Campus News, Pages 4 - 9
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VOLUME LXIX ISSUE iv
SERVING RIORDAN SINCE 1949
Arts & Entertainment, Page 11
Environment, Page 15
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Sports, Pages 17 - 19
May 2019 THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY
Groundbreaking moment finally arrives By Steven Rissotto ’20
An exciting moment finally happened on May 14, as the Crusader community celebrated the groundbreaking of their new turf and multi-facility field, “Riordan’s biggest classroom,” a nickname dubbed by benefactor Steve Herrera ’76. The award winning Riordan band greeted guests with a number of their iconic tunes. Athletes from all the sports playing on the field followed behind in a memorable entrance that has been 50 years in the making. In less than 12 months, 1,040 donors contributed $3.1 million into the field project. “It’s been long awaited. We didn’t have a marching band like this when I was in high school,” said Philip Cazahous ’70 with a laugh, an important donor and mastermind behind some of the school’s biggest projects. The event was hosted by Director of Development John
Photo by Eddie Monares ’19 Steve Mayer ’72, Michael Mayer ’71, Steve Herrera ’76, Brian Spiers ’75, Philip Cazahous ’70, Jack Fitzpatrick, and Gellert Board President Bob Grassilli prepare for the ceremonial first dig of the field. Ring. Notable guest speakers were President Andrew Currier, Jack Fitzpatrick, Michael Mayer ’71, and Herrera. Varsity football player Leo Maranghi ’21 said, “I’m excited to
see more alumni come back and infuse more spirit and tradition.” At the beginning of Herrera’s speech, the sound of a barking dog was heard through the loud speakers. It was none other than
former NFL cornerback and alumnus Donald Strickland ’98, calling Herrera. It was a moment that signified the history of the old field with the sports teams of lacrosse, baseball, football, soccer, track and field, and cross country, blended with the new. Herrera said, “This was one of the first places the Riordan brotherhood was developed and I believe that the lessons learned here will last a lifetime, and almost as long as the friendships you make.” The four speakers, including 2018 Chaminade Award Winner Cazahous, were there to help break ground on a dirt mound with golden shovels. Associate Athletic Director Jay’sen Morris ’07 played and coached football on the field. He said, “It’s a new look out here. The look of the field is improving and that means things are going well at Riordan.”
Makeover to enhance Mary’s immaculate image By Harrick Wu ’19
When students and faculty enter Riordan through the front door or walk around during munch and lunch, out of the corner of their eyes, they are bound to notice the 65 year old statue of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, right in the middle of the courtyard. Some have noticed over the years that the statue is not as clean as it used to be. In response, Riordan alumnus Reno Taini ’59 and his friend, Mark Fontana, who is also the owner of V. Fontana & Co, are coming to Riordan to restore Mary. Taini is invested because his father was one of the first groundskeepers of Riordan, and he was one of the people who shored up the statue before the earthquake of 1955. They have already come, inspected, and worked on Mary. They plan on not just deep cleaning Mary, but are also doing extra work to showcase the
importance of Mary overall, and specifically to our community. Taini said, “Some little suggestions from Mark (Fontana) is this: eliminate the green shrubs at the base of the statue, then the focus will be very dramatic and purposeful. Also, the opportunity to explain more about this precious statue of Mary on a plaque is possible. She has a fine story of inspiration and survival.” The deep cleaning of the statue is important to some at Riordan community. Alex Datoc ’87, Director of Campus Ministry, said, “I believe that the importance is that she is located in a central location of the school, and she is the central figure of our school being a Marianist school.” He added, “She symbolizes the Marianist society and us (Riordan) being a Marianist school. She is our role model and guardian of the courtyard.”
Photo by Harrick Wu ’19 Earlier this month, a gardener cleared out the juniper bushes around the statue of Mary to give it more prominence in the courtyard.
