May 2018 online paper

TribunE T H E M AG N E T

A state- and nationally recognized student newspaper

Vol. 25, No. 2

http://magnettribune.org

May 18, 2018

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

Bringing you the news for 25 years!

School holds annual Showcase event

Page 3 Event features Jazz in the Heights

March for gun reform Citizens demand government should protect children K ayla Gonzalez Staff writer

Page 4 Seniors visit former downtown campus

#SeniorsReminisce tabloid

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Their chants echoing along San Bernardo Avenue, students, teachers, parents, and their supporters marched from the LISD Performing Arts Center on March 24. They carried signs and demanded action against gun violence.

Protesters were pleading with the lawmakers to take care of children, which is why they marched.

March for our Lives is a student-driven movement that included over 800 similar events throughout the United States and around the world.

The march ended at Pan American Courts as people chanted, “What do we want?”

“Gun reform.” “When do we want it?” “Now.” Once at Pan American Courts students and supporters spoke about gun violence, while other chanted “What do we want Laredo?” “Safer schools.” “When do we want it?” “Now,” and “Enough is enough.”

Host and radio announcer Sammy the House introduced Father Paul, who brought 20 children between the ages of 6

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Right: Marchers hold signs demanding that government provide more protection for children through stricter regulation of firearms. to 7 holding white roses, each representing a life lost in the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. Then he called for a moment of silence for them.

Mateo Serna, 10 years old, read a letter that his 7-yearold brother wrote for President Donald Trump.

Related content: • • • •

Professor says shooters cannot be classified, page 2 Students and teachers discuss gun control, page 2 Discussion: Guns do not belong in school, page 2 The Bug: Teachers should not be armed, page 5

“Dear Mr. President Trump.

You should change the law. A

student protected his classSee GUN MARCH, page 2

Senior joins elite music group Audrey Castillo MT Staff Writer

Twitter

MT photos by Kayla Gonzalez Top: March for our Lives protesters head north on San Bernardo Avenue to a rally for gun control on March 24.

S

enior VMT high brass student Jonathan Martinez is one of the 24 trumpet players accepted into an elite marching band organization, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps.

Playing the trumpet is something Jonathan has been fond of since middle school, and he continued this journey throughout his high school experience. He has been a student at VMT and is part of the Cigarroa High School band.

Martinez also performed with the TMEA All-State Band in February.

“When I was in middle school I learned about the corps through a band director, so when I found out I could try out, I wanted to be a part of that organization,” Martinez said.

A senior, Martinez has finally had enough experience and courage to go out and audition despite having to go to San Antonio.

“What I most look forward to is meeting new people and playing at the highest level I possibly can,” Martinez, who studies under VMT music instructor Robert Lopez, added.

Being a part of the camp, he said he has gotten to meet people from all over the world who come audition in hopes of scoring a contract with Crossmen.

The audition process consisted of playing an instrument and being observed by a mentor and later being placed in a red or black group after trying out, black being the more advanced players with whom Martinez was placed with.

“Not many people get a chance to do this. I didn’t know I would make it; I was a firstyear member trying out, but I was definitely excited,” Jonathan added.

Being in the corps takes a lot more than just having expertise in playing a certain instrument, he said. One must also pay the fee of $3,800 which covers traveling expenses and anything else the members may need. Martinez had a GoFundMe page to help cover his expenses.

Pride in accomplishments artinez said his family was very proud that his challenging work and dedication had paid off and were with him every step of the way. The chances of making the corps are slim so all those around him were more than proud of what he has accomplished.

Music is essential in Jonathan’s life, he said. Despite being home he must still train to be ready to travel this summer with the corps, music and video assignments are given weekly and must be submitted every Sunday.

Aside from that musicians

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MT photo by Audrey Castillo Senior Jonathan Martinez will be participating with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps this summer. must also practice their own music which they will be playing during the summer tour.

Founded in 1974, the corps travel for 3 months performing in various locations over the United States competing against other marching band organizations.

To be in the corps, one must be younger than 21 and must audition due to the limited space available, 154 spots to be exact.

Those who have made it will be expected to move into

Page designed by Maddie Dion

the San Antonio headquarters in May for spring training, in preparation for the summer traveling, and eventually for the finals in Indianapolis, Indiana.

After high school, he plans to go to the University of Texas at San Antonio to obtain a bachelor’s in music education and a master’s in music performance.

“I know it’s going to be very hard, but I know I’m going to enjoy it,” Martinez said of the Crossmen experience.

School Violence Prof: Shooters cannot be profiled The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

2

Kevin Garcia Staff Writer

Despite the popular perception of school shooters responding to bullying, a local university professor explains there is no way to create a specific profile of shooters.

Alexis Harper, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Texas A&M International University, teaches classes in Criminology, media and crime, and related subjects.

Harper explained why some people don’t ask for help or tell others their problems.

“There is a typical scenario that sort of assumes that the shooter is a student lashing out because of bullying or something of that nature,” Harper said.

“We can’t just assume their motivation. In general, asking for help might make people feel helpless; they want to feel like they can handle it on their own. Like our physiological research and social science research tells us that people want to control their own lives without seeming weak, and sometimes asking for help can be humiliating.”

She said schools are places that offer plenty of targets.

“Schools are pretty common space for students and they know it’s a space where they can predictably harm people.

They know it’s a place where they go every day, where there are people that they can target.

They’re aware of their familiar surroundings,” Harper said.

“Then they know that their targets are available, that people will be there during a predictable time of day. In general, it’s a suitable target for them.”

There have been many school shootings over the years. Three, for example, is the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado (1999), 13 victims; the Sandy Hook Elementary (2012) in Newton, Connecticut shooting, 26 victims; and the Virginia Tech (2007) shooting had 32 victims.

She said school shooters don’t fit a specific profile.

“It’s really difficult to put these people into any kind of

MT photos by Kayla Gonzalez ABOVE: Children hold white roses while Father Paul speaks at the March for our Lives event.

LEFT: Marchers hold signs and chant during the March for our Lives event.

See more pictures online:

magnettribune.org/?p=16125

category. We know that some of them have different things in common in their background, maybe like nature or environmental issues, upbringing that maybe they didn’t have good parental supervision or they grew up in a single parent family household or have some kind of neuropsychological (issues) where they didn’t develop socially or whatever the case may be,” she said. “Or (they may be) victims of domestic violence, even.”

Harper explained that trying to profile people is difficult.

“The reality is that there’s not really a pattern that has been identified in the back-

ground that people have in common, and it’s really difficult to profile people because we’re sort of committing what is called an ecological fallacy,” Harper said. “It’s like saying just because you have this risk factor you’re unavoidably going to become a criminal, and that’s an incorrect and unfair assumption.”

The term “school shootings” is not easily described, she said.

“It’s really important to consider how you define school shootings. Many news articles are saying that they are averaging more than one school shooting a day per year but

audience in school shootings.

“Guns are not sentient. The people shooting the guns are the issue because of how easy it is to obtain access to them, but a good way to prevent these issues is by regulating the weapons used to commit these crimes I believe that gun regulation will ensure that only responsible individuals have access to firearms and those who are not suitable do not,” Ashley Vazquez, Early College High School senior, said.

Many acknowledge that the issue is not simply the guns but also the mental well-being of those who want to obtain these weapons.

“In America, we are given the right to bear arms. I believe finding a way to restrict gun control and keep our human rights is possible. I believe we should be required to have physical and mental

tests so that we can reduce the misuse of this weapon. Mental training is also crucial because people who want to obtain this weapon should know what to do in certain situations where using a weapon is necessary,” Pablo Hernandez, VMT television and radio senior, said.

According to the responses gathered from the Google surveys, the uncertainty of safety in schools has started to project fear into students’ lives.

