Trump’s Judicial Defiance: A Constitutional Crisis Looms
Alex Akel, Editor-in-Chief
This April has continued with the controversial actions of the Trump administration. On March 15th, when Judge James Boasburg blocked the Trump administration from sending the deportees, the administration proceeded to land the plane in El Salvador. The prisoners were transported to the mega prison, CECOT—Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo. One of these prisoners, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was sent back to El Salvador despite being protected by a 2019 court order. The Trump administration later stated it was an “administrative error,” but they would not be bringing him back to the United States.
After ICE admitted to this error, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis granted an injunction, which required the government to “facilitate and effectuate” Garcia’s return by April 7th to the United States.
Christian Rodriguez, Editor
Crumbl Cookie, the popular franchise of chain bakeries that specializes in gourmet cookies, finally opened its first San Francisco location. The grand opening occurred on February 7th at 1567 Sloat Blvd in the Lakeshore Plaza. To celebrate the grand opening, free chocolate chip cookies were given away for attendees.
The addition of the new location was a big deal because it marks the first and only location in San Francisco. Senior Jared Lim from
This case went to the Supreme Court on April 7th, when the Trump administration filed a last-minute appeal. The court’s decision was unanimous, that the government, following the principle of due process with deportation, must “facilitate” Garcia’s release from El Salvadorian custody. Yet the court was very careful with the word “effectuate”. The word — “put into force or operation” — could be interpreted as ordering the executive branch to carry out a specific action regarding foreign policy. SCOTUS recommended that the lower court clarify its language so as not to appear to be overstepping the bounds of judicial power in handling matters of foreign policy.
This clear, yet ambiguous ruling by the highest court in the nation allowed the Trump administration interpreting it as a ruling in their favor.
In a meeting with the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele
on April 14th in the Oval Office, Donald Trump and other members of the administration doubled down that the court ruled in their favor and that they are not required to return Garcia to the country because they do not have the power, with Attorney General Pam Bondi saying “it is up to El Salvador”.
Bondi further went on to say in a White House press conference, “He is not coming back to our country. President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That’s the end of the story.”
Despite a member of ICE saying his deportation was an administrative mistake, the administration continues to cite that Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, which multiple sources, including his wife, have disputed and for which the administration has not been able to provide sufficient evidence.
In addition, lawyers for Garcia said the government “has never produced an iota of evidence”.
The real issue here, however, isn’t necessarily whether he is an MS-13 member or not. It is the lack of due process that the administration has given Garcia and to the other deportees they have sent to CECOT.
The Fifth Amendment due process states “nor shall [any person] be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
It does not say “citizen”, it says “person”. This means that anyone—even an MS-13, Barrio 18 or any kind of undocumented immigrant—deserves the proper trial and proper justification for their deportation.
The Trump administration justified the lack of due process because before deporting these people Trump invoked the Alien Enemy Act of 1798. This act allows the President to apprehend and deport any people above 14 years old non-citizens from a na-
Grand Opening of Crumbl on Lakeshore
Stuart Hall had this to say about the new location, “I was excited to see a Crumbl opening nearby since the nearest Crumble before was in Marin and Foster City. I am feeling very enthusiastic to visit more frequently and try the new flavors weekly.”
There are other Crumbl locations around the Bay Area but now you no longer have to drive 30+ minutes for your favorite cookies. Additionally, among younger demographics, there is a huge following of Crumbl Cookie on social media. This meant that
Friday’s grand opening drew in many attendees. People from all over San Francisco, young and old, lined up to try some of the viral cookies. This included students from a lot of different schools all over the Bay Area. Among the attendees was Daniel Lurie, the new Mayor of San Francisco. He shared his enthusiasm on social media saying, “It’s @ crumbl opening day at Lakeshore Plaza—so you know I had to stop by and get some cookies. Worth the visit. Come check it out.”
The uniqueness of Crumbl Cookie
comes from its rotating weekly assortment of unique flavors that ensures each visit offers a new experience. For the week of February 11-16, offerings include Strawberry Cake, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Molten Lava, Valentine’s M&M’S® Cookie, The Original Pink Sugar, and Valentine’s Confetti. Crumbl Cookies’ noteworthy success came overnight, with the company being founded in 2017 by two cousins in Utah during their quest to create the perfect chocolate chip cookie. The
tion with which the US is at war.
The United States is not at war with any of the countries of the deportees. Therefore, despite Trump claiming that illegal immigration into the US is an “invasion”, he doesn’t have the right to simply deport these people without going through the correct process.
This blatant disregard for the constitution, the courts, and for making comments that he has made about sending US citizens to the El Salvador prisons, has raised serious concerns about a constitutional crisis—a term not used lightly. Ignoring decision from the courts, which at this point the administration has done many times — especially about immigration — is not good.
Time will tell. Will Trump continue to defy the orders of the judicial branch, or will he comply when faced with pressure from Americans?
company has experienced tremendous growth since its inception. As of 2024, Crumbl has around 1000 locations open worldwide with a reported revenue of around $122 million. Crumbl’s success can be attributed to its strategic presence online. Through platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, Crumbl was able to become a million-dollar business overnight. The unique rotating menu also allows customers to stay engaged and always come back for new exciting flavors.
REUTERS/VIA SNO SITES/KEVIN LAMARQUE
Coke Zero vs. Classic Coke: A Fizzy Battle of Taste and Health
Coca-Cola is easily the most recognizable soda brand in the United States and to the rest of the world. No soda can surpass it in popularity despite the vast number of competitors it’s put up against. Despite its unique flavor, it does hold one thing in common with the rest of the competition, however; it comes in a seemingly healthier version as well. But why should you give up what you already have for a seemingly toned-down version? Are there any noticeable differ-
ences that separate normal Coke and Coke Zero, and what are the upsides and downsides of choosing one over the other?
