed her way due to the university she attends.

“When you move out, at first it is very overwhelming because you don’t know what you can do,” she said.

Despite the issues, the people in her new community at the university have helped Keilah feel comfortable and close to home.

“What I love about UT is that the students really try to make you feel like home. The students really care for each other and you will find your group there,” she said.

“You move out and go wherever you feel is home and I felt that UT was home for me,” Keilah added.

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6

School News

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

Teachers hope to inspire their students

Astudillo brings passion to his classroom America Moreno Staff Writer

J

uan Astudillo remembers being in second grade, watching the news, and knowing what was going on with the presidential election of Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter in 1980.

He also knew about local politics, knowing who was running for mayor. He still loves watching the news and watching documentaries, history wise.

As an adult, Astudillo now notices that as a small child he always seemed to be heading in the direction of politics and government.

“It’s a blessing that I get to teach and work with the stuff that I love,” Astudillo said.

Astudillo has had a good experience this year at VMT, it being his first year here.

“It’s a really different campus with really special kind of students,” Astudillo added.

Astudillo has taught in different school districts. From United ISD to Gateway Academy, this will be his third educational stop of his career.

He has worked in several other jobs though. From HEB, at 16 years old, to a security officer at Martin.

He didn’t always aspire to be a teacher. At different points in his life, he had different dreams. He ended up graduating with a bachelor's degree in English and Political

Salma Silva Staff Writer

Science. Teaching was the fastest way to have a career so he chose to teach.

“It wasn’t my first choice but it was probably the best choice. I really enjoy doing what I do,” Astudillo said.

S

Looking forward to the future Astudillo is really excited about VMT’s upcoming events, especially the Hispanic festival.

Right now, Astudillo is part of the Voter Registration Drive. He has gone to different schools, along with all the Social Studies teachers and school Director Dr. Martha Villarreal, gathering many teenagers as much as possible, of the proper age, to register for voting. The Voter Registration Drive is the first thing that Astudillo got involved with this year.

Although he has heard of the common VMT events, he has never attended one.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the events in the theatre,” Astudillo said.

Describing VMT Astudillo has compared VMT to other schools that he has taught at.

“It’s a different environment, very positive,” he said.

In his opinion, 99.9 percent of the time, in the school and the class, everything’s really positive. It’s very educationally driven and he enjoys it. He thinks that the students are

MT photo by America Moreno New Social Studies teacher Juan Astudillo works with one of his students. Since childhood he has always had an interest in current events and government. very receptive to learn and participate in class, which he has not seen on other campuses.

“That’s something you don’t always see at different schools be-

cause of different factors,” Astudillo said.

Astudillo doesn’t fail to mention that he hopes he has many more years to come here at VMT. He said

he would really enjoy spending as many years as possible here before his career ends and is also hoping this is his last career stop.

Emilia Vela Staff Writer

F

ormer Alexander High School student Maria Enriquez is in her last semester of college before she graduates, and is spending her last semester as a student teacher here.

She was chosen to shadow Ricardo Carrillo, the Pre-AP English II teacher, for the rest of the semester to learn and observe what teaching real students will be like.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more knowledgeable and supportive mentor,” Enriquez said.

Interest in teaching and English Her interest in teaching started when she was 12 years old, and although she didn’t think she was going to pursue a career in it, Enriquez said she enjoyed teaching when she was young.

She had originally planned a career path in journalism. Enriquez stated that she had hoped to be an editor in the future, but she changed her major in college when she realized she loved her English classes more than any other.

In college is when it clicked for her. She said she enjoyed English and wanted to pass on her passion for it to others.

“It is better than I thought it would be. You’re benefiting students’ knowledge and helping them even consider college,” Enriquez said.

Enriquez hopes to stay in Laredo when she obtains her teaching degree this December. She wants to teach high schoolers but would settle for middle schoolers as well.

While she would like to stay in Laredo, if not, she would like to stay in Texas at most. She said she thinks Laredo has a lot of potential.

“Without proper knowledge of English and grammar no one’s going to take you seriously,” she said.

Enriquez said she wants to teach students something she knows they are going to use in everyday life. She wants to make sure they are prop-

7

Teniente looks up to her teachers

Enriquez wishes to influence her students

tudent teacher Leah Teniente has looked up to teachers for many years.

Teniente is a student teacher with Johanna Chaney, an AP U.S. History and Pre-AP World History teacher, this semester.

She helps Chaney with the students, assists her while giving lessons, and even teaches a few lessons here and there.

Teniente, a graduate of United High School, explains why she likes being at VMT. “The classes are so small here and it actually makes it a lot more fun to work with the students because you get to have longer discussions and get to know the students a lot better,“ Teniente said. “At United you had all kinds of students but here at VMT you just know you are going to get a very talented student and that kind of transfers to the lessons as well, so when we give out information, you know, you want to add some type of creative activity that they are able to express themselves.”

She explained the role of planning as a teacher.

“A lot of planning goes into teaching, preparing the lessons, what you are going to talk about, what questions you are going to ask,” she said.

She said she feels good before giving a lesson.

“I get a little more excited than nervous,” she said.

The TAMIU College of Education has a program for students who want to learn how to become a teacher. Supervisors at TAMIU call schools and ask for permission to have student teachers on campus.

“At the College of Ed you definite-

MT photo by Salma Silva Leah Teniente, a student teacher in Johanna Chaney’s class, works with students during a recent second block. She looks forward on being a positive teacher. ly learn that all students learn differently,” she said.

“It’s very different once you get into the classroom because every student is different, every classroom is different, and you have to learn what works and what doesn’t,” she said.

Teniente explained her goals as a teacher in the future.

“I want to get to know what works for me as a teacher. What kind of teacher am I going to be? Am I going to be super strict when it comes

to certain things? Am I going to be one that lectures? Am I going to ask questions?” Teniente said. “(I will be) a positive teacher that is really going to help these students in their academics.”

She said VMT has been a great learning experience.

“That’s the best thing about being in student teaching -- you get to learn from these experienced teachers that have been teaching for many years, or even just a few years, and just getting to know all

these students. I really do feel like I’m already part of VMT,” Teniente said.

She explained why she looks up to teachers here.

“The teachers at VMT are really awesome. They know their stuff, and they know their students, what works and what doesn’t,” Teniente said. “I have to say I really do see better teachers here at VMT than I had when I was going to school.

Their positive attitude is just amazing.”

Former student now student teacher

Dafne Naranjo Staff Writer

“M

MT photo by America Moreno Student teacher Maria Enriquez is assigned to Pre-AP English II instructor Ricardo Carrillo this semester. Enriquez hopes to inspire her future students and making them realize their potential. erly prepared and equipped to deal with all the future has to offer them.

“If you try you can be and do whatever you want,” she said.

Enriquez wants to pass on her knowledge and love of English to others. She hopes that when she does graduate she can be employed at VMT. When she first came here, she admitted she was a little nervous,

but the students were nothing short of respectful and well disciplined.

They were all kind, well behaved, and were accepting of her. “(It's) amazing, really, and I’m not just saying that to get you all to like me. I do feel this has been the best experience that I’ve gotten,” Enriquez said.

She said when she was in high school at Alexander things were dif-

ferent compared to here. At VMT everyone wants to be here, the environment and décor are happier, people are more respectful. Plus they didn’t have a journalism program, she said.

“There is a lot of emphasis on the fine arts, and ya’ll are here because you chose to be here,” she said.

She said that even if she were back in college and had the oppor-

tunity to still be a journalist, she would not switch because now she has the opportunity to change and impact students’ lives.

Enriquez believes students can be more than they think; they have no limits to what they can achieve.

“Make sure you teach with your heart or you’re not going to enjoy your field,” Enriquez said.

“Make sure you teach with your heart or you’re not going to enjoy your field.” Maria Enriquez Arts Schools Network

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The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

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r. Carroll, he made me fall in love with theater,” is the reason Martin Vela is student teaching here this fall.