2 Opinion
May 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
It’s time to vote out flawed Electoral College system By Owen Murphy ’19
The election of Donald Trump in 2016 revealed a massive failure of the American government: the Electoral College. The Electoral College determines the president based on the winner of the majority of the 538 votes cast by the members, who represent the votes of each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The distribution of electors is based on the number of representatives, including senators, that the state sends to Congress, plus three for DC. This mechanism has damaged the American political system from nearly its conception, but the election of Donald Trump without the majority of Americans’ votes, compounding George W. Bush’s recent similar election, has finally forced the issue of electoral reform into the political consciousness of America. The Electoral College system is broken; there are no two ways about it. It is destructive to the American people that the government is meant to serve and the American ideals that the government is meant to embody. It is argued by some that the Electoral College should be maintained because it serves as a safeguard against the ability of the majority to oppress the
minority; however, the current system does not amount to a defense of the rights of the minority, but, rather, it is an attack on the authority of the majority. It is obviously necessary to limit the power of the majority, but when arbitrating in the conflict between majority rule and minority rights, it is indefensible to resolve the matter by allowing minority rule. In addition, the Electoral College gives greater weight, not to every minority, but rather to a single specific minority that populates only certain states, where the dominant opinions often differ strongly from the majority. Two of the last three presidents were first elected by a minority of the voters. In fact, votes in some less populated states count for more than three times that of voters in some more populated states. It has even been demonstrated that candidates could theoretically win in the Electoral College with less than 25 percent of the votes of Americans. Such a system is antithetical to American values of equality and representation. The ability of any president to govern with the approval of only a minority of the people ensures that the priorities of the majority
Environment, Religion Editor Ian Martin ’20 Social Media, Online Editor Eddie Monares ’19 Copy Editor Vicente Francisco ’19 Photographer Alex Hsing ’21 175 Phelan Avenue San Francisco, CA 94112 RCrusaderNews.com RCrusaderNews@riordanhs.org Twitter @R_CrusaderNews Instagram @rcrusadernews
Editor-in-Chief Owen Murphy ’19 Opinion Editor Brandon Vargas ’20 News Editors Aidan Murtagh ’20 Zachary Phillips ’20 Features Editor Harrick Wu ’19 Sports Editor Steven Rissotto ’20 Arts & Entertainment Editor Stephen Blecha ’19 Health and Tech Editor Danilo Herger ’20
Meteorologist Antonio Maffei ’20 Staff Reporters Fabian Aguilar ’19 Cole Anderson ’22 Dominic Borrego ’20 Jack Calonico ’19 Zackary Conci ’21 Michael Conefrey ’21 Edric DeMesa ’19 David Dorantes ’21 Steven Elsner ’20 Cheyne Fernandez ’20 Michael Gray ’20 Michael Jaurigui ’19 Jamar Kittling ’20 Roly Lo ’21 Jordan Tyler Maralit ’21 Jack McBride ’19 Michael Ortega-Portillo ’21 Jordan Noeuku ’21 Liam Peace ’19 Gabriel Santos ’21 JJ Trujeque ’21 Adviser Susan Sutton, CJE
can be subordinated to the priorities of that vital minority, to the detriment of the American people as a whole. While these problems have become evident to much of America, the solutions are less less obvious. Many reformers have proposed a simple shift to a popular vote in which the victor is chosen by the majority of votes. This seems like a reasonable proposal that would eliminate the chance of minority rule. However, a reformation of the electoral system is an opportunity to not only stop minority rule, but also to allow for the addition of new benefits. The best plan currently proposed is the creation of a ranked choice voting system. This would allow voters to rank their choices of candidates for president. In each round, the candidate with the fewest votes would be eliminated from the race, while the votes they received would be redistributed to the next ranked candidate for each vote. This type of election process will allow for the growth of third party voting because the ability to rank will mean that voters can choose to vote for third party candidates without revoking their support for candidates from the
two major parties. Candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties will likely continue to dominate the election field, but minor parties and, more importantly, their ideas will grow in influence on the national stage. Vote rankings will better demonstrate the opinions of the American people to their representatives by allowing voters to express their agreement with minor party platforms without endangering the election of the voters’ prefered party candidate. This would accelerate the incorporation of minor party ideas into the major parties because the influence of those ideas would be more obvious. The major parties’ platforms would grow closer and closer to what the American people actually support. Such a system would eliminate the inequality of power inherent to the Electoral College and make the office of the president as representative as possible of the desires of the American people. The current system, which fails to support the will of the majority of Americans, threatens the legitimacy of the American republic. To maintain the faith of the American people in their government, America must reform the Electoral College.