While the economic benefits of one over the other vary based on the retailer, from a corporate standpoint, Coke Zero is certainly looking up. In 2023, there was a 5% growth in Coke Zero sales, which was double the growth that the actual Coca-Cola Corporation had that year. Although it still isn’t close to competing with the original version, it does show that its popularity is on the rise.
Just how much it’s grown in such a short time can even be seen in how it has now completely eclipsed Diet Coke, a beverage that was conceived around two decades before Coke Zero. This isn’t a surprise. Diet Coke is famously considered to have a very different taste than Coke, whereas Coke Zero was designed to be the same thing, just with fewer calories. That’s not to say that the taste is completely the same. As Freshman Aiden Costello puts it when making a comparison: “You can taste that it’s not sugar in Coke Zero, and
real Coke makes you feel fat.”
The previous quote shows that the idea of Coke Zero as a healthier alternative to the original soft drink is widely accepted, but just how true is it? While Coke Zero is true to its name by sporting zero calories and zero grams of sugar, it has absolutely no nutritional value, and the artificial sweeteners used in it have been speculated to lead to obesity, diabetes, and potentially metabolic syndrome, along with heart and kidney diseases. So probably not for the most ardent of health nuts to drink. The orig-
inal, on the other hand, is packed with so much sugar that if phosphoric acid wasn’t present, the human body would barf it all up, and it is even more likely to produce diabetes. The caffeine in the drink also tends to force addiction, along with dangerously raising blood pressure. To summarize, Coke Zero may be a new growing, and technically healthier alternative, but it does lots of damage to lots of places. Regular Coke does big damage to some places.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: Past, Present, and Future
step was to build the Multiverse Saga.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a media franchise created by Marvel Comics. The first MCU film was Iron Man (2008) and this movie helped kickstart the franchise’s success. Four years later, Marvel released the first Avengers film which was well received by audiences. Phase 1-3 is now known as the Infinity Saga and culminated in a two-part finale: Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Some describe this Saga as “peak Marvel.” Even though Endgame gave viewers somewhat of a satisfying ending, Marvel did not stop making movies. The next
The Disney Plus show WandaVision was deemed the start of the multiverse. However, the show Loki is arguably what truly launched the idea of exploring the multiverse. This show delved deeper into the risks of travelling through time as well as the vastness of the different realms/timelines in the multiverse. This show also established that changing the past creates an alternate reality that deviates from the main timeline which was named Earth-616. Additionally, travelling from one timeline to another can potentially lead to the destruction of one or both timelines. This
event is called an incursion and happens when the border between one timeline and another erodes and collides into each other.
This idea was further explored in the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Viewers see Doctor Strange travelling throughout the multiverse and arriving at different timelines. However, tampering with time and the multiverse comes at a cost. At the end of the movie, Doctor Strange was confronted about causing an incursion. This problem acts as one of the main conflicts in the Multiverse Saga. Furthermore, the Multiverse Saga revolves around the
questions of: What exists outside Earth-616 and what are the consequences of traveling in the grand calculus of the multiverse?
The much anticipated movie
The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be coming out on July 25, 2025. This film may provide Marvel fans with a baseline of the main villain in the Multiverse Saga, as well as key characters with important roles to play in the future of the MCU. As of 2025, the beloved villain Dr. Doom is thought of to be the main antagonist of this saga. Fans assume this as Marvel brought back Robert Downey Jr. who previously played Iron Man to be the actor for Dr.
Doom. Victor von Doom has acquired the skill of weidling powerful abilities such as electrokinesis as well as being a master at dark magic. In the comics, Dr. Doom was one of the most powerful characters ever. If fan’s expectations appear to be true, he will easily be the MCU’s most powerful villain yet. Ultimately, Marvel’s is shaping up its new endgame: Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). Both of these movies are highly anticipated and viewers can expect a crossover event between many present and past MCU characters.
Shail Kulkarni, Staff Reporter
Ethan Yap, Editor-in-Chief
Via Goodfron
Empathy in Action: How Glide Service Club Serves The City’s Most Vulnerable
While San Francisco is regarded as one of the preeminent technological cities globally, the city’s Tenderloin district reflects a different story, harboring an unprecedented degree of drug abuse, crime, and destitution. The streets are crowded with tents and homeless encampments, and discarded needles are commonplace, as are individuals experiencing mental health crises and drug addiction. In fact, the issue is so pervasive that in 2022, a staggering 10.2% of the population was estimated to be living below the national poverty line and in desperate need of financial aid. Unfortunately, this has become an intractable problem that San Francisco’s technological prowess hasn’t been able to solve. Instead, the city relies on its long history of compassion and refuge for the marginalized to combat this
pervasive and dangerous normalcy. Fortunately, Stuart Hall High School students can be a part of the solution by participating in the school’s Glide Service Club which brings students to one of the city’s most prolific social justice organizations, Glide Memorial Church. Glide Memorial Church stands as a beacon of hope in the community providing a range of services to low-income and homeless individuals in crisis, including housing, health care, legal aid and free meals. Importantly, Glide gives regular San Franciscans, including Stuart Hall high school students, an opportunity to make a difference. Each week Glide hosts numerous volunteers who help provide more than 2000 meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner –every day of the week all year round. Holidays are no exception as the organization even boasts the liberty of preparing seasonal spe-
cials like turkey on Thanksgiving. What makes Glide so special? Founded in 1929 and transformed into a force for social justice in the 1960s under the guidance of Rev. Cecil Williams and Janic Miriktani, Glide stands as a sanctuary and refuge for the thousands who walk through its doors. Its mission is “to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization.” One of the leading factors as to why Glide functions historically well can be attributed to the dedicated and grateful community. Many of the people working there – from the front desk staff and shift managers to the security team and the dish washers and cooks – are people who have benefited from Glide’s services themselves. Those who used to rely on Glide for food and rehabilitation, now find purpose
in aiding the organization that lifted them out of poverty. An exemplar of this phenomenon, shift and volunteer manager Curtis remarked on his own transformation saying, “I used to be one of the people coming through this hall everyday for a meal; Now I work to make sure everyone receives the help and care I did." At its core, though, Glide is a volunteer organization and frequent visitors are a necessity, not a commodity. The trip through the tenderloin can be daunting and alarming at first, but the contrast between the streets outside and Glide itself could not be more stark. The difference in circumstances drastically shifts the way in which you can interact with people you might have otherwise avoided. It becomes clear that those waiting in line for a meal service are not just “recipients” of aid or just another tally in the
Update on the 2025 Annual Fund
rampant homelessness crisis, but humans with aspirations and ambitions of a better life. Teacher head of the Glide Service Club Dr. Arnwine wrote, “I know the work seems simple—and it can be challenging emotionally at times—but generosity and compassion are simple.” As a member of the Glide Service Club, there are a plethora of different jobs a shift manager can assign you to – including ticket taking, food service, table cleaning, or working at the organization’s cafe for disabled guests. For those at school looking to become involved or make a difference in our city, our school’s Glide Service Club regularly allocates designated shift opportunities over the weekends. It’s two hours of your time and a great opportunity to see how a San Francisco institution takes care of its people.
