The Crusader Winter 2017-2018

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VOLUME LXVIII ISSUE ii

ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL

SERVING RIORDAN SINCE 1949

Winter 2017-2018 THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY

Will Clark thrills Crusaders at Downtown Luncheon By Roman Peregrino ’18 If one was to ask Riordan alumni from the 1980s and 90s who their favorite baseball player was as a kid, there would be a couple standard answers. Kevin Mitchell, one might say. Matt Williams might be another choice. So would Robby Thompson or Jose Uribe. However, more than likely, you would get one answer: Will Clark. A generation of Riordan students grew up copying his swing in the mirror, sneering in the on deck circle during games, and wishing they could meet their hero. On Dec. 8, Riordan graduates from over the years were given the chance to do just that when Clark attended and spoke at the Archbishop Riordan Downtown Luncheon.

next. And it would not disappoint. After lunch ended, Clark ascended the stage, as a video highlighting his career as a Giant played on two projectors. The biggest reactions came from his famed home runs off Nolan Ryan and Greg Maddux, and his fight against the St. Louis Cardinals. Excitement was in the air, and Clark quickly provided on his “hope to to entertain people” by regaling the crowd with legendary tales from his playing days. Afterwards, all the guests agreed, Clark’s speech was a hit. Photo by Roman Peregrino ’18 “[Clark] was an excellent speaker. I’m not a baseball Kevin Holl ’75, Giants great Will Clark, President Andrew Currier, and Alumni fan, but he’s good,” said Pat Director Paul Cronin ’93 display Clark’s honorary Riordan baseball jersey. Quinn ’70.

A record 350 guests attended the 18th annual Downtown Luncheon, with 240 of those being alumni, at the Hilton San Francisco for the chance to reminisce with their old friends, eat some good food, and listen to the great Will Clark speak. The combination of Clark and the draw of reconnecting with the school proved to be the impetus for this great event. Paul Cronin ’93, in his first year as Riordan Alumni Director, said in regards to the high attendance, “One [reason] is obviously Will Clark. He was a big draw for SF natives and has impacted all of our lives but also alumni and the community are starting to notice what we are doing at Riordan. We are experiencing incredible momentum and people are talking. We will continue to spread the word and promote

Riordan, along with putting on top notch events.” It was Riordan’s good luck and connections that were able to bring Clark to the Luncheon. “I was making an appearance in Reno for a [corporate event],” Clark said. “The emcees were Lamont and Tonelli (radio hosts on 107.7 the Bone), and they got me in touch with John Ring who set this event up.” Everyone in attendance was glad that Ring, Riordan’s Development Director, was able to set this up, and all were pumped to be in the same room as the Giants legend. As Michael Altman ’18, one of the varsity baseball players given the opportunity to attend the event, said, “Meeting Will Clark was incredible and a dream come true. It was pretty cool just talking to him about baseball

after getting over the original shock of meeting him.” The event began with a Mass at 10:00 am for the Feast of Immaculate Conception. Then, the event really kicked off with cocktails at 11, which gave the Crusaders old and new a chance to fraternize and swap stories. Six decades of Crusaders were at the Hilton on this day, with the oldest alumnus being a member of the class of 1953, and the youngest from the class of 2017. Once cocktails began to wind down, guests streamed into the Hilton’s ballrooms 4 and 5 for a lunch of crispy skinned chicken breast and mushrooms, with a garden salad and assorted mini desserts. The tension began to rise as the servers came around collecting plates of food. The guests knew what was coming

Altman concurred: “His speech was entertaining because he retold all of these famous Giants moments from his point of view.” Even as he entertained the luncheon patrons, Clark had another goal. “I have a message for the students and I hope it is received well and people benefit from it,” Clark said. Clark’s message was fivefold. 1. Hardwork 2. Use common sense 3. Trust your gut instinct 4. Family is first and foremost 5. Respect your elders. These messages were delivered in a fun and engaging style and were referenced often through his talk to keep the audience engaged. Dave Dorantes ’88, father of David ’21, thought that “Will’s opening remarks really played into a lot of the rest of his speech

Please see “Downtown Luncheon” on page 3

Riordan puts best foot forward for potential freshmen By Brandon Vargas ’20

On Oct. 29 many new and curious faces visited ARHS and explored the campus during Open House. They were given the opportunity to learn about academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. Stephanie Martinez, whose brother attends De Marillac Academy as an eighth grader, said, “The band was very welcoming.” Parent Karen Takamoto and her son Alex, a seventh grader at St. Gabriel, loved Riordan’s community and the school’s

environment. Takamoto said, “The students... are all welcoming.” While the visitors were intrigued by the various aspects of the school, teachers were also impressed by the Open House as a whole. Mathematics teacher Ken Morris ’87 said, “The best part is how we show up, in our entirety, as a community.” Teachers circled the gym floor, offering parents and students information about each subject. Many ARHS representatives, including students, faculty and staff, crowded into the gym to disseminate general information

about Riordan. Parents and families were also impressed with the RSP Program, and the variety of clubs and classes offered at ARHS. Primarily, most visitors were eager to know more about the Engineering Program. Morris also stated, “There seemed to be a strong interest in the Engineering Program. I was asked at least ten times.” ARHS students who volunteered at this event were glad to help possible future Crusaders. Miles Poon ’20 thought Open House was beneficial to everyone who wanted to know more about

the school. He said, “It was a good way to introduce students to Riordan.” Overall, the Open House was an opportunity for parents and students to learn about ARHS. Director of Admission Danny Curtin ’08 said, “Open House this year was one of the largest if not the largest crowds we have seen here in over 20 years. Despite the size, I thought our students and teachers kept that intimate feel that makes Riordan unique. I have had countless compliments on the respect and kindness that are a staple of our school.”

2 Opinion

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2017-2018

‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’: An over complicated debate By Chris Peterson ’18 “Merry Christmas”— a casual greeting with no intention to cause any harm. In fact, it’s supposed to mean the exact opposite. It’s wishing you a good season of celebration. Having just celebrated Christmas, the birth of Christ, many of us heard or said those words beginning a few days before the event to last week, which was the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as “Little Christmas.” So much of our American spirit has been driven out of Christmas, from it being a national holiday to marked by big commercial sales. This long-held tradition has been, and has continued to be, assaulted by those who think it is insensitive. They want to change our greetings from “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays.” Though I can understand why it is important to make other people’s winter celebrations on an equal standard, it just isn’t practical for our way of life. For many people employed by the government, the holiday they have off as “Christmas Day.” Although the original designation as a holiday was merely noted as “the twenty-fifth day of December,” it also says, “commonly called Christmas Day.” So, why should they change the meaning? Here is a bit of history: in 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed

into law a bill passed by Congress creating the first federal holidays in the United States. It stated, “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the following days, to wit: The first day of January, commonly called New Year’s day, the fourth day of July, the twenty-fifth day of December, commonly called Christmas Day, and any day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States as a day of public fast or thanksgiving, shall be holidays. . .” Uziah Metcalf ’18 stated, “Happy holidays doesn’t sit right with me. Just say whichever greeting you feel right with saying.” I don’t think they should. I have celebrated Christmas my entire life, and so has my family before me. There should be no reason that we have to change what we say because some people do not realize that there is no disrespect meant towards those who don’t celebrate the same holiday. As perfectly worded by Matthew Paul ’18, “When other people say ‘Happy Holidays’, it is very vague. It doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing for every person.

Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 People shouldn’t be hurt because of someone not greeting you with the holiday greeting you celebrate. Just reciprocate the greeting and respect others. That’s all it’s about.” Yes, it’s about respecting what others believe in. These holy days have been here long before us and should be respected whether it is your religion or not. It’s only meant as a hopeful message that should make others happy, whether it is being hopeful for the years ahead, or looking back on good times. Social Science teacher David Elu, said, “I love the phrase Merry Christmas. It’s a statement of hope and it brings back good memories.” It’s a phrase of hope and a phrase of good fortune. It can also be seen as celebrating pride in our

nation—since it is a national holiday—not as a religious holiday, necessarily. You can believe in whatever religion you practice, but respect the nation that has given us so much, including the right to celebrate (or not) this holiday with a cheerful greeting. This is all that I ask as a fellow citizen. Say “Happy Holidays,” say “Merry Christmas,” say “Happy Hanukkah,” say whatever greeting you want, just don’t try to crush a holiday that has been here for so long and means so much for people around the world by downplaying the meaning behind the words. No matter what you celebrated this holiday season, be respectful. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a good year to come.

Address of the Holy Father John Paul II to journalists on June 4, 2000: “Journalism, with its immense and direct influence on public opinion, cannot be guided by economic forces, profit and partisan interests alone. Instead, it must be regarded in a certain sense as a ‘sacred’ task, to be carried out with the awareness that the powerful means of communication are entrusted to you for the common good and, in particular, for the good of society’s weakest groups: from children to the poor, from the sick to those who are marginalized or discriminated against.”

