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T E
R I B U N Vol. 14, No. 5 May 11, 2007
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Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications & Fine Arts, 1701 Victoria St., Laredo Texas 78040
A state- and nationally recognized student newspaper
BY SELINA HERNANDEZ, KRYSTAL BATTISTATA
AND VALERIE BRISEÑO
MT STAFF WRITERS
Dance students Becky Longoria and
Jerry Mata performed at Disneyland
after winning the International Latino
Arts Festival.
After competing in the two International
Latino Festival competitions, in Laredo and
El Paso and winning both, Becky Longoria
and Jerry Mata danced at
Disneyland on March 11.
They performed “Paso
Doble,” “Farruca,”
“Sevillanas,” and
“Bulerias por Rumba.”
Each also had a solo.
The audience reacted
enthusiastically to their
performance, they said.
“It was great. Everyone
applauded,” Mata said.
“I guess they liked it
because they were clap-
ping a lot. While we performed
more and more
people would come to
watch,” Longoria said.
The two practiced extensively, even though they come to
VMT at different times of the day.
“We practiced every day. It was hard because Becky
comes in the morning,’’ Mata said, who attends in the afternoon.
Mata enjoyed visiting Disneyland and saw his favorite
character.
“It was awesome. I got to see Mickey Mouse,” Mata said.
Longoria was also surprised when she saw Mickey Mouse.
“He was a lot shorter than what I expected him to be,” she
said.
Schools from Middleton and Flowerton, Texas were part of
the program. Most of the performances were jazz.
Vidal M. Treviño
1929-2006
Dancers take center stage
in Disneyland performance
Photo by Ofelia J. Gonzalez
Jerry Mata and Becky Longoria are photographed at a performance they gave at the outdoor stage next
to the Urbahn Building on Nov. 21, after winning a competition to perform at Disneyland.
Longoria described her
dance in one sentence.
“It will be one of the most
memorable performances of
my life,” Longoria said.
Alicia McKinnis, the pair’s
flamenco dance instructor,
thought this opportunity
was a great artistic experience
for the students.
McKinnis had high expectations
for her students.
“I helped them in a way to
love the arts,” said
McKinnis.
McKinnis thought about
the school’s founder and
his dream of a fine arts
school while visiting
Disneyland.
“It was mixed feelings. I
thought about Vidal Treviño.
It was his dream to see the
school’s name in a bigger
place. I was very emotional,”
she said.
The Magnet Tribune on the Internet: http://my.highschooljournalism.org/tx/laredo/vmt

2 School School
News News
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Next year’s school calendar gives less time for holidays
BY CLAUDIA RAMOS
MT STAFF WRITER
A variety of differences can be seen
when comparing the 2006-2007 calendar
with the 2007-2008 calendar.
A bill passed by the state Legislature
in a previous session moved the first
day of classes back to the last week in
August.
Next school year classes will begin
later and end earlier. For the ‘06-‘07
school year, classes began Monday,
Aug. 21 and will end Thursday, May
31. For the ’07-’08 school year, classes
will begin Monday, Aug. 27 and will end
Wednesday, May 28.
Teachers will return on Monday, Aug.
20. The general session at the LEC is
scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 22.
Graduation will also be held on an
earlier date, moving from May 31 this
year to Thursday, May 29.
Next year the district will not be
observing Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 3),
President’s Day (Friday, Feb. 15) and
Art student explains what
makes his paintings attractive
BY ANNABEL GOMEZ
MT STAFF WRITER
LIFE Art Show best of show winner
Luis Rodriguez, sophomore, describes
the painting that he made which won
the show, drawn with a graphite pencil.
It was an angel walking towards light.
“I tried to make everything even —
the clouds, hair, and wings” he said.
Rodriguez said his inspiration was
fantasy and emotions. He shows his
emotions through his work.
“This painting represents ‘sadness
and hope,’” he said.
Rodriguez explained what makes a
painting valuable.
“When you show your emotions
through your art, a person can let go of
frustration and let go of bad surroundings,”
Rodriguez said.
The reactions of people towards his
work is enjoyment. He said they like
his art, even previous work. People tell
him to follow what he likes and if it’s
art then he should follow with it.
His future in art will not be his
major, but it will aid him in his
planned area of study, fashion
design.
“It’s something I won’t let go of,” he
said.
His influences are art instructor
Jorge Vasquez and his sister, Nidia
Rodriguez.
“It’s people that you love and support
who inspire you,” he said.
Rodriguez thanks VMT for the opportunity
to be here. Without experience
in this school he said he probably
would not be as advanced due to the
lack of resources.
Vasquez said his students do not
prepare for the show. Their paintings
and other items come from regular
schoolwork.
He recalled seeing students participate
at the LIFE fair from Cigarroa,
Nixon, and United South.
Students in Vasquez’s class also participate
in other events such as the
Senior Art Show, and shows at the
Center for the Arts.
VMT winners are as follow:
Luis Rodriguez, best of show,
Graphite Pencil, 1st place.
Easter, which in 2008 falls on Sunday,
March 23.
The only recognized holidays will be
Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring
Break along with staff development
days on Monday, Oct. 8, Monday, Jan.
21, and March 24, Easter Monday.
Thanksgiving holidays will be
Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 21-23, with
three days as last year.
Winter Break will begin after school
on Friday, Dec. 21 and end on
Wednesday, Jan. 9 when students
Daniel Villarreal, Oil Pastels, 2nd
Yesika Vasquez, Mixed Media, 1st
Denize Solis, Printmaking, 1st
Marco Sanchez, Printmaking, 2nd
return. Teachers will return on
Monday, Jan. 7.
Spring Break is still the third week in
March, from 17-21. Easter Monday,
March 24, is a student holiday but a
teacher staff development day.
TAKS will also be pushed to a later
time, scheduled for April 22 through
the 25 instead of April 17 through the
20 this year.
Academic calendars are available at
the district’s Web site at www.laredoisd.org,
then click on “Calendar.”
MT photo by Ricky Soliz
Sophomore Luis Rodriguez stands next to his charcoal drawing of an angel that
won best of show at the LIFE Downs art show in February.
Claudia Martinez, Printmaking, 3rd
Angelica Siriaco, Acrylics, 3rd
(MT staff writer Theresa Rocha contributed
to this story.)
Conference teaches different ways of presenting theatre
BY THERESA M. ROCHA
MT STAFF WRITER
Theatre students enjoyed a two-day
event dedicated to drama and theatre
arts.
Under the direction of Vernon Carroll,
dean of Theatre, theatre students headed
for Houston last winter for the annual
TheatreFest hosted by the Texas
Educational Theatre Association.
Held in downtown Houston at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel, the event consisted
of several student-directed perform-
ances and presented countless workshops
geared toward the theatrically
inclined.
“The convention,” Carroll said,
“offered a number of workshops such as
acting, play writing, directing, theatre
business, drama, and UIL One Act
coaching that were open to anybody,
even those who were only interested in
theatre.”
The trip was a great experience for the
students to gain exposure toward
drama and theatre outside of Laredo.
The convention proffered a student
perspective towards theatre.
“…A great opportunity for the students
to meet fellow students out of the
city, state and even from other countries.
They also had the chance to talk
to college recruiters and major show biz
professionals” Carroll said.
Students had the chance to interact
with like-minded peers. Ages of scholars
who attended ranged from middle
school children to college students.
“It was nice to be able to interact with
students who have the same interests,”
said Meagan Pavek, theatre student.
Pavek was one of the five students that
attended the conference in January.
“[The convention] was a wonderful
experience. We got to watch plays that
students wrote, directed and even acted
in,” she added.
Next year the conference will be held
in Dallas, Texas. TETA rotates conference
sites every year from Dallas to
Austin then Houston.
The Theatre Department has offered
this trip for eight years. It is made accessible
by departmental funds and a small
contribution on the students’ behalf.

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
School School
News News
Seniors interpret epic Beowulf
BY IRMA HERNANDEZ
MT STAFF WRITER
Diana Martinez’s fifth block
AP English IV class had a fun
project that included not only
the epic poem-Beowulf, which
they read in class, but also
incorporated many of the seniors’
fine arts.
Beowulf is from Anglo Saxon
literature, the first piece of
written English literature.
Beowulf the name of the
poem, is about a hero of a city
that was attacked by a monster
named Grendel.
Students had to do a project
explaining the poem but
through their fine arts’ areas.
They displayed art and wrote
poetry and performed music,
but it all related to Beowulf.
While the seniors presented,
their peers listened and
watched. Many seemed really
into the presentations. One
could tell they admired their
friends’ hard work.
“I think my classmates did a
good job. All the art work and
the different poems were great,
and we all worked really hard to
make our presentations possible,”
said senior Selina Garcia.
Martinez was pleased with
her students’ performances.
“The student performances
and projects were excellent;
they incorporated their fine arts
talents into the literature with
creativity and style,” she said.
English class gives tribute to poet
BY ALYSSA GARZA
MT STAFF WRITER
Tasty food and good literature
were a part of a tribute to
the American Poet Maya
Angelou.
Diana Martinez’s third block
freshmen Pre-AP English I
class participated in the tribute.
It was a part of their study
of African-American Literature
and International Woman’s
Day Celebration.
Students read Angelou’s
autobiographical book entitled
“I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings.” During this event students
participated in different
activities. Students read Maya
Angelou’s poetry and discussed
her life and accomplishments.
The class enjoyed an
African-American meal like
the food mentioned in
Angelou’s book. The meal consisted
of chicken, collard
greens, cornbread, sweet potato
casserole and Dr. Pepper
soda.
Students say they were both
moved and inspired by
Angelou’s work. Priscilla
Martinez said that it helped
her value her life and that she
thinks Angelou is a very
strong person.
“She’s strong because she
suffered a lot when she was
little like she got abused and
she grew up and got over it;
she survived and became a
famous poet. It’s amazing
how she can remember her
childhood and describe it so
well.”
Students read different
poems either by Angelou or
relating to her. Connor Bernal,
Priscilla Martinez, Jessica
Gamez, and Jisel Sanchez
read one famous poem by
Angelou, “Phenomenal
Woman.”
Another student who participated
by reading the poem
“Invictus” was Eddie
Rodriguez. He was assigned
that poem because it was one
of Angelou’s favorite poems
when she was a child.
Rodriguez also enjoyed reading
the book “I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings.”
“It was a really deep book
and she writes about her past
3
MT photo by Irma Hernandez
Senior Sacramento Palacios presents a shield as part of his
Beowulf presentation.
and she goes into great detail,”
he said.
Many of the students say
they will read more of
Angelou’s work in their spare
time and that they were
touched by her work.
Seniors display art projects at show in courtyard, gazebo
BY SHAULA ROCHA
MT STAFF WRITER
Thirteen art seniors displayed their collection
of work from the four years they’ve been at
magnet on April 12 at the art and communications
gazebo.
The pieces had an enormous variety to them;
however, each artist had certain distinguishing
characteristics that shone throughout their
work.
Some spectator favorites included the piece
“Together” by Claudia Vasquez, and “Mother
Nature” — a portrait of a semi-nude woman
covered in ivy by David Hinojosa.
Not all of the seniors work was displayed,
though, as the students only picked the work
that they really liked to be displayed.
Art teacher Jorge Vasquez said the show was
one of the few opportunities for the students to
showcase their work from their stay at magnet.
“The show is a collection of the four years
they’ve been in art,” Vasquez said. ‘There are no
freshmen, sophomores, or juniors. Only sen-
iors.”
“Some of these are pretty old,” Vasquez said,
motioning to an artwork with a tag stating it
had been done when the student was a junior.
The seniors themselves did the majority of the
work, including the planning and preparation.
On the day of the show, they had been at VMT
since eight in the morning in order to put up
their work and finish up the details on time.
“The art show is what every senior looks forward
to, and we started planning this since
the beginning of the year,” Elizabeth Massey
said.
Despite some minor problems that included
the hot, windy weather knocking some of the
paintings and drawings down, the seniors
agreed the show ran rather smoothly.
“It was great, it was a success. A lot of people
enjoyed the show,” Senior Juan Carballo said.
Some people, however, didn’t care to
acknowledge all the hard work that went into
the show. This didn’t bother the seniors.
“A lot of people came only for cookies and
punch,” Carballo said with a laugh.
MT photo by Theresa Rocha
A self-portrait by Juan Carballo was part of the senior art show
in the courtyard on April 12.