This year 91% of the families contributed to the 2025 Annual Fund, helping fund key programs. The annual fund raised $4,395,806.18, surpassing the goal set at $4 million. The annual fund is the second largest revenue stream after tuition for the school. It is a critical source of income to support the school’s yearly operating expenses. Contrary to what some may think, our tuition dollars are not enough to support the school, even with 1,219 students enrolled across our four schools. In fact, tuition tends to cover only the basic operating costs and not the additional en-
hancements that make our school special. That is where the Annual Fund comes in. The Annual Fund allows Convent & Stuart Hall to support new programs, provide financial aid, and provide professional development for faculty. For example, for student services, the school added additional athletic trainers, as well as speech and OT specialists to their faculty and staff. For college counseling, we have two new college counselors, totaling four college counselors to guide our juniors and seniors. The school is also able to provide on-campus SAT and ACT exams.
This is important and timely as they are difficult to schedule in San Francisco, where they have few available seats. Further, Convent & Stuart Hall has also expanded the arts program, including opportunities for all interested high school students to participate in dance, choral, and instrumental music during the PA blocks. “I’m a proud student-musician active in the school community through my talent. I like that PA instrumental provides me space to pursue my interest and passion in music, integrated into the academic week.” Senior Josh Tim said
“College counseling is an eye-opening experience. And I am learning new things about the college application process and myself every day” junior Julian Ray said. Another misconception is that only large donations matter. In fact, participation matters more than the amount donated. When all families contribute, it shows our strong community support for our school. There are many ways for families to contribute to the Annual Fund, including small monthly donations, one-time donations, and employer-matching contributions. With the Annual
Fund, every gift counts! Next time you work out in the Barclay’s gym, or enjoy an event in the little theater, remember that it might be thanks to the Annual Fund and the generosity of our school community.
Convent & Stuart Hall’s Future Aquatic and Wellness Center
Tanner
Recently, Convent and Stuart Hall purchased a property at 2835 Geary – an unassuming building located between Wood St and Collins St – with the intention of developing it into an athletics and aquatic centre available for the student body in the near future. A review into public records indicates the building was purchased for $13.5M. At present, the building is around 22,000 square feet and one story in height, however, architectural plans allude to a staggering expansion to as many as four floors, including a fully utilized roof.
The focal point of this
ambitious project is a brand new pool intended for both high school and elementary students alike. According to President Dr. Krejcarek, children enrolled at Convent and Stuart Hall can now start swimming lessons as early as kindergarten, with classes being incorporated into physical education curriculum and extracurricular activities like swim programs. Additionally, this pool remedies issues faced by the high school swim teams by providing a permanent practice facility and even competition venue. “I think this new facility will entice lots of new students to take up swimming as their primary sport and may even help attract
new families to the Convent and Stuart Hall community.” Junior swim athlete Julian Ray said, voicing his praise for this innovative upcoming project. “The capabilities to develop and produce great swimmers will definitely increase.’
Furthermore, Dr. Krejcarek intends for the entire community to be able to take advantage of this new asset, affirming, “the goal is for all of our students to benefit from this.” Practice venues for a plethora of teams can and will be relocated to this venue, for example basketball, in which the building will contain two fullsized courts and as many as 1,200 seats to accommodate for expo-
nentially more fans at home games. On the roof, a turf field — just under regulation varsity soccer size — will be built for any team that might need it for practice like lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer. Additionally, a new gymnasium will be made for any student, athlete or not, to be able to lift weights and train in the offseason. Among all of the aforementioned amenities are a yoga study, study area, and even living quarters for staff of Convent and Stuart Hall. With such an ambitious vision taking shape, the new athletics and aquatic center promises to be a game-changer for Convent and Stuart Hall. By providing
top-tier facilities for student-athletes and expanding opportunities for physical education, the project reflects a commitment to both excellence and inclusivity. As construction progresses, excitement continues to build—both for the athletes who will train here and for the broader community that will benefit from this long-awaited addition.
Parent, Student Life Editor
via Sacredsf.org
Ryan Tonkovich, Student Life Editor
Tanner Parent, Student Life Editor
This April, six exchange students went to a town in Denmark called Rungsted, about a 30-minute drive from Copenhagen. This solidifies a newfound alliance with the Danish high school Rungsted Gymnasium as Convent and Stuart Hall students hosted their exchange students last fall and supported them in their March class trip. Unfortunately, all six Convent and Stuart Hall high school students have now left their host families in Denmark marking the end of a successful exchange where students got to be immersed in a different culture.