Sports Editor Karl Vanuska ’19

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Editor in Chief Roman Peregrino ’18 Opinion Editor Tomas Palpallatoc ’18 Campus News Editors John Regidor ’18 Harrick Wu ’19 Features Editor Jabriel Andrade ’18

Staff Reporters Jakeclark Bennett ’18 Local, State, National, Stephen Blecha ’19 and World News Editors Brandon Castro ’18 Vince Francisco ’19 James Chun ’18 Owen Murphy ’19 Danilo Herger ’20 Ricardo Hernandez ’20 Arts & Entertainment Editors Michael Kay ’18 Sebastian Fazio ’18 Ian Martin ’20 Henry Novicki ’18 Shane McKnight ’18 Carlos Milian Leon ’18 Photo Editor Eddie Monares ’19 Chris Peterson ’18 Aidan Murtagh ’20 Copy Editors Keven Ariel Munoz ’18 John Regidor ’18 Exchange Editor Chang Liu ’18 Adviser Susan Sutton, CJE

Anthony Oropeza ’18 Zachary Phillips ’20 Steven Rissotto ’20 David Rodriguez-Mendez ’18 Jeremy Reyes ’18 Alexander Ruivivar ’20 Kabir Samra ’18 Alexander Vallecillo ’18 Brandon Vargas ’20 Nicholas Yee ’20 Staff Photographers Stephen Aguirre ’18 Marco Aguirre-Celi ’21 Joseph Kerrigan ’18

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Campus News

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Hard Work pays off for 3-on-3 winning team 3-on-3 tournament was fun, exciting to watch, and very competitive to play in.” For many students, it is just as exciting to watch the games because it gets very competitive, and because winning includes a few prizes, bragging rights, and a good sense of pride. The tournament is run by Counselor Jonathan Aguilar,

By James Chun ’18

The Riordan 3-on-3 basketball tournament is something everyone looks forward to, because anyone can play, and it costs only $2. The event lasted from Nov. 7-9, with a winner crowned at the conclusion. Prizes were handed out for the first through third place winners. Every year in the fall and in the spring, there is a 3-on-3 tournament that Riordan High School students look forward to. There were sign-ups in the cafeteria in the weeks prior to the tournament, and there were plenty of announcements around school that notified everyone of the event. This year’s winners were: 1st place, Hard Work, Justice Turner, Josh Ray, Ellias Baugh; 2nd place, Splash Bros, JT Arenas, TQ Byrd, Umar Hameed, Kyle De Asis; 3rd place, No Race Barriers, Jake Angelo, Matthew Calhoun,

Photo by Jon Aguilar The winning team: Josh Ray, who is also head of DJ Club. He Justice Turner, and Elias Baugh. makes the brackets and helps lead the DJ Club, to keep the Christian Gonzalez, and Gremelt overall mood exciting. Counselor David Lin, a long time competitor Balladeres. Josh Ray ’18, back to back in the tournament and also a champ of the tournament and college counselor and football and varsity basketball player, said, baseball coach at Riordan, said, “It is cool [to] win, because every “The music gets people hyped up.” No matter who is playing, it is student gets the chance to play.” as much fun to watch as it is to Jake Angelo ’18, said, “The

play in. It gives students a break from the cafeteria, and an opportunity to watch other students compete and have fun playing basketball. The games get heated and it is entertaining. Also, the students love to talk on the sidelines and get involved without actually playing. The tournament costs $2 for a reason. This money contributes to the prizes. The first place team wins a one week front of the line pass at lunch, a pizza party, and a championship long sleeve t-shirt. “I’m happy I won a fire t-shirt,” said Ray. The second place winners get to join in the pizza party and also get a front of the line lunch pass for a week. The third place gets a front of the line pass for a week. The prizes make it worthwhile for the winners, and so is the experience. The tournament is a yearly staple because it brings joy, excitement, and the competitive spirit out in everyone.

Crusaders rally around fall sports teams By Nicholas Yee ’20

Spirit Week started off with

modified dress: Pajama Day Monday, Halloween Tuesday, Thursday was House Color day, and Friday with purple and gold, but Wednesday was formal day for the All Saints Day Mass. Monday and Tuesday, the school had Mentor Group Meetings, when students created Halloween posters on their room doors, judged by Principal Tim Reardon and President Andrew Currier. Students also voted on their patron saints, which was revealed at the All Saints Day Mass. For House of Bolts, their patron saint is St. Francis of Assisi, House of Cana is represented by St. Joan of Arc, House of Pilar has St. James the Greater, and St. Patrick is the patron of House of Russi. Although students and teachers participated in these events, some suggested changes to the modified dress. For example, English teacher Dr. Jennesis DeRosales and Dennis Romero ’20 suggested that during the rally, students should wear their house colors so the entire gym in each section has that color shown. Dr. DeRosales also suggested wearing college sweatshirt for one of the days. There were two games that took place during the pep rally: dodge ball and tic tac toe. Joey Klobas ’07, Student Activities Director, said, “I do not come up with any of the games. Student Parliament comes up with these games.” Although he does not come up with the games, he does suggest

games like tic tac toe and Student Parliament decides if they want to have that game. He also said, “[Student Parliament] normally tries to choose a game that is close to the sport that we are honoring.” Going into the pep rally, Pilar came in first, followed by Cana, followed by Russi and in last place was Bolts. At the end of the rally, Cana took the lead with 614 house points, followed by Pilar with 553 house points. Russi was next with 511 house points, Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 and in last was Bolts with 444 house points. Students gather around to sing the Alma Mater at the conclusion of the fall rally.

“Downtown Luncheon,” continued from page 1 and real life. Just listening to him speak, he did very well using his playing days to talk to the younger guys [so that they can] improve. You don’t see that very often.” The crowd gave Clark a standing ovation, and the day can only be termed as a success. Dorantes felt that “[the event was] very well put together and I was happy with the turnout.” Altman agreed, saying, “The event was fun, just to see all the alums hanging out. It was a good sight to see the brotherhood that we pride ourselves on in action.” It wasn’t only good vibes and an entertaining speech that the presence of Will Clark provided.

It also provided an opportunity for a new level of generosity for Riordan’s donors. Riordan trustee Bill Best “pulled together a few donors who anonymously made the $25,000 donation to establish the ‘Will Clark Endowed Scholarship’ at Riordan,” said Ring. “The envelopes on the tables at the event brought in an additional 182 gifts, totaling $33,731. Almost all of those gifts were earmarked for the new scholarship.” Ring added, “The scholarship will go to a student with a demonstrated financial need. It will be given out for the first time next year.” Cronin now turns his attention to the next years of his tenure as he looks to “improve alumni events and increase the alumni

participation and giving.” When it comes to the Downtown Luncheon, Cronin vows to “continue to get speakers that will bring a lot of attendees that makes for an enjoyable event.” He added, “[I’d like to thank] John Ring, Karin Haskell, the development team and volunteers. John’s vision and ability to execute holding a perfect event and Karin’s ability to pull it all together for a smooth running event is mind blowing. I thought it went very well. In fact, we nailed it. The amount of positive responses we received from attendees has been amazing!” All eyes will now turn to next year’s Downtown Luncheon, to see whether or not the Thrill of this year can be replicated.

4 Campus News

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2017-2018

AC debate heats up after brief heat wave After temperatures fell, practical and financial arguments overruled complaints By John Regidor ’18

With temperatures soaring in the upper 90s in October, many at Archbishop Riordan questioned why the school only has a central heating system, rather than air conditioning, as well as heating, for the entire campus. The heated floors provide the most efficient and cost effective means of temperature regulation on cold days. The boiler system heats up water, and that water is pumped through pipes in the floor, providing an ambient heat. In terms of air conditioning, there are only certain places in which air conditioning is available, such as Campus Ministry and other, newer, rooms throughout the school. “I think we’re really fortunate in that where we live and where we go to school here has a very moderate climate,” said

President Andrew Currier. “That temperature swing, is really strange, too. In the midwest and the east coast, it gets really hot, but to have that in November, it’s really strange.” However, when temperatures creep up above 80 degrees, the boiler becomes as useful as an assignment turned in after finals. It’s just useless. On campuses across the country, air conditioning comes as standard as whiteboards. According to a survey by the47million, most districts in South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, all schools surveyed, had a 100 percent functioning air conditioning system. Even many schools in Southern California have a working cooling system. However, the farther north a school is, the less likely that they

are to have working ACs. Cities such as Detroit and Denver have less than 50 percent of air conditioned classrooms. Surprisingly, Hawaii, which boasts one of the warmest climates in the country, has only 40 percent of its classrooms cooled. Hotter conditions in classrooms not only make learning slightly more inconvenient, but it has been scientifically proven that heat can affect the results of exams as well as learning in the classroom. In an intensive study done by Jinsung Park, a Harvard graduate, it was discovered that students were 12 percent more likely to score low marks on a test when taking the exam in 90-degree weather, compared to taking an exam in 72-degree weather. As the weather cooled, the

critics fell silent. The average yearly temperature is about 55 degrees, according to timeanddate.com, much lower than the unimaginably hot 8090 degree weather, where the need for air conditioning would be apparent. Though the hottest days of the year are often the most memorable, they are often only one or two weeks out of 40. An alternative to an expensive cooling system has been proposed by both teachers and students. “The idea of layering is critical. We should all be aware of our ability to wear a jacket or a sweater, but still be in uniform code, but be able to take if off if it gets too hot,” said Currier. “Another thing is asking these questions. As students, if you have a concern, ask these questions [either] to Mr. Reardon or myself.”