“He would always say, ‘Theater is a laboratory for everything else.’

You use all the different subjects so I see it that way as well,” he said.

Vela used to be a student at the old VMT campus and graduated in 2013. He then went to college at Texas A&M in Corpus Christi.

Now he’s back but as a student teacher for Vernon Carroll, theater department head.

Vela explained what he likes about being back at VMT. “It's exciting, feels great to be back on school grounds and see the differences and endless opportunities that the new campus has for the students,” he said.

He discussed what he likes about being Carroll’s student teacher.

“It feels great. He’s a prodigious mentor. I used to take this class for 4 hours or so. I used to work with him outside of school during the summer as well. I majored in theater in college and I learned most of everything I know from Mr. Carroll,” Vela said.

He then talked about becoming a teacher here at VMT. “At some point yes, there’s so much you can do, students that want to be here. In other high schools where I used to teach, students would just go for requirements to take theater, not because they actually wanted to be there,” he said.

He described some of the personas of the students and their reac-

MT photo by Dafne Naranjo Student teacher Martin Vela, far right, helps students practice for their theater class projects during a recent second block. He was a former VMT student and is now excited to be a student teacher here. tions to him being a student teacher.

“All the students are willing to work hard for what they love. They love the things I offer. I learn from and with them as a teacher and performer as well. All the students are confident, hard- working, devoted, and very gifted,” Vela said.

He talked about his goals while here at VMT.

“To retain as much as I can from the methods Mr. Carroll has, but not just as a teacher also as a student,” Vela said.

The importance of theater Vela discussed why theater is important to him.

“Theater was my center. I actually have a degree and a bachelor’s degree. It has always been my key,”

he said.

He talked about where he might be in five years.

“Directing, performing, and educating younger artists,” he said.

He feels fortunate to be back at VMT this semester.

“I’m just excited and happy I got to come back and experience everything with Mr. Carroll,” he said.

“(I will be) a positive teacher that is really going to help these students in their academics.” Leah Teniente Arts Schools Network

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Opinions

8

Comments? Write us at mt_writers@hotmail.com

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

What should the U.S. do about DACA? Columnists present their opinions on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. See story, page 1

T

Recipients deserve a chance to stay

here have been multiple debates and discussions about whether to remove The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) act from all over the United States.

DACA is an immigration policy created by then-President Barack Obama in 2012. This allows undocumented minors with no criminal background that were brought here illegally as infants the opportunity to live, study, and work in America.

The Trump Administration ended DACA on Sept. 5, giving Congress the option to enact legislation to formalize the program.

I believe it would be constitutional for Congress to pass a law that allows these young immigrants the chance to remain in the U.S. It gives them the opportunity to live the American Dream, helps America grow in various ways, and it is unfair to those who have experienced living under the privileges that DACA entitles them to.

Foreigners have the right to live the American Dream just as much as a U.S. citizen does. These adults bring children to the U.S. under the impression that they will be able to have a lifestyle they truly deserve. The “Dreamers” only want to succeed in a country where they have the freedom and opportunities that they do not receive in their birth place.

DACA recipients take advantage of the benefits that this policy gives them, allowing them to live the American Dream. The removal of this policy would mean all these children feeling discriminated against, hopeless, and fearful for their future. The country that these children thought was the

The Bug

By Justyne Bernal land of opportunity and diversity will become the land that does not want to accept them.

The U.S. will soon backtrack and become a country that is discriminatory and isolated towards others. These are not beliefs and values that the U.S. has the reputation for.

I feel the Trump administration somehow seems threatened by these young immigrants, as they are doing our country no harm. These DACA recipients are assets to America’s growth economically and socially. They are eligible to remain in the U. S with certain rules and requirements such as attending school, getting a work permit, and paying taxes.

These immigrants have grown up to become doctors, lawyers, a voice for their communities. In addition, some of these Dreamers are enlisted in the military and tend to be more patriotic than citizens that were born in America. In my perspective, these recipients appreciate and value the opportunities received by DACA more than a U.S. citizen does. These children were brought here for the benefit of their future and the society around them.

The biggest reason they should not remove this policy is because it would be cruel and unfair for all these children who have lived in the U.S. because of the DACA program. For majority of these immigrants, the American See THE BUG, page 10

I

Recipients should not be given a free pass

n June 2012 President Barack Obama and his administration passed an executive orbservations der, called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also

By Aryanna Rodriguez known as DACA, that gave undocumented children temporary permission to live, study, and Read more opinion columns at work legally in the United States. magnettribune.org/category/opinions/ Current President Donald Trump’s Administration recently ended DACA and gave Congress ing to get their residency. six months to create an alternative Many children and young adults plan for the thousands of undocument- who were eligible for DACA are now ed people who are part of the program. concerned with how it could end. There However, there has been much discus- are many who claim they don’t even sion by people throughout the country have family in Mexico and they don’t on whether passing legislation protect- know what they will do if they get deing these undocumented people should ported. Many also say it’s unfair to be enacted. them because if DACA ends badly they I do not believe that Congress should will get deported in the middle of their pass legislation that would allow these studies here or even in the middle of undocumented immigrants, who were their careers. brought to the United States as chilI am not against children in the livdren, to remain in the United States. ing in the U.S. and living the American One reason would be because Presi- dream, but I do believe they should be dent Obama did not have the consti- doing it the right and fair way. I believe tutional power to do what DACA does. immigrants have the right to live the The United States is famous for be- American dream as much a U.S. citing the land of opportunity, prosperity, izens; however, I don’t agree with the and diversity; therefore, it is under- fact that adults bring children into the standable that most of these children U.S. under the impression that they are here wanting to live the American will get a free pass. dream, but I don’t think it’s fair to all The Trump Administration has left the other people who had to wait years the issue up to Congress so it can to get their residency. The process to be debated and so a decision can be obtain residency can take many years. made. The issue is now in Congress’s There are many individuals who were hands and the Administration is hopimmigrants for years living in the Unit- ing Congress does not only what is best ed States with a green card while in the for DACA recipients but what is best for process. Many individuals who were all the other people as well. not eligible for DACA are currently try-

O

Law should allow recreational use of pot

T

he debate of legalizing the devil’s lettuce has been going on for years. In the United States, over 20 states have legalized medical marijuana but only seven states and the District of Columbia have legal recreational marijuana.

Legal consumption of recreational marijuana would bring significant positive effects in various forms.

For starters, legalization would bring in major revenue boost to states. As of now, Colorado has collected a bit over half a billion dollars from retail sales of medical and recreational marijuana; recreational marijuana has brought in the majority of the money. With Colorado’s legal marijuana market producing millions in sales, other states could take this into account and use it as a push to legalize recreational marijuana. This money has been used to bring The Magnet Tribune The Magnet Tribune is a publication produced by students in the Journalism, Newspaper Production and Photojournalism classes of the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts, Laredo Independent School District. This publication provides readers with information relating to the school and its students, provides students a lab for producing a newspaper using professional-level computer software and offers an open forum for student opinion. The Magnet Tribune is distributed free of charge.

Dr. Martha Villarreal School director Mark Webber Journalism/online media instructor and adviser The Magnet Tribune Vol. 25, No. 1, January 8, 2018 Editor: Madelyn Dion Nameplate is a collaboration by journalism/online media students.

Production is by VMT journalism/online media/CTE students using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop on HP computers.

Printed by Greater Dallas Press, Garland, Texas Copyright ©2018 Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts and The Magnet Tribune.

It is the policy of the Laredo Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, limited English proficiency, or handicapping condition in its programs.

My Opinion

By Angie Bravo in more funding for schools, and other states should model these acts.

Aside from bringing in millions, recreational marijuana would impact law enforcement positively by enabling officers to focus on significant crimes. In the state of Oregon for example, a person can legally carry an ounce of marijuana in public; prior to legalization, of course, people would get arrested for a gram and thereby law enforcement would waste time and resources on a minor crime. Legalization of recreational marijuana means money wasted on minor crimes will now be invested in actual felonies.