4 School School
News News
Mexican legends is topic of book
written by substitute teacher
BY DELIA DIAZ
MT STAFF WRITER
Cesar Salazar Vigil, VMT substitute and retired
teacher, wrote a novel about Mexican legends.
His goal is to give the opportunity for readers to
learn more about the Mexican culture.
Salazar discussed expectations of his novel for
readers.
“The title for my novel is ‘A Través del Misterio
a la Cuarta Dimensión’; the novel is mainly
about the traditions, customs, superstitions
and myths that are carried on within humans,
in general,” Salazar explained.
Some of the legends that Salazar included in
his book are Father Mateo and La Llorona.
“I mentioned the legend of the Llorona in my
novel. People in several parts of Laredo say they
have heard La Llorona cry, at the (international)
railroad bridge, Puente Negro, and Baranco (by
Meadow Avenue and Lyon Street),” Salazar
said.
Authors usually depend on publishing companies
to publish their books. But that is not
the case with Salazar.
“I am a self-publisher; I had the opportunity to
publish my book,” he said.
Salazar’s novel was published last year, in
December. “A Través del Misterio a la Cuarta
Dimensión” is now on sale.
Authors are inspired by something or by someone,
which makes their writings successful.
“What inspired me to write this book were the
legends that happened in Laredo and all over in
Hispanic countries,” he said.
The idea of writing a book is not easy to anyone.
It takes time, ideas and literal organization.
“It’s something that has been happening for
20 years. There were conversations with individuals
and readings from throughout the world.
Also, different kind of literature from many
countries,” he said.
Salazar explained the expectations about his
book.
“I believe that these supernatural things that
surround all of us give us things to create literature.
My book is written completely in Spanish,
and it deals with events that have happened to
me or somebody that is trustworthy,” Salazar
concluded.
MT photo by Delia Diaz
Retired teacher and VMT substitute Cesar
Salazar holds a poster-sized front cover of the
book he published, “A Través del Misterio a la
Cuarta Dimensión.”
Hamilton
Hamilton
Trophies hies
Laredo’s premier awards shop -- serving
Laredo for over 50 years!
The third generation now at work!
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Trophies -- Plaques -- Ribbons -- Certificates --
ID Badges -- Executive Clocks -- Medals -- Educational Awards
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email: hamilton_trophies@yahoo.com We accept personal and
school checks!

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
School School
News News
One group wins monthly award given by car dealer
BY OFELIA J. GONZALEZ
MT STAFF WRITER
One group has received the
LISD/Sames Driven for Success Award
so far this year.
The Magnet Tribune received the
February award of $500 at a ceremony
at Santo Niño Elementary School. Also
receiving awards were Santo Niño and
D.D Hachar elementaries.
Journalism teacher Mark Webber
explained how he found out about this
award.
“The principal told us about the
award. Then every month stories came
out in the Laredo Morning Times about
the winners, and I thought it would be
good to enter and see if we could win.
We did win this year, and Mr. (Jose)
Cerda (V.MT principal) informed us,” he
said.
Webber explained what he would like
the money to be used for.
“I need to ask the students, but personally
I would like it to be used to buy
additional cameras,” he said.
Webber also thanked Sames Motor
Company for their generosity towards
$ 5 oo
Best of the Best
Student performances,
from spring 2006
Each
the school.
“I think it’s real
nice that the people
running the
award saw outstanding
work. I
appreciate Sames
Motor Company
for recognizing
our students’ talents,”
he said.
Students
attending the ceremony
were freshman
Ofelia
Gonzalez and
Keila Granados
and juniors Lorie
Zamarripa, Linda
Obregon, and
Monica Garcia.
One of Webber’s
students that
attended the
award ceremony
agreed about
Holiday
Serenade
The faculty performs,
from December 2006
Get them while they last!
Contact the school office
More info: 795-3325; cerda@elisd.org
MT photo by Ofelia J. Gonzalez
Groups representing Santo Niño and D.D. Hachar elementaries, Vidal M. Treviño, and the LISD administration
pose at the February LISD/Sames Driven for Success Award ceremony at Santo Niño
Elementary School.
needing more cameras.
“I’d like the money to be used to buy
new digital cameras because we only
Space donated by The Magnet Tribune
have two and that’s not enough for all
of us,” Granados said.
Last year the Rondalla, Steel Drum
Refill, Recycle
and Save!
Ink jet
cartridges
5
Band, Tapestry creative writing magazine,
and Jorge Vasquez’s art students’
murals won the award.
1119 Taylor St. at McPherson, 791-8126
2108 South Meadow Ave., 729-0123

BY THERESA M. ROCHA
MT STAFF WRITER
6 School School
News News
Piano lovers and performing arts
enthusiasts gathered for a weekend of
piano.
Piano Days, presented by the Laredo
Community College Performing Arts
Department, was a three-day event created
to promote awareness of piano
playing in Laredo.
It included VMT’s Director of Piano
Studies Dr. Mary Grace Carroll.
The event began with a concert featuring
Poland native Dr. Anna Gorecka
on Friday, Jan. 19. Gorecka played
selections by F. Chopin such as Ballade
g-minor, Sonata b flat-minor, and
Scherzo b flat-minor. She was also
scheduled to play M. Ravel’s Gaspard
de la Nuit and W.A Mozart’s Variations
Student of the Month, Head of the Class recipients
in D-major.
Gorecka has played in Vienna,
Moscow, and Berlin.
Encoring her performance, the next
morning, Gorecka gave a master class
that was open to everyone .
Following Gorecka, Carroll presented
a class.
Carroll’s program consisted of two
pieces by Debussy, La Puerta del Vino
and Lis’le Joyeuse. In addition she
played several pieces by M. Ponce
including Scherzino Mexicano,
Romanza de Amor, Intermezzo #1 and
C. Although noted on the program, she
did not play M. Ponce’s Gavote.
Carroll disclosed that the piece was
scheduled for a later performance.
Carroll has played piano for more than
30 years.
The pieces she played she said were
basic repertoire, the essential pieces
pianists have learned.
The event ended with a duet performance
by Elizabeth Gutierrez and
Kevin Richmond of San Antonio. The
two put on a Latin American performance.
Their program consisted of Agustin
Lara’s Granada, Ernesto Lecuona’s
Malagueña, Manuel Ponce’s Idilio
Mexicano, Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez’s
Cavaleiro Fantastico and Carlos
Guastavino’s Romance del Plata.
The two presented separate classes
prior to their performance.
Gutierrez is an associate professor of
piano at the University of Texas at San
Antonio.
According to http://music.utsa.edu/
Faculty/richmond/index.html,
Richmond “…has performed numerous
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
MT photos by Krystal Battistata/Selina Hernandez, Natalie Castillo, Theresa Rocha
Six students were named Student of the Month or Head of the Class during the school year by the U.S. Border Patrol and other groups. Left photo, from left, Selina
Garcia, Jose Chavana and Leonela Gutierrez. Middle photo, from left, Veronica Cruz and Irma Hernandez. Right photo, Jaime Rodriguez.
Radio, television students get $2,500 Best Buy grant
BY LUCIA VILLAGOMEZ
MT STAFF WRITER
Carrie Robaina, Radio/TV instructor,
was the only teacher who received the
Best Buy Teach Award, a grant of
$2,500.
To apply for this $2,500 grant
Robaina downloaded the application
from the Internet.
Then she wrote essays on some of the
elements that the application required,
along with background information on
her program, and school population
statistics.
When she got the news that she had
been chosen to receive this grant,
Robaina was shocked.
“I couldn’t believe I received the grant
because it was a grant open to teachers
in the U.S.”
She added that she was “excited and
happy that students were getting some
new equipment.”
Leslie Widales, a junior, and
Radio/TV student, was pleased with
the news.
“I was very excited when I found out
we had gotten the grant,” she said.
Both Robaina and her students discussed
what equipment they should
buy.
Robaina took some of her students to
Best Buy.
Students had freedom of choice on
what equipment they wanted to get.
They looked, tested, and chose the
equipment they thought would work
best for them.
In the end they left the store with
three digital camcorders, three tripods,
a digital camera, CDs for their radio station,
a projector, and some headphones.
Oh, and Robaina decided to treated
her students with lunch at Applebee’s
restaurant.
The students who weren’t able to
make the trip to Best Buy with Robaina
thought all the new equipment bought
was cool.
Students could not believe they were
able to get all that equipment with
$2,500.
This equipment has really helped
Robaina with her program, she said.
Now students are able to take the
camcorders home for projects, whereas
before they couldn’t.
“They’re allowed to branch out with
their stories,” added Robaina.
Widales explained how the items
have helped with their assignments.
“Our work has really improved with
our new equipment. The new cameras,
headphones, projectors, etc. have
helped us make our projects even better,”
she said.
“It’s great that companies like Best
Buy offer those types of awards to public
education because we’re under
funded. Students deserve the best,”
said Robaina.
Magnet piano instructor performs at LCC’s Piano Days
solo recitals in Germany, France,
Austria, Japan, and the USA.” He is also
a member of the faculty at UTSA.
The conglomeration of performances
was a memorable experience.
“The goal of this event was to make
people aware of piano playing in
Laredo,” Carroll said.
“I wish that more people had gone
because it gave them a chance to gain
exposure to a different kind of playing,”
she added.
All performances were free and open
to the public.
Carroll also played piano alongside
John Reimund, director of Low Brass
studies at VMT in “Tuba on the Edge”
on Apr. 28 in the Texas A&M
International University Center for
the Fine and Performing Arts Recital
Hall.