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the article in the newest version of your wonderful publication. You may not know, but my Frosh Skills class covers many useful and applicable life skills. In the “Money Unit” students learn how to balance a check book, think about paying for college, calculating tips, establishing credit, mortgages/escrow/ buying a house, AND doing taxes. Each freshman had to calculate a 1040EZ tax form, then we had a discussion on the day I returned their graded forms...to see if they received a refund or had to pay. I have attached the “Tax Packet” from that unit, and am open to discussing just what the freshmen learn in this class, now in its third year. Thank you, Ms. Valerie O’Riordan Archbishop Riordan High School Teacher Dear Jamar Kittling, I just finished reading your article “How logic trumps national emergency” in The Crusader. So, just a short note to say I read the whole article and was really impressed with your reflections on the so-called “national emergency.” I agree 100 percent with your reflections. A great article. Keep up the good work and writing. Peace, Brother Mike Murphy, S.M. Marianist Community Cupertino, CA Letters to the editor will be accepted with the same deadlines as ads. These letters may come from students, staff, parents, board members, or other members of the community. The Crusader reserves the right to edit letters for grammatical and spelling errors, as well as length, but not content. If the facts are absolutely incorrect, The Crusader reserves the right to refuse publication of the letter. Letters may be e-mailed to RCrusaderNews@Riordanhs.org or sent to the school address. All letters, regardless of delivery method, must be signed.
May 2019
Opinion
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
3
Are iPads in classrooms doing more harm than good?
Vargas’ View
Rizzo’s Resolve
Con
Pro
By Brandon Vargas ’20
By Steven Rissotto ’20
Since
2012, iPads have been a fixture in classrooms at Archbishop Riordan High School. The small, book shaped, handheld device acts as one of the school’s main studying tool for students— acting as the books themselves. The common applications used are Schoology, iBook, Notability, PowerSchool, email, and numerous other resources to help for easier access for notes and a lighter carry in backpacks. It’s a switch that only helps students in the long run, and that’s the most important part of bringing the iPads into play. The bottom line is that iPads have more to offer than any textbook. It’s simply the times we are in and there’s very little that can be done to return to our old school ways. The internet is a helpful feedback reference if used appropriately, and students could have more flexibility with saving paper, which means more stuff turned in digitally. Recently, there has been a lot of speculation and suspicion about iPads being used for the wrong reasons, causing some teachers to take acceptable precaution. In their defense, it’s troubling that students are one, fast click away from a possible non-educational and unrelated app. There’s no denying that there’s a lingering problem, but there is a solution on how to limit these troubling habits while still using the advanced tools for school. Surprisingly, the anger of iPad usage is caused by the large amount of phones that are being used at school. Although it’s banned, students still find the cracks to surf social media and
Photo by Vicente Francisco ’19
play games during class on their personal cell phones and much of the blame is going straight to the iPads. There are more accessible possibilities on phones than iPads, as there are less apps blocked. It’s not the reason why iPads are being abused, but it’s fair to assume that we are missing the real problem. Another option to keep iPads would be to completely lock it up. The infamous Lockdown Browser app was introduced last school year, but was never developed any further and possibly forgotten about completely. A possible way to keep things running smoothly is to lock most apps, but the process to have that happen might be rigorous. High school students are more than able to make their own personal decisions, and if paying attention in class isn’t one of them, it’s their own loss and they should suffer the appropriate consequences of earning a bad grade. It’s essential to have students on track for success and advanced technology is a huge reason why the school and students are so successful. It’s fair to acknowledge a focus problem with iPads, but there are plenty of ways to limit non-educational actions that take place on a Crusader’s device while still using the helpful tool during school.
T
echnology inundates students today with a plethora of knowledge, providing access to tons of sources of information. However, technology, iPads specifically, can prove to be extremely distracting in an academic environment. Here at Archbishop Riordan High School, all students are required to possess an iPad. Are iPads really beneficial to our learning in an academic environment? I believe that iPads can be detrimental to a student’s learning if they are not utilized properly. Although iPads should remain a part of this institution, I believe that their use in the classroom should be limited, unless instructed otherwise by the teacher. While some teachers argue that iPads are extremely useful in an academic environment, others tend to be annoyed by the use of technology in the classroom when they should not be out in the first place. The real dispute arises from the multiple distractions offered by the iPad. For instance, one may receive periodic notifications throughout their class, distracting them from the lesson being taught. Moreover, an individual may be inclined to play games or search the internet when being taught, especially if the lesson does not appeal to their interests. From personal experience, I can attest to the fact that there is
at least one student in each of my classes doing some task not related to his education. Countless times I have witnessed a teacher telling one of my classmates to put his iPad away. Studies have also shown that the mere presence of technology, even if it is located in a student’s pocket, is a detriment to a student’s ability to learn. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Communication Education concluded that, in general, students who use their phones in class are less likely to retain information from a lecture than those who do not use their phones in class. This difference in knowledge transmutes into test scores as well: the students who did not use their phones in class typically scored a letter and a half grade higher on an exam than those who did use their phones in class. The use of technology in the classroom when not permitted contributes to the animosity teachers have toward the iPad. When students are on their iPads without consent from the teacher, it connotes a certain level of disrespect. Teachers spend countless hours preparing class lectures and activities, but what good is that hard work when students refuse to pay attention in class? All in all, I propose that the administration should implement a rule regulating the use of the iPad in the classroom. Should such ordinance be implemented by the administration, more students would be engaged in classroom activities. This engagement in learning will most likely result in an increase in overall student test scores, further promoting ARHS as one of the top academic high schools in San Francisco.