During the exchange, the American students got to see the city of Copenhagen, visit famous landmarks, attend soccer and hockey games, and spend time with Danish people. It was
Denmark Reflection
incredible for students to be immersed in Danish culture and see what they did similarly to kids in the U.S. and what they did differently. “The school is very nice and the kids seem to enjoy it more than in the U.S.” said Junior Cabot Dick. Additionally, it was interesting for students to go to a Danish high school and see what classes were like and how it compared to Convent and Stuart Hall. Although the Danish students work hard, it was widely agreed by the American students that the Danish students got a lot more opportunities to enjoy their life, spend time with their friends, and partake in hobbies, whereas the American students felt they had to spend egregious hours on their schoolwork. Students also got to experience European sports culture by attending a FC Copenha-
gen game, where students were amazed by the exhilarating and electrifying atmosphere. Some of the Danish students who had attended NFL and NBA games said that they seemed more like a show than an actual sports game. Additionally, the students were taken to the local team’s Hockey game where they were playing in the Danish semi-finals. To some of the American students’ surprise, ice hockey is a fairly large sport in Denmark. The Danish students had fun activities for their visitors, and students would spend time with the other exchanges, but would also get to spend time with their host families and do activities with just their host student.
In addition to partaking in fun activities, the Convent and Stuart Hall students got to meet a multitude of Danish students at the Gymnasium and talk to
them about an array of things, such as sports, politics, social trends, and more. The three Stuart Hall students played sports such as soccer and basketball with the Danish kids and even dominated in a three-versusthree against some Danish students. It was quite intriguing to the Stuart Hall students how the Danish kids played so many sports during their lunch breaks. This made the students view the school in a much more positive light, and it seemed to make the Danish students very happy.
Furthermore, it was fun for students to see what the high school was like and what classes were like. Although some classes were in Danish, it was fun for the American students to hear the language and learn some of it. The classes in English seemed similar to the classes at Convent
and Stuart Hall, just with bigger class sizes. However, students were most surprised by how nice the school was. Incredibly nice classrooms, a very high-quality cafeteria, and great equipment made students ecstatic and elated to attend school every day. The Stuart Hall students also got the opportunity to give the first-year Danish students a presentation about life in America.
The Rungsted-Convent and Stuart Hall exchange has been completed and gave students from both countries an incredible opportunity to be immersed in a different culture, try new things, and have a joyous time.
The Convent and Stuart Hall students who visited Denmark in April thoroughly enjoyed their time in Denmark and will miss it as well as their host families.
Swinging for Success: Baseball Team Eyes a Comeback
Spring sports are underway, meaning baseball is back! The Knights are back on the diamond. Stuart Hall baseball dominated the 2010s, bringing home consecutive BCL West championships from 2011 to 2017. That’s right—not one, not two, not three, but how about 7 straight championships! Baseball here has a strong tradition to it, something to take pride in over other schools in the city. 2025 baseball is the year to get back the championship-rich DNA embedded in the Hall.
Stuart Hall baseball looks to build off their past season of growing pains and bring some hardware home.
Current head coach Gerald Reader has been laying the foundation to build up the team and get back on track to the winning pedigree that was seen in a dominant 7-year span. He sets the standard for the team: be about our business, and have fun while doing it. Picture 19 businessmen (19 players) conducting their business with smiles on their faces. That is what Coach Reader’s practices are all about building up your game, playing your
role, and enjoying your time on the field. This formula resonates with the players and their success on the field. Junior Max Machle says, “Gerald keeps the team spirit bright, inspiring us to play well, but will make sure we do our jobs to get the win.” “This team’s spirit makes team chemistry flow easily,” Junior Alex Cruz says. Stuart Hall baseball is about creating bonds and memories with teammates on the field while competing, to friendly competitions and jokes in practice. The 2025 Spring baseball team is no different. The start of the season looks promising, with
new faces adapting to the team culture and chemistry building up—all show signs of a strong season ahead.
The Knights kicked off the season with a dominant 10-2 win against Gateway High. The team’s first league series vs. Marin Academy comes a month later, on March 25th, at Maloney Field at SF State at 4:00 p.m., followed by an away game at Marin Academy’s home field at 6:30 p.m. Team Captains for the second year in a row are: Geno Putt (‘25) and Alex Heinicke (‘25). New additions for the 2025 Spring include: Ryder Anderson (‘26),
Damian Talavera (‘28), Dominic Gutierrez (‘28), Matias Fals (‘28), and John Rodrick-Clark (‘28). Coming off a season in which the baseball team recorded 6-13-1 overall record (non-league, league, playoffs), the addition of new players and the development of returning players set the bar higher that it was a season ago. Now the question is, will we see you support the Knights this season? Catch every home game at the Knights’ home field, Maloney Field at SF State, and find away game locations on the C&SH Athletics official app. Don’t forget your caps and Roll Hall!
Golf Mayhem: The Golfing Craze Sweeping the Hall
Golfing has been a wildly popular pastime since the 15th century. It requires three things: a ball, a club, and a green. In the past months, there has been an uptick in talk about golf throughout the halls of Octavia and Broadway, not only from players with years of experience but also from brand-new players. Junior Ryder Anderson, a golfer with 10 years
of experience, recounted, “Yeah, just this weekend I taught Chris, Luca, and Ethan how to play.” This sport has been especially popular with Juniors. Talks of weekend trips to the links are heard throughout the halls, and trips to the driving range after school are being planned days in advance. It would be an understatement to say that golf is getting a little more popular. But why does golf have people
coming in droves? Ryder said, “It is a communal sport and brings people together,” which makes sense because it takes a long time to play golf. The time away from technology could be a reason people are back to playing golf. Sure, you could say that about any sport, but golf has a key advantage—time. Golf takes a very long time. Walking around for four hours with nothing else to do but hit balls causes people to do
something that is less common in this digital age: talk. There is nothing to do but talk. Another thing making Stuart Hall students take up golf is the non-competitive environment. The consensus from Stuart Hall students is that they are not playing golf to compete against each other; they play golf to be with each other. Nico, a Junior, right before leaving to go play golf at the Olympic Club, said, “I love
golf because of the community.”