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Individuals, groups appear
on Public Access program
BY NATALIE CASTILLO
MT STAFF WRITER
Several school groups have appeared
on the local art show called Hot Town.
Hot Town is shown three times a
week on Public Access Channel 3. It is
the one locally produced show made in
Laredo on a weekly basis, said the person
in charge of the show.
“I had an English teacher when I
was in the ninth grade with whom I
still communicate, Dr. Neo Gutierrez,
who is retired in California. Once a
year at Christmas time he comes
down here and does about 12 hours
of programming in one day. I though I
would honor him by taking over his
program on a smaller scale,” said
Roberto San Miguel, Cigarroa Middle
School teacher, who is in charge of
the show.
San Miguel’s co-hosts are Melissa
Rodriguez and Debbie Leija, also teachers
at Cigarroa Middle School. They
help during the Hot Town show production.
“They are everything to me. Without
them I could never do anything. They
help, guide, advise, are very creative
and dedicated. Mainly they take the
pressure off,” he said.
San Miguel said he has gotten much
feedback from the program.
“Mainly positive. Everyone thinks it is
a great idea. It needed to be done, and
it is exactly what we need. Every one
either wants to be on it or knows someone
who would be great on it,” said San
Miguel.
Several VMT students have appeared
on Hot Town this school year.
“The students we have featured have
all been great, polite, dedicated and
very talented. Some are a little more
bashful than others, but it is a great
project to bring them out of their shell,”
he said.
“We have had individuals such as
Fabiola Rivera and the flamenco
dancers that won the Latin Arts contest
and went to Disneyland. We have had
groups such as the Conjunto Extremo,
Mr. (Jose) Cerda your principal and
hope to soon have piano students of Dr.
Mary Grace Carroll. That’s besides
some very talented journalism students,”
San Miguel said.
Five journalism students appeared
on the Hot Town show in February. It
was the first taped television experiance
for one of the students.
“I had never been on a TV show
before and it was awesome. I felt special,”
said sophomore Jackie Martinez.
She never imagined how it would feel
being taped.
“I felt really nervous and weird but
after a while I started to feel more comfortable
with myself,” said Martinez.
MT photo by Ofelia Gonzalez
Students play a giant game of chess during the grand opening of the Imaginarium at
Mall del Norte on Feb. 9.
School School
News News
Martinez had a strange feeling before
and afterwards about her interview.
“I was thinking like, I hope I did great
and didn’t look like a fool,” she said.
“The whole time I was thinking of what
to say. Also, (the studio lights) were
really hot so I was sweating.”
During the program Martinez and
others showed their work in the school
newspaper and their photography.
“We showed many of our newspapers
and a couple of our pictures we took
during the semester,” she said.
She urged students to appear on Hot
Town and show their talents.
“I recommend people to go on air for
Math students at opening
BY NIDIA GOMEZ
MT STAFF WRITER
Students who made soccer balls
were part of the grand opening of the
Laredo Children’s Museum, now
called the Imaginarium, in the mall on
Feb. 9
Juan Gonzalez, math teacher, took
some of his students to go to the
grand opening.
“The place is perfect for Laredo’s
students because it’s designed so that
any child can go and have fun while
getting educated about something
that have not been exposed to before,”
Gonzalez said.
A student found the Imaginarium an
interesting place.
“Being part of the grand opening
was really cool. I know that we all
found it a privilege,” Freshman
Carolina Perez said.
7
MT photo by Mark Webber
Hot Town co-host Debbie Leija, left, shares a laugh with seniors Irma Hernandez,
Veronica Cruz and Christian Sanchez during a taping of a program Feb. 1 in the
Public Access Channel studio. Their program was shown later in February.
a TV show. It’s fun,” Martinez said.
San Miguel said he likes the programs
at the magnet school.
“I love the VMT School of
Communication and Fine Arts. Both of
my childern go there, and I wish it had
been around when I was a student in
LISD,” said San Miguel.
He said the show airs every Monday,
Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 p.m. on
channel 3 on the cable.
“Tell your friends to watch. You never
know who you might see on your TV
screen,” San Miguel said. “We want to
showcase Laredo’s talent because there
is so much of it, mainly undiscovered.”
There were many great things in the
Imaginarium she really liked, but said
her favorite thing was the bubble tray,
a large octangular-shaped tray that
consists of soap and water, which
makes bubbles, and the pretend grocery
store.
“It was awesome,” Perez said.
Another freshman student added,
“I liked the tornado activity the
most.”
Gonzalez said Tim Gutierrez from
KGNS interviewed some of his students
about the soccer ball project.
Students that participated in the television
program were Alexis Diaz de
Leon, Leslie Widales, Danah
Blackwell, Monica Lopez, and Cristell
Rodriguez.
The show airs on Saturdays at noon.
He showcases students from Laredo
schools that take part in educational
projects.

8 Recruitin Recruiting
Teachers seek
new talent for
new school year
BY KEILA GRANADOS AND JUAN
OLIVARES
MT STAFF WRITERS
Teachers are seeking hardworking
students in their recruiting trips to all
the middle schools for next year’s
incoming freshmen.
Classes have had recruiting trips to
all four LISD middle schools,
Cigarroa, Christen, Memorial, and
Lamar.
“We look foward to hardworking,
dedicated students interested in a
well-rounded education in dance,”
Dance department head and instructor
Cheryl Kirkpatrick said.
Teachers and students say the
recruiting trips have been productive.
“The recruiting trips have been successful.
We’ve had a good turnout for
students next year,” Kirkpatrick said.
On the other hand, art teacher
Jorge Vasquez would like more
opportunities to speak to students.
“I wish we had more time recruiting
other than performances because it’s
taking too long,” Vasquez said.
TV/radio communications teacher
Carrie Robaina said she has a positive
attitude about the trips and the
eighth graders that have signed up
for her classes.
“I’m looking for incoming students
who have a positive attitude and love
for technology,” she explained.
“I feel we’ve had positive recruiting
trips,” she said.
Students also enjoyed their recruiting
trips and felt it easy to get the
eighth graders’ attention, who
seemed to like what they were doing.
“Just to play in front of people was
fun. To make other people like it is
hard, but I think this school is capable
of doing that,” freshman piano
student Ivan Valdez said.
Another freshman, choir student
Erika Sanchez, has a love for performing.
“I was singing a solo and got the
attention of kids because I knew most
of them. I just love to perform,”
Sanchez said.
Both freshmen students attended
Memorial Middle School as eighth
graders.
Dancers perform for Memorial Middle School students during a recruiting trip.
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
MT photo by Juan Olivares
MT photos: top left, center, Juan Olivares, right, Ofelia Gonzalez; bottom left, Juan Olivares, right, Keila Gradados
Top: Fabiola Rivera, left and Asael Armendariz perform at Memorial. Right, Vivian Martinez plays a keyboard at Lamar
Middle School.
Bottom: left, Steel Drum Band members Jesus Saldaña and Manuel Castillo perform at Memorial. Right: String students
perform a number at Lamar Middle School.

The Magnet Tribune
May 5, 2007 Technolo Technology
gy
9
Cell phones, iPods seem the most popular
BY LINDA OBREGON
MT STAFF WRITER
VMT students use a variety
of portable electronic items
especially cell phones,
according to a portable technology
survey given by the
Magnet Tribune earlier this
spring.
Cell phones were the most
widely used electronic item;
the survey said 80 percent of
students have either a regular
or pre-paid cell phone plan.
“Cell phones make life much
easier. I can contact my parents
faster,” said Sacramento
Palacios, senior.
The second most commonly
used item is the iPod and
other similar devices such as
MP3’s. These objects can hold
from 1 gigabyte to 80 gigabytes
worth of music and/or
video. 52 percent of student
survey takers say they own
these items.
“I want a ‘Zen Creative’. It’s
portable, affordable and holds
a lot of music,” said Katherine
Pollard, freshman.
Next is the third-leading
product. Pin-drive/flashdrives
are used like floppy
disks once were: they contain
many types of information
such as videos, music and
documents. They vary in different
sizes called “gigs” (gigabytes).
Fifty percent of VMT
students say they own a flashdrive/pin-drive.
Portable games are also being
used by students. PSPs and
Nintendos are the most commonly
known items. Fifty per-
Male/Female
percentage
of respondents
Grade
percentage
of respondents
Cell phone
ownership
Digital
camera
ownership
iPods/other
similar device
ownership
Pin drive
ownership
PSP/Nintendo,
other device
ownership
Page design by Linda Obregon
Graphics by Linda Obregon
cent of students
say they
have a
portable
PSP/Nintendo.
PSPs can also
hold music
and pictures.
Sophomore
A b i g a i l
Galindo said
she owns a
Nintendo
Game Cube,
PSP and a
PS2.
“They help
me out when
I’m bored,”
she said.
The last
MT photo by Linda Obregon
Juniors Monica Garcia and Nick Lopez use popular
electronic items named in the Magnet
Tribune survey; iPods, pin drives and cell
phones.
item that seems to be popular
as well are digital cameras.
Digital cameras are used to
take pictures that one can
upload into one’s computer.
Fifty percent of students say
they own a digital camera.
“I want a digital camera so I
can take pictures and not have
to keep buying film,” said Dalia
Olivares, senior.

10 Winter inter Ball
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Seniors celebrate the end with gala dance
Students get into the music by dancing with glowsticks.
Samantha Jo Flores and Daniel Valdez Veronica Cruz and Emmanuel Romero Veronica Salinas and Hiroshi Wong
Denise Cisneros holds her star as
other seniors in the background look
on.
MT photos by
Olivia San Miguel
and Ricky Soliz
Right, Selina Garcia welcomes seniors to the Winter Ball along with school director
Jose Cerda.
BY OLIVIA SAN MIGUEL
MT STAFF WRITER
It was a night of glitz and glamour
as seniors danced the night
away in the Hollywood-themed
Winter Ball.
The second annual Winter Ball
was held February 24 in the
upstairs ballroom at the Laredo
Center for the Arts.
“The theme was “Hollywood—A
Night with Stars” as suggested by
the senior class,” said English
instructor Diana Martinez, senior
co-sponsor. Social Studies
instructor Matias Arambula is
the other co-sponsor.
The night opened with a welcoming
speech from Senior Class
Secretary Selina Garcia and Jose
Cerda, principal.
There were about 130 students
present at the Winter Ball, and a
large buffet was available to
accommodate all of them, in
addition to the teachers who
attended.
The buffet offered foods like
caviar, peppered turkey, and even
a fountain of punch, among other
goodies.
After some dancing awards
were given out “Academy Awards”
style to the:
* Hardest Working Senior,
Selina Garcia
* Best All-Around, Dee Dee
Gamez
* Best Hair, Marco Sanchez and
Evelyn Gamez
* Best Shoes, Lourdes Martinez
and Ed Herrera
* Best Hollywood Classic Look,
Jorge Negrete and Norma
Arellano
* Best Avant-Garde, Roger
Gonzalez and Lauren Palacios.
This year’s Winter Ball went
according to plan, Martinez said,
and Senior Class sponsors have
started planning for 2008.
“The night was almost perfect. It
will surely by one of my favorite
senior memories,” said Denise
Cisneros, senior piano student.