In response to reoccurring mass shootings some say that security measures should be put in place such as arming trained teachers with weapons, but it is this proposition that seems counterproductive to some.

“I understand we need tighter security measures to end these incidents but guns are dangerous. If you start giving See DISCUSSION, page 7

this includes shootings that are things like an accidental discharge of a weapon or things that are unrelated to the school and the students themselves happened to be near school property,” she said. “So based on these kinds of things, it’s difficult to count the numbers of school shootings that compare to the incidents. You know, while no students should feel unsafe on campuses incidents like Columbine, Virginia Tech, and the Stoneman Douglas shootings most recently in Parkland, Florida are very rare.”

Harper said surveys taken at TAMIU show students feel

safe on campus.

“I think parents, in general, are always concerned about what goes on with their children. I think TAMIU is a very safe campus. Students here don’t have concerns about others type of crime either because there’s been a variety of campus crime surveys that have assessed students’ perception at risk of different crimes, and the students say that they feel safe,” she said.

“The public has a variety of concerns that are perhaps perpetuated by the media that schools are unsafe but in fact, schools are the safest environment for children.”

Students and a Discussion: Guns do not teacher speak out belong in schools

Audrey Castillo Staff Writer

School is a haven for many, but whether it is safe is up for discussion.

“The uncertainty that students feel over their safety affects them emotionally and academically, with all of the mass shootings that have been occurring lately, it’s terrifying to know that students are risking their lives by being at school and nothing has been done to ensure our safety,” Daniel Gamboa, a United South High School senior, said.

On a survey conducted by this reporter via Google surveys regarding how people feel about the shootings and what could be done in order to minimize the incidents, 39 of 47 respondents were 15 to 20 years old, not exactly coincidental since this is the most targeted

GUN MARCH,

from page

mates and got shot five times with a rifle and had to go to the hospital. I’m scared ‘cause when I go to high school what if that happens to me?,” Serna said.

Camila Sanmiguel, a senior at Alexander High School, spoke next.

“This is what it look likes Arts Schools Network

on gun violence

Irene Alegria Staff Writer

According to TIME magazine, there have been 17 school shootings in the year 2018 alone.

As a result, tensions in the country are high as parents and students alike want something to be done in order to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

When asked about whether as students they feel safe in their schools, Jasmine Cantu, a junior attending J.W. Nixon High School stated, "We live in a society where gun violence is common and where it's easy to get a hold on a gun. And just hearing people screaming down the halls I'm scared that one day those screams

are going to be happening because someone is shooting up the school. If attending school makes me fear for my life I don’t see the point in going."

Students all over the country have rallied together in hopes to do something that seems to be a big problem.

A March for Our Lives event on March 24 in Laredo to raise awareness of gun violence.

However, not many students were aware of this until the day of the event.

"I was not aware that there was a March of Our Lives event here in Laredo. The fact that they do not put attention to these types of events shows how much this city cares. I feel they should put more light on events like this to give students See SPEAK OUT, page 7

should be the government’s priority.

“Tell these words to the children who are running faster than the bullets shot at them that they come first,” a speaker named Amanda said.

Abigail Mendia, 12, and 11-year-old Jazmine Treviño, both 6th graders at Clark Mid-

dle, spoke about lockdowns.

“Lockdowns are so scary because nobody tells us if there is an active shooter or if it’s just a drill,” they said. “We don’t want to be afraid for the safety of our younger brother, sister, or friends. We won’t stop fighting till something changes and we are all safe.”

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when humanity sputters, when it fixates and bleeds and it’s helpless when its children are buried,” she said.

Throughout the event there was a table to pre-register to vote and to give out community service hours for students.

Another speaker urged action on changing gun laws.

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“We are calling on gun reform and we’re demanding action to be taken to protect our people. This is just the beginning. We are going to be heard and if they don’t want to listen then we are going to elect someone who will,” Alex De Leon, an event organizer, said.

One speaker said children

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School News 3 Jazz stars perform in annual event The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

Lauren Medellin Staff Writer “I enjoyed hearing the crowds’ response after performing with the Laredo Jazz Collective Orchestra,” said Juan Sosa.

Sosa, band director at Nixon High School, said he hadn’t played in a festival since his college years.

“I hadn’t performed in a jazz festival for more than 20 years.

It was great. The musicians that played were very talented. I’m glad to be a part of the Jazz in the Heights,” he said.

“It was truly uplifting.”

Sosa was referring to VMT’s 2nd annual Jazz in the Heights event on April 19, held at the school.

Above: Invited guest musicians perform in the auditorium at Jazz in the Heights.

Left: VMT music instructor Ric Cortez performs with invited guests at Jazz in the Heights.

Below Left: The VMT Dixieland Band performs in A Building during Jazz in the Heights.

Page design and photos by Anna Davenport

Below Right: Students work at their booth in the cafeteria during Jazz in the Heights.

Bottom: Visitors listen to the VMT Dixieland Band in A Building at Jazz in the Heights.

See related photos at

magnettribune.org/?p=16071

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Bringing it to life School Director Dr. Martha Villarreal explained her role in the event.

“This is my child. I started the jazz festival 2 years ago. It was something that I dreamt about. Once we moved into the new building I knew it was time to bring this festival together,” she said.

“The first time I walked into VMT I said I’m going to put together a jazz festival because jazz is my favorite kind of music. Once we moved into this new building I knew it was time to bring this festival together,” she said.

Villarreal said groups that are playing are former VMT students which she says is amazing because they started here, and they’re still playing.

“Many professional musicians haven’t forgotten VMT. They came back to show their talent to the children,” she said.

Putting it together Music Instructor Ric Cortez, who led in organizing the event, explained what went into making it successful.

“My first consideration was to get a group of musicians together to be the headlining group. Last year around the time of the previous VMT jazz festival, I met an extraordinary violinist at a wedding that I was booked to play. I felt that I need to book him for the 2018 Jazz in the Heights so I have been planning and talking to him about it since then,” Cortez said.

“Booking the musicians was the first order of business and it takes a lot of paperwork to get that done,” Cortez continued. “Once I had a working list of people who were available as well as compatible, then it was organizing the various performances. I mostly conferred with (VMT music instructors) Robert Lopez, John Reimund and Dr. Mary Grace Carroll about this. Mr. Reimund took charge organizing the music and musicians for the Dixieland Band which he later named The Dixieland Diversion.

“I also spoke to Carlos Morales (VMT alum 2001) to put together an Alumni Jazz Combo. Mr. Lopez took the reins of the Laredo Jazz Collective Orchestra, which is the jazz big band that performed on the auditorium stage. That group consisted of about 20 musicians that included various music teachers and VMT Alumni from all over town,” Cortez continued.

Cortez added there were other matters that included food and other booths, security, promotion, and advertising that were also taken care of. http://magnettribune.org

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School News

The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

he school’s annual Showcase on March 26 at the Martinez Fine Arts Complex featured many performances by students in fine arts areas. In addition, Visual Arts and Communication students had displays of their work in the auditorium lobby.

See more photos online at magnettribune.org/?p=15964

MT photo by Justyne Bernal VMT Concert Choir performs Space Oddity at Showcase at Martinez Performing Arts Complex.

Students shine in annual Showcase

MT photo by Justyne Bernal VMT Mariachi de Oro singer Lorena Gomez performs at the annual Showcase.

MT photo by Anna Davenport Christian Nieto plays Prelude No. 4 in E Minor during the annual Showcase. Looking on are Isabel Adams and Anthony Pruitt.

MT photo by Emily Garza VMT SoundTown performs Besame Mucho. Singing is Eliud Soto.