Pope Francis to journalists on World Communications Day:
“I would like, then, to invite everyone to promote a journalism of peace . . . a journalism that is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines. A journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, especially those – and they are the majority in our world – who have no voice.”
4 Campus News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
May 2019
Riordan writers excel in annual YMI essay contest By Ian Martin ’20
The Young Men’s Institute is a Catholic organization dedicated to aiding others, the intellectual and social improvement of its members, and spreading devotion and loyalty to the Catholic Church as well as America. The Young Men’s Institute also educates its members in Catholic and American values in the hope that they will find their place in the world. Every year, the Young Men’s Institute holds an essay contest based on a prompt that usually deals with an issue related to social relationships or questions about how the Catholic Church views certain situations. This year, Riordan had two young men receive awards for their entries in the contest, Vicente Francisco ’19 and Riiny Riiny ’20. Francisco got fourth place and Riiny finished in third. “Without the help of Ms. Dalton,
the essay would not have been as well written,” said Riiny. “I think mine kind of touched the judges and they felt something when I read it,” added Riiny. Riiny’s essay was about his life in South Sudan during the war, and how he had to leave the country because it was not safe. Not only did his story touch the judges, Riiny also did something noble with his award money. “I sent the money back to my sister and it paid for her tuition for the whole year,” said Riiny. Tim Reardon, principal of Archbishop Riordan, is a member of the Young Men’s Institute and served as the sponsor for both Francisco and Riiny to participate. “Mr. Reardon gave the recommendation to the English department and Ms. Assereto recommended me,” said Francisco. Reardon was extremely pleased with the work of these two students and said, “Ms. Assereto, Ms. Dalton, and I attended the
Photo provided by Tim Reardon Riiny Riiny ’20 won third place in the annual Jim Calabretta essay contest sponsored by the Young Men’s Institute of San Francisco. YMI event, and I can’t tell you how proud of Riiny and Vince we all are. The master of ceremonies made a special announcement indicating that this was the first year that Riordan students had participated, so when Vince and
Riiny finished in the top four in the high school division, it was a great moment for our school. And when Riiny read his piece, there were literally people in the audience who were crying. It was amazing.”
Gray, Kao dominate in speech competitions
By Zackary Conci ’21
Class of 2020’s Michael Gray participated in the annual Lions Club Speech Contest competition and won. Gray has collectively won a total of $4,650 from the Lions organization, which gives students scholarships for winning totaling $103,500.00. Gray said, “I was encouraged by my speech coach Joey Klobas and past competitors in the competition from Riordan, like Roman Peregrino.” He has won competitions on the Club, Zone, Area, and District levels in the Lions Club events. Joey Klobas ’07, speech coach, said, “This is the farthest a Riordan student has gone in this competition.” Gray has been delivering speeches regarding freedom of press throughout his duration with the Student Speaker Foundation. He said, “I’ve been doing the same speech every time, but there have been progressively more restrictions on how I am allowed to deliver it. In my case, the topic has been “Freedom of the Press: What Does it Mean?”’ Gray makes it look easy delivering his speeches, although a lot more work goes into a single speech than one would think. He said it takes, “a lot of research and practice.” “I need very specific facts and evidence to actually support claims and that takes a long time to find, so in order to prepare I need to have quotes, statistics,
Photos provided by Joey Klobas ’07 and YinShan Yang Michael Gray ’20 (left) and Joshua Kao ’22 both won speech competitions this spring. historical facts, etc. In order to deliver a speech without a lot of awkward pauses and gaps, I need to practice it until I can deliver the same way every time.” He added, “On multiple occasions, like the nights before competitions, I’ll practice my speech over and over for four hours or more.” Speaking in front of large crowds is a fear among many although Michael says, “I find that I don’t have a problem with it when I can emotionally connect to what I am saying.” Isaac Arguello ’21 said, “I have great amount of admiration as well as inspiration when I see Michael seemingly effortlessly deliver his speeches in front of everyone and I aspire to be like him.” In his future profession he hopes to use his skills in speaking in front of large crowds of people