Moreover, marijuana has been found to possess several positive medical ben-

Firearms are not the problem

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here’s precisely nowhere in the U.S. in which a horrendous mass shooting isn’t possible. The Texas church attack on Nov. 5 is the latest mass shooting in the United States. A man opened fire on a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing many and wounding many more people.

This individual had a history of domestic violence, in addition to attacking his previous wife and child while he was in the Air Force. Controlling the guns was clearly not an issue for him since he had access to weapons in the military. It’s unbelievable how someone that served our country can have the nerve to start something like a mass shooting. However, he took as many lives as he was able to; authorities say he killed at least 26 people and wounded 20.

There have been many other inci-

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efits, hence 20 out United States has to take of 50 states having a progressive footstep in medical marijuathe right direction and na available. It is legalize cannabis. apparent, howevUnfortunately, conservative states, such as er, that another Texas, would more than 30 states still have likely protest the decrimto be persuaded inalization of marijuana to allow the use of or try to oppress its use. medical and recreational However, the monetary marijuana. and medical benefits Cannabis has been recreational marijuana found to have beneficial Here are the results of would bring should be effects for the treatments this newspaper’s online valued if the U.S. were for Alzheimer’s, cancer poll on marijuana usage. to legalize it nationally. and epilepsy. With readily available marijuana, many will have Aside from treating a multitude of conan easier time treating their health ditions, the authorization to use marproblems. Having 30 states out of 50 ijuana would be a great money maker go without the medical benefits of mar- for the United States, which is a priijuana means there are health issues ority at all times. Although a wave of that have not been treated effectively. conservatism has been brought on by The consumption of cannabis can stop the Republican Trump administration, a seizure in a matter of seconds and the progressive actions must be taken for fact that so many people have been ex- America’s benefit; recreational marijuacluded from these benefits means the na must be legalized.

he said that it was not a gun situation, but rather an issue with xperiences mental health, and I would have to agree with him 100 percent.

The problem is not the guns.

By Lucero Rea In fact, we don’t need gun laws, and if I feel the need of protecting dents that have happened in the past myself I think I have the right to few years concerning these mass shoot- do so. A gun is not the problem, it’s the ings. It’s insane how individuals choose individual’s mental health. Strict gun to act on their ability to hurt innocent laws will not stop irresponsible people ones. There is no justification whatso- from using them. We could have the ever for the harm they’re causing to so- most advanced security; nonetheless, ciety. I can’t understand how they can atrocious individuals will always find a be capable of ruining plenty of peoples’ way to cause awful damage. lives, who had a good life or of some who When former president Obama was were even barely learning about life. in office he said that each time we I am not the kind of person to agree see one of these mass shootings, our with most of the things that President thoughts and prayers are not enough, Donald Trump says. However, in one of and undoubtedly they’re not because the press conferences Trump gave con- mass shootings seem to be inevitable. cerning the South Texas mass shooting,

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ILPC

Award of Distinguished Merit: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 (Star nomination), 2010 (online) Award of Achievement: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2011, 2011 (online), 2012 (online), 2013, 2014, 2015 (print and online), 2016 (print and online) Award of Honor: 1998, 2004, 2005

Contact The Magnet Tribune By e-mail: mt_writers@hotmail.com || On the Internet: http://magnettribune.org || Facebook || Twitter Address: Vidal M. Treviño School of Communication and Fine Arts, The Magnet Tribune, 2102 East Lyon St., Laredo, Texas 78043 In person: Room A212 (Journalism classroom), or drop off items for Mark Webber in the school office.

Reviews 9 Man’s woes are no laughing matter

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

V

ladimir Nabokov’s Laughter in the Dark is a delightfully evil tale of deceit, infidelity, and tragedy.

One of his most noteworthy witticisms was, perhaps, the following line: “Death often is the point of life’s joke.” This cynical theory proved to be true, in the case of Albinus, the unfortunate man whose story this is.

Nabokov boldly begins the novel with the words “Once upon a time there lived in Berlin, Germany a man called Albinus. He was rich, respectable, happy; one day he abandoned his wife for the sake of a youthful mistress; he loved; was not loved; and his life ended in disaster.”

Though this is just about the entirety of the story, Nabokov graced readers with the unabridged, uncut version of this ironic tragicomedy.

Father and husband Laughter in the Dark follows the aforementioned Albinus: a middle-aged art critic, father, and husband. He lived a comfortable life with a sizeable income, decent reputation, and a daughter who loved him. His picturesque existence was shattered when the beau-

The Book Look

By Lauren Melendez Read more The Book Look columns at

http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ tiful young Margot becomes the object of his attention. After a short courtship, Albinus shamelessly abandoned his wife and child to move in with Margot, who soon revealed her true colors.

At first, the affair seemed to be mutually beneficial. Albinus had a renewed sense of youthfulness, and a substantial boost to the ego. Margot, on the other hand, had both Albinus’ wealth and affection at her disposal- a dangerous combination.

Margot turned out to be a vile, vain young thing. Because she dreamed of stardom and money, she used Albinus’ resources to land a part in a film.

At this junction of the story, the plot thickens, for in walks Axel Rex, a film producer and Margot’s former paramour.

Narrator One of the most interest-

ing aspects of this novel was the way the story was told.

The narrator’s impassive tone complimented the subtle irony that was interwoven throughout the book. Another interesting aspect of the writing style was how although the narrator was omniscient, it typically follows one character at a time.

When said character interacts with another, the story swaps perspectives and follows the latter, like a game of “tag,” if you will.

What was most beguiling about the novel was Rex and Margot’s capacity for evil, and their lack of guilt. After Rex worms his way back into Margot’s life, they rekindle their love and incite an affair, right under Albinus’ nose. The three seemingly grow closer, and even take a trip to Paris together. Margot and Rex are extremely brazen with their ac-

tions, only half-attempting to hide their affair from Albinus, who was blind to Margot’s flaws. Though they exhibited many signs, and were sloppy in trying to conceal them, all Margot had to do to throw Albinus off their scent was leisurely come up with a lie- something that came naturally to her.

Downfall Rex and Margot’s actions ultimately result in the downfall of Albinus. An ironic turn of events ensues: an adulterer becomes the victim of adultery; A liar is lied to; and he who was blinded metaphorically, becomes blinded, literally.

It is best to leave it at that, so as not to reveal too much of the book’s plot. Though Nabokov considers it to be his worst work, Laughter in the Dark was intelligently written,

Creative Commons license and now holds the rank of one of my favorite novels, for it is so depressing that it’s almost charming. If you are looking for a dreary novel that will undoubtedly make you feel better about your own life, I strongly urge you to pick up Laughter in the Dark.

Carrie Diaries is at times corny but good

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uring the summer, I started watching a new show (shocker, I know).

It’s called “The Carrie Diaries.”

I started while I was sick during the summer. It took me about two weeks to finish and it was so amazing. It stars AnnaSophia Robb, Austin Butler, and a lot more. I also babysat throughout those two weeks so you would imagine my brother and I just sitting down on the couch, watching this.

The show has two seasons and that’s it. It didn’t get renewed for a third season which makes me a bit more mad than sad. I truly think that this show deserved better than it got. For two weeks, I saw this show and to find out that we aren’t getting a third season?

A disappointment.

Teenage years The show is a prequel to the famous “Sex and the City.”

It follows Carrie Bradshaw’s teenage years in the early

TV Fanatic

By Krysta Robles Read more TV FANatic columns at

http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ 1980s. Now the show is pretty good, it’s corny sometimes, but other than that, it’s good.

I started getting into it because of my cousin. I would go over to her house and she would be watching it and I would watch parts with her, and finally, I decided to start watching it from the beginning and when I tell you that I fell in love with the show and cast, I fell in love. Austin Butler has always been my celebrity crush and when I saw he was on the show, I died.