Blood Drive has positive impact on those in need By Ricardo Hernandez ’20 Donating blood saves countless lives every day and Riordan contributed by holding a blood drive on Oct. 28, from 8am to 2pm. The age requirement was 16 years old, and one person could donate up to 2 units of blood. The blood drive was coordinated by science teacher Julia

Ballistreri and theology teacher Joahua Keeney, coordinators of the CORE Service Team. One incentive for donating blood was five SHED hours, in addition to knowing another person’s life could be saved. In total, Riordan students and staff donated 69 units of blood. History Teacher Cory Nelson

said, “It made me feel great to give back. I got a card in the mail that said my blood saved a life, and there’s no better feeling than that.” Students 16 and older will have another chance to donate blood at the next drive on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

American Red Cross

Toy drive delivers gifts to city’s children By Brandon Castro ’18

Archbishop Riordan High School’s annual participation in the San Francisco Fire Department’s Toy Drive collection was underway last month, and collected toy donations for children age 6 and older. The Toy Drive, which ran until Dec. 20, was under new supervision. The current comoderators for the drive, science teacher Julia Balistreri and theology teacher Joshua Keeney, supervised the donations and were hopeful in obtaining more toys than previous years. Along with the CORE service team, Balistreri and Keeney wanted to encourage students to help out this charitable cause. With the new House system in place, thoughts surrounding house points and current placing will not be impacted by the Toy Drive. Balistreri said, “The goal is to have students realize that there are others less fortunate. There are kids that go downstairs

on Christmas Day and, sadly, have no toys to unwrap and we, as a Christian Marianist school, should spread the joy to underprivileged children without any reward.” Balistreri opened up about the Toy Drive not being as successful as the previous years. With little advertisement, the leaders of the school’s Toy Drive have noticed little to no involvement from the school community. CORE service team member Jeremy Reyes ’18 had this to say about student involvement, “The most difficult part is not giving incentives as a reason why students should donate because the most successful drives have been the ones that involve competitions between the classes.”

Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 Students donated toys to the annual SFFD Toys for Tots toy drive.

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Local News

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NorCal fires spark air quality concerns By Eddie Monares ’19 Wildfires are large, destructive fires that spread quickly over woodland or brush. In October, more than 200 fires were recorded in just the state of California alone. Wildfires are dangerous because, in a split second, flames can take someone’s life, someone’s home, and alter a person’s life forever. These fires mainly affected Napa and Sonoma Counties, but they also affected several students at Archbishop Riordan High School. Several student athletes were prohibited from participating in their team practices due to the bad air quality, and even had games cancelled and rescheduled. Several students and teachers were also beginning to get sick due to the air quality. These 200 plus wildfires affected most of the state of California in one way or another. The United States Department of Agriculture, more specifically the United States Forest Service, spends upwards of $1.5 billion on fire suppression, which is 52 percent higher than 2015, according to the U.S Forest Service and the NIFC. Some of the effects of wildfires include: deaths, loss of homes, loss of businesses, increase of firefighter and public service work due to the amount of people

needed to put out these fires, seasonal workers have to prepare for the fires and prevention, and logging has stopped in the areas. Although wildfires result in a lot of damage, there are actually some environmental positives. They regenerate the environment, so these affected environments get a brand-new start, they clean out nonnative populous plants and species, they add nutrients, they help biodiversity and increase growth. The environmental negatives include burn-corrosion of nutrients in the soil, and although it is a very rare occurrence, according to Pacific Biodiversity Institute, and Yale University research paper, carbon emission increases due to burned trees. As for the social aspect, national news stations such as Fox News, and CNN all did reports on these fires. KTVU even had four days of straight wildfire coverage for their afternoon news. For California, and specifically Napa, a major wine producer for domestic and international wine, about 85 percent have been affected in some way. According to SF Gate, most grapes take three years to grow to adulthood, so this major burn has put serious stress on most wineries as they will be low or out of business for that amount of

Photo by Jeff Head Wildfires in Northern and Southern California devastated homes and lives, and affected the Bay Area air quality for several weeks. time. Golden State Warrior All Star, Wildfires are treated the same pledged $1,000 for every point way an earthquake or hurricane he scored during a three game would be treated—there is a huge home stretch. He totaled $69,000 amount of community outreach. donated through the Redwood Seven Bay Area professional Community Union Community sports franchises, including Fund. the San Francisco 49ers, San Overall, these fires affected Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, the economic spending on Oakland Raiders, San Jose fire suppression, positively Earthquakes, San Jose Sharks, and negatively affected the and the Golden State Warriors, environment, and created a collectively donated $450,000 to huge social impact. These fires the Northern California Relief are tragic because lives were fund, per the San Francisco lost, business were affected, and Chronicle. Klay Thompson, communities were left rebuilding.

SF Rec & Park resurrects Geneva Car Barn brick by brick By Keven Ariel Muñoz ’18 The Geneva Car Barn—the raggedy, red brick, abandoned building that sits near Balboa Park BART station—may not be abandoned and unkempt for much longer because a new project is underway. The old building, built in 1901 to serve the city’s first streetcar line, known as the Geneva Car Barn, will soon be renovated, and plans include a state-of-the-art teen arts center. The Ingleside community has begun to dive into a project that will open a black box theater, art studio, music room, and even a writing center. This will be open mainly to high schoolers, and community members hope it will become a main attraction. There is a lot to be fixed, since it has not been touched since the 1989 Loma-Prieta earthquake, when it was determined that it violates safety regulations. The building has often been threatened with demolition, and has been in the hands of numerous organizations. Most notably, Mayor Willie Brown halted the demolition of

hopes, and dreams.” Loder added, “Without this channel for sharing what is important to them, they are robbed of an important channel for communication.” The center will be a in a publicprivate partnership with the Community Arts Stabilization Trust, which is a nonprofit partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Other partnerships include the Northern California Community Loan Fund and the Illustration by SockSite.com Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Together, they contributed $1 The SF Recreation and Park Department has big plans for million and allowed the project to the old Geneva Car Barn, which include a teen arts center. qualify for tax credit funds. The Bay City Beacon noted, “Of The future youth center is all of the Supervisorial districts the Car Barn in 1999 at the urging supposed to become a great in San Francisco, District 11 has of the community who wished to resource for high school teens to the most children under the age save the grand Victorian building. develop their individual talents of 18. At the same time, it’s one In 2006, ownership of the through workshops and programs of the most underserved areas of Geneva Car Barn transferred that will be established at the town, particularly with regards to children and youth services.” from the San Francisco Municipal center. Art teacher Irman Arcibal Kim Loder, English teacher Transportation Authority to the Recreation and Park Department. and author of Academic Success said, “The more opportunities Under the department, the through Written Composition, for youth, the better. There are building was revitalized and said, “So many teens are not a lot of museums and galleries in given a new roof. This is when the getting the writing skills that the area, but most of them serve community began to talk about a they need to express themselves— adult artists. It is a good location their thoughts, ideas, values, future youth center. that could draw the youth in.”

6 A&E

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Gaming winners, losers of 2017 By Jabriel Andrade ’18

In games, there is always a winner or a loser, but as a whole, gaming has seen its fair share of both this year. From unexpected surprises, to serious flops, here are 2017’s winners and lossers. Winner: The Rise of the FGC If last year was the revival of fighting games, 2017 is the year they pulled a Rocky Balboa and came back with a combo no one saw coming. 2017 saw the release of Tekken 7, Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite, and Injustice 2, three landmark series in the genre. While this would already be seen as an above average year for the fighting game community (FGC), the good news didn’t stop there. Street Fighter 5 was shown on ESPN2 and USA, the latter also broadcasting Injustice 2, and even Disney XD jumped in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Considering only two of E-sports’ so called big three (League of Legends, Counter Strike, Dota 2) was shown on TV, and only one of those appeared on USA, it seems that fighting games are primed to jump up the ladder, and soon. Loser: Loot Boxes, The New Gambling Conceptually, loot boxes just sound terrible. The player pays a certain price in either real or virtual currency, and you’re given a number of prizes that are all randomly selected from a huge pool. While this was seen as more acceptable when loot boxes had no effect on gameplay and instead just made your weapons or characters look cool, more and more games are slowly beginning to use this as a means of progression, and sometimes the only way for a player to level the playing field. Games like Need for Speed: Payback contain a slot machine style loot box, as if they fully own how similar their system is to gambling. Luckily, certain countries are beginning to try to reclass loot boxes as gambling, so maybe this gimmick might actually die. Winner: The Switch Keeps Selling Thinking about it again, the idea of the Switch seems like a surefire way to sell an amazingly large amount of units. Console power with mobility is something that has been sought after, failed at, and even lauded falsely by so many companies, yet nintendo somehow finds a way. The Switch is the fastest selling console in Nintendo history, and with this holiday season I think, sales wise, it might just leave the other consoles in the dust.

eSports manage to stay strong through outlets like ELEAGUE.