to his advantage. “I always assumed speaking would be an aspect of my career whether it be through law, politics, or elsewhere. I enjoy researching and presenting ideas, so whatever I do in the future should go hand in hand with speaking.” Another student, Joshua Kao ’22 won first place at Chinese Language Teachers Association of California’s 44th Mandarin Speech—the most prestigious Chinese speech contest in the Bay Area. Mandarin teacher YinShan Yang said, “With great confidence and excellent fluency, he gave a speech ‘Life experience in Beijing’ where he has shaped himself during his nine year journey in China. It is his first speech contest, and his parents are very proud of his performance.” Approximately 500 K-12 and college/university students from
the state competed in the contest on April 27 at Lowell High School in San Francisco. Yang said, “The goal of the competition is to foster Chinese-language skills. Students are assigned a category based on grade and their Chinese-language experience. Participants wrote their own three to four minute speeches and memorized them. Judges evaluated them on the accuracy of their Chinese pronunciation and tones, Chinese fluency, speech delivery, pace, gestures and content.” Kao said, “When Ms Yang, my Mandarin Teacher, first introduced me to the competition, I thought it would be a great experience for me, since I had never done anything similar. I wanted to challenge myself so I agreed on participating. His speech focused on “overcoming ordeals and embracing unique moments in our lives.” Like Gray, he spent several hours and days preparing. “I first drafted my speech with Ms Yang. Every day I would read the speech over and over again until I could read it fluently,” he said. “Then, through daily practices with Ms Yang, I was able memorize the speech paragraph by paragraph. Finally, I was able to naturally present my speech to my class a couple of times.” While Gray is grateful to Klobas, Kao appreciates the time Yang spent with him for his competition. He said, “Without her, I would not be able to have the courage and skill to succeed in the competition.”
May 2019
Campus News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
5
Cana wins Crusader Games, Russi takes home Chaminade Cup By Stephen Blecha ’19 and Vicente Francisco ’19
The Second Annual Crusader Games have come and gone. The final victor of the games, the House of Cana, just barely edged out the second place house. The final standings were: Cana 1304.55, Bolts 1281.79, Russi 1259.11, and Pilar 1256.93 In regards to team games, the House of Pilar won the house tugo’-war, while the House of Russi won the Gauntlet behind seniors D’Angelo Garcia and Zachary Quanico. House of Pilar Junior Randy Aberouette said, “It’s a lot better ‘cause there’s more games to offer, it’s more organized and it’s a lot of fun.” This year there were a plethora of games added to the list. A popular one seemed to be the addition of bubble soccer. However, it never really amounted to actual bubble soccer, and became more of everybody in bubble balls ramming each other. Mateo Guittap ’20 of House Russi said, “[Best was] bubble soccer, because just the tackling seems a lot of fun.” On a more reflective note, faculty and students recognized the power Crusader Games has on Riordan’s greatest virtue of “Brotherhood.” Russi House senior Jalen Viray said, “It’s fun working together with people you
Photo by Cole Anderson ’22 The House of Russi, led by Provincial Valerie O’Riordan (center), celebrates winning the Chaminade Cup. don’t know because you have that sense of camaraderie.” In every game, all houses were represented and everyone worked with their housemates to win, whether the game is flag football, Mario Kart, or even trivia. House of Cana Provincial Christopher Fern added that, “[Crusader Games] is the coolest tradition that I have seen started here in the 11 years that I’ve worked here. It is the opportunity to do something that people will
remember forever!” The Games is in its second year and is improving the Crusader atmosphere through teamwork and friendly competition.” The end goal for the competition is to win the Chaminade Cup, which is won by attaining the most house points from in-school events, the first and second semesters, the Gauntlet run, and Crusader Games. The house that wins the Chaminade Cup has bragging rights until the next
competition. The final results were: Russi 3968.11, Cana 3962.55, Bolts 3960.79, and Pilar 3937.93. Riordan strives to make the high school experience transformative in that a freshman graduates as a man ready for future endeavors. House of Bolts counselor Vanessa Martinez noted, “It really affects people over time because when you get here as a ninth grader, you’re not the same person when you leave.”