MT photo by Anna Davenport VMT Dance Divas performs Royal Family Varsity Hip Hop. MT photo by Emily Garza VMT Flamenco member Saul Salazar dances to Bizet’s March of the Toreadors.

Page design by Emily Garza

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Opinions 5 There is no reason to arm teachers I T B The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

Comments? Write us at mt_writers@hotmail.com

t is an essential concern for guardians to know that their children are always out of harm’s way. When they send them off to school, the students are expected to learn and make joyous memories with their classmates.

No parent should have to send their child to school with the fear they might not walk through that door again. Not having trust in the school system that your child will be shielded from experiencing horrific memories because of no strict gun control laws is unjustifiable.

My classmates and I should not sense that hearing the words “lock down” on the announcements is the beginning of a nightmare. We should not have to fear someone walking onto campus with the intention of hurting one of us. We should feel protected, safe, and secure while being in any learning environment.

Feb. 14, 2018, a day that is supposed to be filled with love, shifted to a nightmare for dozens of students within seconds. A selfish teen, Nicolas Cruz, opened fire, creating terror at the Florida Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School. He took the lives of 17 innocent students, leaving a hole in Americans’ hearts and a demand for change in the way school safety is handled. It was after numerous school shootings in America that citizens said, “enough is enough.”

In response, President Donald Trump suggested arming teachers and staff with weapons. The objective of this plan would be for the faculty to protect themselves and the students from intruders on campus. It would be absurd to let this proposal go through without considering the repercussions. Educators should not be forced to have weapons in their hands because it would: create a distraction, it is costly and time-consuming, and they could use the weapons when not necessary. It is insane to even think that this plan would lead to a drastic decrease in school shootings.

There is no expectation for an educator to be handling a weapon. There has never been and it should never be

parents. Sam Stein of The Daily Beast said a special needs teacher agrees. he ug “I don’t need to add another concern of a student reachBy Justyne Bernal ing for my weapon to the list of 1,000 things going through my head as I work with a kid,” he said.

As a student, the constant threat of my teacher having a weapon would draw attention from my education. What if an undisciplined student gets hold of the weapon when the teacher is lecturing? That student will have the power to end lives within seconds. Things may go more wrong than right.

Ken Corbett of the Huffington Post said the presence of guns will necessitate talk of violence, which I agree with. It would not make me feel safer than faculty not having guns, but rather more frightened.

Picture a kindergarten teacher with a weapon around children that are barely learning right from wrong. Does the U.S want children to believe that carrying a gun around is allowed anywhere? Teachers are hired to teach, not to be forced to carry a weapon in their classroom. Students go to school to become educated and not fear that someone, like MT photo by Kayla Gonzalez their teacher, has the ability People march down San Bernardo Avenue to take their lives because of a during March for our Lives on March 24. foolish school safety law. a consideration. When someone says the There have been situations word teacher, I think of school, learning, when teachers physically or verbally and positive change … not someone who abuse their students because they have has to “bear arms” on campus. Adding reached their maximum boiling point. to this, a California teacher said, “I spe- For example, according to U.S News, cifically came into teaching, because I teacher Brittany Stevens was fired and wasn’t going to need to do anything with charged with three counts of second-dea gun.” gree child abuse. This occurred after Carrying a weapon would create a dis- she physically and verbally abused an traction for teachers, students, and even autistic child. In her eyes, it was disci-

plining him, and, in his eyes, it was fear.

What could have been the outcome if the teacher had a weapon in her hands? It would just add fuel to the fire. Teachers choose a career where they can make a positive change in their student’s lives, not carry a weapon and harm them.

To add to this controversy, it would not be beneficial to spend millions of dollars and long hours trying to make this plan successful. In some situations, schools are not even able to supply students with certain necessities. Who would pay for the guns and training?

Not only would arming teachers be a safety concern, it would be a major risk for the country’s economy. It would be an economic shift for our country that would affect thousands. According to Philip Bump of The Washington Post, to own a gun one must pass a safety requirement test that costs at least $100 and be properly trained, and this would come with a large price tag and long days. It would be too time-consuming for a teacher to become familiar with a weapon.

Teachers should be preparing to teach and not how to properly aim a gun at an intruder.

The money should be spent on other solutions that are guaranteed to be effective. This includes installing a high-tech alarm system, at least two-armed campus police, door position switches, and panic buttons in the office area in case of an emergency.

Despite all the negative factors, President Donald Trump’s goal is the same as Americans who disagree with arming teachers: everyone wants to reach the same finish: to protect staff and students from danger.

Educators should not have a weapon to distract themselves or others. They should not waste time and money to handle a weapon during school hours.

A student should not worry about their teacher creating terror with a weapon on campus. School should be filled with positive memories, not ones that will be unbearable to talk about forever.

Dying with dignity should be a choice

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ssisted suicide is the act of terminating one’s own life through the intake of lethal substance with help provided by a physician. Death with Dignity laws allow those that meet certain criteria to end their life in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. However, these laws should be extended throughout the U.S. for physical and emotional reasons.

For example, in January 2014 Brittany Maynard discovered she had brain cancer. Numerous procedures had been performed to remove the cancerous tumor but despite all efforts, the cancer returned with a greater magnitude: it was predicted she would not live more than six months. Residing in California — which had not had legalized laws on assisted suicide yet — moved to Oregon to use the Death with Dignity law

that was in place. After having survived a stroke, Maynard decided to end her life on Nov. 1, 2014, before her strokes could get worse: Maynard could have lived up to a point where would no longer be able to move or speak but she chose to die with dignity as anyone should be given the choice to do.

Furthermore, when one thinks of assisted suicide we only take the patient into consideration but the family members and friends suffer as well seeing their loved ones get worse through the days. Ethan Remmel died in 2011 voluntarily, for example, so he would not reach a point in which he could not interact with his kids. Remmel had terminal colon cancer and in order to spare

My Opinion

By Angie Bravo pain to himself and his family, he peacefully ended his life with sedatives.

When thinking of assisted suicide we must remember that the direct patients are not the only ones in pain; Family members and friends do not desire to see their loved ones and thereby for the emotional well-being of everyone when going through a tough situation, assisted suicide laws should be enacted through the U.S. One prominent counter-argument against having nationwide assisted sui-

cide laws is that it is believed to be unethical for a physician to participate in the death of others given that doctors must abide by the Hippocratic Oath.

The oath states various factors a physician must follow, one of which states, “to treat the ill to the best of one’s ability.” Thus the oath is used against assisted suicide but in the realm of deadly medicine, chemotherapy keeps being used despite its negative health effects.

Thereby, the oath presents inconsistencies and cannot be used a way to impede people’s right to die peacefully.

Just as people can choose to have others live, the patients themselves should be able to choose to die so they may no longer suffer physically and emotionally.

Death is mercy upon those that want to go with dignity and thus they must be given the option to die when they choose.

Couples can marry in a variety of ways 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. 2, May 18, 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.

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ne of the decisions that members of a couple make before getting married is if they are getting married through the church, civil authorities, or even both. Regardless, these choices are still very essential and significant to certain individuals. It’s an extraordinarily particular choice, and the motives for choosing one rather than the other vary from couple to couple.

If the couple has the same religion, or if members are thinking about a traditional marriage, they will probably select a religious service. They will become one in agreement at the ceremony. There will be requirements of the precise religion that the couples need to follow because they interpret the standards as a serious religious tradition. A precise significant point is the religious concepts that the groom and the bride have. If the family’s religion is, for example, Catholic, the couple most of the time can have the total support of their loved ones.