And that’s the thing about golf— community. Communities bring people from all walks of life together for a common goal: hitting the links with the boys. So, is golf just a fad, or is it going to stick? Nico said, “People who are learning golf are learning a lifetime skill.” Having a community that lasts you a lifetime keeps people coming back to golf.
Matthew Zeitz, Staff Reporter
Lachlan Riley, Editor
Marshall Williamson, Staff Reporter
How Alef Aeronautics is Making Sci-Fi Dreams into a Reality
Alex Akel, Editor-in-Chief
When people think of flying cars, they might think of the Jetsons or Star Wars and the future in general. People think of these shows as far off in the future realities, yet it may be our everyday soon. Alef Aeronautics — founded in 2015 by Jim Dukhovny, Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, and Oleg Petrov — set out to make one. In a video released in February, the public got a first glimpse at what one of these could really look like. In the video, the flying car prototype flew over another car parked on the ground.
The aim of the Alef Flying Car is to build “the solution to the issues of modern congestion”, according to the Alef Aeronautics website. Think instead of waking up, afraid of being late to work, you can just climb onto your roof and fly to work in a quarter the time
it would take to drive a normal car. This is their vision. Originally, this vision started in Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto between the four founders of the company. Having drawn up a model of one on a napkin, they assumed that the building process would take 6 months. This turned out to be a heavy underestimate as they had to satisfy the many requirements of being a real car and a flying car.
In 2016, the first sub-scale prototype was built. Tim Draper first took interest in this investment when he saw the potential with the proprietary propulsion system installed into a full scale version.
After more investors from around the world saw the potential, many young and smart engineers joined the team and many famous and world expert people joined the Advisory Board. Between 2018 and 2021, more
demonstrations of the invention were tested and more and more people became excited about the product. This allowed the leadership to move towards the branding of their growing company, including to the interior and exterior designs of the cars.
In 2022, the company officially rebranded itself to “Alef”. Alef is the first letter of many alphabets—including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, and Syrian. It being the first letter of so many influential alphabets shows the important position the company will eventually take in all the aspects of the public—in the hearts, minds, and on the streets.
The model A is classified as a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) with its top speed being 25 miles per hour. In contrast, when flying, it can reach speeds up to 110 miles per hour according to Alef.
The excitement this car has generated has resulted in over 3,200 preorders for the $300,000 car. “The idea of flying cars would be super cool. This would definitely make it easier to travel. I think I’m mostly excited just because I would look forward to life without traffic,” said junior Nico Rivera, sharing the excitement of those who pre-ordered.
In contrast, junior Luke Spalding thinks it may not be as big of a change, yet will still have some benefits. “I think flying cars won’t necessarily be a game changer but will definitely add convenience and functionality to a new way of travel that many might need,” said Spalding.
While this video shows the prototype flying over a car, it doesn’t necessarily reveal how far we are from actually getting this futuristic car and what issues it will solve or potentially create.
“We are further away than the
video makes us believe—many decades away. What does it solve—fossil fuel usage, traffic congestion, getting from point A to B faster? What other issues does it bring up?,” says High School Physics teacher Matthew Woodard.
“I still applaud that people are sinking money into this, that great, but I won’t be an adopter or invest my retirement money into it,” displaying how some are hesitant to put their money into something so novel.
Whether cars actually have a huge impact on the daily lives of people or not, their emergence is a clear sign we are moving into the future, and ideas that were thought of as impossible or only seen in science fiction may soon be facets of everyday life.
Trump’s Gaza Gambit: Crazy Plan or Diplomatic Distraction
Anderson Foo, Politics Editor
On February 5, President Donald Trump announced in a news conference with Benjamin Netanyahu that “the US [would] take over the Gaza Strip” in order to reconstruct and beautify it into what he has called “the Riviera of the Middle East”. More recently, on February 26, Trump released an AI-generated video displaying his proposal for “Trump Gaza”. In the process, current Palestinian residents would also be relocated, and on Fox News Trump stated that they would not be allowed back into Gaza. Instead, Trump is proposing for the US to work
with other wealthy countries in order to construct residences in nearby Egypt and Jordan, which would house the over 2 million Palestianians currently living in Gaza.
Trump’s proposed Gaza plan sparked international outrage when it was first publicly announced, only receiving support from Israel. The practice of taking over other territories is generally something that people want to leave in the 1900s, which is why many of Trump’s own allies in Congress have stated that a US takeover of Gaza is unreasonable.