Loser: VR is here, but the games are not Playstation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, are three devices that show we made it, we are in an era of gaming only thought of in science fiction for years. Yet, why is it so disappointing? VR is awesome, the experience of wearing a headset and feeling fully immersed in a game is incredible, but where are the games? Where’s those unforgettable experiences we’ve been waiting for? Sadly they aren’t here, yet. Yes some indie developers have tried to take up the mantle, but many of these games feel unfinished, or like small time wasters. Triple A studios just haven’t felt like supporting VR fully is worth it. Instead many opted to just release glorified tech demos instead of actual games. The only outlier to this is Resident Evil 7, which is a new standard for VR games, and one that I truly hope gets matched and surpassed next year. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner: PUBG breaks records 1.35 million people. That’s how many people were playing Player Unknown’s Battle Grounds (PUBG) at its peak this summer. For comparison, San Francisco’s population right now is around 860,000. A game exploding this much and this fast is extremely rare, and that’s not even taking into account that the game was still in early access as of when this article was written. PUBG is still one of the most played games on Steam at the moment, and if it’s this popular without even being at version 1.0 who knows what will happen in the game’s future.

USA Network Loser: Battlefront 2: Not the game you’re looking for It’s no secret Star Wars sells, yet somehow Battlefront 2 managed to receive a boycott so bad, its sales are down 60 percent of projected. How could this happen? If someone were to take a glance at the game, it looks, sounds, and plays amazingly. Yet, there are hundreds of pictures of full stocks of the game while everything around it is sold out. Battlefront 2 has been hit with controversy since its reveal. The game itself had a predecessor that severely disappointed the gaming public, and while many of the problems faced in the first game were fixed, they were instead replaced with a myriad of others. Loot Boxes, microtransactions, and everything in the middle were revealed and when faced with this criticism the publisher’s community manager responded by insulting the concerned fans by calling them “armchair developers” in a tweet that was later deleted. So after a perfect storm of bad press, the game sits on store shelves, gathering dust. Winner: Nintendo’s Two Shining Stars Mario and Zelda are series that are firmly placed upon the top of gaming legend. For a series to have had almost unparalleled quality for this long, having one of each series releasing in the same year, almost seems unfair. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Mario Odyssey have shown that when it comes to making games, little can match the talent working at Nintendo. Both games have been showered with perfect scores from reviewers, and sold so many copies that they truly live up to the high standards set by their predecessors. It just goes to show that no matter what you can always rely on everyone’s favorite elf and plumber to deliver amazing gaming experiences.

Loser: EA’s Financial Black Holes Does EA just not like sci-fi? Not only did Battlefront 2 end up as a complete dud, but Mass Effect: Andromeda somehow destroyed any goodwill the franchise had built up until this point. Andromeda released to mixed reviews, and an even worse fan reaction, citing the ugly character models, boring gameplay, and a story so bad and unfulfilling from one of the series that was seen as the forefront of storytelling in video games. Andromeda did so terribly that planned DLC and sequels were put on indefinite hiatus, or to put it in layman’s terms, this game was so bad it killed the franchise. Winner: Soft Reboots, How to Return a Series to Form There are two series seen as the ultimate cash cows in gaming, the dead horses beaten so badly that we question why they still make these games. Yet, Assassins Creed: Origins and Call of Duty: WWII show that maybe the way to go forward is to bring everything back. And it worked. Both of these games have been showered with praise from their loyal fan bases and those returning fans that jumped ship as the games felt more and more the same. However, they’re back and better than ever, and hopefully, the amount of care and advancements will continue on. Loser: Half Life 3 Never Half Life 2 episode 2 came out in October of 2007, and for 10 years, fans have waited for the next installment. Messageboards, comments, Q&A sessions with the developers, and what seems like every single corner of the internet always has a mention of Half Life 3 and its development cycle or lack thereof. Some said that the game was being worked on behind closed doors, while others believed that Valve had given up on its flagship series and just couldn’t bring themselves to reveal that one of their most anticipated games wasn’t being made. So the movement behind Half Life 3 grew, becoming a very common meme in the gaming community until one day the truth was revealed. Marc Laidlaw, one of the main writers for the series, released what seemed to be the script for the third game, the end of it a sad reflection by the main character that obviously alluded to the lack of work and interest from the developer on the game. With that, the gaming community had its answer: at least the game that was hoped for all these years was gone, and it will probably never see the light of day.

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

A&E

7

Star Wars: Attack of the Critics By Owen Murphy ’19

Star Wars Episode Eight has been released. Star Wars is one of the greatest and most influential sci-fi fantasy stories in history. The incredible stories of this galaxy far away range from movies to tv shows to video games. After Disney purchased the rights to Star Wars in 2012, it infused new life into the franchise and began expanding the series. This new effort started with the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which was an instant success and ensured the viability of the new Star Wars films. The movie had two great achievements, the first was its ability to introduce and connect the older and newer characters, while appealing to both new and old fans of the series. The second great achievement of episode seven was that it intrigued viewers with new mysteries and secrets. These mysteries range from the identities of Rey’s parents to the reason that Luke has been living in solitude. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is an incredible film that solidified the new movies firmly in the public consciousness. After waiting two years for the next sequel, fans were intensely anticipating the next installment of the franchise and they got their wish in December with the

release of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” However, despite fan expectations and the extreme hype drummed up regarding the movie, many fans were disappointed. The film was still a huge success overall, but many people voiced complaints about the plot devices, characters, and story. The movie appeared to many to have deviated too far from the universe portrayed in the previous movies. Many of the more casual viewers of the movie were thrown by the much more Force and Jedi oriented plot. The original trilogy, while including a Jedi subplot as part of Luke’s character development, was much less focused on the Force as an important element of the galactic war. Conversely, a large portion of the new movie revolves around Rey and her journey, which seemed to focus purely on the balance of the Force without any major character development. Many of the sharpest criticisms were mixed with the greatest praises regarding the new elements that were introduced in the film. Many longtime fans of the expanded universe found new, interesting developments and lore within the movie that excited them about new possibilities. Many other people in the audience were more confused than excited.

The newfound focus on the nature of the Force was accompanied by a plethora of new unknown Force abilities that seemed to simply appear when convenient, without explanation. These abilities, while seemingly more in line with the new style of the series, often felt unnecessary or ridiculous.

Tournament of Champions when we placed in every single category we participated in. It shows me that my expectations were definitely fulfilled and exceeded. The students’ expectations are what is most important. I feel that they brought forth their best efforts this year and it is something that Mr. Serrano and I will look forward to for years to come.” At first glance, the Crusader Marching Band appears to simply be a group of young men walking down a street; however, the band is much more than that. On Nov. 28, the band competed in the Foothill Band Review. This band review in particular had not been favorable to the Crusaders, as it is one of the toughest and most competitive of the band reviews, following Fairfield. With weeks of experience and practice, the Crusaders stepped off with confidence. This band review was also the first one to feature a Concert Competition. The merged Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band performed “Metrodance” by Randall D. Standridge, Aquia Hills (translated to Silent Hills i n English) by Gary Fagan, and, as per tradition, performed their

Photo by Edwin Serrano Tommy Christian ’18, and the band, at the Italian Heritage Parade. march, “Anima Nobile” by Marcia of pep-music. They concluded Brillante. their performance with the staple The Marching Band has also of the Riordan Band, “Comin’ continued to promote school spirit Alive” by Jim Swearingen. for home football games, rallies, With competition season at a and many other functions. The close, the Crusader Band looks Crusader pep-band is undoubtedly to other performances. The band a Riordan favorite at games. will be performing in Disneyland When Riordan opened its doors this spring, as well as the famous to new students during Riordan’s Chinese New Year’s Parade in Open House, they were greeted February. The band has also been with the joyful sound of music. formally invited to perform in Though the weather looked London’s New Year’s Day Parade bleak, the band managed to bring and will march down the streets sunshine to its audience, playing of London in 2019, doing what popular songs from their library they do best.

In total, the movie was a mixed bag. It was excellently produced and most scenes were very well scripted, but the overarching plots and new themes seemed unexpected and slightly out of place. The film in its entirety was great, but when compared to the masterpieces that came before, many people find it lacking.