A civil service is basically a nonreligious lawful matrimony led through a legally certified minister instead of a sacred one. Let’s say that the members of a couple who are planning to get married are not religious, or they have tremendously different beliefs, they select the civil way to evade probable difficulties

First Class Award: 1996-97, 98-99, 99-00, 02-03 03-04, 04-05, 05-06, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12, 13-14 (online)

Second Class Award: 2000-01, 01-02, 10-11 (website), 1112 (paper and website), 12-13 (paper), 13-14 (paper), 15-16 (paper)

pital if he or she isn’t their legal wife or husband. If a judge needs to dexperiences cide on what individual can make healthcare decisions concerning the “spouse”, the individual may be

By Lucero Rea disregarded just because of not being a family member. If the family of the partner at the hospital does with interreligious services.

The major difference among getting not sympathize with the other one, then married in a sacred or civil formality is they will probably need to battle for conthat a religious service is being united in trol in court.

In the end, the members of the couthe sense of God, although a civil service is more about being married in the sense ple need to have a serious talk about whether they want a religious marriage, of the law.

A church bridal service is general- civil marriage or like a common law ly more vibrant than a civil wedding to union because it will only work dependsome individuals. However, weddings ing on their situation. Getting married can sometimes be extremely pricey. It's can change depending on the emotionalready an important thing to choose to al necessities the people in it might enget married, but then again, the individ- counter. The vital thing is to clear and uals need to decide how they are going to describe how you and your partner peramaze and honor their loved ones, too. It ceive the marriage.

However, the wish to love somebody can sometimes lead to stress in a period where the couple just wants to relax. Re- and promise to share lives together is alizing about the money that is required common. Everybody has their personal concepts of what commitment means is frustrating for almost anyone.

Certain individuals will decide not to and it may take different procedures in wed through either a religious or civil different beliefs, but love is a universal ceremony, but this common law union feeling that. At the end of the day, the poses many disadvantages. Let’s say an kind of method you choose to use in orindividual’s partner is in a car crash, der to share lives together will not matthey might struggle to see them at a hos- ter.

E

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.

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Reviews A perfect world has a fatal flaw

This is senior Lauren Melendez’s final The Book Look column. magine a world in which there is no disease. No hunger. No war. No misery. No death.

It seems impossible -- and yet, in Scythe, a newly popular young adult novel by Neal Shusterman -- the stuff of fiction is made fathomable.

The only problem in this seemingly perfect, utopian society is that of population control. Having eradicated all things harmful, the citizens of society are virtually immortal.

As such, the “solution” conjured up was to ordain carefully-selected members of society as “scythes,” esteemed members of the community hired to kill others at random.

When teens Citra and Rowan cross paths with the compassionate and perspicacious Scythe Faraday, they are forced to master the art of killing -more commonly referred to as “gleaning.” Scythe Faraday takes them on as apprentices, and dutifully teaches them the myriad of ways to kill with efficiency and precision, as well as how to select their victims.

Though it is quite common for

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http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ scythes to train apprentices, Scythe Faraday’s decision to take on two was unprecedented, and resulted in both scandal and turmoil.

At the Scythe Conclave, a panel at which scythes convene to discuss the ideologies of the Scythedom and the political division that plagues it, many disturbing conflicts are revealed. Some, like Scythe Faraday, glean with compassion and the proper solemnity that should be associated with the loss of a life. Others, such as the contemptible Scythe Goddard, glean for sport because they enjoy taking lives.

Those that affiliate with the latter view the killing quota with disdain, and are of the belief that to limit the number of deaths they can execute is an injustice and an obstruction of their liberties.

The story grows exponen-

tially in excitement and continuously enthralls the reader the more they read. The plot thickens when at the conclave the scythes come to a conclusion about Scythe Faraday’s audacious decision: only one apprentice shall live. After a year of arduous training, they were to pick one of the two apprentices to become a true scythe, and the winner must in turn kill the other. However, after months spent together, training side by side and forging a friendship, this begs the question: will Citra and Rowan be able to steel themselves enough to kill the other?

This is a topic that could have easily become a cliche story--something typical of young adult fiction, in which dystopia and utopia have become a trope of the genre. However, in the hands of Neal Shusterman, this story became an artful,

poignant piece that resonates in the minds of readers long after it is read. In a world where technology has consumed our lives, this imaginative, fictional story suddenly feels prophetic.

It forces readers to look inward and ask themselves important questions surrounding both mortality and morality.

One of the factors that made this novel feel so real was the extensive world-building Shusterman employed. Perhaps the most beguiling aspect of the society he crafted was “The Thunderhead.” Essentially, it is much like “the cloud” we know today, but it possesses artificial intelligence and encompasses the entirety of humanity’s knowledge. It is a benevolent, omnipotent being that governs society and eliminates the biases and prejudices associated with a government lead by people. One of the more keen, percipient lines of the novel is the following: “Human nature is both predictable and mysterious; prone to great and sudden advances, yet still mired in despicable self-interest.”

These words serve to capture the deficits of human existence, and the problems asso-

en.wikipedia.org ciated both with the world we know today and the daunting, perhaps vatic world depicted in Scythe.

Scythe will force you to look at the world in a different way, regarding the nuances of humanity as well as what exactly it means to be human. In a world where all that makes us human has been eliminated, what will we become? If you are looking to read a novel that stands alone among its counterparts in inventiveness as well as profundity, look no further.

Riverdale has its deep, dark secrets

This is senior Krysta Robles’ final TVFANatic column. eason one of “Riverdale” arrived on Netflix in May of last year. My little brother had watched it before I did and let me tell you he wouldn’t leave me alone to watch it. He had said it was the best show he’s ever seen since it’s his favorite show. That gave me the boost to watch it and let me tell you, I was confused with the show, in a good way.

Like in a way that I wanted to know more. This show reached out and grabbed my attention.

They are currently in season two on The CW channel and recently finished filming.

Everyone is waiting for season two to release on Netflix, to be quite honest. I know I am. This show sure knows how to make you want more. It’s absolutely eye-grabbing. It’s based on the Archie Comics, but the show takes a dark and twisted turn on it. It’s basically just

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TV Fanatic

By Krysta Robles Read more TV FANatic columns at

http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ an adaption, using the characters, but not actually following the comics.

Season one is based on a murder. It is not your typical teen drama. It has the characters of the comics; however, it is not based on the comics. I enjoyed watching this show because teen dramas are a guilty pleasure of mine. Teen drama is a genre I can watch over and over again; I really do enjoy watching them.

Season one contained 22 episodes, and all those episodes were interesting. It caught my attention from the very first episode. In all honesty, I

watched this show because of my brother and my cousins, as I mentioned before. There was a point where I wasn’t watching any TV shows and this show came up in the conversation and I was hooked.

My cousin said that this show came up on her Netflix as recommended and she saw a trailer for it and instantly began watching it. She told me her first impressions was that she was hooked and couldn’t put her phone down.

When I began watching it, I felt the same way and it was such an intense show that I just needed to learn and watch

more. The show starts off slow, leading up to a murder. It’s so intense, the bodies, the mystery and everything in between.

Season two of Riverdale is coming soon to Netflix and you bet I’m going to stay up watching it.

I’m so excited to see where they picked it up from the season one finale. Which, by the way, was so intense.

I totally recommend this show, 10/10, and would watch again. You can watch season one on Netflix and watch season two on

CWTV.com This is Riverdale’s season one poster.

Season two is now showing on The CW’s website.

The CW website or wait for it to come out on Netflix later this month.

FE Heroes is great for mobile play

This is senior Manuel Ruiz’s final Game Corner column. ire Emblem Heroes was first shown off on January 18, 2017, during a Nintendo Direct mainly focusing on the Fire Emblem series.

Fire Emblem Heroes was one of many titles that were shown off during this presentation.