The show really shows what goes through Carrie’s mind and what happens around her.

She deals with family issues and everything in between and once you start watching it, you find her so relatable because you might be going through same problems as she is.

I enjoyed both seasons. Especially the second season.

I believe that if the first season started off good, then the second would be better. And it was. I think I related to it a little bit more because she was a senior on the show and I was going to be a senior. And I saw a little of me in her if that makes sense. You know, besides the fact that this was in the 80s and I wasn’t even in

the womb, yet.

Better season Season one was basically the get to know the characters with a little bit of drama.

It was good. However, season two was the best out of two. It dealt more with acceptance and relationship drama as well and it was well produced.

The Carrie Diaries really took a toll on my heart with everything that happened, relationship and life-wise. Well, her life anyway. This show deserves an 8/10 from me because it was good, but not something The Carrie Diaries ran two seasons, I would re-watch. and stars AnnaSophia Robb.

Here’s a game created by fans for fans

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onic Mania was first revealed during a 2016 San Diego Comic where many fans were pleased to know the project was being handled by Christian Whitehead, HeadCannon, and PagodaWest Games.

Christian Whitehead and HeadCannon both have a longtime history with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, porting classic titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 to mobiles. Lastly, Tee Lopes, who was well known for his Sonic the Hedgehog remixes on YouTube, was chosen to be the game’s composer.

The game was being developed by long-time fans of the series, which is a dream come true for many since in most cases fan games are usually taken down by game companies. The game was schedule for a 2017 release.

As more time went on more info was revealed such as an official release date which was August 16, 2017, for consoles, but the PC version was delayed till August 29, 2017. Luckily for PC users many received a free copy of Sonic the Hedgehog! (And if the user already had it they could give it to a Arts Schools Network

Read more Game Corner columns at

Game Corner

By Manuel Ruiz

Screen shot Characters in Sonic Mania have their own quirks. The game is filled with references to previous classic titles. friend.)

Story The game takes place after the original classic trilogy of the Sonic the Hedgehog games. Sonic and Tails investigate Angel Island (where the third game took place) after noticing a rise of strange energy waves. Once they arrive on Angel Island they find a group Apple News

of Egg-robos retrieving a mysterious crystal that transports Sonic and Tails, along with Knuckles the Echidna who was near the accident, to previous locations from previous classic titles.

Gameplay Sonic Mania plays like classic 2-D style games from previous titles which many fans

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http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ are familiar with the gameplay style, while newcomers can get used to the gameplay style since it’s simple to learn.

Examples are running at the speed of sound and platforming and near the end of the level players fight a boss for each act.

Each character has its own quirks such as Sonic being able to do a drop dash, a new mechanic that was given to Sonic, Tails being able to fly for a limited time, and Knuckles being able to glide and climb walls.

Pros Sonic Mania is filled with many classic throwbacks and references to previous classic titles which by many can easily get, but for most people who are going to try out Sonic for the first time may not get them at first.

The amount of challenge is also really entertaining due to the game not going easy on the player and the amount of speed the character can go throughout a level which makes it more fun going faster Facebook: MagnetTribune

and faster each time. The music is outstanding with each song being remixed and feeling brand new.

Cons There are a few glitches such as characters being crushed certain obstacles in a strange manner and sometimes the game’s music suddenly stops.

While sound effects can still be heard, the music returns once the player reaches the end of the level.

Lastly, depending on which game a player is playing on, if the player has the Nintendo Switch version, they might experience a bit of slow down during specials stages. Sometimes, being able to access the home menu takes a long while.

Final Thoughts Sonic Mania is a fantastic 2-D game that feels amazing and runs fantastic. With the few issues the game has it’s still an enjoyable journey and for an amazing price, it’s worth picking up for the amount of content it contains. A recommended title for anyone’s collection. http://magnettribune.org

Columns

10

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018 THE BUG

Waffle Iron

from page

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be cruel and unfair for all these children who have lived in the U.S. because of the DACA program. For majority of these immigrants, the American lifestyle is the only way of living that they know of. It would be wrong to send these immigrants back to a country where they know nothing of. They have grown up in the U.S. and this is the only place where they truly feel at home.

To add, these immigrants have been in this country their entire lives alongside family members. Tearing these families apart for no valid reason would simply be traumatic for these children to experience.

DACA was created in order to improve the lives of these children, not to leave them with the memory of being mistreated in the U.S. It is unfair to give hope to people who need it the most and just take it away when they least expect it. An immigrant should not be blindsided by the government when they are only trying to make a living out of themselves.

The U.S. should not remove this immigration policy because it would be inhumane for these people to have this type of experience in a place where they should feel at peace.

The Trump administration put this in Congress’s hands, hoping Congress does what is best for all people -- including DACA recipients. Will Congress decide to put the future these immigrants down the drain or will they continue to support this policy?

By Edwin Villanueva

YouTube star has a bucket list channel

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lton Castee, who started out on Vine, now has a huge audience on YouTube.

Elton has 287,113 subscribers on his main channel, but he also has another channel called TFIL which has 1.1 million. TFIL is a channel that is basically a bucket list for him and his friends. He has traveled all over the place with his friends and they always do crazy things.

World traveler Elton has traveled to many different places since the start of his YouTube channel like, New Zealand, Japan, and Thailand. He invites his friends to go with him to these places.

He went to New Zealand with Corey Scherer, Colby Brock and Sam Golblach; he went to Japan with Colby, Jay Walker, and Brennen Taylor; and went to Thailand with Jay Walker, Toddy Smith, Jay Boice, Derek Baranowski, and Scotty Sire.

During his trips he did a lot of crazy things, like going in-

Rising Stars

Read more Rising Star columns at

http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ Twitter.com This photo is taken from Elton Castee’s Twitter page. He started out on Vine and now has a huge audience on YouTube.

By Madelyn Dion side cages with tigers in Thailand, swung on the world’s largest swing in New Zealand, and went Mario cart racing in go carts in Japan.

Even when he is in the United States he does outrageous things; he stays overnight in scary places with friends, stays overnight in trampoline parks, and bowling alleys and many other things.

YouTube Castee started his YouTube channel in 2011 with the intention of posting the videos of his outrageous road trip with his friends.

On his channel he also does pranks; Elton and his roommates just got out of a “mega prank war” as they called it, with the winner getting a round trip to Hawaii paid

for by the losers of the prank war. Elton won by painting his roommate’s (Sam Golbloch) entire room pink as a revenge prank from two of his roommates, Golblach and Colby Brock, dyeing his dog pink.

Elton recently just did a fundraising event where he stayed in a kennel to raise a certain amount of money for an animal shelter. He had to raise $100,000 and then when he got the amount he raised it to $150,000 so he could donate some of the money to Houston hurricane flooding victims.

Charitable work Elton also has a clothing line, SendItcc.com; when you purchase a product you can pick an organization for some of the money to go to, like SPCLA, which helps pets find

homes; TRUTH, which helps end youth smoking, or Ocean Conservancy, which helps save our waters.

I messaged Kendall, also known as Uncle_Elton on Instagram and asked her what her views on Elton were.

“I think he is funny and he seems like a very sweet person,” she answered.

Elton is originally from Connecticut but moved to Los An-

geles. Before Elton got big on YouTube he was a massage therapist for 5 years, but started to gain an audience on Vine where he would post his most famous Vines which were him jumping into a public fountain and screaming “cannonball.”

He then started his YouTube channel, TFIL; since the start of his channel, he has created a huge fanbase.

Man documents his haunted apartment

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aving a haunted apartment is beyond creepy, especially if you’re living alone. Trying to push the doors slowly open as the air conditioning blows too much air or the noises your pets make playing in the middle of the night, but some things just cannot be brushed off.

No matter how much you want to believe you’re the only one in the apartment, things just keep getting weirder and weirder. Who knows? Maybe you’re just getting paranoid or maybe something really is watching you.