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Selina Garcia and Eric Requena.
Left,
Decorations
on the table
show the
date and
Oscars
theme of
event.
Winter inter Ball
Ricky Soliz and Denise Cisneros. Lourdes Martinez and Ricardo Garcia.
11
Above, Roger Gonzalez poses like an
Oscar.
Left: Miriam Moreno, Norma Arellano,
JoAnn Esparza, Samantha Jo Flores,
Veronica Cruz, Vanessa L. Martinez,
and Samantha Sanchez. (Photo by
Luis Bracero)
Ana Velasquez and Ricardo Garcia.
Above, Roel Esparza and Evelyn Perez.
Left: Veronica Cruz, Kayra Dueñas,
Elizabeth Massey, and Selina Garcia
dance during the Winter Ball.

12 Seniors Seniors
2007
Graduating on May 31 are ...
Communications
L. Castillo — Creative Writing
Sandra Adame
Norma Lynn Arellano
Deyanira Gómez
Jesus Raul Torres
C. Robaina — Radio/TV
Broadcasting
Oscar Ezequiel Antu
Carlos Alan Cortez
Selina García
Jorge Americo Negrete III
Sacramento Jeremiah
Palacios
Cynthia Sifuentes
M. Webber —
Journalism/Photojournalism
Veronica Cruz
Delia Janette Díaz
Irma G. Hernández
Ed Jonathan Herrera
Veronica Jeanette Lara
Dalia Olivares
Olivia Alexis San Miguel
Christian Sánchez
Dance
C. Kirkpatrick — Jazz,
Ballet. Tap & Spanish
Lauren Olivia Palacios
Janette Treviño
Monica Berenice Vilchez
M. E. Leyendecker — Jazz,
& Modern Ballet
Senior Medallion
Ceremony
Wednesday, May 16
7 p.m., Martin gym
---
Graduation Day
Thursday, May 31
Laredo Entertainment
Center
Martin High, 10 a.m.
Nixon High, 2 p.m.
Cigarroa High, 6 p.m.
Sources:
Medallion ceremony program
www.elisd.org/home.aspx
Evelyn Gámez
Elizabeth F. Massey
Carlos Fidel Sandoval
A. McKinnis — Flamenco &
Folklorico
Mirsa Iris Barrera
Kayra Lizzeth Dueñas
Audrey Lynn Esparza
Leonela Gutiérrez
Rebecca Venessa Longoria
Gerardo Mata
Lourdes Berenic Martínez
Music
Dr. M. G. Carroll — Piano
Studies
Denise Christine Cisneros
Dember Framo Demasiado
Erica Michelle Garibay
Erin José Pérez
Carlos Torres
Nancy Torres
B. Compton — Upper Strings
Justin Noel Balli
Maria Martínez
Claudia Yvette Olivares
Ricardo Gabriel Reyes
R. Cortez — Guitar
Oscar Lauro Martínez
Hiroshi Wong
M. Granado —
Experimental Music
Robert Fuller Batey
José Manuel Chavana
Eliud Emmanuel de la Cruz
Kevin Patrick Dunn
Jorge Eduardo Felix
Marco Andres López
David Lugo
Ian Mora
Miguel Angel Rodríguez
M. Hinojosa — Woodwinds
Arcelia Lynette González
Ruby Martínez
Emily J. Pérez
Fabiola Rivera
Talisha Salas
R. López — Upper Brass
Roel Esparza
Esperanza Noemi
Hernández
Evelyn June Pérez
José Roberto Villa
N. Palacios/A. Obregon —
Guitar
Alfredo Emilio González
Alejandra Jasso
Joyce Ochoa
Rafael Oviedo
Olinda Santos
Joaquin Zapico III
J. Reimund — Lower Brass
Rogelio Amador González
Arnulfo R. Hernández
Adrian Joel Morúa
Joshua Andres Ramírez
Jesus Ochoa
Juan Carlos Zamarripa
A. Rodríguez — Vocal Studies
Stephany Marie Ayala
Laura Yvette Méndez
Angela Justine Treviño
C. Torres — Percussion
Pedro Barba
David Thomas Montoya
Zulema Yessenia Perales
Orestes Carlo Torres
Theatre Arts
V. Carroll — Acting &
Technical Theatre
Elena C. Chavez
David Colunga
JoAnn Esparza
Samantha Jo Flores
Jessica Michelle Garza
Vanessa Ann García
Edwin Isaac Martínez
Vanessa Lorraine Martínez
Jaime Eleazar Rodríguez
Samantha Sánchez
Yolanda Soto
Jesus Speer
Iris Jhoise Vázquez
Visual Arts
A. Hinojosa — Metal Arts &
Sculpture
Rossylena Barron
Vicky Cortez
Andres Cecilio Flores
Miriam Moreno
Veronica Liliana Salinas
J. Ríos — Drawing/Painting
Hilda Fernandez
Graciela Abigail Posadas
J. Vásquez — Drawing &
Painting
Karina del Carmen Alvarez
Juan Enrique Carballo
Rafael David Hinojosa II
Claudia Natalie Martínez
Marco Jatziel Sánchez
Denize Dyan Solis
Claudia Cristina Vásquez
Yesika Magaly Vásquez
Source: Medallion
Ceremony program
Faculty and staff
Jose Cerda — VMT Director
Matias Arambula III — Social Studies
David Blumberg — Desktop Publishing
James Buckley — English Language Arts
Dr. Mary Grace Carroll — Piano Studies
Vernon Carroll — Theatre Arts
Lilia Castillo — Creative Writing/English Language Arts
Bobby Compton — String Studies
Ricardo Cortez — Guitar Studies
Guillermo Farias — Social Studies
Gerardo Flores — English Language Arts
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Gloria Ana Ga
Gregorio Garza
Sean Gaynor —
Juan Manuel
Gene Granado
Armando Hino
Melissa Hinojo
Carlos Imperia
Cheryl Kirkpat
Mary Ellen Ley
Robert López —

trar
Language Arts
dies
Mathematics
chnology
l Arts and Sculpture
ind Studies
ion Assistant
, Ballet, Tap and Spanish
Jazz and Modern Ballet
s Studies
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Internet: http://my.highschooljournalism.org/tx/laredo/vmt
e-mail: mt_writers@hotmail.com
Diana R. Martínez — English Language Arts
Alicia McKinnis — Flamenco and Folklorico
Arturo Obregon — Interim Guitar Specialist
Nino Palacios — Guitar Specialist
Diana Pentecost — Counselor
Alejandra Rodríguez — Voice Studies
John Reimund — Low Brass Studies
Laura Ríos — Attendance Clerk
Marie Jassie Ríos — Drawing and Painting
Carrie Robaina — Radio/Television Broadcasting
Scott Roberts — Technology Trainer
Cecilia Sánchez — Secretary/Bookkeeper
Jesus Sandoval — Music Technology Assistant
Carlos Torres — Percussion Studies
Mario Teniente — Visual Arts Assistant
Gary Valleza — Library Aide
Jorge Vásquez — Drawing and Painting
Mark Webber — Journalism/Photojournalism
José Garza Zambrano — Social Studies
Source: Medallion Ceremony program
13
MT composite photo by Mark Webber

14 Senior Breakfast Breakfast
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
After photo, seniors celebrate with breakfast
MT photo by Mark Webber
Seniors gather around the cake before it was cut during the senior breakfast at
the Treviño Center outdoor stage.
MT photo by Ed Herrera
Above: Seniors pose for a picture while eating breaksfast at the Treviño Center
outdoor stage after taking the senior picture.
MT photo by Mark Webber
Right: Technology instructor David Blumberg and Woodwinds instructor Melissa
Hinojosa give a slice of cake to Sacramento Palacios, right, and other seniors.
Seniors had a special day on
Friday, April 20.
While underclassmen were
taking the final TAKS exam,
seniors took their group photo
with the school’s faculty and
staff.
The color photo is available
in the school office, and in
black and white on pages 12-
13 in this issue.
Afterwards, the seniors,
joined by the faculty and staff,
were treated to breakfast, featuring
a variety of tacos and
cake, to celebrate the accomplishments
of the Class of ‘07.
------
Senior Medallion Ceremony
Wednesday, May 16, 7 p.m.
Martin High school
New gymnasium

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Senior Breakfast Breakfast
MT photo by Mark Webber
Above: Seniors pose on the Treviño Center stage during the senior breakfast.
MT photo by Ed Herrera
Below: Teachers and custodial staff chat in front of the Treviño Center during the senior breakfast.
From left, James Buckley, Carrie Robaina, Luis Martinez, Armando Hinojosa, Rene Flores, Gerardo
Flores, Sean Gaynor, Melissa Hinojosa, Jassie Rios, Dr. Mary Grace Carroll and Alicia McKinnis.
MT photo by Mark Webber
Seniors enjoyed this large cake for dessert.
MT photo Christian Sanchez
Irma Hernandez and Ed Herrera.
15
MT photo by Christian Sanchez
Samantha Sanchez, Joyce Ochoa, and Irma Hernandez
pose during senior breakfast at the Treviño Center.
Photo contributed by Vanessa Martinez
Christy Sanchez, Veronica Cruz, Jorge Negrete, and Norma
Arellano.
Photo contributed by Sacramento Palacios
Top row from left: Samantha Jo Flores, English instructor
Diana Martinez, Miriam Moreno, and Vanessa Martinez.
Bottom row from left: Christian Sanchez, Rossylena
Barron, Samantha Sanchez, and Norma Arellano.
MT photo by Ed Herrera
Faculty and staff
visited on the
Treviño Center
porch. From left,
Gary Valleza,
Carlos Torres,
Laura Rios, Mario
Teniente, and
Armando
Hinojosa