Elected officers enthusiastic for new year By Cole Anderson ’22
With the 2019 school year coming to an end, it was time to elect a new student parliament. The election was held on April 24, when students filed into the auditorium to hear the speeches from the candidates about why they should be elected for School Captain, School Vice Captain, Vice Captain of Spirit, or School Captain of Programming. The candidates for School Vice Captain, Vice Captain of Spirit, and Vice Captain of Programming all ran unopposed, so the only competition was between Michael Gray ’20 and Zachary Phillips ’20 for the School Captain position. Both candidates pleaded their cases and tried to convince the entire school why they should be the School Captain for the next school year. Immediately following these speeches, the students were dismissed back to their block three classes to vote. All the votes were tallied, and it was later announced that the 2019-2020 student parliament would be Michael Gray ’20 as School
Photo by Cole Anderson ’22 School Captain Michael Gray ’20, School Vice Captain Aidan Murtagh ’20, Vice Captain of Programming Cheyne Fernandez ’20, and Vice Captain of School Spirit JT Torrea ’21. Captain, Aidan Murtagh ’20 as School Vice Captain, Cheyne Fernandez ’20 as Vice Captain of Programming, and JT Torrea ’21 as School Captain of Spirit.
As the house program at Riordan progresses, the Student Parliament is planning on improvements from past years to make next year the best it can be.
Students are always encouraged to run for positions because of the growing house system and the numerous ideas they can contribute to Riordan.
6 Campus News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
May 2019
International Drive supports sister school in Kenya By Jordan Noeuku ’21
The collection of money to help Riordan’s sister school in Kenya was done in a peaceful atmosphere as the Crusader brothers expressed their generosity by donating a generous sum of money during the International Drive, which ran from March 19 to 29. “As a rough estimate, $1,200 was collected. Students overwhelmingly showed their generosity by donating whatever amount of money they have,” said Joshua Keeney, the co- moderator of CORE service team. “Those who benefitted from this donation in Nairobi will be able to provide furniture for kids’ education for the year, and also provide food.” He continued, saying, “A few years ago, Chang Liu ’18 went to Kenya and actually visited the school, but we had difficulties getting people motivated to give, and how to advertise for it and the blood drive.” “As an educator, I am extremely passionate about students having the means and being able to attend school and receive a quality education,” said Julia Balisteri, the moderator for the drive. “The great disparity in cost between schools in the states and Kenya is outrageous to me, but
also allows me the chance to help contribute to the education of students.” Furthermore, she said, “Sometimes as students, and I remember doing this as well, it is easy to get stuck in thinking, ‘Oh, I’m forced to be here’ or ‘I hate doing so much work, this is awful.’ We can forget how much this quality education benefits us in our futures when we want to go into college or a trade school or even the workforce. To be able to even help out one student receive the education they need to succeed is incredibly important to me.” She concluded, saying, “We send the money and a letter to our sister school in Nairobi, Kenya after the drive. Throughout the year the students send back notes of thanks with information of how the money has specifically helped them. Hearing from the students themselves helps us see how much of an impact donating the cost of a fancy coffee drink can achieve. All communication, at least for last year and this year, occurs through letters!” “The international drive means the chance of helping students that are less fortunate than I am, who don’t have the supplies that they need for their education,” said Jonathan Torrea
Administration considers khaki pants modification By Edric De Mesa ’19
The Riordan apparel has undergone several changes through the past few years. This year, the strict rule on the brand of khakis worn was intertwined with the casual Friday spirit shirt and house shirts. Recently, however, a new proposition from the Riordan Administration has arisen and been brought to the attention of the student body. Starting in the 2019-2020 school year, any form of khakis can be worn as part of the school uniform, excluding formal events. During formal events, students are will be required to wear the regular formal attire along with A+ khakis. The change of khakis from strictly A+ to a more relaxed and broader rule of a wider range of khakis, such as Dockers, is much more casual and lighter for the student body. Upon hearing the speculation of the new uniform change, the
student body seemed unmoved by the change, as some contend that they do not follow the rule anyway. Given this information, if the new rules are passed, the students will most definitely be expected to follow the guidelines. Director of Student Activities Joey Klobas ’07 said, “If the changes go through with the uniform, the students will be more likely to comply with the new rules.” The student body has shown signs of resistance to change over the past few years, such as towards the new House System, previous uniform change, and the multiple schedule adjustments. Many have also often talked negatively and been pessimistic of new ideas implemented. However, Crusaders in and around the campus appear joyous about this proposal. It seems that the general opinion of this new modification of the Student Handbook uniform guidelines will be happily welcomed by the Riordan students.