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Gameplay Fire Emblem Heroes is a free-to-play mobile game, where the similar gameplay is very similar but simpler for newcomers. Fire Emblem Heroes is a gatcha game, (The term Gatcha comes from Japanese machine called a Gashapon, similar to a capsule machine where people pay money to buy an item), where the player can buy Orbs which can be used to summon heroes from different installments of the Fire Emblem franchise starting from Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem to Fire Emblem Fates.

When players summon a hero it can be either be a 3-star, 4-star or a 5-star hero, 5 stars being the higher rarity.

The differences from each rarity are that each hero will Arts Schools Network

Game Corner

By Manuel Ruiz

Screen shot Shown is the title screen from Fire Emblem Heroes. have certain skills locked until they are upgraded to the required rarity and characters Apple News

will have better stats when they reach the maximum rarity. Players can upgrade a hero when they have the required amount of feathers and the required color badge.

Once a player has a team ready, they go to battle. Players can complete story chapters that reward the player with orbs or even a free 5-star hero. Players can also battle other player’s team in Arena mode, where players can rise up in tiers and earn feathers, orbs and much more.

Players can also get more items from completing the Tempest Trails! (Now renamed as Tempest Trials+). Where players go through many battles and earn points based on performance and how fast they’ve completed the battles.

Players can earn many rewards such as orbs, feathers, badges, and a 4- and 5-version of a hero.

Blessed Gardens is a mode

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http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ where players must give their characters the right blessings and play maps that reward the players with many types of rewards! Players receive four wind blessings that will help the player start off the Wind maps. Players must have a full team of 4 in order to complete each map.

Lastly, Fire Emblem Heroes has Tap Battle, known as Illusory Dungeon, which is a rhythm game in which players can earn small rewards.

Players battle through enemies by tapping the screen in rhythm with the music the game players. The player must go through 100 floors, which means even more rewards!

Pros Fire Emblem Heroes offers a lot of content for newcomers and is very newcomer friendly by teaching the player the gameplay when they first start off and the amount of orbs players get when they start off.

The player also has the option to receive a free 5-star hero Facebook: MagnetTribune

when they first start the game!

Cons Fire Emblem Heroes has small problems, due to it being a mobile game it really doesn’t affect the fun the game has to offer. The only problem many new players will have is trying to earn feathers and trying to level up their units. The game offers maps that help the players can use to level up units but those with little patience will most likely drop the game.

Conclusion Fire Emblem Heroes is a great mobile game for those who are interested in the Fire Emblem series or a fan of the series will enjoy this game.

It introduces to the player to many types of heroes from the Fire Emblem franchise and even creates an amazing team of heroes that could have never been together in the same army.

Fire Emblem gets a 5 out of 5.

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Columns

The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

Test scores do not show true abilities

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tandardized testing is something that is very common especially for high school students. Famous standardized tests like the ACT and SAT are important timed tests that students take as juniors and seniors. The test scores for standardized tests are argued to be very important because they determine whether one is prepared for college or not.

Also, standardized tests are believed to be important for students to score well in because there are people that believe they determine a students’ intelligence and abilities. However, many students argue that standardized tests do not measure their intelligence let alone their abilities for many reasons.

I do not believe that standardized tests are something that measures a student’s capabilities and skills. Also, I do not believe it is something that should be used to measure a students’ potential for college.

What I believe that what measures a student’s intellect and skills are their high school GPA and grades.

The SAT was first administered to high school students in 1926 while the ACT was first administered in 1959. These two standardized tests are the nation’s most widely used college admissions tests. They were said to have been created to test students’ knowledge on subjects necessary for college success.

The sole purpose of the ACT and SAT is not only to test students on their college readiness but to be used for college admission decisions. They are required in scholarship applications and are looked at by private universities like Baylor. To this day, they are an important part of a high school student’s life especially if they are planning or wanting to go to a good college.

Through the years the pressure has grown on students to try and get the best score they can on this test because of its importance in their future and career. In addition, arguments have grown as to why these standardized tests do not measure a students knowledge and skills for college.

As stated in an analysis in the Pro Con headlines standardized testing is said to cause severe stress in younger students.

There are many who are smart but are not at their best when they have to take a test. Some even go as far as breaking down at the thought of having to complete and pass a test like the ACT or SAT. As mentioned in a study on the Pro Con website, according to researcher Gregory J. Cizek illustrating how testing … produces gripping anxiety in even the brightest students, makes young children vomit, or cry, or both.

These tests cause many students to become stressed be-

applying for colleges most bservations do not look at high school grades or

By Aryanna Rodriguez GPA. Instead, most look at SAT and ACT scores for admissions.

I believe that for colleges to only look at a student’s test scores is unfair because as said in previous comments the test causes many students to become unfocused. There are many factors that contribute to a student beMT photo by Aryanna Rodriguez coming unfocause it is a test that is looked cused like the at when applying for college. In timing and pressure. addition, when taking standardColleges and universities ized tests students are timed. look only at students test scores These two factors not only im- because standardized tests only pact a student’s performance “measure” students’ academbut a student’s motivation in ic knowledge. I believe that inschool. stead, they should look at what Standardized tests stress really shows a student’s intelmost students and discourage lect and skills like high school many. If students do not get grades and GPA. good grades on these tests it There are so many other can affect their future and even things than just core subjects their career. When students are that show a students’ potential

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is for college. In addition to these tests not showing a student’s college abilities, standardized tests have begun to affect the way some teachers teach.

According to an analysis in the Pro Con website, “teaching to the test” is replacing good teaching practices with “drill n’ kill” rote learning. Many teachers all around have gotten comfortable with teaching students to remember only the important stuff for standardized tests. Their teaching has been changed and affected because of all these tests. A 5-year University of Maryland study completed in 2007 found “the pressure teachers were feeling to ‘teach to the test’” since NCLB was leading to “declines in teaching higher-order thinking, in the amount of time spent on complex assignments, and in the actual amount of high cognitive content in the curriculum.”

There are many factors and studies that prove why standardized tests do not measure a student’s intellect and skills.

These tests not only stress many students but have even begun to affect teachers. It is not fair for universities and colleges to only look at a student’s ACT or SAT scores. Students grades and GPA is what colleges should look at when students are applying for college. These are things that show a student’s knowledge and abilities for college in a more effective way.

Ace Family channel brings joy to millions

This is senior Madelyn Dion’s final Rising Stars column. hey are Austin McBroom, Catherine Piaz, and Elle Lively McBroom, who are also known as The Ace Family.

The Ace Family is becoming well-known to people all over the world, having over 5 million subscribers on their YouTube channel. Austin and Catherine film their life with their 1-yearold daughter Elle.

The Ace Family is a fairly new channel on YouTube but they have so much love coming to them, especially after Austin and Catherine recently became engaged.

The channel involves a lot of pranks. In one prank Austin pulled twice, he cut open the back of a huge teddy bear, got inside and scared Catherine one time and Elle the other. Catherine got back by giving him a fake lottery ticket and making him believe he won.

Austin McBroom, a former NCAA basketball guard who committed to the University of Saint Louis men’s basketball program for the 2011-2012 season, also played football and baseball at Campbell Hall School. After his college basketball career ended he became a

T

SPEAK OUT,

Rising Stars

DISCUSSION,

social media star and now has more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram.

Catherine Paiz, the Instagram sensation who has more than 3 million followers, is originally from Canada but moved to Miami, Florida, with her family and then to Los Angeles.

Catherine and Austin began dating in 2015. They got engaged in August 2017 when they went skydiving on Catherine’s birthday. Once they landed, Austin gave their 1-year-old daughter a ring then proposed to Catherine.

Austin and Catherine recently moved into a new house and once they get all their furniture in they have decided to have a sleepover with three of their Ace family members, one each in December, January, and February. The person that gets chosen also gets to bring a friend.

They are excited to be doing the sleepovers to show their love to their supporters.