16 Magnet Magnet
en español
POR ANAKAREN SERNA
ESCRITORA DEL MAGNET TRIBUNE
La amistad es necesaria en la vida
de las personas. Cada humano necesita
de la amistad, ya que es un ser social
y necesita de sus pares.
Annie Miller, junior, y Nancy
Hernández, junior, estudiantes de
Vidal M. Treviño fueron entrevistados
sobre el tema de la amistad.
La amistad nace por sentimientos en
común se comparten ideales, creencias,
similitudes, gustos y pensamientos
entre ambas personas.
“Para mi la amistad es una persona
mas cercana que un hermano. Es una
persona dispuesta a darlo todo por la
amistad. También es una persona en
quien confiar y saber que nunca te va a
fallar,” Hernández comentó.
“Para mi la amistad es un afecto
interpersonal, puro y desinteresado,
basado en el respeto, comprensión,
apoyo y más que todo en la confianza
que se deposita en la otra persona,”
Miller aclaró.
Los amigos son personas que comparten
una vida entorno a sentimientos
reales. ¿Tu te consideras un verdadero
amigo?
“Si porque soy muy leal a mis amigos.
Por lo general confió mucho en
ellos y nunca creo cosas que me dicen
de ellos. También les demuestro mi
amistad, y siempre los apoyo cuando
tienen problemas,” Hernández expuso.
“Creo que sí me considero una
buena amiga, aunque como todos a
veces cometemos errores, pero siempre
he tratado de ser una buena amiga ya
que deposito mi confianza, mi ayuda,
sobre todo para la otra persona, dándole
a veces consejos ó escuchándolos
solamente,” Miller expresó.
La amistad puede ocurrir en una variedad
de circunstancias, ¿podrá suceder
que exista la cyber amistad, o amistad
por el Internet?
“Si, creo que la amistad se puede
crear en cualquier sitio y en cualquier
circunstancia. Si se llegan a conocer
en verdad la amistad puede ser sincera
y durar,” Hernández indicó.
“Nunca he tratado de buscar una
amistad por Internet porque no tengo
tiempo de chatear o analizar mi correo
electronico en el Internet. Aunque se
debe de tener precaución en chatear con
alguien que no conoces. Creo que si se
puede dar una buena amistad por el
Internet, sabiendo que la persona al otro
lado es alguien de tu edad, y de tus mismos
principios morales,” Miller afirmó.
El suicidio, es un problema muy
grave que ocurre muy frecuentemente
entre los estudiantes jóvenes. ¿La
amistad puede cambiar la forma de
pensar de las personas, como?
“La única solución seria hablar con
ella. Tendría que hacer que entre en
razón que entienda que esa no es la
solución que es solo una salida fácil.
Estar con la persona en todo momento
The Magnet Tribune
May 5, 2007
¿Que es la amistad? Estudiantes dan su opinion sobre el tema
Foto del Magnet Tribune por Joseph Mendiola
Estudiante observa fotografías de la exposicion presentada por el departamento
de Journalism el 13 de abril en el Laredo Center for the Arts.
MT photo by Anakaren Serna
Annie Miller, junior, estudiante entrevistada.
y no dejarla sola.” Hernández dijo.
“Primero trataría de hacerle saber
que cuenta conmigo la convencería
para que hablara con sus padres sobre
los problemas que ella (él) tiene ó la
acompañaría para que hablara con el
consejero de su escuela, ó con un sacerdote,
darle a saber que siempre hay
una salida para todos sus problemas,”
Miller explicó.
Una amistad perfecta, ¿será posible
que exista? Los estudiantes expresan
su opinión al respecto.
“Una amistad ideal es una en la cual
Fotos del Magnet
Tribune por
Joseph Mendiola
Visitante a la
exposicion de
fotos observa el
trabajo realizado
por el departamento
de
Journalism el 13
de abril en el
Laredo Center
for the Arts.
MT photo by Anakaren Serna
Nancy Hernandez, junior, estudiante
entrevistada.
las personas confían entre si mismas y
son sinceros. También tienen gustos
parecidos y se entienden en su forma
de ser. También se apoyan a si mismos
y siempre están ahí cuando uno necesita
al otro,” Hernández señaló.
“Para mi la amistad ideal es cuando
puedes confiar en alguien que te valore
y que te acepte como eres sin egoísmo,
envidias ni traiciones, sin que hablen
mal de ti y a solas te diga si cometiste
un error y te lo haga saber con un
buen consejo o con un regaño,” Miller
concluyó.

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Switchfoot produces another great album; 2XL is lacking
Artist: Switchfoot
Label: Columbia Records
Record: Oh! Gravity
Rating: 5 oh out of 5
Web site: www.switchfoot.com
I totally love the music from
Switchfoot; it always seems to
come up with really superior
songs all the time. I was surprised
to see the tour, with
most of their tour dates sold
out. Switchfoot is a very creative
band and has music
that covers on reality and life.
Oh! Gravity! is their sixth
album.
The album holds 12 tracks
and presents a quality of
time of songs.
The whole album overall
is just great.
I really enjoy listening
to Switchfoot. If
you’re a person with
an ear to different
types of music. Then
you are going to expect
excellent music.
The Perks of Being a
Wallflower has so far been the
best book I’ve reviewed.
It tells you what it’s like to be
in high school when you’re on
the outside looking in.
This book is written in a
unique way. It’s formatted as a
series of letters to an anonymous
friend from a guy who
calls himself Charlie.
“Charlie” is the main character
in the book, and he never
mentions his real name.
The book opens around the
last week of Charlie’s last year
of middle school. He’s recently
found out that his only real
and best friend has committed
suicide.
Charlie’s letters cover his
first year in high school,
----
Artist: 2XL
Label: Tommy Boy
Entertainment
Record: Neighborhood Rapstar
Rating: 1 neighbors
out of
5
Web
site:
EVERLIFE
1991/92, a
time haunted
by the recent
suicide of his
best friend,
Michael.
Always quick
to shed tears,
CHBOSKY Charlie also
feels guilty about the death of
his Aunt Helen, a troubled
woman who lived with
Charlie’s family at the time of
her fatal car wreck.
Though Charlie begins high
school as a friendless observer,
he is soon becomes friends
with a senior in his class
named Patrick and his stepsister,
Samantha.
They include Charlie in their
circle of bohemian new-aged
Entertainment
Ear Candy
by
Veronica Cruz
www.gomoxie.org
I just received their promotional
CD and I really can’t
explain as much as I would
like with this group’s
music.
The rap group 2XL
is very interesting.
However, I have
never heard of
them.
These guys
are truly
random to
me. I
believe
they can
probably
be a hit only
if they were to
work on their
Quiet boy looks at high school
through letters to a friend
Bookworm
by
Cassandra Perez
senior friends. His new friends
introduce him to drinking, pot,
and acid.
Charlie learns a lot with his
new friends, especially about
heartbreak. Charlie falls in
love with the inaccessible Sam.
His first relationship ends
miserably because he remains
compulsively honest to himself
about his feelings for Sam, even
though he has a girlfriend.
Charlie shows that he is a
loyal friend when he sticks up
for Patrick when he’s gaybashed,
and a good brother,
when he helps his sister when
she finds out that she’s pregnant
and needs an abortion.
Depressed that the people
who’ve been there for him during
this tough year are graduating
and going to college,
Charlie suffers a catatonic
breakdown, which resolves
itself with some underlying
truth about his Aunt Helen.
Even though this book has
its severe teenage angst and
2XL
timing of songs and lyrics, but
I would prefer them to work
with more beats and put some
hype to the music.
----
Artist: Everlife
Label: Buena Vista Records
Rating: 4 truths out of 5
Web site:
www.everlifeonline.com
Many people have not heard
of this band. Everlife is a girl
pop- rock band and definitely
interesting. They are laid back
basically, just singing their
first moments,
there’s more
appeal to this
book than that.
There’s this
one quote in the
book that I think
truly summarizes
Charlie’s
perspective on
things.
“I walk
around the
school hallways
and look at the
people. I look at
the teachers
and wonder why
they’re here. If
they like their
jobs, or if they
even like us.
And I wonder
how smart they
were when they
were fifteen. Not
in a mean way,
but in a curious way. It’s like
looking at all the students and
wondering who’s had their
heart broken that day, and
how they are able to cope with
having three quizzes and a
book report on top of that. Or
wondering who did the heart
17
hearts out. Every song has a
message that represents most
of the way they are.
One of the songs I really like
is “I can get use to this.” It is
also their cover song. The
song is the process of getting
used to a different
lifestyle which is resistance
in some of their
songs.
Everlife is a new and fresh
rock group and moreover
tries to inspire thru the music
they have created. The best
part is that they are influenced
by one of my favorite bands,
Switchfoot.
Everlife sends messages
about support and hope that
music should be nowadays.
----
FREEBIES: Get your 2XL
postcards, Everlife stickers,
and Jon McLaughlin, New
Rivals and Mandy Moore
posters in The Magnet Tribune
classroom! Get them while
they last!
breaking and wondering why.”
I think the reason why I really
like this book and the reason
why I call it my favorite is
because it’s real. Whether
you’re a wallflower or not you’re
able to relate the story and
what Charlie is telling you.

18 Ideas
I seriously believe I over analyze
everything and everyone. Perhaps I just
have too much spare time. During this
analyzing I think. A lot. And sometimes
I meet some person that makes me
think even more.
Just the other day I was on the bus
with a classmate, and she really got me
in a deep, pensive state of mind.
We were talking about "our generation."
Most of the things she said were
exactly what I was thinking! (Maybe
she's psychic?)
In short we talked about how our
generation doesn't seem to have an
identity. We are just a mixture of the
old ideals of former generations. We
can't seem to create our own identity so
we take bits and pieces from other generations.
Fifty years from now how are people
going to remember us? It's as if we are
so involved in the superficial we can't
even see what's going on in the world.
We are living in the nuclear age. You
can’t flip past a news channel without
hearing the words "war," "Middle East,"
and "terrorists" flooding through our
speakers and in one ear and out the
other. We are fighting a war and yet
you can probably read more about
Brangelina and Britney Spears' shaved
head in any magazine or newspaper. I
mean, there are a lot of articles on the
war and other issues but who takes
the time to pick those up if the latest
For this amazing and exciting year of
2007 there have been a lot of good
movies showing in theaters. A few of
them have been horror films. We are
huge horror fans so we decided to
review two flicks: The Hills Have Eyes
II and Dead Silence.
Be sure to take an adult for ticket
purchase if you are under 17 because
both these movies are rated R.
The Hills Have Eyes II
Rating: R for strong language and
gruesome violence
Starring: Jessica Stroup, Reshad
Strik, Michael McMillian, Daniella
Alonso and Lee Thompson Young.
Directed by Martin Weiss
The Hills Have Eyes II is what you
would expect it to be. Just like the
first one, it has a lot of blood and
news on Anna Nicole Smith's death
saga is on the front cover? Not all people
are like this, but it seems a vast
majority are.
I wish more people would speak up
about their beliefs and get their butts
off MySpace and take a look at the
world. Is this how you want the world
to remember your era? As self indulgent
people who watch more E!
Entertainment than CNN?
Raise your voice. Take a stand. Have
an opinion on anything and make it
heard. You think global warming is a
problem? Then sign up for a newsletter
with information, recycle, inform other
violence.
The Hills Have Eyes
II is about a group of
National Guard
trainees who stop at a
New Mexico outpost
and find an abandoned
research camp
deserted. They then
ALONSO find themselves struggling
to fight for their
lives against some strange mutated
cannibals.
The family of cannibals stalks their
prey and slowly picks them off one by
one. They plan on keeping the women
National Guard trainees so their
mutant family can keep on going for
generations.
The whole movie is basically the soldiers
and the mutants battling for sur-
people. You hate the president?
Register to vote, get informed about the
candidates. You cannot complain
unless you act.
I'm really fortunate to be in a school
with so many artistic and intelligent
kids. Most kids here are very expressive
and it is awesome. The kids pictured
here have decided to take their stand as
anti-war protesters. Okay, so they’re
not marching the streets with picket
vival.This is a very violent movie but it
is very exciting and will keep you
jumping out of your seats’. It’s up to
you to see the movie to find out who
wins the battle.
----
Dead Silence
Rating: R for violence and language
Starring: Jamie Ashen, Amber
Valletta, Donnie Walhberg, and Bob
Gunton.
Directed by James Wan.
Dead Silence is about Mary Shaw, a
ventriloquist who went crazy. She was
accused of murdering a boy and therefore
was hunted down by the townspeople
who cut her tongue out and
killed her. They then buried her with
her vaudeville dolls, which were often
referred to as her children.
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Our generation must work to form an identity
MT photo by Alyssa Garza
Freshmen Christina Morales and Valerie
Gonzalez.
Horror movies feature
lots of violence and gore
MT photo by Alyssa Garza
Freshman Connor Bernal.
VMT Scene
by
Alyssa Garza
MT photo by Alyssa Garza
Freshman Ivan Fuentes and Junior
Cristina Yancy.
signs but hey, it’s a start.
Okay enough of me trying to make a
point. I’ll end this with one of my
favorite quotes.
“The hope of a secure and livable
world lies with disciplined nonconformists
who are dedicated to justice,
peace and brotherhood.” Martin Luther
King Jr.
Peace — uh-liss-err
Coming Attractions
by
Erika Hernandez and Jacklyn Martinez
Since that time, the collection of
dolls went missing. Families were murdered
and found with their tongues
torn out.
One man, Jamie is determined to
find out who murdered his wife and
why. He slowly starts unraveling the
legend of Mary Shaw and the truth
behind a song he used to know in his
childhood. This song was sung when
Mary Shaw would attack.
“Beware the stare of Mary Shaw. She
had no children, only dolls. And if you
see her do not scream, or she’ll rip
your tongue out at the seam.”
If you’re interested to find out what
Jamie is going to unravel in the mysterious
case of his murdered wife then be
sure to watch the movie.
photo: www.mctcampus.com