Band parades through competition season By John Regidor ’18

On Nov. 18, 2017, the Archbishop Riordan Marching Band ended its 2017 competition season with a bang. The band took third in Concert Division C, third in Marching Division B, second in drum major mace, and second in color guard during the Fairfield Tournament of Champions Band Review. After a long and arduous season, the Crusader band looks forward to some needed rest and relaxation. “I feel a sense of relief. Since I’m a senior, I can focus more on college apps, now that I have one less obligation to attend to,” said Jeremy Reyes ’18. After nearly five months of competition, the band had gathered a total of 11 trophies, far exceeding the expectation of band director Kyle Hildebrant. “I definitely meet and exceed my expectations. I always gauge it on how the students are feeling. From my opinion I believed that we had a lot of buy-in from the students that helped make us be better at what we do on a daily basis,” said Hildebrant. “That definitely showed at our last competition at the

8 A&E

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

The Crusader staff delivers its top b By Vince Francisco ’19

“Sense8,” a show written by Lana and Lilly Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski, is another addition to Netflix’s massive repertoire of critically acclaimed shows. “Sense8” chronicles the lives of eight different people, called Sense8s, on five different continents, who are telepathically connected to each other, meaning they can taste the same foods, speak the same languages, see the same things, etc. Unfortunately, a government organization called the Biological Preservation Organization (BPO) attempts to hunt down these Sense8s in order to end the threat they have on humankind. Only by coming together and combining each other’s skills do the Sense8s have a chance at defeating the BPO from causing worldwide Sense8 extinction. (Watch “Sense8” on Netflix)

By Harrick Wu ’19

“Pinocchio,” a Korean drama, is a good watch as it portrays how false reporting and media manipulation can destroy people’s lives. It has a combination of how it can cause someone to take a life, take their own life, and how it can destroy a family’s reputation. “Pinocchio” reminds people of all ages to evaluate their post before actually posting it, as it can cause distress to a person or a group of people without harmful intent. It teaches a valuable life lesson that applies to everyone in this easily accessible technology world that we live in today. (Watch “Pinocchio” on Rakuten Viki)

By Sebastian Fazio ’18 Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, “Over the Garden Wall” is an amazing series, part of the Cartoon Network shorts development program. It was originally aired as a short film, “Tome of the Unknown,” and then expanded into Cartoon Network’s signature 10-minute episode series. The show follows two main characters Wirt and Greg, voiced by Elijah Wood and Collin Dean, as they wander the “Unknown” in search of a way back home. This beautifully illustrated show uses vivid symbolism, amazing music, and universal struggles to keep people of all ages enthralled. “Over the Garden Wall” is definitely worth your time, resting at 100 minutes for 10 episodes, an easy amount of time even for inexperienced binge watchers. (“Over the Garden Wall” is streaming on Hulu or cartoonnetwork.com)

By Kabir Samra ’18

Marvel’s “Runaways,” the Hulu exclusive series, is a new show about teenagers finding out their parents are in an evil group called Pride. The show is about this group of childhood friends who are split apart after one of them mysteriously dies, but all come together around the anniversary of her passing. They are all together when they stumble upon a ritual sacrifice being carried out by their parents in a secret room in one of the friend’s homes. This is an exciting series where teenagers slowly learn more about the lives of their parents and the reality of their world. This show resonates with many teenagers today and has a great story and actors, making it a must watch show. (Find “Runaways” on Hulu)

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

A&E

9

binge worthy shows for the New Year By Jabriel Andrade ’18

Documentaries are the gateway human experience, and, with the advent of the streaming era, watching documentaries has gotten much, much easier. “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week” documents the band from their conception to their last live performance on the London rooftops. Showing the musical and personal growth of all four band members, “Eight Days a Week” completely compiles not only the rise to Beatlemania, but its effects, both good and bad on the aforementioned group. If you want something on the music industry as a whole, “Before the Music Dies” follows the ever-changing music industry, specifically the adverse changes that are occurring in it. Finally, “Batman and Bill” follows Marc Nobleman, the writer of Bill the Boy Wonder, and his crusade to get Bill Finger credited as a creator of Batman after years of neglect by DC comics. (All three documentaries can be found on Hulu)

By Alexander Vallecillo ’18

Water, Earth, Fire, Air. The four elements of nature lived in harmony... until the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. Take a trip down memory lane and visit the animated world of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Follow Aang and his friends Sokka and Katara while trying to defeat the Fire Nation, which aims to conquer the world. Traveling on Aang’s flying bison, Appa, he aims to master the four elements while trying to escape the wrath of Prince Zuko. (Watch “Avatar” on Amazon Prime)

By Jeremy Reyes ’18

Let’s talk “Stranger Things.” “Stranger Things” is a science fiction-horror show that has grown in popularity since its first release in 2016. The show centers around Mike, Dustin, Will, and Lucas as they investigate the supernatural occurrences in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. Along their adventure they meet new friends such as Eleven, a young girl with psychokinetic powers who helps them along the way. With the release of the newest season in October, the show has again risen in popularity as the group comes together once more. (Catch “Stranger Things” on Netflix)

By Roman Peregrino ’18

His name is Barry Allen...and he’s the fastest man alive. From the mind of Greg Berlanti comes “The Flash,” a superhero show on the CW. The show follows the life of Allen, portrayed by Grant Gustin, as he turns from being an ordinary forensic scientist into The Flash, a hero with super speed, dedicated to protecting Central City. Infused with humor as well as drama and action, “The Flash” hits all the points that a bingeable show requires. That’s not to mention all the references and nods to DC comics, and other CW superhero shows that pop up often. Overall, “The Flash” is the perfect show to start binge-watching today. (Watch “The Flash” on Netflix)

10 National News

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2017-2018

President Trump’s first year in White House By Aidan Murtagh ’20

President Trump has been in office for almost a year now, and to many, his presidency is somewhat different from how he had advertised it in his campaign. On Nov. 16, the House of Representatives passed Trump’s flagship tax reform bill. Some goals of the bill are reducing corporate tax by 15 percent, halting individual tax cuts in 2026, making the seven tax brackets into four, repealing tax paid on the largest inheritances, and several more. This bill, of course, has mixed reviews, but it is hard to judge the reform because, according to Jeff Isola, a Social Science teacher, “It’s not written yet,” and “what the Senate and House pass are completely different.” President Trump’s supporters have said that the passing of the bill is the best thing for the current economy, and that it can restore opportunity for many struggling families in the economy. The bill has also received its fair share of criticism. Isola also said that the bill is “admirable in its attempt to close loopholes, but the way they went about it is all wrong.” Many Democrats are saying that the bill is harming the middle class in order to help the wealthy, and it similarly favors large corporations rather

than smaller, individual companies and family businesses. In reality, citizens can only wait and see how this tax reform will either help or hurt the economy, and whether or not it is an actual reform. In foreign relations, Trump just recently returned from Asia, visiting the countries of China, Japan, North Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam, hoping to establish trade deals. In China, Trump established $250 billion business deals, but in the long run, it will most likely not be enough to prevent a trade feud. Trump also helped negotiate the freeing of the three UCLA basketball players, one of them including Lavar Ball’s son Liangelo, saving them from possibly 10 years in Chinese prison. According to the president’s Twitter page, “Our great country is respected again in Asia. [We] will see the fruits our long but successful trip for many years to come.” However, citizens may never know the outcome of President Trump’s trip to Asia until it all unfolds. Concerning North Korea, President Trump was significantly

WhiteHouse.gov President Trump signed the tax reform bill into law on Nov. 16. more abrupt. In his address at South Korea’s National Assembly, Trump told North Korea that the weapons they are acquiring are not strengthening the regime, but rather putting it into more danger. In addition, Trump told North Korea that their country is not the paradise its founder Kim Il-Sung envisioned, but a hell that its people do not deserve. Finally, he warned the regime in a tweet, saying, “NoKo has interpreted America’s past restraint as weakness. This would be a fatal miscalculation. Do not underestimate us. AND DO NOT

TRY US.” In terms of immigration policies, Trump’s pursuing of the wall has surprisingly slowed down, most likely because of various political obstacles, such as Congress not appropriating funds for it. Trump’s presidency is a sensitive topic to many. He is the commander-in-chief of the most powerful nation in the world, and his decisions have a great impact. Theo Reese ’20 said, “I believe Trump’s future presidency will have a lasting effect on the world. Trump’s presidency will either be amazing or horrific.”

JFK assassination documents released By Owen Murphy ’19

The president was assassinated. On Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot in the head by a sniper while riding in a presidential motorcade in Dealey Plaza. Shortly after event, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested both on suspicion of assassinating the President and for the murder of J. D. Tippit, a Dallas police officer. However, Oswald’s trial never took place because two days after the assassination, Oswald died, when he was shot by Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner, while he was being transported between jails. Following the assassination, newly made president Lyndon B. Johnson created the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, better known as the Warren Commission. The Commission investigated the JFK assassination for 10 months from 1963 to 1964. The Warren Commission investigation is one of the most famous and interesting cases in U.S. history, largely due to the fascinating conspiracy theories that revolve around both the event and the investigation itself. The importance of the incident, along with the suspicious killing of Oswald, created a dramatic and

intriguing mystery, for which many people have claimed to find the answer. Ultimately, the Warren Commission concluded that Oswald and Ruby had both acted alone and that there had been no larger conspiracy to assassinate the President. After the Warren Commission released its conclusion, new researchers and theorists found a number of problems with the scenario presented. This has led many people to believe that the Warren Commission was used to cover up government involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate JFK. Surprisingly, when the United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) reviewed the case in 1979, they conceded that the Warren Commission had conducted a flawed investigation. They accepted some of the claims of the theorists and agreed that there was a high probability that some other claims may be true. However, the HSCA still supported the conclusions of the Warren Commission. On Oct. 26, in accordance with the JFK Records Act, almost all files relevant to the assassination

Biography.com Documents pertaining to Kennedy’s assassination were released. investigation were released to the public. Some of the files have remained classified at the request of intelligence agencies because they are believed to be harmful to U.S. national security. These files are still being reviewed and may be released if

they are no longer considered relevant to national security. At the moment, this release has done nothing to reveal any larger conspiracy, but theorists are still hopeful to review the documents which have remained classified at this time.