You’d expect someone to just jet and move in with a friend or relative until things die down or when they get a different place, but this man who goes by the name Adam Ellis, documents every single thing that seems suspicious.

Popular comics Adam Ellis isn’t just any random person. He is a comic artist who makes cute and funny comics you may have seen on Facebook or Twitter.

His comics are very popular, so it’s hard to not at least see one.

Anyways, Adam is freaking

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Facebook.com Comic artist Adam Ellis is documenting strange occurrences in his apartment.

Creepy & Unexplained

By Mariene Sanchez Read her Musical Seoul columns at

http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ out about his apartment being haunted by a little boy who he named “Dear David,” and every update he posts about him makes the situation creepier and creepier.

Everything began with Adam having a dream about David sitting in the green rocking chair that used to be in his room but now is in his living room due to the incident that creeped him out. In that dream, David got up from the chair and began to “shamble” on the bed towards Adam which scared Adam so much that he woke up screaming.

At the time, he was experiencing sleep paralysis. As someone who has experienced sleep paralysis many times, I can tell you that everything you “dream” about seems 100 percent real, and you can’t

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move nor wake up.

I think it’s real. I have people tell me that it’s not what it seems because I’m half awake and half asleep so a part of me is still dreaming, but that doesn’t explain why my dog barks at night for nothing, Susan!

Anyway, keep in mind that David doesn’t look like a normal adorable child. Adam has said he has a “huge misshapen head with a dent on one side.”

He even tried to draw him to give his audience an idea of what he saw.

Reasons to think twice Dreams are just dreams.

They aren’t real, but they can do a good job at scaring you and making you feel paranoid.

There are some pieces of “evidence” he posts that makes

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me kind of skeptical of his story. For example, he posted a picture that he took through his door’s peephole of a black mist outside his apartment, but I think it was his peephole being dirty and smudged. It’s understandable to get scared of every little thing when you’re paranoid and stressed about the situation.

No

explanations

Of course, some other pieces of evidence are hard to explain. Ellis had set up a motion detector and connected it to his phone so he can see what was going on in his apartment.

He’d get notifications if any-

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thing occurred and sometimes they’d be his cats moving, but there were a few occurrences where the green chair he had moved from his room was rocking without any explanation as well as a turtle shell falling from the shelf on its own.

Strings attached or not, it’s still creepy. It’s almost as though his situation came straight out of a movie.

Ellis’s situation is slowly being updated on his Twitter feed little by little. He’s recently been posting about his vacation in Japan. He was hopeful of having a peaceful getaway so I hope he isn’t as stressed about his situation at home.

http://magnettribune.org

School News

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

11 Trips to Washington, DC, NYC Teachers discuss the benefits of exploration

Krysta Robles Staff Writer

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n summer 2017, VMT teachers hosted two trips out of state where students learned and experienced new things. Magnet Tribune reporters Sofia Ramos and Krysta Robles took part in one of the trips, to Washington, D.C. with Aemie Martinez, a 10th-grade history teacher. Johanna Chaney, an 11th-grade history teacher, led one to Washington, D.C. and New York City. Many of last year’s seniors took part in that trip.

It was a great experience, not only for students but for the teachers as well. Every student spoke MT photo by Krysta Robles about how the trips were a The Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial are located close together in Washington, D.C. These great experience; they have were two of the attractions VMT students saw last summer. heartwarming memories. It brought good people closer. wealth of new information. I busy itinerary. Those were just chaperones and the way stu- nia Avenue and taking a group The overall feeling for the had toured Washington, D.C. some of the highlights,” Marti- dents were grouped together,” picture in front of the White Chaney said.

House was awesome. Going to students is unexplainable. with my Girl Scout troop the nez recalled.

The students and Chaney, a Broadway show was at the The trip was problem free, summer before this trip, and For many of them, it was even I learned a great deal. according to Martinez. herself, learned so many new top of the list. The show was their first time traveling out Our tour director, Barbara, “For the most part, the trip things, she said. amazing. We saw Charlie and of state, getting on a plane, was knowledgeable and expe- went off without a hitch. The “The students learned a the Chocolate Factory. Visiting and experiencing a whole rienced. She provided us with tour director, bus driver, and great deal of information as Times Square was also a great new environment. anecdotes and fun facts at ev- chaperones were impressed we traveled from site to site. experience for the students.

Aemie Martinez: Travel brings stories to life

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ery stop. Not only was this trip fun, it was truly educational,” Martinez said.

The trip was a big change from what the students were used to.

“None of the students had been to D.C. before, and for some students, this was the first time they traveled on an airplane. They got to see a whole different world outside of Laredo. I hope it has ignited a spark and will encourage them to travel again,” she said.

he motivation to start the trip was teaching the students.

“I believe that traveling can teach students in a way that a traditional classroom cannot. As a kid, I traveled all over the country with my parents during our summer breaks.

My dad is afraid to fly, so we embarked on long road trips for weeks at a time. I used to chart our travels on my very artinez used variown map, and when I was a ous ways to keep the little older, began to research parents updated. the places we were planning to “Leading up the to the trip, visit. I developed a great deal of I communicate with parents curiosity and self-confidence through emails, phone call, from exploring new places and and face-to-face meetings. I meeting new people. It was created a Remind group and traveling, I think, that helped private Facebook group for me recognize my passion for communication while we were history,” Martinez said. on tour. I provided frequent She chose Washington, updates about our itinerary D.C. specifically because she and shared pictures of all our wanted to honor the founding adventures. As a parent, I unfathers and heroes. derstand feeling uneasy about “Children in the U.S. spend your child traveling so far years reading about our coun- and for so long. It is my hope try’s history and the great that constant communication American heroes who have quelled (parents’) apprehencontributed to the nation’s sions and gave them some tapestry. I thought it would be peace of mind,” Martinez said. great to provide students with EF America made it easy for the opportunity to bring all of the chaperones and students those stories to life, to explore to enjoy themselves, she said. our nation’s capital, and to “Even though this was my honor the memory of America’s second time in D.C., I must founding fathers and heroes,” say, it was a completely difMartinez referent experisponded.

“Talking about my own ence. There is In her per- experiences with stu- nothing better spective, the than letting a dents and encouragtrip was a tocompany like ing others to join us on EF tal success.

Explore “The trip these great adventures America take was a huge have proven to be very over all of the recruiting hassles of cosuccess. We effective were able to tools.” ordinating a do all of the --Aemie Martinez student tour things on our of this magniitinerary, and tude and just I believe students really en- hanging back and enjoying joyed themselves. I don’t think yourself,” she said. we were mentally prepared for The details of the trip inthe amount of walking we had cluded buildings and statues. to do (an average of 10 miles “We stood on the steps per day). For future trips, I will of the Abraham Lincoln Mestress the importance of wear- morial where Martin Luther ing comfortable shoes and get- King, Jr. delivered his ‘I Have ting a good night’s sleep every a Dream’ speech. We visited night,” Martinez stated.

George Washington’s home This wasn’t only a learning in Mt. Vernon and interacted experience for the students, with historical actors working but also for the chaperones. on the plantation. We even “I am positive that every took a ghost tour of Old Town student walked away with a Alexandria. We had such a

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with how well-behaved our students were. I was proud to take such a respectful and obedient group of kids on this tour,” she explained.

The promotion for the trip included posters and talking to students about it.

“I used posters and letters to promote the trip, but I think the most successful tool was word-of-mouth,” Martinez said. “Talking about my own experiences with students and encouraging others to join us on these great adventures have proven to be very effective recruiting tools.”

Johanna Chaney: Travel makes classroom lessons come alive

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ue to wanting to host trips to California and Florida, and gotten them dismissed because of administration, Chaney wanted to host another trip under another administration.