I had an amazing interview

2

Cynthia Bernal, a teacher at J.W. Nixon High School, said.

With a large amount of media coverage these tragedies get it seems very little is done to actually prevent them from happening again.

"The loss of such young lives, my heart breaks for all the mothers, the parents and guardians of those young lives.

How could this have been avoided? I pray for those who lost a loved one, hoping that they get justice and closure so that they can heal and move forward," Bernal added.

According to The Washington Post, The National Association of School Psychologists said this at the annual meeting, "There are many dangers in emphasizing or repeatedly recounting details of a crisis, particularly in cases involving

from page

teachers who don’t know the weapon like they should, then you’re asking for problems.

There are other ways to insure our students’ safety. Resorting to weapon use should be the last thing that we do,” Roy Men-

http://magnettribune.org/category/reviews/ Twitter.com Austin, Catherine, and Elle pose in their back yard in a photo posted on Austin’s Twitter account.

By Madelyn Dion

from page

dents a voice on this matter," Cantu said. "If we as students fear for our lives attending classes then we should be made more aware of such events that shed light on those topics."

A lot can go through the minds of students and even staff when they see people their age being shot in a place in which they are supposed to feel safe and protected in.

"I feel that I am as safe as the educational budget allows. Different schools and districts in a variety of states have done what they could, some need more. I feel that more can be done for the safety of the teachers, staff, and students. The line gets drawn between safety and paranoia because the walls have already been breached and now we learn to prepare. It's hard not to let fear paralyze you,"

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2

dez retired Army veteran and AP U.S. History instructor at Cigarroa High School, said.

VMT teachers also thought staff should not be armed.

“I’ve thought about it. Teenagers are not the only problem;

with a couple that also watches the Ace Family. On January 5, 2018, Austin, Catherine, Elle, Catherine’s brother Ryan and Trey, Austin’s best friend, flew to Orlando, Florida, to surprise a fan with a medical condition named Arianna and her boyfriend, Omouri.

I asked Arianna the emotions she felt when the Ace Family showed up at her door.

“It was very exciting and also nerve-racking but most exciting,” she stated.

I then asked her if she had any idea that they would be knocking on her door.

“Well, when I saw the video they posted the day before mine I kind of had a clue and then they called the next day.

I thought they were but then come to find out they were,” she said.

They describe meeting with Ace Family members.

“It was amazing, and it felt good to talk to them about my condition,” Arianna said.

Omouri liked the Ace Family’s attitude.

“It was very different. I’m used to celebrities being very cocky and acting too good to talk to others! But the Ace Family were very humble and down to earth,” he said.

Omouri asked for everybody’s support at the end of the interview, Arianna said.

“Everyone go and watch our videos!

Share with your friends and join

the Q&A gang!” Omouri said, adding “Austin showed a lot of interest asking me about college and sports and how I was getting adjusted to college! He also gave me tips and pointers on how to improve my game.”

Austin, Catherine, and Elle recently posted a video on February 6 announcing that they are expecting baby number 2.

Musical Seoul

By Mariene Sanchez

Mental health issues claim Kpop star’s life See column at magnettribune.org/?p=15501

personal loss or suffering of children."

When asked how she feels when seeing media coverage on these tragedies, Suzana Perez, junior attending Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts, adds, “I think guns don't kill people, people kill people."

Many schools have taken new what they expect to be "resolutions" to prevent these tragedies from happening again, one being clear backpacks.

Parkland students express that having to use transparent backpacks is a violation of their privacy, rather than do something about the very laws that allow people to purchase automatic weapons simply because they are at a certain age.

“I would personally hate that (clear backpacks), that really does sound like they are prisoners of some sort. I understand

that the school is trying to take precaution, but there are other ways," Perez said.

Bernal added, "Yes, counseling for students having difficulty in/out school, not just in academics. It can foster a more open line of communication between school officials and students. Hire safety experts when building or renovating a campus to better assist the various measures of security. Hire better security with more qualifications and/or licenses. Involve the students in engaging activities in the classroom so that they can feel safe in their learning environment, and subsequently develop a line of communication with their teacher.

They hear and see more than most, and yet the students are often scared of reporting rumor or gossip, or they brush it off."

As of now, Laredo Independent School District does not

have such policies in place.

Sarah Chadwick, a student attending Stoneman Douglas High School, told CNN, "I never thought something like this would happen, especially in Parkland, Florida. We're known or being one of the safest cities in Florida."

The topic of mental illness is brought up when discussing school shooting events.

The mental state in which the shooter had during the time of the event is brought up and in a way is used to defend them or simply something people try to use to make sense of the tragedy that occurred.

"A mass shooting is so disturbing, so irrational, and horrifying, people want to know why it happened, and mental illness is the perfect master explanation," Jeffrey Swanson, professor in psychiatry at Duke University, told Fox News.

we also have teachers who explode. We’re supposed to set examples for the students. If teachers have a gun, what’s to stop the students from thinking that they can have one?” asked Jamine Teran, Television-radio instructor.

“Arming the teachers is already too big of a responsibility.

It’s too much liability. Teachers are overworked and overstressed.

It’s a recipe for disaster, one that could be avoided,” Mary Ellen Kirkpatrick Leyendecker, dance instructor, added.

There are many ways in which people can speak out and fight for gun control regulations such as writing to elected officials or

joining some of the protests that have been conducted in order to spread awareness.

“Change is within reach, it must simply be pushed for,” Jazmine Trevino, VMT senior theatre student, said. “If people want school environments to be safer then we must come together and fight for our safety.”

School News 8 Four share high school stories The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

Zoe A lvarez Staff writer

H

igh school, a place where students go for education. High school is also a place where people begin to discover who they really are, learn and experience new things, and a place where memories are made. Whether you finished high school years ago or just getting started, here is what four years of high school is like through four students.

Freshmen Year rista Lopez is a freshman who attends J.W. Nixon High school. She also attends Vidal M. Trevino Communications and Fine Arts.

To Krista, beginning high school is completely different than what she thought it would be. She finds it is quite simple.

“Starting high school is different than I thought. It’s actually really easy,” she said.

She also says starting high school is fun and full of opportunities.

“Starting high school is pretty fun, it’s exciting and different. Its way better than middle school that’s for sure,” she said.

Krista believed high school started with loads of school assignments and constantly working in class.

“I thought it was doing work 24/7 and piles of homework,” she said.

Beginning high school gave Krista the impression that it would be stressful, but to her discovery, it was not.

“I also thought it would be so complicated and somewhat overwhelming, but not at all,” she said.

High school is not like Krista had imagined. She assumed it would be like in the theatres.

“I thought it’d be like the movies or something without all the music but it’s not,” she said.

She also says that in high school, one is going to be alone sometimes.

“For the most part you’re on your own,” she said.

Starting high school makes Krista feel like she can start with a clean slate.

“It makes me feel like I can turn over a new leaf,” she said.

In the beginning, she was a little uneasy about starting her freshman year.

“At first I was nervous like what’s up? what do I do? where do I go?” she said.

Now Krista has gotten used to the swing of things at high school.

“But now it’s just a normal day and I’m in the hang of things,” she said.

What scared her the most about starting high school was the large number of students and the “big” school campus.

“The people and the ‘big’ school scared me when I start-

K

Krista Lopez 9th

Sergio Sanchez 10th

Jennifer Cortez 11th

Melissa Irigoyen 12th

ed,” she said.

Like many other incoming freshmen, Krista was afraid of being by herself.

“I thought I’d be alone and not know anyone,” she said.

Fortunately, she has met different people and made new friendships.

“I met lots of new people,” she said.

Krista also learned that her high school campus isn’t as intimidating as she thought it was.