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

National News

11

DACA repeal could defer American Dream

By Roman Peregrino ’18 On Sept. 5, 2017, President Donald Trump ordered an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an Obama administration executive order designed to protect minors who entered the country through illegal means. The program was implemented in 2012 in order to give young immigrants a deferred two year period in which to obtain a work permit, and hopefully begin the process of citizenship. However, after Trump repealed the act in 2017, nearly 800,000 young immigrants, called Dreamers, are eligible to be deported. In a statement, the president said, “Only by the reliable enforcement of immigration law can we produce safe communities, a robust middle class, and economic fairness for all Americans. Therefore, in the best interests of our country, and in keeping with the obligations of my office, the Department of Homeland Security will begin an orderly transition and winddown of DACA, one that provides minimum disruption. While new applications for work permits will not be accepted, all existing work permits will be honored until their date of expiration up to two full years from today.” He continued, “Furthermore, applications already in the pipeline will be processed, as will renewal applications for those facing near-term expiration. This is a gradual process, not a sudden phase out. Permits will not begin to expire for another six months, and will remain active for up to 24 months. Thus, in effect, I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act.”

the union of both undocumented immigrants and those who support them as well,” opines Angel Hernandez ’18. “I believe DACA is a great program that protects undocumented immigrants. I strongly believe that everybody who resides in the US should have access to equal opportunity.” This city has been one of the loudest in support of Dreamers. Deferred Action San Francisco has “reiterated its support for immigrants and especially the most vulnerable.” To do so, the city has staged workshops and fundraisers to renew any Dreamers’ benefits, before the final deadline to enroll passed. The city’s administration even covered the fees of many Dreamers so that they could still apply. The day after Trump made his decision, thousands gathered to march in downtown San Francisco in order to protest the end of DACA. The Archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, offered this statement in support of Dreamers: “We in the Catholic community pledge to continue standing with our immigrant brothers and sisters, assisting them in exercising their rights and assuring them that they are not alone. I ask all people of good faith to join me keeping all vulnerable immigrants in our thoughts and prayers, extending to them our loving presence and visible solidarity.” One of the key arguments against repealing DACA is it is blaming children for the actions of their parents. “Many Dreamers migrated alongside their parents to the US at a very young age, and they should not be punished for a migration that they possibly had no choice in,” said Hernandez.

“Defendants argue that [the Department of Homeland Security] had to rescind DACA because it exceeded the lawful authority of the agency. They cannot, therefore, simultaneously refuse to disclose the legal research that led to that conclusion. Plaintiffs are entitled to challenge whether this was a reasonable legal position and thus reasonable basis for rescission. In making that challenge, plaintiffs are entitled to review the internal analyses that led up to this change in position.” -U.S. District Judge William Alsup President Trump is completely within his rights to repeal DACA. All executive orders are eligible by repealment after the president leaves office. So, Trump can repeal any and all Obama era executive orders if he so chooses. Even so, the general public has reacted strongly against the president after his repeal of the act. Protests erupted around the nation in solidarity with the Dreamers whose lives will be adversely affected because of the repeal of the bill. “I think the protests represent

“This decision affected me personally because I have close family members who depend upon it for both work and school motives. Regardless of the circumstances that surround each individual dreamer, equal opportunity should be given to every student and not just those who were lucky enough to be born in the US.” In fact, in Obama’s original statement on the implementation of DACA, he said something similar. “Imagine you’ve done everything right your entire

Creative Commons In November, prostestors demonstrated in San Francisco against the possible repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. life—studied hard, worked hard, maybe even graduated at the top of your class—only to suddenly face the threat of deportation to a country that you know nothing about, with a language that you may not even speak. That’s what gave rise to the DREAM Act. It says that if your parents brought you here as a child, if you’ve been here for five years, and you’re willing to go to college or serve in our military, you can one day earn your citizenship.” Besides the impact it has on lives, the mass deportation of Dreamers will have a financial cost. According to Brookings, the average cost for Immigration Customs Enforcement to deport an undocumented individual is $12,500. Deporting 800,000 Dreamers would cost $10 billion, or more than $5 billion more than their annual budget. This cost would lead to an increase of taxes to pay the bill, and will divert resources from ICE’s other targets such as drug and sex traffickers. However, at the end of day, the human cost is more cause for concern than financial. There is a growing fear around the nation that Congress will not be able to create a quick alternative to DACA and the Dreamers will face

deportation in the near future. Recently, debate has raged on Capitol Hill in the highest level of American government. On Jan. 10, the Ninth Circuit court issued an injunction on the repeal of DACA, forcing the program to stay for at least a little longer. While President Trump and his supporters are unhappy with the decision, it will give Republicans and Democrats a chance to come together with a counter proposal for the plan. In the coming months, several alternatives for DACA will be proposed and voted on, and lawmakers will have a chance to replace DACA for better or worse. Some of the important bills could be the Dream Act, Recognizing America’s Children Act, The American Hope Act, and the BRIDGE Act. The fate of these bills and other actions will be in the spotlight in the coming months, and will be something to keep an eye on. It may seem as though America is taking a step back with their immigration policy, but the current conversation about DACA may bring about a brighter future, some believe. As Hernandez said, “Change is not always fast, but it sure has to start somewhere.”

12 Religion

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2017-2018

City bids farewell to two former archbishops By Alexander Ruivivar ’20 Two of San Francisco’s former archbishops died earlier this year—Archbishop John R. Quinn and Archbishop George H. Niederauer. Archbishop John R. Quinn died on June 22 at the age of 88 after battling a long illness. Quinn served as archbishop of San Francisco from 1977 to 1995, advocating for social justice and liberalizing the Catholic Church. In his retirement, Quinn continued his work, publishing two books on papal reform and was working on a third when he died. During the 70s and 80s, Quinn was an active social justice leader, advocating and urging an open discourse on issues such as women’s rights, the use of nuclear weapons, and the AIDs epidemic. His fight for peace with an emphasis on liberation theology had a huge impact on other social justice “warriors” and those with a more liberal perspective today. Principal Tim Reardon said, “He confirmed my sisters and me. I decided to stick with Catholicism and it has always been a part of my life.” Social Science teacher John Albach added, “He was a friend

of [martyred Archbishop Oscar] Romero and respected his missionary work in El Salvador. He was tolerant and was a spokesperson for the poor. The United States didn’t really support Romero and his work in El Salvador.” Archbishop George H. Niederauer died on May 2, due to lung disease at the age of 80. Before his role as archbishop of San Francisco, he was a longtime English professor and 11-year bishop of Salt Lake City. The archbishop is known for campaigning in favor of California’s Proposition 8, a measure to recognize that only heterosexual marriage should be valid in California. Despite his conservative stance on marriage, he praised Ang Lee’s film “Brokeback Mountain,” telling SFGate journalist Wyatt Buchanan in a 2006 podcast, “I thought it was very powerful, and I probably had a different take on it than a lot of people did.... It was a story not only about the relationship between the two principal characters, but very much a cluster of relationships... And I think in all of that one of the lessons is the destructiveness of not being honest with yourself,

and not being honest with other people–and not being faithful, trying to live a double life, and what that does to each of the lives you try to live.” During his active ministry, Archbishop Niederauer served as the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Communication, and as a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. In a city like San Francisco, Niederauer’s support of Proposition 8 was controversial, offending the LGBTQ community and human rights activists alike. Fr. John Jimenez said, “Niederauer was not against them. He sometimes explained the Church’s teachings on marriage. He was protecting the dignity of all people, the Church’s stance on marriage, and also the rights of children.” The former archbishops of San Francisco left a lasting legacy. Quinn inspired people to fight for peace and equality. Despite Niederauer’s stance on Proposition 8, he promoted more of an open-minded and accepting attitude.

Archbishop John R. Quinn served San Francisco from 1977-1995. He died on June 22 at the age of 88.

Archbishop George H. Niederauer served San Francisco from 2006-2012. He died on May 2 at the age of 80. San Francisco Archdiocese

Saints chosen to grace each House House of Bolts

House of Cana

House of Pilar

House of Russi

Winter 2017-2018

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Environment

13

The great Christmas tree environmental debate Which is more environmentally friendly — real or fake trees?