“While at Nixon High School, I had previously hosted trips to California and Florida, but with the change of administration, those trips were not allowed. Several years went by and as there was a change in administration again and I always wanted to bring back the travel program. I teach A.P. U.S. History. We talk about many people and events in various places in the U.S. and the most I can do is show students pictures or videos about these places. I wanted to give my students the opportunity to actually visit and see many of these places for themselves and instill a love of history through the travel program,” Chaney said.

The reason she chose these places was because of the sites.

“Washington, D.C. is so full of historical sites to visit. It is our nation’s capital, and there is so much to see and do there.

New York speaks for itself; who wouldn’t want to see the ‘Big Apple.’ These places are rich in history,” Chaney said.

The trip was a success, but according to Chaney, there were some challenges as well.

“The trip was a success but we did have a few bumps in the road that could not have been anticipated. I would definitely change the way I organized my

Twitter: @Magnet_Tribune Page design by Lucero Rea

I learned that Mount Vernon They also got to ride the subwas not as large as I had al- way to get to the Empire State ways pictured Building and it and that “I had a wonderful had a tour George Wash- time with the stu- there.

We ington had went to Ellis dents and chaperones beautiful Island and g a r d e n s , ” as we traveled from Liberty Island place to place. I had and saw the Chaney said.

Due to the never been to Wash- Statue of Libfast pace of ington D.C. so I was erty and Caseverything, looking forward to it tle Garden,” the students Chaney confelt the differ- and was so glad I got tinued. to visit.” ence.

We stayed “The stu--Johanna Chaney in New Jerdents defisey so we got nitely felt a to experience change, beginning with how the famed Jersey Shore. There fast-paced life in New York City were so many other places and is and how many people actu- things that we did it’s hard to ally are out and about every- name them all, but in the end, where all the time,” she said.

I’m glad the students had a She used the same method great experience, and I hope as Martinez and used Remind the explore-and-travel bug was 101 as a way to keep the par- implanted in them. We have a ents updated. beautiful country rich in his“I requested that all parents tory and worthy of getting out get on Remind 101 to keep there and experiencing it. If I them informed of where we can make that possible for othwere and what we were doing ers than I’ll keep doing it,” she on a day-to-day basis. Every said. time I sent messages, it was Chaney said they did have a sent to all the parents so that couple of problems on the trip. they could know what we were “Yes, we had a few bumps doing. The students posted on in the road but we got back on Facebook many of the places the road as quickly as possiwe visited,” she said. ble. While at Arlington NationShe said she enjoyed the al Cemetery, our bus’s battery time she spent with students. went dead. They gave it a “I had a wonderful time charge and we got on the road with the students and chaper- again. Then the A/C stopped ones as we traveled from place working. We had to stop at to place. I had never been to Odenton, Maryland, and wait Washington, D.C. so I was for them to fix the bus. We looking forward to it and was stopped at their small-town so glad I got to visit,” Chaney outlet mall and everyone there said. was so hospitable and helpful. While we waited for them haney explained the to get the bus going, the studetails of the trip, in- dents made the best of it and cluding Mount Ver- shopped, ate, and explored the non and going to New Jersey. area. Then they got us a new “We went to so many places bus and we were on the road and did so many things in both once more,” Chaney recalled.

The promotion for the trip Washington, D.C. and New was having meetings and proYork that it’s hard to name moting the places they were them all so I think I will just going to visit during her classlist some of the highlights the es. students pointed out to me.

“While I teach history, I proThe students enjoyed traveling mote the places that we will go to see the monuments at night visit and the things that we will in Washington, D.C. Fewer see and do,” she said. “I had people were around and there several parent meetings and was more time to take selfies. told them all about the comD.C. looks absolutely beautiful pany that organizes these trips at night. Going to Mount Verand makes it possible for the non to see the George Washstudents to travel safely with ington Estate was also very inadult chaperones.” triguing,” she said.

“Traveling down Pennsylva-

C

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Entertainment Laredo man finds world fame as DJ The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

12

Edwin Villanueva Staff Writer

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ouTube star and former Laredo resident Martin Garrix never thought one day people around the world would know who he is.

“When I was 16 I did Animals, my first single. But I never thought I would see so much support from a lot of people,” Garrix said.

It has been the most amazing experience of his life, he said, adding he has been a big inspiration for some of his followers to create music just like his.

“I never imagined that I would get recognized around the whole world.

Every country, every state has shown a lot of support towards my work and career,” he said.

This reporter knew Garrix, who was his neighbor when they lived on Okane Street, from 2001 when Garrix was 5 years old until he returned to Europe in 2005. His real name is Martijn Garritsen, born in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Garrix, who was full of funny stories and always smiling during an interview on Skype, said he has become a global impact for the DJ community and for the music industry as well.

This global impact has affected people around the world with pyrotechnics and lights following the rhythm of the music, he said.

“I love the way my tours impact people and how much energy fills every stage. When (fans) start jumping and dancing it fills me with joy realizing how much they really love and enjoy my music,” Garrix said.

He added he liked the pyro-techniques and the lighting of the stage.

“Every time I hit the drop of the music the pyro-techniques and the lighting light up the stage and the view it’s just amazing,” Garrix said.

Garrix has over 13.7 million followers on Instagram, 7.4 million on YouTube, 8.2 million on Twitter and 14.9 million on Facebook.

Fans from all around the world gather to see Garrix perform on his

Mark said, through Instatours, he gram. said.

Angela said she has “My fans have followed Garrix since shown me a lot of he made his first sinsupport, from my gle called Animals. She very start all the said she subscribed to way to my career of his channel as his first DJing. I never imagsubscriber and helped ined I would see this Martin’s channel grow day coming. I went bigger over the past from a little kid to months. She is a true become a great sufan, she said after being perstar in the mucontacted through Inssic industry. It is tagram. incredible. This is a “I subscribed to Martin dream come true,” Garrix YouTube channel Garrix said. when he dropped his first Now he has his single Animals. After I subown store that sells scribed I saw how people were T-shirts to shoes starting to subscribe to and even hats at him as well www.themartingarand it was asrixshop.com. tonishing the “It’s a great feelimpact that he ing to see people getting buying Screenshot from YouTube was people your merchandise World-renown DJ Martin Garrix performs at Live @ Tomorrowland 2017. from all around the and to see them wear He lived in Laredo for several years during his childhood. world,” Angela it. It is astonishing. said.

The greatest feeling you can ever “I love the way my tours Tony is another one of millions of have in your entire life,” Garrix said. impact people and how fans Garrix has all over the world. much energy fills every Fans want to be like him Tony said he was the second perstage.

When (fans) start iliana said she is one of Garrix’s son to subscribe to his channel. He biggest fans. She said she has jumping and dancing it subscribed when one of his friends followed Garrix since the day fills me with joy realizing showed him one of Martin Garrix he released his first single and has songs. how much they really love gone to all his shows and tours, she Tony said he liked how the music and enjoy my music.” said. sounded so he searched for Garrix’s channel and started listening to him “I’m always updated on where Martin Garrix’s next show is and --Martin Garrix daily. That is when he decided to how I can get there. Also, on the sinsubscribe to him, he said, after being gles he releases every time he makes said through Instagram. contacted through Instagram.

Mark is another fan. He said he “My first time listening to Martin a new song,” Liliana said after being has such an amazing love for dub- Garrix was when one of my friends contacted through Instagram.

Sophia is another of Garrix fans. step music; he claims to be one of the showed me one of his songs<” Tony She said she is an energetic person best dubstep dancers in the world. said. “I didn’t know what it was at that likes dancing a lot. She always His biggest dream is to one day be- first, then I started listening to it, that was when I started liking dubstep mugets happy when she gets to see Gar- come just like Garrix, he said.

“One of my most wanted dreams sic. The sensation u get when u start rix perform live at his shows, she is to one day end up being like Mar- to feel the rhythm, your body starts said.