“The campus isn’t so big,” she said. “It is but eventually you will find your way around and develop a daily routine.”

Like many other incoming freshmen, Krista was excited about the first-semester pep rallies. She was especially excited about all the school spirit during the football season. Along with the pep rallies, Krista was excited to meet new people. She was hesitant about all the new students but excited nonetheless.

“I know I said the people scared me but I was also excited to meet all these new people,” she said.

These are the people who she considers great friends.

“I’ve made so many amazing friends that I will stick with,” she said.

One of Krista’s goals as a freshman is to survive the year and get excellent grades.

“My goal is to make it through the year and get good grades,” she said.

To Krista, it isn’t always the best to be a freshman especially when it comes to older classmen.

“Upperclassmen think they can push us around,” she said.

According to Krista, the best part about being a freshman is the experience, exploring, and the people you meet. Especially the fact that you get to be friends with people in different grades.

“You get to be friends with students of all ages,” she said.

Like other classmen, freshmen have certain responsibilities they need to fulfill. As a freshman, Krista must pass the state standardized tests which include biology, English 1, and Algebra 1, and maintain her GPA (grade point average).

“It’s mostly all about passing the STAAR and getting good grades,” she said.

ino Communications and Fine Arts To Jennifer, high school is not as difficult to her as many people assume it is.

“High school as a junior to me is not as hard and stressful as others claim it to be,” she said.

Out of the three years of high school, so far, her junior year has been the easiest. This is the result of Jennifer’s two years of high school experience.

“So far, junior year has been the easiest year because I have used the two years of experience at high school to my advantage to make sure positive and productive days are the only ones filling my schedule,” she said.

As a junior, Jennifer has learned that holding grudges or focusing on past errors is only a waste of time and energy.

“You cannot keep focusing on the mistakes in the past and that holding grudges on people is not worth the time and effort,” Junior responsibilities are to maintain good grades and taking college exams to prepare for higher education she says.

“The responsibilities would be keeping my grades up and passing the SAT and ACT tests that will prepare me for college,” she said.

Jennifer’s priorities are to uphold her grades and make certain that she makes the most of every course she takes.

“My priorities as a junior is keeping my grades up and making sure I make the most in each class by learning the most I can,” she said.

Her goals in her third year of high school is to lay an excellent foundation for her senior year.

Senior Year elissa Irigoyen is a senior who attends J.W. Nixon High school.

She also attends the Vidal M. Trevino Communications and Fine Arts.

High school as a senior is challenging and can test one’s grit.

“High school was a chal-

lenge and can test your determination,” she said.

There are many ways high school can put one’s willpower to the test. These include the cutoff dates in high school and the requirements students have to make to graduate.

“It’s challenging because of the many deadlines (high school college) and graduation requirements you have to meet. As well as deciding your degree plan and hoping financial aid, scholarships, and grants cover it,” she said.

Seniors have to determine what their degree plan is and they must also find good financial aid, grants, and scholarships to pay for their higher education.

As a senior, Melissa has learned that time goes by quickly and it is important to make the best of it.

“What I learned as a senior is that time flies and to make the most of it,” she said.

She added one can accomplish this by participating in the senior walks, senior photos, homecoming, and prom.

Seniors have many responsibilities; these can go from grades to volunteering hours.

Melissa believes one of the most important responsibilities seniors have is to be a role model for the lower classmen.

Melissa’s top priorities as a senior are making certain that she has all her school documents, grades, averages, and more. This will make her move to college much easier.

“My priorities are making sure that I have all my grades, documents, etc. to make the transition to college smoother,” she said.

Sophomore Year ergio Sanchez is a sophomore who attends J.W. Nixon High school. He also attends the Vidal M. Trevino Communications and Fine Arts.

Sergio considers high school to be strange as a sophomore.

Sophomores aren’t noticed often by others he says. The freshmen are the beginners, the juniors are occupied with testing for college, and the seniors are working hard with scholarships and getting into universities.

“Freshmen are the newbies, juniors are flooded with college testing, and the seniors are busy working to get everything set for college and the rest of their lives,” he said.

As a sophomore, he has learned that time is valuable.

You must get as much done as you can because it all adds up in the end he says.

“I’ve learned that you never really have time to waste,” he said.

To Sergio, the greatest part about being a sophomore is the time one still has to take advantage of what is offered.

“The best part about being a sophomore is the fact that there is still time to involve yourself with many opportunities you have in high school,” he said.

He also sees his sophomore year as the year to broaden his perspectives.

“I just see this year as another year to expand my horizons,” he said.

Sergio would consider his sophomore year somewhat successful.

“On a scale of 1-10, I would rate my sophomore experience as an 8,” he said. “It went well for the most part, but there were certain times where I was under a lot of stress. It wasn’t a horrible experience though,” he said.

S

Junior Year ennifer Cortez is a junior who attends J.W. Nixon High school. She also attends the Vidal M. Trev-

J

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In The Magnet Tribune online: magnettribune.org Journalist inspired to follow in the footsteps of his father

Music instructor helped to create original Yerma score

Congressman works hard to represent his district

Stephanie Martell Staff Writer

Milton Hattem Staff Writer

Justyne Bernal Staff Writer

iguel Angel Martell is a passionate journalist.

This 35-year-old man also loves politics; most of his work is about it. He has published several magazines edited and made by him, not with other people, just himself.

Miguel joined journalism thanks to his father, Victor Martell Cisneros, Victor was an inspiration for Miguel, not just because it is his father...

MT music teacher Billy Thatcher helped compose a unique score for the play Yerma.

Thatcher was offered the job to compose the score for Yerma due to his prior work of composing scores for previous plays by director Marco Gonzalez.

Yerma tells the story of a childless woman living in rural Spain...

ince 2006, Henry Cuellar has been in office as a U.S Representative for Texas 28th Congressional District and is known to be hardworking and a great voice in politics, according to The Wall Street Journal. He was the first person from his hometown in over 20 years to become a representative and has been a known advocate for better government...

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#VMTSeniorsReminisce The Class of 2018 returned to the old VMT campus on March 1. It was the last class that attended the old VMT before moving to the new campus. This is their story.

The Magnet Tribune, May 18, 2018

Emotional seniors recall good times downtown MT photo by Lucero Rea Music instructors Robert Lopez and Melissa Hinojosa, in green shirts, react with seniors on the front steps of the Urbahn Building.

Aryanna Rodriguez Staff Writer

“W

hen we stepped off the bus at the Harding Building, an immediate feeling of nostalgia came over me. It was like I was a freshman all over again. It was a very joyous moment,” dance student Katherine Serna said as she got off the bus at the old building.

On March 1 seniors took a trip back to what used to be the old VMT school campus, located downtown.

As the seniors reminisced their emotions poured out for many reasons. They were the last class that attended the old campus before the new one opened in fall of 2015.

The field trip allowed students to go back and reflect on all the memories that the old campus gave them.

“I was sad because I was reflecting on my past experiences, and as I was doing that I was also remembering the memories that I had of the old campus,” journalism student Milton Hattem said

on the bus on the way to the erary magazine student Carolina Gamez said. old campus.

There were many seniors As the seniors arrived at anxious to get to the old VMT the old VMT they were getto see all the old buildings. ting off the bus with joy.

There was definitely a lot of They seemed happy to finally excitement as they got clos- be there again after 3 years. er. Along with that exciteThe seniors began reflectment, there was sadness as ing the most when they got the students started to re- off the bus and started walkmember all the memories the ing towards the old theatre old campus brought to them. building. Along the way ,se“I feel very nostalgic and I niors were laughing with remember all the memories each other and talking about this campus brought and the all the things they missed good times that I had with the most. my teachers and friends,” lit- See OLD CAMPUS, page 2

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#VMTSeniorsReminisce

The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

OLD CAMPUS, FROM PAGE 1 “I miss it because it didn’t feel like a school. It honestly felt like a college campus. All the different buildings were spread out and it is something I really liked,” woodwinds student Magdalena Pecina said.