The plan is especially intolerable to nearby Arab nations such as
Jordan, Egyptian, and Saudi Arabia, who have planned an urgent meeting to develop a counterproposal to Trump’s plan. In addition, forcibly relocating civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law except for the “security of the civilians involved or imperative military reasons”, despite Trump’s presumably good intentions. Trump has said that the reconstruction of Gaza is not possible with Palestinians still residing there. Some human rights groups have even claimed that Trump’s plan counts as ethnic cleansing and a crime against humanity. Trump has claimed that “the only reason the
Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is that they have no alternative.” This ignores the religious grievances that fuel tensions between Israel and Palestine. The plan was likely never going to happen. Trump only discussed the plan individually with a few of his aides before making a public announcement. Many of his own Republican allies have spoken out against the plan. However, some have offered a rationale for Trump’s seemingly ridiculous plan. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that Trump made an absurd proposal with the intention to pressure Arab states to figure out a solu-
Something Big Is Coming for Cryptocurrencies… What
ISO 20022 is a multi-part International Standard prepared by ISO Technical Committee TC68 Financial Services. So what does that mean? Let me break it down for you: ISO 20022 is a global standard for exchanging financial messages between banks and other financial institutions. It is going to be like a set of rules or a common language that helps ensure different systems can understand each other when sending things such as payment instructions, transaction details, and account information. For example, when you send
money via your bank, the message that goes through different banks or systems will be standardized using ISO 20022. This makes it easier to process payments and share information internationally, reducing mistakes and delays. This system will be implemented on March 10th. What can we expect? The adoption of ISO 20022 in the crypto space is expected to bring significant advancements. It will make it easier for banks to accept and process crypto transactions, helping crypto blockchains, such as XRP Ledger, gain mainstream adoption. International payments could become faster, cheaper, and
tion. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated that “the one thing President Trump has done, he’s started a conversation that was long overdue”. Apparently Trump has been very welcoming of alternatives to his plan. He was “attentive and sympathetic” in a meeting with the leader of Jordan, King Abdullah II. A proposal by Egypt has been gaining regional attention and support, and it maintains Palestinian control over Gaza but evicts anyone with Hamas affiliation from leadership.
Is It, and How Will It Impact You?
more efficient. Moreover, ISO 20022’s built-in reporting features will help crypto exchanges comply with regulations, reducing concerns about fraud and money laundering, which have been problems and worries in the past. But fixing these issues would make crypto more appealing to regulators and the public. Transfers between crypto and fiat currencies will also become smoother, with clearer, more structured communication. ISO 20022 will also improve interoperability between cryptocurrencies and traditional financial systems, creating a more
integrated yet diverse global financial system. Overall, these changes will make crypto interactions more seamless, faster, and secure, bringing it closer to mainstream use and easing its adoption by individuals and businesses. How does this affect you? Well, there are a couple of smart investments one can make before March 10th. For one, XRP and XLM, the two most popular coins that can be adopted by banks and financial institutions when ISO 20022 is implemented, will both rise. As of today, XRP is at $2.39 and XLM is at $0.31. Some analysts believe that XRP can reach
up to eight dollars, while XLM reaches upwards of two dollars. These coins are the future of currency, especially if they were to replace the SWIFT banking system, which is criticized for being old and outdated. If they were to replace SWIFT, this means that upwards of five trillion dollars would be flowing through these currencies, skyrocketing the price.
The release of ISO 20022 is also a release of new opportunities for new investors like yourself. Let today be the day that you invest in crypto. March 10th is the dawn of a new era of currency, in which crypto will rule.
David Leshenko, Editor
‘Make America a Democracy Again’: SF Demonstration Backs Ukraine
Alex Akel, Editor-in-Chief
On the afternoon of Sunday, March 2, hundreds of Ukrainian supporters gathered at Harry Bridges Plaza near the San Francisco Ferry Building to protest President Trump’s heated press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. During the conference, Trump claimed Zelensky didn’t want America’s help in reaching a cease-fire with Russia, leading to Zelensky being asked to leave the White House.
Waving American and Ukrainian flags, members of the group Bay Area United for Ukraine held signs reading “Make America a Democracy Again,” a play on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. Passers-by honked their car horns in support. Many demonstrators took to the steps of Harry Bridges Plaza, delivering speeches over a megaphone questioning Trump’s intentions of
aligning with Russia. The rally was filled with cheers of “Slava Ukraini” and renditions of Ukraine’s national anthem.
Andrii Anpilogov, a demonstrator from Palo Alto who immigrated to the United States from Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2018, four years after Russia illegally annexed Crimea, shared his thoughts on Trump’s approach to peace negotiations.
“This is not the course of action that should be taken,” Anpilogov said. “Democratic forces should stay aligned and act with the same goal.”
Much of the American public and many European nations were appalled by Trump and Vice President Vance’s behavior in the Oval Office. On X, European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas said, “The free world needs a new leader.”
Many European leaders reaffirmed their countries’ support for Ukraine, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk,
who said on X, “Dear @ZelenskyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.” However, not all European leaders shared this sentiment. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said, “President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President.” Such differences of opinion were echoed in the United States, falling along party lines. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of “doing Putin’s dirty work,” and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the meeting “appalling.” Republicans had the opposite reaction. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who earlier in the day expressed firm support for Zelensky, called for Zelensky’s resignation. Similarly, in an interview with NBC News, House Speaker Mike Johnson said if Zelensky doesn’t change his approach, “someone else needs to
lead” Ukraine. Trump’s position on Ukraine-Russia is a reversal from his predecessor, President Biden. Under the Biden administration, the United States appropriated $182.8 billion, of which $83.4 billion has been disbursed to Ukraine, according to Ukraine Oversight. Such support received bipartisan backing when initially approved, but recent rhetoric from Trump and the shift from other key Republican Party members like Graham seems to indicate a change in their support for Ukraine.
When asked about the possibility of a Ukraine-Russia cease-fire, Stuart Hall High School Modern History teacher Dr. Thomas Apel said, “Russia cannot be trusted to uphold a peace deal and security guarantee on its own, and Ukraine must be included in the European Union for its security to be assured. Ukraine joining NATO seems like a long shot, and the
Russians may be unwilling to reach a peace settlement unless they are assured that Ukraine will not be admitted.”
At this point, the United States is likely only to help Ukraine if it gets something out of it, like a mineral rights deal, and not simply for the principle of standing up for democracy, as many European nations do. Democracy is currently under threat everywhere, both in Europe and, many would argue, in the United States. While shaping how world events play out, citizens like those who attended the Bay Area United for Ukraine rally can voice their alternative opinions and tell those in Washington and across the world that the United States, despite what its leaders may say, stands for democracy and supports Ukraine.