“I love the way Martin Garrix illu- tin Garrix and be able to play dub- to want to dance, it really pumps up minates the sky and the stage with step music for thousands of people your energy. That’s why I subscribed his pyro and the lighting of his music around the world. Hopefully one day to his channel and that’s how I got to when he’s up on the stage,” Sophia I get to make that dream come true,” enjoy more of his music.”

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Gaming is important to its players Manuel Ruiz Staff Writer

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any have passions for video games, such as Laredoan Oscar "TCG Faty" Colina.

“I've played video games all my life so they're pretty much a part of my personality. Like how some people are bookworms or car people, I associate with being a gamer. My passion for games has even lead me to study Computer Science with the sole purpose of making video games for others to enjoy,” TCG Faty said.

Video games have always been a hobby many have enjoyed, it’s been a way many others form a bond with each other creating a long time friendships, and even helping through a difficult time. Such as Austin O’Brien, a college student, said, “Video games taught me a few things like science, history, math, art, psychology, music, etc. Surprisingly enough a video game did get me a girlfriend. But video games also helped me make friends, helped me get through the loss of a loved one, but also kept my mind off some stuff as well,” O’Brien said in an email.

Video games are a way of life, they help others who want to explore a brand new world, they help create a brand new story for others to enjoy, as O’Brien stated, “Games are very helpful to others. It is a way to connect with each other, learn things that we wouldn't normalArts Schools Network

MT photos by Manuel Ruiz Above: Well-known tournament player “Gaarc,” also known as Luis Treviño, watches a video game match at Seikatsu Anime and Gaming Lounge, 2100 Corpus Christi St. Left: Thumbs are important while playing Super Smash Bros.

ly know, a way to pass time as you wait, a way that can change your life in a possible good way but can also be an outlet to help you cope with life,” O’Brien said.

As one grows one learns a lot from videos game as well as holding a special place for many of the memories Apple News

that came from playing video games, such as Hyde Franco, a VMT art graduate.

“I've always played video games ever since I was little.

One of the games that meant a lot to me as a kid is Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland. It was the very first video game I ever owned instead of bor-

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rowing games from my brother,” Franco said.

Playing

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fun

any enjoy videos games as a hobby, as a way to release stress, a way to get to know others, or getting to grow a deeper bond with others, as

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Austin said.

“Games are very helpful to others. It is a way to connect with each other, learn things that we wouldn't normally know, a way to pass time as you wait, a way that can change your life in a possible good way, but can also be an outlet to help you cope with life,” O’Brien said.

Many have benefited from playing videos games such as Leslie Galindo, a VMT student and a pianist who grew up playing video games.

“Well, I've been playing video games since I was a kid and it really helped me out with solving situations in short amounts of time. Also, since I'd always use my fingers for the controls it definitely helps with the dexterity in my hands for my instruments,” she said.

While some believe video games are a distraction to daily life, others believe they’re useful and part of daily life, in the opinion of Alejandro Palacios, a UISD substitute teacher.

“It can depend mostly on what context they are used.

There have been studies that have shown how video games help people to cope with anxiety and depression, as well as 'Virtual Reality' games being used for treating pain,” Palacios said. “However, if a person is healthy and relies solely on video games and has little to no interaction with his/her family or classmates, then that can be a problem that must be dealt with immediately.” http://magnettribune.org

Entertainment 13 People react to Stranger Things The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

By Zoe Alvarez Staff Writer

Billy. They were more mysterious during the first half the season. This leads him to believe that Max and Billy could have something to do with Hawkins Lab. He was hoping to see more backstory from the characters.

“It was interesting, I wanted to see where they were going with the characters,” he said.

As the season progressed, Ruben noticed a few developments within the characters.

He noticed Eleven as a person became more outgoing. Before she was just socially awkward.

He believes her interactions with Hopper and her sister opened her a bit more to the

(Warning: this article contains many spoilers.

Tread with caution as if you were in the upside down.) he Netflix Original, Stranger Things season 2 was released Oct. 28. Since then the internet has blown up with reactions such as new theories, pairings, and fan art. Many people were enticed by the setting, the plot, and much more. We asked fans what they thought of the season.

T

Mickey Obregon is a college student at the University of Texas at San Antonio. During last summer, he was bored and decided to check out the show since it had looked interesting to him. It took him 3-5 days to watch and finish the first season of Stranger Things.

“This was before it was getting popular, so I didn’t know it was going to be a huge hit,” he said.

His favorite part of the season was a mix of the characters and setting. He said he liked the “aesthetic”. The whole idea of it taking place in the 80’s.

The music, clothing, and the retro feel. He also liked the fact that it took place in small town where “you don’t expect anything to happen.”

It took Mickey a week to finish the second season of Stranger Things because he wanted to pace himself.

“I didn’t want to binge it, but I could of,” he said.

Mickey was very surprised with the first episode because of the character 008 (Kali) who we first see in the first episode of the season. (Chapter One: MADMAX) “I was shocked because of 008. That’s a whole other twist to the plot,” he said.

He was also surprised when he found out Eleven was staying with Hopper the entire time.

Along with the many surprises we are given in season two, Mickey was surprised when 008 was introduced to us as Eleven’s sister with powers as well. (Chapter One: MADMAX, Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister) “I was not expecting to be more of her kind,” he said.

In season two, Mickey’s favorite part was the character Steve. Steve became Mickey’s favorite character in season two because of how all the kids (Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and Max) love him, especially Dustin. For example, when Steve and Dustin first went to look for Dart (Dustin’s “pet” who we soon find out is a baby Demogorgon) and when they try to trap him in the junkyard.

Many fans of the show were left with many questions in season one which would then be answered in season 2. Mickey was left wondering what had really happened to Eleven’s mother. In season two Chapter Five: Dig Dug and Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister, his question is answered when Eleven goes to find her mother and discovers the truth about what happened to her.

Mickey was happy with the last episode because everything was resolved in the end and Mike and Eleven were finally together. Max and Lucas also ended up together.

Just like many other fans of the show, Mickey has some theories of his own. He be-

lieved there will be more kids with superpowers just like Eleven (Jane) because Jane was the #11.

“There might be up to 11 of them,” he said.

On a scale of 1-10, Mickey would rate season two as an 8. He thinks it was a good season since it did not drop from season one. He also believes it built up a lot of tension and suspense throughout the season.

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Nostalgic

feel

artha Alvarez is a principal at United South Middle; she began watching Stranger Things when her two teens introduced it to her. It took her a minimum of two days to watch the show since her children wanted to binge watch it. She was hooked by the first season because it had many twists and turns and it was scary to her.

“It was like The X-Files all over again,” she said.

The 80’s setting was most attractive to Martha. She felt like she was transported to a time where she lived. The music, the clothing, and everything else. It was back to her time when she was growing up.

“It’s very nostalgic,” she said.

She looked forward to season two to see the new hairstyles. What they are going to be wearing. To see how they would be dressed in this new season. She noticed that they brought in the west coast influence with one of the characters. Max who comes in from California. According to Martha, we get to not only see Hawkins, Indiana in the 80’s, but in fact the whole nation in the sense of clothing, style, and language.

“We end up going to the west coast which is really interesting.” She said.

This going with the fact that Martha grew up as a teen in Hollister California during this time. She finds a connection with the show through the setting.

“This is why a person my age likes such a show,” she said.

Second

season excitement

R

uben Herrera is a UISD office assistant. One of Ruben’s friends was a

world.

Another

character is out

L MT photo by Netflix The Netflix original series Stranger Things season 2 came out October 28. People told the Magnet Tribune their thoughts on the series. answered in season two. Ruben was left wondering if Barb was going to come back. But he finds out that she does not return in the season.

“I was wondering if Barb was going to come back, that’s really the main concern,” he said.

With the many cliffhangers and plot twists, Stranger Things leaves us with, come many theories from the fans.

Ruben pondered if Barb would make a return to the show in a small way since many rumors began to spread on the internet. But sadly, she did not return but was only mentioned in a few episodes.

He also believes Eleven’s father will be a huge part of season three because two different characters had mentioned he was still alive.