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007 Ideas
19
Earth faces
stress from too
much warming
BY NANCY HERNANDEZ
MT STAFF WRITER
The earth’s environment is under circumstances
which can be classified as
catastrophic. We are not aware of the
damage we are causing to our planet.
We don’t realize that most of the damage
is not being caused by the government
or large companies but by individuals
like us.
Almost everything is being affected by
environmental damage like air, oceans,
forests, land, animals, water, and even
human beings.
Air pollution and water pollution are
problems that take millions of lives
every year. According to Time magazine,
“3.4 million people die each year
from water-related diseases.”
The State of World Pollution 2001
reported that “air pollution kills an estimated
2.7 million to 3.0 million people
every year.”
Even though we have advanced in
technology those advancements don’t
seem to be resolving the problems of
the environment.
These inventions and progress have
resulted in damage to our world’s environment.
Human Development Report
2001 stated, “Every technological
advance brings potential benefits and
risks, some of which are not easy to
predict.”
Climate change or global warming is
This time I’m going to be
telling you about Kennia
Lopez, a sophomore at Nixon
High School. She is enrolled in
metal arts here. She takes jewelry
and sculpture with
Armando Hinojosa in the afternoon.
Kennia Lopez also has a
unique nickname. Her friends
call her “Kiwi.” I asked her how
she got that nickname.
“One time in seventh grade a
substitute teacher randomly
called me Kiwi. Afterwards my
friend Rosa started calling me
that and it just took off from
there. I don’t even think some
people know my real name.”
another factor in this matter. Human
activities have affected the atmosphere
and therefore influence the
earth’s climate. According to NOAA
and NASA the earth’s average temperature
has increased by about 1.2 to
1.4ºF since 1900.
Climatologist Pieter Tans of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration says, “There is new
and stronger evidence that most of
the warming observed over the last
50 years is attributable to human
activities.”
More and more people are gaining
consciousness of the problem in which
our planet is. But what can each of us
do? We can do simple things that can
add up to a big difference. For example,
replace a regular incandescent light
bulb with a compact fluorescent light
bulb. Clean or replace filters on furnaces
and air conditioners. Use less hot
water. Use a clothesline instead of a
dryer whenever possible. Unplug electronics
from the wall when not in use.
Recycle at home. Plant a tree. Buy
organic foods as much as possible.
Reduce the number of miles we drive.
Fly less.
There is much more information
about environmental damage and the
degrees to which we have gone. But all
that doesn’t matter unless we as
human beings and inhabitants of this
planet decide to make a difference and
make our planet a better place to live.
she said.
Lopez originally started out
in Art with Jorge Vasquez. But
because of the curriculum
here, she is required to take
one year of metal arts.
“I can’t wait to go back to art.
I love to paint and draw, and
use my imagination. I like
using my hands to create
things and I liked the different
assignments I would get.”
BY JOSEPH MENDIOLA
MT STAFF WRITER
Lopez has been drawing
since she was a little girl. She
said her favorite type of art is
abstract.
“I love abstract work. You
just use your imagination to
create things. Everyone has
different opinions on the
meaning of the art.”
I asked her how being a
sophomore is different from
being a freshman.
Pollution affects all of us. The only
problem is that nobody cares.
People say that they’re going to start
recycling and throwing trash where it’s
supposed to be thrown, but they don’t.
Honestly, I don’t stop from throwing
paper on the street. I just think to
myself that one paper is not going to
make a difference and the sad part is
that everybody who throws trash on the
street probably think the same thing.
We don’t think that its going to affect us
but pollution is catching up with us and
the ozone is getting thinner everyday.
One persons trash might not hurt
anybody but millions of people trash
will devastate the ecosystem along with
our way of life. I seriously doubt that we
will be able to survive with no animals
on this earth. What will we eat!? Just
kidding!
There should be something each and
everyone of us should do to take care of
our ecosystem. Coming from a person
who pretty much doesn’t care about the
earth, I am getting worried about how
Sophomore art student has unique nickname
The System
by
Veronica Lara
Bowl of Soup
by
Joseph Mendiola, Nancy Hernandez
Everybody
can help clean
up pollution
“There’s no difference! You’re
just one grade ahead and one
step closer to graduating. I
think this year has been the
best one yet though, because I
know more people and I have
more friends,” she said.
Lopez said she used to be in
soccer at Nixon, but got out
because she started feeling
“lazy.”
She likes to spend time with
friends and going out to the
movies, parties, and shopping.
Lopez’s main hobbies of course
are painting and drawing. She
loves VMT.
“I think it’s the best school
ever. I would love it if were an
much more pollution can the earth take.
Everybody can start small just by not
throwing trash on the street will help a
lot. Also recycling aluminum cans and
get money off it. Recently it was, at one
recycler, 36 cents per pound and its
very easy just throw the cans in a big
trash can and take them once a month
to where they buy them from you. One
location is on the corner of McPherson
and Saunders.
According to a documentary I saw
about pollution with Al Gore as the host
we have created more CO2 in the last 4
decades than in the last 400,000 years.
The earth seems to be the most polluted
it has ever been.
Al Gore has spent much of his time
presenting all of the information to the
world. He appeared before both House
of Representatives and Congress on
March 21st to present his plan to stop
global warming.
Gore told the representatives find “the
moral courage to rise above politics and
redeem the promise of
the American democracy.”
After this bold statement
the former vicepresident
presented a
series of clever initiatives
constructed to
reduce the U.S.’s output
of CO2 by percent GORE
by 2050.
If these “initiatives” work then they
would stop much of the earth’s pollution
dead in its tracks. Yes the U.S. is not the
entire earth but it is a huge start. Maybe
if the U.S. would start the war on pollution
the world together will cooperate
and reduce pollution to nothing.
Gore photo: www.mctcampus.com
MT photo by Ricardo Soliz Jr.
Kennia Lopez
all day school.”
After graduating Lopez plans
to go to New York City to
attend a designing school.

20 Experiences
If you thought it hard for a
person like me to maintain a
vegetarian diet for as long as I
have, you are not wrong.
For as long as I have taken
this route toward better
health, I have endured an ineffable
effort to ensure that no
person could throw me off this
course. And it has taken a toll
on both me and my mother, for
she is the one who has to
ensure my well being.
In a recent interview with
Margaret Lopez, M.S., R.D.,
Child Nutrition Program director,
I explained my dilemma
and she gave me “the facts”
about vegetarianism in schools.
After years of reading outreach
and activist blogs on the
Web Site www.peta2.org, I was
overwhelmed by fellow vegans
talking about how they got
friends to sign petitions to get a
vegan/vegetarian entrée added
to the school lunch menu.
The interview was my chance
to get an idea as to why a vegetarian
option doesn’t exist on
the menu instead of going to
complain to the district directly.
But, I felt that asking the
district to accommodate a vegetarian
option would be the
equivalent of a health-conscious
anyone asking for a
South Beach Diet option.
My problem has always been
school lunch time. Although
LISD’s open campus policy
offers leeway for students to
enjoy lunch anywhere they
please, I cannot afford to eat
out everyday, and quite frankly
I could not bear the very idea of
a diet consisting of solely junk.
But the temptation of fast,
cheap, and greasy food like
Wendy’s or McDonald’s lurks
when the lunch bell rings.
I’ve found that all that waits
for me at the cafeteria is a salad.
If and when I do stay for lunch
on campus I am greeted by a
tired plastic container of greens.
As much as people have
The New Ethic
by
Theresa Rocha
A veg diet is tough
thought that I keep a diet of
solely lettuce, that is incorrect.
Because I have opted for a
diet that favors my health far
more than a diet of no restriction
would, I have put myself
in a separate category, that of
which is not favored among
meat eaters. And until a few
days ago I have asserted that
perhaps the district would not
care for a single view of mine.
But I was wrong.
Lopez shared information
that I was ignorant to because
I was so convinced that the
district would not worry for a
single student unless the rest
were in favor of the same effort.
She informed me the lunch
program keeps strict federal regulations
it must comply with.
The program has to ensure
students are presented with
certain amount of food that
provides a quantity of vitamins
and proteins.
Concerning the Lenten season
alternative to meat on
Fridays, Lopez said fish is
served in observation of the
season. Other options are
given on those days as well.
I asked if the district would
ever consider adopting a vegetarian
diet as part of the menu.
“…if there were enough students
demanding the change
then we would sit down and
discuss a menu change,”
Lopez said.
A vegetarian diet should suffice
to promote good health but
unfortunately vegetables do
not carry the same proteins
and vitamins found in meat.
The accommodation of vegetarian
options would be considered
if vegetables contained
the healthful amount of B-12
and protein found in meat.
Although my dilemma was
not resolved, I am comfortable
knowing that the lunch program
is trying to work for us
and not against us as some
students may believe.
March is known for one
thing, that is March Madness.
College teams have one thing
in mind, the NCAA tourney.
Every year college teams play
and give everything they’ve got
in order to qualify in the NCAA
tournament, known as March
Madness.
March Madness brings a lot
of opportunities for basketball
teams to shine.
Every year the NCAA
Tournament has the Cinderella
stories and the underdog teams
that prove they can be a challenge
to beat.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi,
Jackson State, Old Dominion,
Oral Roberts, and Long Beach
State are some of the new faces
that competed in the tourney.
There were also those who
have a tradition of always making
it to the Madness month;
Duke, UNC, Gonzaga,
Villanova, Ohio State, Florida,
Georgetown, UCLA, and
Kansas.
Sixty-five schools qualified in
Waffle Iron
search of being national champions.
Last year the Gators took
the trophy by surprise, when
everybody predicted
Villanova or Duke nameplate
on the trophy.
This year’s tourney was quite
different; the traditional strong
teams did not make it far and
lost early.
After 65 schools competing,
some teams were eliminated,
and others made it to the Sweet
Sixteen, the Elite Eight, Final
Four and at the end the
National Championship.
Florida Gators once again
came in strong and beat everybody
in their bracket; but there
was a team to fear and ready to
take on the Gators.
The Ohio State Buckeyes is
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Art: Vanessa Sanchez Story idea: Valerie Briseño, Annabel Gomez,
and Veronica Medellin.
April brings showers and TAKS
Tourney gives thrills to fans
Sports Zone
by
Ed Herrera
the team I’m talking; the
Bucks dominated their division
conference and were the
number one pick in the top 25
all season long. The Bucks
came in strong in March, making
them the opponent for the
Gators.
The battle for the National
Championship was between
the Florida Gators and The
Ohio State Buckeyes on April
2 in the Georgia Dome in
Atlanta. The two great teams
played and gave it all they
had, but at the end the Gators
came on stronger beat the
Bucks 84-75, making the
Gators back-to-back national
champions.
It was great season but every
year this madness keeps getting
better!