Right-Wing Parties Reshape Modern Europe
The rise of right-wing political parties can be seen in the recent elections across Europe. There are now 7 major countries in Europe that have far-righT parties in their government: Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, and Slovakia. In addition, in Germany, a far-right party known as the AFD (Alternative for Germany) came in second in the country’s national election, while a conservative party won the vote.
The main indicator that rightwing political parties have influenced the rise of conservatism is apparent in the 2015 Polish elections. In that election, Law and Justice, a right-wing party, won the election with 38% of the vote, and since then its influence has
grown, with only 5 of the 27 EU member states now under socialist-led governments. Junior Alex Cruz says, “It’s scary, scary.” The rise of right-wing political parties has fueled conservatism and driven political reform across Europe. Leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban have used rightwing populism, promoting themselves as “defender(s) of national sovereignty” and have created “A fear of immigration and economic uncertainty” that has gained traction for conservatism in Europe. The way that right-wing political parties have influenced the rise of conservatism is through legitimacy. To find out how a party can influence an ideal, one has to focus on the way that a party gained its legitimacy, or its pull factors as to why someone may vote for the party or person. Viktor Orban has been in power for 14 years. No serving leader in the EU has led their country for a longer period. In 2010, Fidesz, a Hungarian national-conservative political party, led by Victor Orban achieved a ⅔ majority in the parliament, enabling a supermajority. By using anti-immigration rhetoric and right-wing populism, FIDESZ was able to adopt a new Hungarian constitution. In addition, the party became Eurosceptic, meaning they opposed deeper EU integration. Sophomore Finn Guibert believes it is great and will benefit Europe.
David Leschenko, Editor
The Convent and Stuart Hall Spain trip has had some of the highest reviews and positive feedback. 18 students, Dr. Hackenburg and Ms. O’Donnell explored Spain, North, and South, visiting many important historical and religious sites. This trip was extremely meaningful, especially to Dr. Hackenburg, who said: “Although I saw many incredible sights—like the Great Mosque of Córdoba and the Alhambra in Granada—the most meaningful part of the trip for me was watching the students come together
In conclusion, Europe is entering a new era of leadership, one that excites its citizens for a new era. People all around the world will be tuned in to the change in Europe and what it will mean for the rest of the world.
David Looks Back on Spain Trip
as a group. By the end, it felt like they had truly bonded and shared a unique, unforgettable experience.” The students landed in Madrid, and spent a day there, visiting the famous Prado Museum. Although it started raining, we found ways to explore the city during their free time after the museum. A small group, that I was a part of, decided on a dinner place and ordered traditional Spanish food. The croquetas, fried cheesy ham balls, were to die for and were quickly finished. The rest of the night was spent shopping and strolling through the lit-up streets of the nightlife-rich Madrid. Early the
next morning, the students got on a high-speed train set for Santiago de Compostela, a town in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Although the trip felt like it went by quickly, we had seen and experienced so much. My favorite part was exploring all the cities at night, when the streets were lit up, and the nightlife was starting to come alive. This trip was extremely exciting, particularly because of the opportunity to do self-exploring. Dr. Hackenberg and Ms. O purposefully allowed us to have free time to explore cities by ourselves. This is what made it so great, and set it apart from other school trips.
Ethan Yap, Editor-in-Chief
Waymo Takes the Wheel: San Francisco’s Newest Spectacle
Henry Hudson, City Life Editor
The Golden Bridge, Coit Tower, Alcatraz, and all of San Francisco are tourist attractions you have no doubt heard of or been to. But what about the newest attraction with no one at the wheel? The New York Times wrote an article titled “San Francisco’s Hot Tourist Attraction: Driverless Cars,” saying driverless cars are the newest must-do activity for visitors to the city.
However, for most living in San Francisco, this “spectacle” has been seen in their neighborhoods for many years. A parade of white Waymo cars moves up and down city streets at all hours of the day and night—initially with safety drivers, then empty with no driver, and eventually with passengers only. San Franciscans have eased into seeing cars with no drivers and now the sight is very normal—very every day. So,
it is surprising to learn that tourists to San Francisco are desperate for advice on how to secure a ride in a driverless car while visiting, or even just how to be “well positioned to spot a driverless car on the go.” Why all the hype?
Waymo, the “way forward in mobility,” was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area to revolutionize autonomous driving by making transportation safer, cheaper, and easier to access. The Waymo “driver” has a 360-degree vision system and lidar, a remote sensing technology, to navigate an urban environment.
The first thing most riders notice when hailing a Waymo is that while it feels weird to get into a car with no driver, the car never makes riders feel unsafe. The drive is smooth, with no sudden movements, and since there is a screen to show the route the car is taking—allowing passengers to see what the car “sees”—the car
always feels in control. The ability to connect to WI-FI is a nice touch.
Tech is apparent in how the car navigates so many different situations, especially when it gets into a tricky spot with bicycles, pedestrians, buses, or double-parked cars. The electric cars used by Waymo are quiet and clean. The driverless service is more costly than its competitor Uber, especially for short trips, but it is easy to see the tourist appeal.
“It is a little like a Disneyland ride, at least for the first few minutes of your trip,” said Cabot Dick, who has tried Waymo rides.
“I believe Waymo will change the way people travel around the city and be the new Uber across big cities in the U.S.,” said Luke Spalding.
Legendary San Francisco columnist Herb Caen said, “A city is not gauged by its length and width but by the broadness of its vision
and the height of its dreams.”
Seeing the city through the eyes of a tourist should remind us that San Francisco is indeed a city that dreams big, and we should not take for granted all the wonders it beholds.