“I’m guessing Kali is still going to be hunting for him,” he said.

In Chapter Five: Dig Dug and Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister, we discover the truth about what had really happened to Eleven’s mother. Ruben felt that was the only part they seemed to rush just as a way for Eleven to get to her sister Kali.

Just as great as the season two was, there was controversy due to the seventh episode.

(Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister) Lots of people were angry because it was considered a filler episode. Ruben thought otherwise. He believes the seventh episode gave crucial information that is going to hence a potential backstory regarding all the siblings because there is at least 11 of them.

“To me, it just felt like it was information that needed to be known,” he said.

Season two brings us various new characters. Ruben thought there was going to be more of Max and her brother

fan of one of the writers and he heard that she was working on the show. Ruben and his friends ended up watching it when it premiered. He and friends took two days to finish the first season. They binged on it.

“Yeah it was because we knew a writer, she was an actress from the 80’s,” he said.

His favorite part of the season was the 80’s aesthetic.

“The music, the style, just how they spoke, the whole atmosphere, it was pretty cool,” he said.

He also liked the fact that every episode in season one kept him on edge.

“Every episode just kept you wanting to see more of the cliffhangers,” he said.

It took Ruben a day to finish the second season. It was a lot shorter since it was only nine episodes. He watched the show the day after it came out because he was not able to watch the premiere at midnight.

Ruben’s favorite part of season two was when Kali, Eleven’s sister was introduced (Chapter One: MADMAX) He believes it hinted that there might be more of the kids who have powers and may be shown in the next season.

“I’m kind of interested in seeing that,” he said.

He was very excited when he was watching the first episode because he had waited a year for season two.

“It was just excitement throughout the whole episode,” he said.

Along with the many surprises through season two, Ruben was shocked when Eleven’s sister, Kali appeared. He was also surprised when two characters said Papa, (Eleven’s and Kali’s father) is still alive.

Just as great a season one was, countless fans were left with loads of questions. Fortunately, the majority were

ike Barb in the first season, we witness a character’s death once more in season two. Ruben thought it was strange that Bob had died.

He really believed he would have lasted the whole season.

“You need heroes, and he was a martyr if anything,” he said.

Mike and Eleven were a romantic pair in the first and second season. Ruben thinks it was kind of a forced romance.

According to him, it makes sense that they have feelings for each other since they are both at adolescence. Regardless he still feels the relationship came out of nowhere.

Between Dustin and Lucas, Ruben believes Max is better off with Lucas since it looks like the direction they are heading. He feels that there will be a new character introduced for Dustin.

Ruben thought the last episode was sad because of the whole Dustin situation. But it did have a happy ending which he thought was cool. He especially liked when at the very end of the episode, they show the shadow monster looming over the school.

“They also always do that so I’m excited about the third season,” he said.

He hopes to see more of the Shadow Monster in the next season.

“I would hope so, I mean it’s looming over everything so,” he said.

Season three has already been confirmed by the Duffer Brothers. This means a whole new season for much more scary monsters and hardship the kids will face. Ruben is hoping to see more of the siblings and even more interactions with Eleven’s mother.

“Truthfully I think they’re going to make more appearances, all the Hawkins lab kids,” he said.

On a scale from 1-10, Ruben rates the second season as an 8. He didn’t mind the fact that it was short, only nine episodes.

“I do wish it was longer,” he said.

He felt like all nine episodes delivered and that the producers did not waste their time, with the exception of the seventh episode.

“I feel like every minute they were elaborating on the story and they were building and building and building,” he said.

Notable dates for spring 2018 Back to school: Jan. 8

Super Bowl Monday (holiday): Feb. 5

Youth parade: Feb. 15

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Holiday: Feb. 16 Grand parade: Feb. 17 Staff Development: Feb. 19

Twitter: @Magnet_Tribune Page design by Maddie Dion

Spring Break: March 12-16 Good Friday holiday: April 30 Last day of school: May 30

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14 Hispanic Heritage Festival

The Magnet Tribune January 8, 2018

MT photo by Anna Davenport Carlos Flores, second from left, a senior when VMT opened in 1993, introduces original faculty and staff at the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

Festival recognizes original faculty Lucero Rea Staff Writer

VMT’s 25th annual Hispanic Heritage Festival recognized founding faculty and staff members who helped open the school in 1993.

It was a group that was mostly handpicked by the founder of the school, late Superintendent Vidal M. Treviño.

Introducing the faculty and staff as the sun set was Carlos Flores, a senior in VMT's first year, valedictorian at J.W. Nixon, and now a lawyer.

He gave some details about the school when it first started, explaining VMT often held classes in the school district's boardroom and St. Peter's Plaza downtown, and also at the Civic Center since there were no permanent buildings until later that school year.

“The first year of VMT was at the Civic Center with no classrooms or buildings,” he said.

Flores then introduced founding faculty and staff members, and as their names were called each came up on the stage and formed a line be-

hind him.

Then Bobby Treviño, Vidal Trevino's son and a school district employee, spoke about the festival's 25th anniversary, why it's celebrated, and it's important to the Laredo community.

“This Hispanic festival is so important. Students need to remember our heritage and culture,” he said.

He then spoke about his father's goal of opening a fine arts magnet school to expose the district's students to the fine arts and communications.

Treviño also acknowledged the original faculty and staff members on the stage and then shook hands with each person on stage.

He then ended with a quote his father would often say: “The children, always the children."

The festival itself was a high-spirited event that started late in the day Nov. 8 in the south parking lot. There was a variety of food, music, and dance for people to enjoy as well as several games.

Students in the fine arts and communications areas

MT photo by Aryanna Rodriguez Dance students perform a number at the Hispanic Heritage Festival on Nov. 8.

the same optimistic views regarding the weather.

“I do not like this weather; it was not like this for the past two years,” junior More Hispanic Heritage Festival photos: dancer Katehttps://magnettribune.org/?p=14366 lynn Dominhttps://magnettribune.org/?p=14443 guez said.

Many peoMany of the students seemed to be having a great ple had positive things to say time, enjoying the music and about the festival. The majorifood; the majority of the people ty interviewed felt connected to were seeking hot food since the the Hispanic culture and this weather was cold. Despite 50 is why they come annually to degree weather and the threat VMT’s festival, and even some of rain, the parking lot seemed who weren’t familiar with it packed with both students and had a great time.

One student said he was favisitors from throughout the miliar with and felt connected city.

“I think it’s such a beautiful to the Hispanic culture.

“My purpose here is to conweather because for the past two years it was just hot and nect with my Hispanic roots now it’s just really windy and and to live the Hispanic life that nice. I would have to say this they lived back then. My favoris my favorite Hispanic festival ite part is how people from all only because the weather is parts of town get together and really nice,” junior dancer Mi- come here to connect to their Hispanic roots,” choir student randa Flores said.

However, not everyone had Johanna Gonzalez said.

Original faculty and staff honored Still at VMT Carlos Imperial Carlos Torres Mark Webber No longer at VMT Matt Arambula (retired) David Blumberg (retired) Dora Flores Gregorio Garza (retired) Armando Hinojosa (retired) Miki Humphries Cheryl Kirkpatrick (retired) Arturo Obregon Frank Ortiz (retired) Diana Pentecost (retired) Cindy Ramirez Veronica Ramirez Juan Rodriguez (retired) participated, whether it be on stage, helping in one of the food or game booths, or capturing the event through pictures and video.

It was junior Ashley Muñiz’s first time attending the Hispanic festival, and she was able to help her booth and perform for her VMT dance group.

“I think it’s very fun, very colorful and very diverse, and it definitely brings people together,” she said.

MT photo by Anna Davenport Dance students perform a traditional Hispanic dance at the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

MT photo by Aryanna Rodriguez A sophomore promotes her booth’s products at the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

MT photo by Anna Davenport The Latin American Group performs several songs before the opening ceremony at the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

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