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
New store brings
fashion variety
BY RICKY SOLIZ JR.
MT STAFF WRITER
Aéropostale is one of the new additions
to Mall Del Norte’s directory.
Aéropostale, which opened in March,
is an American clothing retailer oriented
towards preteens and teenagers.
The brand sells athletically styled
casual clothing in stores it owns and
runs itself. The retailer can be found in
shopping malls and large marketing
areas.
Aéropostale (pronounced air o POS’
tal) sells teen fashion apparel — shirts,
jeans, outer and innerwear, accessories,
and others under the
Aéropostale and Aéro names.
Its logo is a small butterfly usually in
the left-hand corner for the women’s
line and a small, standing bulldog for
the men’s line.
Many cartoon pictures of animals,
frogs, monkeys, and others are also
imprinted onto Aéropostale’s clothing
line.
According to Wikipedia.org the
Aéropostale name originated from a
1920s French/Latin-American airmail
firm, Compagnie Générale Aéropostale.
and was established in 1987. The
brand was introduced by Macy’s and
primarily sold young men’s clothes.
Since then, the company has evolved,
introducing girl’s clothes, and opened
several hundred stores.
The brand is popular in the U.S. and
in Canada, though there are no stores
located in Canada. In summer 2006, it
was announced that Aéropostale
planned to move into Canada in this
year.
The first stores are set to open in
Ontario including Greater Toronto,
London, and Ottawa.
The brand is less expensive than its
three main competitors — American
Eagle Outfitters, Hollister Co., and
Fashion Hallway
Name: Beverly Fraga
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Home School: Nixon High School
Fine Art: Dance
Favorite Store: Wet Seal
Her outfit consists of a floral comfortable
blouse with a cami under to
show off the orange color. She is
wearing brown realxed shorts with
white & brown wedges.
MT photo by Amanda Cruz
Lifestyle Lifestyle
21
Fashion FFoorrwwaarrdd
by
Amanda Cruz, Lucia Villagomez, and
Ricky Soliz Jr.
Abercrombie & Fitch. This benefits
people with a limited budget who can
dress for less.
In 2007, the company began doing
promotions with successful figures to
increase brand awareness. The first
successful promotion was selling the
new Fall Out Boy album “Infinity On
High” with a store-exclusive t-shirt.
In order to find how the opening of
Aéropostale and other clothing stores
affect V.M.T. students I produced a
simple survey.
Dorian Delgo, freshmen, said,
“Aéropostale is super cute. It’s a good
price and it’s totally comfortable.”
Other students like Denisse Luna,
sophomore, felt otherwise.
“It’s okay, I’m not in love with it
though.”
Now that Laredo is getting a lot of
new clothing stores there will be a lot of
variety in clothing.
“Well, it’s good because you don’t
have to travel.” said Mario Flores,
freshmen.
It’s going to be hard to be your own
person and try to stand out.
Mostly all students asked felt the
same way.
Denise Cisneros, senior, said, “It’s
good that now there’s more variety, but
the bad thing is that now everyone will
be wearing the same thing.”
And Joey Gaona, junior, feels the
same.
“Well, for me I go out of town to buy
my clothes that other people don’t
have. Two people wearing the same
shirt is a no-no, and if other people get
the same clothes, I won’t feel different
or any more unique than the person
standing next to me.”
Good or bad, Laredo is getting better
in the fashion department, but one
thing to keep in mind is to always mix
and match. That way you still show off
your individuality.
Name: Armando Vasquez
Age: 15
Grade: Freshman
Home School: Martin High School
Fine Art: Guitar
Favorite Store: Hollister, American
Eagle
His outfit consists of a royal blue
Hollister polo, khaki shorts and some
Nike Impax running shoes.
MT photo by Lucia Villagomez

22
Five Magnet Tribune columnists look
into the future, concerned about
events that could impact their lives as
adults.
Kimberly Evans, a junior who writes
Observations, says war is not the
answer.
“War is not the answer. There are
other ways to find an answer to a problem
than through war. I will not just sit
and see soldiers get sent to Iraq so they
can die. I am an anti-war individual,
and I have had enough!” she says.
In The Bug, Olivia San Miguel, a
senior, says seniors are facing big
decisions.
“One of the hardest decisions: picking
a college. Here are a few tips that
might help you plan to stay in town or
go out of state,” she writes. “Search
your soul about who you are, how you
learn best and where you want to live.”
Joseph Mendiola, a junior and Bowl
of Soup co-writer, says pollution is a
big problem, but nobody does anything
about it.
“People say that they’re going to start
recycling and throwing trash where it’s
“Yea. I do believe and I never play jokes on people
but they do play jokes on me because it’s my
birthday on April Fool’s Day.” Aida Herrera, sophomore.
supposed to be thrown, but they
don’t,” Mendiola says.
Later, he states, “There should be
something each and everyone of us
should do to take care of our ecosystem.
Coming from a person who pretty
much doesn’t care about the earth, I
am getting worried about how much
more pollution can the earth take.”
Junior Alyssa Garza, in VMT Scene,
thinks more people should speak up
about their beliefs.
“Raise your voice. Take a stand.
Form an opinion on anything and
make it heard. You think global warming
is a problem? Then sign up for a
newsletter with information, recycle,
inform other people. You hate the
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Youth should concern themselves with the future
EDITORIAL
The Magnet Tribune
urges young and old alike
to think about events that
will shape the future.
president? Register to vote, get
informed about the candidates. You
cannot complain unless you act,” she
urges.
And fellow junior, Nancy Hernandez,
Bowl of Soup co-writer, is concerned
with global warming.
“More and more people are gaining
consciousness of the problem which our
planet faces. But what can each of us
do? We can do simple things that can
add up to a big difference,” she states.
Global warming, pollution and war
are some of the problems our generation
will have to deal with. Everybody,
young and old, should care more
about what is happening on and to the
earth.
Girl whose birthday is on April Fool’s Day gets the pranks
April has been known for the month of
pranks for many years now. Especially
in April 1, people tend to lie and play
jokes on other people. Some jokes of
course are played with some planning in
advance and therefore they are successful.
With this in mind, we asked some students
in VMT if they believed in April
Fool’s Day. This is how they responded:
LOPEZ
“I do believe in April
Fool’s Day but I’ve never
played a joke on someone.
I always play along.
I want to say Happy
Birthday to my best
friend Aida!” Kennia
Lopez, sophomore.
]I have had enough!
Why are we at war? What is
the real reason why we continue
to send soldiers to Iraq?
Has the war become a complete
catastrophe?
If you ask me I think the
war in Iraq is simply pointless.
Few even know the real
reason we are at war anymore.
I have asked many people
what their opinion is on the
war in Iraq, and I have
received different answers.
I get answers such as,
“Since we’re fighting for oil,
it’s no use because after the
NEGRETE
war, there will be no more,”
said Hermilo “Milo” Gonzalez,
VMT dance student.
“Congress is dumb for
sending troops to Iraq, and
for what? Nothing. They’re
just basically sending soldiers
to Iraq just so they can
die. I think (Congress) should
just bring everyone back. We
seriously need a new presi-
Opinions
A Penny for your
Thoughts
by
Christian Sanchez
dent because Bush is not
right for the job,” said Victor
Flores, junior at United High
School.
According to the U.S.
Department of Defense casualty
reports as of May 8,
2007 there has been a total
of 3,371 soldiers killed in
Iraq, and out of those soldiers
2,750 were killed in
“Yea it’s fun…I don’t really play tricks on
people but I would want to, a super mean
trick but no. Yea. Also, Happy Birthday
Aida!” Elisa Cazares, sophomore.
Columnist wants a clear explanation for the war in Iraq
Observations
by
Kimberly Evans
HERRERA
Comments? Write us at
mt_writers@hotmail.com
MASSEY
“I don’t think I believe in it because what’s
there to believe in, but I do play jokes or lie a lot
on that day!, Jorge Negrete, senior. SANCHEZ
action. In addition, there has
also been a total of 382 soldiers
killed in and around
Afghanistan, and out of those
soldiers 203 of them were
killed in action.
I believe this is a war for oil
and money to be made for oil
sales, but at the rate we’re
going, many other people
don’t think so.
Whatever the reason is I
think that war is all a bunch
of bull. I have friends and relatives
that are going to Iraq
and with all the things going
on I think they shouldn’t go.
Like I said, Congress
“I do believe in April Fool’s Day. As a
matter of fact it’s one of my favorite days
of the year. One year I told my best friend
that my family and I were moving back to
California…. haha… she freaked,” Lizzy
Massey, senior.
CAZARES
“I don’t really play jokes but when my
sisters play a prank on my mom, I just
follow along,” Angela Sanchez, freshman.
should just bring all the
troops home and just stop
everything connected to Iraq.
War is not the answer. The
are other ways to find an
answer to a problem than
through war. I will not just sit
and see soldiers get sent to
Iraq so they can die. I am an
anti-war individual, and I
have had enough!
I mean, seriously, why do
many things have to get
solved through fights? That’s
messed up thinking.
As my fellow columnist
Alyssa Garza told me recently,
“Make Love Not War.”