By Ian Martin ’20 This year, the many wildfires caused damage to the Christmas tree industry. Fires were not the only issue. Droughts and seedling shortages created a triple-threat last Christmas that would turn the Grinch green with envy. As Christmas just recently ended, US Christmas tree producers raised prices in tree lots around the country. Some families got smaller trees this year to cut down on the price, while other families did not buy one at all. Christmas trees take around 10 years to grow before they are ready for retail. In 2007, the droughts caused seedling shortages, so many farmers did not plant as many trees and the aftermath hit consumers this past year. Before winter break, science teacher Colleen O’Rourke said, “In the last couple of years they have gotten so expensive to the point where I probably won’t get one.”
 In 2008, the average person spent $36.50 and in 2016 the average was $74.70. This last year, the price of some 7-8 foot trees were around $93. The price of an unlit, 7-foot, artificial tree can range from $124.99 to $130.99. Michael Curran ’20 said, “I feel like the pricing is getting out of hand now.”
 Getting the dream tree probably

was not easy for most people since there was not as much of a variety last year. Many people got their trees early because they felt like there would not be any good quality trees left if they waited. This past December, AP Environmental Sciences teacher Michael O’Brien said, “Right now, it makes economic and convenient sense to me to buy a live tree. I want to support the economy, tree lots, and the people who make a living off of the trees. Not to mention the variety of charities that revolve around the industry.” Christmas trees are mainly grown in the states of Oregon and North Carolina, which have both experienced some major fires. Since it isn’t really easy to just restock Christmas trees, Canadian tree producers subbed in and helped provide and deliver to lots around the US. Canada helped, but it still was not enough to fill the gap. Sadly, this isn’t likely to be a one year thing. Tree producers estimated that the shortage will last until 2025. Christmas trees are going to need a lot of time to recover from the shortage, as they are pretty delicate and require

very specific growing conditions such as fresh mountain air and fertile soil. Fraser firs are especially delicate, and extremely vulnerable to heat and fires. In addition, there has been a loss of interest in growing Christmas trees and the number of producers is on a steady decline because they are a lot of work to take care of. If the interest in Christmas tree producing continues to decline, the shortage will last much longer than 2025 and more people will be forced to buy fake trees. “Look, buying a synthetic tree is not gonna stop people from cutting down trees. I honestly think you should just let them do what they do,” said O’Brien.

SFEnvironment.org In Civic Center Plaza, workers load Christmas trees into chippers to prepare them for mulch. Jan. 2 to Jan. 12 is the sad time of year when Christmastime officially ends. Out on the streets lay the beloved Christmas trees of many, waiting to be picked up by Recology. Christmas trees that get picked up from the curb end up in a variety of forms and locations. Some are fed into wood chippers and sold as mulch, while others are used as landfill. The most unique result is when the driedout trees are shipped to southern California and sunk into lakes, providing shelter for fish.

Riordan winter weather report . . . By Antonio Maffei ’20

Hello Crusaders! Your in-house meteorologist here, I’m here to talk about what to expect for winter in San Francisco! As we all know, the Bay Area had a very wet winter last year, with record rainfall and flooding! So far this year, with the water year starting on Oct. 1, we have a couple of storm systems that will impact the area, mainly atmospheric rivers through which moisture stretches from Hawaii to the West Coast. This is also known as the Pineapple Express. Since they are from Hawaii, they are tropical systems, meaning warm and muggy rain. This is because we have not had too many cold storms or low pressure systems. This hints at what the Bay Area can expect for Winter. Early this month, we were treated to a supermoon, when the Moon is closest to Earth, also called the perigee. This also triggers the King Tides, occurring during the full supermoon and could lead to local flooding. If you missed it, don’t fret. The next supermoon is Jan. 31, 2018 With the ocean anomaly at the La Niña stage, that means cool, but dry winters for California with the storm track mainly near Seattle. With all that being said, the Bay Area will see a cool, but dry winter, but as always, stay tuned! Antonio Maffei is a weather enthusiast, NWS and AMS Certified, freelance KTVU-2 and KPIX-5 weather reporter. Follow him on Twitter @AntonioWxInfo.

Photo by Antonio Maffei ’20 The Bay Area has seen two supermoons in the past months, with another one rising on Jan. 31.

14 Tech News

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

FCC terminates net neutrality

By David Rodriguez-Mendez ’18 In 2015, the FCC was pressured to pass into law net neutrality, but over the summer, President Donald Trump’s FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, wanted to get rid of net neutrality. On Dec. 14, the FCC voted to dismantle the rules governing the internet. Net Neutrality prevents internet service providers from slowing down, speeding up, or even blocking certain websites. Getting rid of Net Neutrality has the power to create a safe space for all who use it, but it also has the power of suppressing the voices of those who rely on the internet to express their opinions. An obvious implications is: service providers would be able to eliminate the parts of the internet that they deem unworthy. Parts of the internet that include speaking out against the major companies or those that speak against the president, for example, could be silenced.

However, as it stands, net neutrality prevents ISPs from taking action against the “Dark Web,” deemed as the evil parts of the internet that includes human trafficking and the black market, which is agreed by most people should be abolished to prevent minors from accessing them. David Elu, Social Science teacher, said, “There is a limited amount of bandwidth and it has to be parceled out somehow, and not everyone is going to have access to it. We see that at Riordan. There are days when everyone is on the internet.” Elu continued, “The bandwidth should be apportioned due to search. Perhaps the answer would be to allocate bandwidth by usage, maybe delegating use for science and research purposes. In regards to educational and science materials found online, some would be unable to pay for the premiums, whereas the

entertainment industry would be able to pay for faster streams and the like.” In addition, “Those with a lower income who may have limited access to internet would be exposed to mostly entertainment as opposed to a higher level of education. Those that control the means of communication have an inordinate impact on society. Content should be free so long as it follows legal precepts. “The problem being, who is going to protect the minority right of who can speak out? Yes, internet service providers should have some control over illegal content, but not limit the voices of minorities.” Jeff Isola, Social Science teacher, said, “It’s a very difficult thing. Once you start legislation, you open it up. On one side, you have free education and the other are big internet service providers like AT&T and Verizon. Private companies say they want to

protect those that use the internet, but the question is, is access to internet a right or privilege? “The internet has become a part of our daily lives,” Isola said, “but there is only so much that internet service providers can give. I believe that the government should not regulate and subsidize it. Corporations and regulations stopped monopolies, but instead, created oligopolies. [It was done in] the guise of protecting children and stopping terrorism; however, in order to do so, they would need to take away some of our privacy.” Isola continued, “In a perfect capital market, there would not be any government regulations over private businesses allowing for competition, and people being able to choose service providers that will not snuff out the voices the people want to have be heard. The perfect capital market would prevent Net Neutrality from being an issue; however, our capitalistic system is not perfect.”

Google Pixel 2 translates to world communication By Thomas Prudden ’18

On Oct. 4, the new Google Pixel 2 made its debut. The device, an accessory to the phone, is a pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds called the Google Pixel Buds. Pixel Buds are able to translate up to 40 other languages in real time. For example, it can translate “Hej vad heter du?” which is Swedish for, “What is your name?” Having this product can help people communicate with people from other countries. Armando Castillo, a Spanish teacher, said, “Great idea! Most Americans do not have the language skills and have disadvantages when overseas. This technology will help Americans enhance their experience when they travel and help them in the business world.”

Google.com Google recently introduced Google Pixel Buds for Google Pixel 2. These earbuds can help students when they travel to new places to learn about different cultures, as the earbuds can translate the language around the traveler. “It is a good aid for communication

and communication is really important,” said Sean Sheng ’18. For these earbuds to work, the user must have the Pixel 2 phone. The Google Pixel Buds start at $159.99, and were expected to

come out last month. The earbuds come in a trio of oddly named colors: Clearly White, Just Black, and Kinda Blue. The Pixel Buds can also be used as regular Bluetooth earphones. Dave Plell, who is the head of security at Google, said, “I think they are marketed to a number of demographics, but meant to do more than any other earbuds. Safety is a big one. You have to look down at your phone with most buds, but these let you ask questions, directions, play music and make phone calls... all using voice commands.” Matthew Ko ’18 said, “I really like the concept of the Google Pixel Buds and would use them when I visit family in the Philippines.”

Apple on a roll with latest phones By Alexander Vallecillo ’18 Apple is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with the iPhone X, which was overshadowed by the release of the iPhone 8 and 8+. The iPhone 8 has a 4.7-inch display and costs $699 for the 64GB and $849 for the 256GB. The iPhone 8+ has a 5.5-inch display and costs $799 for the 64GB and $949 for the 256GB. The iPhone 8 comes in Gold, Silver and Space Gray. The back of the iPhone 8 is glass, unlike the aluminum of the iPhone 7, in order for wireless charging, which makes it slightly heavier than the iPhone 7.

The iPhone 8 is the first iPhone to have wireless charging and the charging station can be purchased separately. Following the iPhone 7, the iPhone 8 will not have the headphone jack. The iPhone 8 also got rid of the A10 Fusion Chip and M10 motion co-processor for the A11 Bionic Chip and M11 motion co-processor, which means that it will have higher processing power than previous iPhones. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8+ will have the same camera quality and recording capabilities of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7+. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8+ have

the addition of True Tone display and besides that addition, has the same display of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7+. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8+ have the same battery life as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7+ with the exception of the iPhone 8s being able to wirelessly charge with purchase of wireless charging pad sold separately. The iPhone 8+ has wide-angle and telephoto cameras, unlike the normal iPhone 8 and previous iPhones. The iPhone X has a 5.8-inch display and costs $999 for the 64GB and $1,149 for the 256GB.