Redlining: The Line that Divides
Ethan Yap, Editor-in-Chief
The Great Depression was the worst economic time period in American history as many Americans became unemployed and poverty stricken. This made it hard for people to buy everyday necessities such as food. People who owed the bank money because of mortgages and loans were also unable to pay their debts and as a result, many Amer-
icans faced the threat of losing their homes due to foreclosure.
Foreclosure happens when someone cannot pay their debts and in turn, the person who loaned the money can legally force the sale of property (like a house) and own it. To curb foreclosure, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) in 1933 and this corporation sought to lower interest
rates for mortgages and loans
Although President Roosevel created HOLC with good intentions, HOLC unraveled a spiral of racial injustices that are still present in communities today. In order to decide who was qualified for a loan, the HOLC created Residential Security Maps that determined the risk of loaning money to a group of people living in a certain neighborhood or area. Areas marked green are best and
were areas with businessmen. Blue meant still desirable and office/white collar workers were common in these areas. Yellow meant declining areas and these were the areas of working class families. Red meanest hazardous and these areas were often neighborhoods with immigrants, people of low class, and people of color (especially those of Black and Brown descent). In San Francisco, these redlined neighbor-
It took over thirty years after the creation of HOLC to finally codify equality in the home owning sector. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act which prohibited the discrimination in sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, gender, or status. Still, this was signed too late as the damage was already done. Communities became more segregated and less fortunate communities had little access to good quality housing, education, and healthy living conditions. Since redlined areas are less valued, people became reluctant to start businesses there and this led to a lack of grocery stores, libraries, and other public ser-
vices such as parks. Instead, industrial buildings were built near these areas which resulted in bad air quality, reproductive health, and an increased risk in early mortality because of heart diseases. Creating generational wealth is also important for many people as it allows one to pass down money and assets such as houses down to future generations. Because it was difficult for those in redlined areas to purchase assets such as houses during the HOLC era, there currently is a large wealth gap between lower class Americans who could not invest in a home and middle to high class Americans who were able to pass down assets to their
children. Public schools are funded from taxes at the state and local level while the federal government is barely involved. In California, 62% comes from state funding and 21% comes from local property taxes. According to Pew Research Center, 81% (65.5 million) students were enrolled in public schools in 2021. The majority of students in America attend public schools, but there is a drastic unequal distribution of funds in the education system. Wealthier neighborhoods with more expensive houses generate more revenue for the schools which in turn allows the school to use that money for higher salaries for teachers, better facilities,
and a higher quality of education. This leaves schools in previously redlined or poorer neighborhoods to receive an insufficient amount of funding to provide quality education and a decent salary for teachers. Enacted in 1979, Proposition 13 prevented the increase of more than 2% on property taxes and limited the property tax rate to 1%. This severely cut the funding for public schools and this lack of sufficient education traps those in poorer neighborhoods in a cycle of poverty. Everyone is in some way part of a community. To make an effort to remedy the effects of redlining, staying informed and doing research about the propositions/
hoods included the Western Additions, Chinatown, the Mission district, and Bayview. These maps created by the HOLC essentially determined who was deserving of resources and ultimately, redlined areas could not get the financial support or loans to purchase homes.
government decisions that are voted on can help make sure you know clearly what you are voting for. One can also make a lasting impact by volunteering at organizations that help the community and or be a tutor for those who need additional support with school. Finally, looking out and noticing injustices in a community and advocating about them can help erase the lines and inequities that divide us.
Dietmar Rabich via Wikimedia Commons
Home Owners’ Corporation map Via CreativeCommons
Why is Everything More Expensive? Who is To Blame?
Andrew Kim, Finance Editor
Have you ever wondered why your corner store visits get more expensive? Why have your lunches
out on Fillmore Street become more expensive
Above is a chart showing the price increase for white bread over time from 2005-2025. While there are
some fluctuations in the prices, there is a general upward
trend. In 2005, a pound of bread cost $1, now it costs $1.93.
This chart shows the increase of rent prices since 1940. Average rent used to be $27 per month in 1940, now it is $1,397. This increase in prices is called inflation. The question on everyone’s mind is: why? Why does the cost of everything seem to rise month
after month? Is it the result of greedy corporations squeezing every last dollar from consumers? Or is it driven by government policies like
minimum wage increases? In reality, the answer is more complex than it seems. At its core, the driving force behind infla-
The image above depicts the U.S. government’s deficit every year. As you can see, the last surplus the U.S. had was over 20 years ago in 2001. What does this mean? This means that every year the U.S. borrows money, they get driven further into debt. Trillions of borrowed dollars are flooding the economy. All this new cash coming in circulates and ripples throughout the economy, rising prices. An increase in money supply is not the only issue created from the excessive federal
deficit, it is however, one of the most important.
Having a deficit isn’t necessarily a bad thing, in fact, borrowing money is one of the most important drivers for economic growth. The issue arises when the money is being spent unwisely. An injection of money into the economy is okay as long as the money is being put to good use. If the money can produce more goods, create value, and boost economic productivity, the injection of money would be offset. But borrowing too much and putting it
towards unproductive activities, is when inflation becomes a problem. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. government gave out hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus checks. The idea was to keep the economy alive and productive, but since there was a pandemic, there wasn’t enough production and growth to keep up with the influx of cash. More purchasing power with no increase in production led to an 8% rise in inflation, one of the worst in recent history. Many administra -
compared to a few years ago? Why are parents paying more for annual tuition?
tion is systemic: the U.S. government consistently spends more than it earns each year.
tions have attempted to solve this problem, but now more than ever the effects are starting to take a large toll on the economy. The current administration is making the federal deficit a top priority, attempting to cut government spending drastically. Can our government find a way to cut down America’s debt? Or are we going to keep spending and dig the nation’s economy into a deeper hole?