The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Opinions mt_writers@hotmail.com 23
Seniors have some tough decisions to make
Down to their last few days
of school, some seniors may
still have a lot of decisions to
make.
You might recall that I wrote
about this at the beginning of
the year of the panic attack I
was having about getting
everything done for plans after
graduation — scholarships,
tests, volunteer hours, senior
medallion stuff, etc.
The time has come to make
the decisions that some call
“life-altering.”
Some call it a rite of passage.
Others just call it an ordeal.
No question, with rising costs
and tougher-than-ever compe-
The Magnet Tribune
The Magnet Tribune is a publication
produced by students in the
Newspaper Production and
Photojournalism classes of the Vidal
M. Treviño School of Communications
and Fine Arts, Laredo Independent
School District. This publication’s intent
is to provide readers with information
relating to the school and its students,
provide students a lab for producing a
newspaper using professional-level
computer software and offers an open
forum for student opinion. The MT is
distributed free.
Jose Cerda
Principal and publisher
Mark E. Webber
Journalism instructor and adviser,
The Magnet Tribune
Vol. 14, No. 5; May 11, 2007
Editor of this Issue: Christian
Sanchez
Name plate shows the bronze statue
south of the Harding Building, “The
Force of Creation,” designed and created
by former art Instructor Armando
Flores in 1993-94. Nameplate design
was created by journalism student Ed
Herrera in 2004.
Production is by VMT journalism
students using QuarkXPress and
Adobe Photoshop on networked Dells
and Macintoshes.
Printed at the Laredo Morning Times
Copyright ©2007: Vidal M. Treviño
School of Communications and Fine
Arts and The Magnet Tribune
Some material courtesy of American
Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT
Campus High School Newspaper
Service.
IItt iiss tthhee ppoolliiccyy ooff tthhee LLaarreeddoo
IInnddeeppeennddeenntt SScchhooooll DDiissttrriicctt
nnoott ttoo ddiissccrriimmiinnaattee oonn tthhee
bbaassiiss ooff rraaccee,, ccoolloorr,, nnaattiioonnaall
oorriiggiinn,, ggeennddeerr,, lliimmiitteedd
EEnngglliisshh pprrooffiicciieennccyy,, oorr
hhaannddiiccaappppiinngg ccoonnddiittiioonn iinn
iittss pprrooggrraammss..
tition for limited spots, picking
and getting into college can be
a challenge.
One of the hardest decisions:
picking a college. Here are a
few tips that might help you
plan to stay in town or go out
of state.
Search your soul about who
you are, how you learn best
and where you want to live.
Check college-guide Web sites
such as the College Board’s
(www.collegeboard.com) — one
of several that will feed you a list
of possible college picks based
on your answers to an online
questionnaire.
To get an idea if you’ll feel at
What would your high
school years be like without
friends? I will never know. I’m
very lucky to have good and
caring friends that are with me
whenever I need them.
I would hate to be one of
those people who walk
around school by themselves
during lunchtime because
they don’t have anyone to
hang out with.
Fortunately, I have many
good friends I am with most of
the school time.
These girlies are fun to be
with, and they are also my
shoulder to cry on when I’m
hurt or when I’m in a tough
situation. They give me
advice when I most need it,
and we are honest with each
other.
Our friendship is not always
the best; we have had our
rough times but we end up
making up for dumb things we
fight over. We can’t always
agree on everything but we try
to accommodate each other
with the best possible solution
home, research the “personality”
of schools: Heavy Greek
[social] scene? Politically
active? Rah-rah football spirit?
Lots of racial/ethnic diversity?.
Guidebooks can get you
started; also read the student
newspaper and chat with the
school’s rep at a college fair.
Talk to students at the
school. If you don’t know any,
call the college switchboard
and ask for a residence-hall
front desk, the student newspaper
or a student-government
office.
Visit your top choices, if at
all possible.
And consider including at
to get in accord.
We not only sit together at
breakfast and lunch but we
also have classes together.
When it comes to the weekends
we can’t stay home and
least one local school, to
accommodate possible life
events — say, a parent’s sudden
job loss, or falling hopelessly
in love.
Of course I shouldn’t have to
say that it is very important to
discuss your plans with your
parents; they might even be
able to help you decide.
Make sure though that they
don’t make up your mind up
sit and watch
TV by ours
e l v e s .
Instead we
have to call
each other up
to see what we
are doing and
go out somewhere,
or just
hang out at
each other’s
houses.
Each one of
us has different
activities that we participate
in, and we support each
other by going to performances
and things.
Being a senior has taught
The Bug
by
Olivia San Miguel
for you — it is your decision
because after all it is your
choice to live with.
Another option, if you think
you do not have enough
money for college, is to join the
armed forces. The government
will pay for your college if you
serve in the military. There are
even options to train in your
future profession when you
join.
Good friends help make school a fun place to be
First Class Award: ‘96-97, ‘97-98, ‘98-
99, ‘99-00: ‘02-03, ‘03-04. ‘04-05, 05-06
Second Class Award: ‘00-01, ‘01-02
Opinions Comments? Write us at
Editor’s
Commentary
Christian Sanchez, April editor
TThhee EEddiittoorr’’ss CCoommmmeennttaarryy rreepprreesseennttss tthhee ooppiinniioonnss ooff tthhee
eeddiittoorr,, aanndd sshhoouulldd nnoott bbee uunnddeerrssttoooodd ttoo rreepprreesseenntt tthhee vviieewwss
ooff tthhee nneewwssppaappeerr ssttaaffff,, ffaaccuullttyy aanndd aaddmmiinniissttrraattiioonn..
Friends get together for a party. From left, Irma
Hernandez, Christian Sanchez, Miriam Moreno,
Samantha Jo Flores, Vanessa Martinez, and
Samantha Sanchez.
Staff Superior: ‘99-00, ‘01-02
Staff Excellent: ‘02-03, ‘03-04
Staff Hon. Mention: ‘97-98. ‘98-99 ILPC
Contact TThhee MMaaggnneett TTrriibbuunnee::
By e-mail: mt_writers@hotmail.com — On the Internet: www.my.highschooljournalism.org/tx/laredo/vmt
Address: Vidal M. Treviño Magnet School, The Magnet Tribune, 1702 Victoria Street, Laredo, Texas 78040
In person: TM-23, (Journalism classroom/darkroom), or Mark Webber’s box in the attendance office.
me countless things that I
value and will value forever.
For example, this year has
made me mature and more
responsible. Just to think that
most of my friends will be leaving
for college and we will
become distant from each
other makes me want to spend
as much time as possible with
them.
My friends are like my life:
without them I don’t know
where I would be and what
kind of person I would be.
They accept me just the way I
am and they don’t regret having
me as a friend.
My point is, don’t take any of
your friends for granted
because you never know
where life will take you and
you might never ever see them
again, or at least for a really
long time.
I want to thank my friends
Irma, Rossy, Sammy S, Samie
Jo F., Miriam, Vanessa,
Norma, Diana, and Vero for
always being there for me
when I need them the most.
Award of Distinguished Merit: ‘05-06; ‘06-07
Newspaper Star rating nomination: ‘06-07
Award of Achievement: ‘98-99, ‘99-00, ‘00-01, ‘01-02, ‘02-03
Award of Honor: ’97-98, ‘03-04, ‘04-05

24 School School
News News
The Magnet Tribune
May 11, 2007
Journalism students show photos at annual exhibition
BY VERONICA MEDELLIN
MT STAFF WRITER
Journalism students were the stars
at their 11th annual photography exhibition
at the Laredo Center for the Arts
in April.
The opening reception was Friday,
April 13, and was well attended by
those visiting the photo exhibition and
three other displays of painters’ work.
Painters also having opening receptions
were Lari Gibbons, Judi Krew,
and Arturo Casarin.
The reception had entertainment provided
by Voz poetry reading, children’s
activities, and TAMIU Mariachi
International.
“This is our 11th year, and I appreciate
the Center for the Arts for letting us
display our photos,” Journalism
instructor, Mark Webber said. “They
See related photos, page 16
have three major shows a month and
36 shows a year, and we’re one of the
36; that’s very special.”
Journalism students Ricky Soliz,
sophomore and senior Veronica Cruz
were two of the students that participated
in the show as exhibitors.
Cruz said she gets her ideas from her
imagination.
“At times, I look at certain objects
and try to put them into good use as a
photo,” Cruz said. “Most of the time, I
like to use old rusty objects and make
them look nice even if they’re ugly, and
that’s worked so far.”
Soliz had a different opinion of the
pictures on display.
“The show was great, but it would
have been cool to have a lot more pictures
to show,” said Soliz.
There were about 150 black-and-
Theatre students stage play
about violence in schools
BY NICK LOPEZ
MT STAFF WRITER
“There seemed to be much violence
around the schools and parts of
Laredo. I thought this would be a good
way to address it,” said Theatre department
head Vernon Carroll about a
recent play production.
Carroll and his fourth block students
put on a play called “William
Mastrosimone’s Bang Bang You’re
Dead.” It was about a student bringing
a gun to school.
Sometimes the audience or students
in particular benefit from these plays,
he said.
“Feedback seemed good. We got a lot
from it. It seemed like the students
understood better than these so-called
‘adults,’” said Carroll.
Usually plays like this tend to give
out a message and sometimes even
help someone out.
“Of course, it had an impact on students.
In my eyes, it teaches students
Senior Medallion Ceremony
Wednesday, May 16
7 p.m., Martin gym
---
Graduation Day
Thursday, May 31
Laredo Entertainment
to notice all the warning signs and to
watch what they do. Life itself is a
cause and effect,” said fourth block
Theatre student John Gonzalez.
“Watch what you do and be careful
what you say.”
Students who wanted to participate
in this production had to audition for
the parts.
“I first got a script then asked the
students to read and audition. Then,
came the rehearsals,” mentioned
Carroll.
“Yes I was nervous because I really
wanted the part of the kid that went
through all those problems because I
could relate to it. Auditioning wasn’t
hard though. It was just saying what I
felt,” Gonzalez said.
Productions usually take long due to
organize.
“It took about 8 weeks for us to get
ready because we had only during the
block to work” stated Carroll.
MT staff writer Shaula Rocha contributed
to this story.
Center
Martin High, 10 a.m.
Nixon High, 2 p.m.
Cigarroa High, 6 p.m.
Sources:
Medallion ceremony program
www.elisd.org/home.aspx
white film and color digital photos displayed.
Cruz thought the show was good
because it gave them a chance for their
photos to be viewed.
Both Cruz and Soliz felt proud of
their photos being showcased to the
public.
Soliz saw pictures exhibited that he
thought should not have been up.
“I didn’t like the fact that some students
used self-portrait type pictures.
The show was about showing the public
that we see something that not
many can see, not showing that we can
take pictures of us and our friends,”
Soliz said.
Cruz agreed with Soliz as well.
“Photography is based on objects and
models, not based on self-portrait,”
Cruz commented.
It was Soliz’s first year because he
couldn’t make it to last year’s show.
Cruz attended the show all four
years.
“The show was good. I got a lot of
good feedback from my pictures,” Soliz
added.
Webber said 36 students participated,
plus he and two guest photographers.
“Students have the chance to meet
visitors who have an interest in photography
and art,” Webber said. “Also,
they have the chance to have public
viewing of their work.”
“It’s an opportunity to allow students
to show their photography work in a
gallery setting,” Webber added.
He thought the show was great especially
because of the big crowd.
“It was gratifying to see a large crowd,
and a lot of people from the crowd visited
our display,” added Webber.
Birthday celebration
MT photo by Mark Webber
Faculty and staff celebrated Principal Jose Cerda’s birthday in the school
library on April 12 with a luncheon and cake. He is shown here with his
cake and gift from the faculty.