The iPhone X comes in Space Gray and Silver and has wideangle and telephoto cameras like the iPhone 8+. The iPhone X will have the same glass back as the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8+ to support wireless charging with the pad sold separately. The iPhone X will have Face ID instead of Touch ID to unlock the phone, therefore the user will have his face scanned instead of his fingerprint to unlock his phone. The iPhone X weighs 6.14 ounces while the iPhone 8 weighs 5.22 ounces, and iPhone 8+ weighs 7.13 ounces.

Winter 2017-2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Sports

15

Always remember: ‘It ain’t over, til it’s over’ By Stephen Blecha ’19 and Danilo Herger ’20

“It ain’t over til it’s over.” Yogi Berra murmured these words after his team had infamously finished the second half of the 1973 National League regular season. If all teams had taken this to heart, they would not be included on the list of biggest sports chokes of all time. Last season in the World Series, the Cleveland Indians infamously blew a 3-1 game lead. They lost the series in Game 7 due to a two run 10th inning by the Chicago Cubs, in which the Indians only put up one run. That would not be the only time the Indians would blow a lead in the MLB playoffs, as last year they blew a 2-0 lead in the best of five ALDS. They lost to the Yankees after taking the first two games of the series at home. They then lost the next two road games, sending the series to a Game 5 at Progressive Field, the Indians’ home field. They lost Game 5 by a score of 5-2. Baseball is not the only sport in which there are leads that can be blown. If you live in the Bay Area, the 2016 NBA finals probably makes you turn a sour face. During the 2016 West Division

playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder blew a 3-1 lead to the Golden State Warriors leading up to the NBA Finals. The Warriors would then go on to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. The Warriors took a 3-1 lead of their own over the Cavs. The notorious 3-1 lead curse was in full effect for the Golden State Warriors in Game 7. Yes, some might argue that the controversial suspension of Draymond Green aided Cleveland in winning their first title in more 50 years. Another notable choke is not as controversial as the Warriors losing, but more of a mental mistake. University of Michigan basketball fans will cringe at the memory of this story. Featuring multiple future first round picks, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, George Lynch, and Eric Montross, the 1993 March Madness championship was one for the history books. With 11 seconds left, and down by 2, Chris Webber had a mental lapse by calling a timeout when the team did not have any left. This resulted in a technical foul and caused Michigan to lose. This moment still scars Chris Webber, now an analyst for ESPN, who refused to even enter

NFL.com The Falcons infamously blew a huge lead in Super Bowl LI, and Tom Brady led the Patriots to another huge win. the Michigan Arena when the team was deep in a playoff run back in 2013. Rose told Bill Simmons on a podcast that the snafu scarred him: “I think the timeout had a lot to do with it. He wants to disassociate himself from that moment and with that school, in theory with us, to rebuild his life mentally and say, ‘My career really started my rookie year in the NBA.’” Even in sports that do not feature series, there can still be major blown leads. This was

illustrated in Super Bowl LI (51) between the Atlanta Falcons and the heavily favored, and some thought, overrated, New England Patriots. This is the most recent sports choke, and perhaps most memorable. As the Falcons’ fans were already celebrating a 28-3 lead against Tom Brady’s Patriots, Brady started to mastermind one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. The Serra alumnus managed to outscore the Falcons 31-7 in two quarters, including overtime.

MLB players chewed out for tobacco use By Steven Rissotto ’20

On June 16, 2014, the baseball world mourned the passing of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder and San Diego Padres legend Tony Gwynn, who died at the relatively young age of 54. Gwynn’s cause of death was primarily due to a failure in cancer treatment. He was diagnosed with salivary cancer back in 2012, and the cancer was spreading to the point where it was terminal. Dating back to 1981, Gwynn was a user of dipping tobacco, which promptly caused the cancer to spread in his mouth area. Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who played for Gwynn at San Diego State University, quit chewing tobacco in honor of his former college coach. A couple years later, Strasburg told reporters that he relapsed multiple times and the addiction is still haunting him to this day. The history of tobacco dates back to very early days of baseball, back in the 1920s. Each team actually had its own tobacco company that sponsored them and created some of the original baseball cards, which are still popular today. The forms of tobacco were extremely common until it started to take a dip in the mid-1900s when the players and

Creative Commons Baseball players such as Babe Ruth used to advertise for chewing tobacco, now banned in the MLB for new players. coaches started bringing cigarettes into the dugout. Players that play today use dipping tobacco opposed to chewing tobacco. Baseball legend Babe Ruth was another victim whose life was taken away due to cancer of the lungs. There are many theories about the cause of his death, debating if it was from years of using tobacco, but anything can happen, considering that Ruth was a known party animal. One of the questions everyone

wants to ask is why do players feel the need to put this, more or less, disgusting substance in their mouths during baseball games as opposed to gum, or even sunflower seeds? Back in the day, players didn’t have the new, developed glove players have today, which means they needed something to moisten the leather. Inserting the smokeless wad of tobacco was for dealing with the dusty conditions of playing on a baseball field, but a small percentage of players

probably know that’s what it’s for. Baseball is one of the few sports in which tobacco plays a part, because there is less movement than other sports. An alternative to this harmful substance is gum. In the 1970s, Portland Mavericks left-handed pitcher Rob Nelson decided it was time to help change this unhealthy way of life. Nelson and his teammates created shredded bubble gum that comes in all different flavors, which they called Big League Chew. These packages can be seen all around youth baseball and the big leagues as well. Another classic baseball tradition is sunflower seeds, which have been around forever. Big league players are seen spitting their shells inside a cup while sitting in the dugout. After the 2016 season, the Major League Baseball Players Association agreed in their collective bargaining agreement to ban tobacco for new, incoming players. There are also newly instituted laws that prohibit tobacco at sporting events in some states, which affect athletes. Varsity Baseball Coach Brandon Ramsey prefers seeds. He said, “Ultimately it gives guys energy back in the day and almost became habitual. I go through a bag of seeds a game.”

16 Features

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2017-2018

Cana carries lead into spring semester By Zachary Phillips ’20 The House of Cana, a truly dominant house led by Social Science teacher Chris Fern, is enjoying a comfortable lead in the race for the first Chaminade Cup. This became clearly evident with the outstanding teamwork of the House of Cana when they took first place at the Frosh Olympics. Nick Oshita ’18, a member of Cana, said, “Students in Cana want to be involved and members want to embrace the house system to set a strong foundation.” Fern, the Provincial of Cana, has watched over his house as they propel themselves into first place. Fern said, “My trip to St. Louis with the other provincials really inspired me about the house system, and the possibilities and the opportunity for creativity it has provided and I’ve tried to fulfill that as much as possible.” The House of Cana has been so impressive they have even gained the attention of the other Houses.

Estefan Granucci ’19, a member of the House of Russi, said, “The House of Cana is a well versed and talented group of individuals and it is going to be hard competition for the House of Russi. But that won’t last long because Russi will come back.” Cana’s house saint is Saint Joan of Arc. She is connected to Cana because Joan of Arc listened to God like the servers listened to Mary at the wedding of Cana when Mary said, “Do whatever he tells you.” Fern said, “That’s connected to our drive to always do our best to enact positive change.” Cana is a truly humble house. Luckily, they don’t have to showboat because their actions are already being noticed by all of the Riordan community. Cana’s spot in first has put a target on their backs and every house is now trying to take down Cana once and for all.

Photo by Stephen Aguirre ’18 The House of Cana is represented by Provincial Chris Fern, Roman Peregrino ’18, Angel Hernandez ’18, and Ryan Quock ’19.

Annual CorgiCon wiggles its way into hearts

Illustration by CorgiCon.com

By Henry Novicki ’18 Every year thousands of corgis descend on Ocean Beach to take part in the annual Northern California Corgi Con. On a warm fall day in San Francisco, a wiggle—as a group of these dogs is called—of corgis arrived for the 2017 Corgi Convention. The crowded beach was filled with the stubby legged dogs and spectators. A wide array of activities awaited the corgis for the day. Costume contests, obstacle courses, photo shoots, play dates and running in the water. Many of the corgis were there promoting their social media in the never-ending quest of gaining social media clout. When asked about the increase in dogs on social media one corgi, age 10 months, replied, “*sniff sniff* *bork bark bork bork* *un-intimidatingly growls*.” My personal favorite event, is the corgi group picture, or, as I call it, the raising of the corgis.

Hundreds of people held up their corgis to get in the photos. Alongside corgis were some whippets, and a French bulldog dressed as a mermaid. There were shops selling corgi and dog related merchandise. The event also served as an adoption organization for corgis and other short legged dogs, and proceeds benefitted Queen’s Best Stumpy Dog Rescue.

Photo by gimblegram

Gimli, who has his own Instagram, emerges from the waves.

Who let the dogs out?

Photo by Joseph Kerrigan ’18 On Nov. 3, two students were walking in Unity Plaza on Ocean Avenue before school when they saw two dogs running across the plaza and into the City College parking lot. One dog made its way to Riordan and was safely held in Joey Klobas’ office until Animal Care and Control came and retrieved the dog in hopes of being reunited with its owner.