As seniors kept walking around the old campus many described the old buildings and campus as “memorable.” They felt the old campus and its open space was something that made the magnet school unique.

It was not only a great place that helped create memories they said, but it was a place that made a lot of students feel free. It was one of the reasons that the seniors liked the old campus better and now miss it.

A lot of students said it felt like a college campus to them.

“I feel I like the old campus better because it was bigger and we had so much more freedom. All of the buildings were separated so going to classes was an opportunity to take a stroll outside,” Serna said.

Not only did many students miss the freedom that the campus had to offer but they missed the advantages that the spread-out campus had. Students were able to create more memories because the buildings were far apart and took some walking to get to. Many seniors felt they were able to be more creative with the open space.

“As a creative writing student we use to be able to take a lot more pictures and we use to have places where we could sit down and think and write like the park (St. Peters Plaza). We used to be able to sit down on the staircase (Harding Building) and look at all the traffic and people passing by and it felt really therapeutic,” Gamez said.

There were many emotions that were revealed as the seniors walked around the old campus. There were happy, sad and in-between feelings that the seniors were expressing as they looked the old buildings.

“As I was walking around with my friends, I felt really happy, yet sad. I was happy to be back but

MT photo by Justyne Bernal Radio and television student Johnathan Moncada shoots video of his former building. sad that the trip would soon end. I was also sad that we didn’t get the opportunity to attend classes there our sophomore, junior and senior years. It was a bittersweet feeling,” Serna said.

Not only were the seniors moved by the memories that the old campus brought to them, but they were moved by how much the experience has helped them grow.

“I felt a mixture of happiness and sadness. I’m happy I get to see the people I have known for 4 years

grow as students and as people. I was able to see how much I have grown as well,” strings student Geraldine Morua said.

As seniors’ emotions poured out, there were many memories that the students were sharing with each other. The memories that the students were sharing not only made their emotions build up, but it made them miss the old campus even more. The seniors became grateful to be able to have experienced so much as they reflected on

everything.

“I feel grateful that I was able to experience the trip to the old VMT but I am sad that the freshman that I know won’t be able to experience it. Being able to go back was a really good experience and it made me realize that it is a place that should not be forgotten,” Gamez said.

Senior Madelyn Dion, The Magnet Tribune editor, came up with the idea to visit the old campus.

When it was approved by school See VISIT, page 7

The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

#VMTSeniorsReminisce

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MT photo by Lucero Rea ABOVE: Seniors react to each others’ conversations on the stage next to the old cafeteria building.

MT photo by Lucero Rea RIGHT: Art students from left, Veronica Gutierrez, Ale Espinoza, Vanessa Cordova, Darina Morales, and Ashley Martinez react for somebody’s cellphone photo.

#VMTSeniorsReminisce A product of The Magnet Tribune

Editor: Madelyn Dion Reporter: Aryanna Rodriguez Photographers: Justyne Bernal and Lucero Rea

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#VMTSeniorsReminisce

MT photo by Lucero Rea RIGHT: Dance students from top Savanna Arriaga, Odalys Iracheta, and Ashely Nino react for their friends shooting cellphone photos.

MT photo by Justyne Bernal BELOW: Seniors take a group photo as an end to the trip on the stage next to the old cafeteria.

See more photos online

Recalling the good times

magnettribune.org/?p=15661

Emotions flow

magnettribune.org/?p=15730

The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

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#VMTSeniorsReminisce

MT photo by Justyne Bernal RIGHT: Seniors from left Joanna Flores, Yamilette Chapa, Claudia Ibarra, and Edna Bouchot jump for somebody’s cellphone photo.

MT photo by Lucero Rea BELOW: Seniors from left Joanna Flores, Yamilette Chapa, Claudia Ibarra, and Edna Bouchot react to a cellphone photographer.

2014 Highlights Musicians • • • • • • • • •

One Direction Katy Perry Beyonce Ariana Grande Taylor Swift Luke Bryan Sam Smith Drake Ed Sheeran

Music

• Shake It Off- Taylor Swift • All About That BassMeghan Trainor • Stay with Me- Sam Smith • Thinking Out Loud- Ed Sheeran • Break Free- Ariana Grande • The Heart Wants What It Wants- Selena Gomez • Leave the Night On- Sam Hunt • I Don’t Dance- Lee Brice

Movies

• American Sniper • Guardians of the Galaxy • Captain America-The Winter Soldier • The Lego Movie • The Hobbit- The Battle of the Five Armies • Big Hero 6

TV • • • • • •

Game of Thrones The Walking Dead Orange is the New Black American Horror Story Bob’s Burgers The Flash

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#VMTSeniorsReminisce

MT photo by Justyne Bernal ABOVE: Flamanco dance students from left Karla Hernandez, Beatrice Siklo, and Ruby Guerrero react to each others’ conversations.

MT photo by Justyne Bernal RIGHT: Seniors from left Ashley Martinez, Chris Torres, and Dariana Morales react to somebody’s cell phone photo.

2014 Highlights Fashion • • • •

Shirtdress Kimono coats Oversized everything Over the knee boots

Hairstyles • • • • • • •

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The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

#VMTSeniorsReminisce

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MT photo by Lucero Rea RIGHT: Communication student Carolina Gamez reacts to a conversation during the Seniors Reminisce event.

MT photo by Justyne Bernal BELOW: Communication student Milton Hattem and art student Lesly Rosas pose during the Seniors Reminisce event.

VISIT, FROM PAGE 2 Director Dr. Martha Villarreal she was able to help organize and plan the trip.

Journalism teacher Mark Webber explained some of what was involved.

“A lot of the challenges really involved me as a teacher being able to approach people in higher positions to get permission and get certain things done like, for example, opening the courtyard and the theatre building yard. I asked the principal and assistant principal (Dr. Elsa Barron) for their assistance because they are able to easily communicate with people in the higher up positions that we needed access to,” Webber said.

Dion said that at times the planning did become challenging, but at the end, it was all worth it to her.

Even with all the challenges, she was glad to have been able to help plan the special field trip.

“I am glad I planned this trip because it’s one last memory that the seniors have all together downtown.

When we got downtown and when I saw how happy everyone was it made it all worth it,” Dion said.

Overall, the seniors say they definitely miss the old campus and they say that it will always be special to them.

“The campus will always be special to me because I was able to make many friends there along with many memories,” Dion said.

“Also, we were the last class to go there so that is something that will always be special to me.”

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The Magnet Tribune May 18, 2018

#VMTSeniorsReminisce

MT photo by Justyne Bernal Above: Seniors react to photographers at the former theater building at the beginning of the Seniors Reminisce event.

MT photo by Lucero Rea Left: Eziquel Lopez holds some oranges from a tree by the old cafeteria during the Seniors Reminisce event.

2014 Highlights Christmas Gifts • • • • • • • • • •

Nintendo 3DS XL iPhones iPads Xbox One PS4 Candy Crate 1950’s Retro Candy Gift Box Fitbit Zip Wireless Activity Tracker Kindle Voyage Minecraft Animal Set Monster High Freaky Fusion Clawvenus Doll

Baby Names • Emma • Olivia

• • • • • • • •

Sophia Isabella Ava Noah Liam Mason Jacob William

Technology • • • • • • • • • • •

Hoverboard 3-D Prints Apple Watch Microsoft Surface Pro 3 The Selfie Stick iPad Air 2 Hero4 GoPro iPhone 6 Plus Virtual Reality sets Drones iPad Mini 3