Photo by Jordan Noeuku ’21 Leo Magnaye ’05 holds a poster displaying the progress of the International Drive. ’21. “Luckily, I haven’t been in a situation where I was less fortune because my parent always make sure they prioritize my educational needs.”
He added, “Also, the aspect I would emphasize about the international drive is that of charity, because it goes toward a good cause.”
May 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Campus News 7
Students to read Speak for 2019 summer reading By Roly Lo ’21
This summer, students will read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson for their Summer Reading assignments. When the next school year begins, assignments will be handed to mentor group teachers for grading and discussion. This structure may reflect future Summer Reading assignments. Based on Anderson’s own experiences, Speak is from the point of view of high school freshman Melinda Sordino. She becomes shunned, outcasted, and depressed after the events of a summer party where she calls the police, not saying why, and no one asks. She can only find solace in her art class where she can freely express herself. Prompted by incidents that happened on campus, Principal Tim Reardon developed a curriculum to help develop an understanding of the female perspective and respect for women. He has taught this book to his sophomore class.
“The book fits into the curriculum that we have been building in regards to the idea of what it means to be a man. Understanding the perspectives and feelings of girls and women is part being a man,” said Reardon. Previous Summer Reading assignments were divided into upper and lower divisions of books, but this novel has been taught in all grade levels. Student reactions have been mixed. Some students have a negative impression of Summer Reading and the changes. “I think Summer Reading is a waste of time for most people since they’ll just look up the information on the internet to be done with it,” said Anthony Rizo ’21. Others are fine with everyone reading the same book. Jose Jimenez ’21, said, “It’s a good book. We read it with Mr. Reardon. I like how the book can relate to teens our age and come from the perspective of someone in high school just like us.” The novel was one of the top
Enrichment courses endorse life skills By Liam Peace ’19
In the next school year, many new classes and courses will be placed into Riordan High School’s curriculum, broadening the subject range within the school and expanding interests for students. Some have argued that classes taught do not prepare students for real world experiences, however many of these new classes address this issue and apply skill sets to real occupations outside of standard academics. Jonathan Aguilar, who is head of the counseling department, noted, “This was the whole vision of having enrichment courses in the first place. We wanted to teach the students something they wouldn’t normally be able to learn in the classroom.” Classes such as Intro to Investing, Photography Skills/ Blogging, and Intro to Philosophy address this divide and reshape the landscape of interests for students. The subjects these classes instruct are applicable to further education in college, preparing
students for their next step in academia. Aguilar said, “These classes will spark interest for someone who is unfamiliar with these subjects and it will also help students understand what they are and are not interested in. I think that is what makes the enrichment courses so appealing and important.” The perspectives from within the student community are very promising as well. Dylan Dekker ’21, who has requested some enrichment courses, said, “I am excited to try new things and these new courses allow me to broaden my skills, especially photography, which I am interested in but have not been able to fully understand how to do it professionally.” In the coming years, due to the implementation of these classes, many Riordan students will be able to pursue important real world skills and abilities that could give them a large advantage in college, develop their interests, and in the future, give them a head start in an occupational field.
Mission Statement for the Archbishop Riordan High School Newspaper The mission of The Crusader is to inform, educate and entertain the readers—students, teachers, parents, members of the community—about issues that affect the students as well as citizens of San Francisco and the nation. We hope to instill a sense of understanding, responsibility, and curiosity in our readers that results in an eagerness to learn more about their peers and the world around them.
RAINN.org Laurie Halse Anderson, author of the summer reading book Speak, has been honored for helping to create more awareness of sexual assault, and encouraging survivors to seek help. 100 banned/challenged books according to The American Library Association website, and is holding at number 60, because of controversial topics. “Some of the greatest novels ever written have content that makes readers uncomfortable. In
fact, I will contend that all great books have uncomfortable content,” said Reardon. Published in 1999, Speak celebrates its 20th anniversary, and remains relevant as movements take root and people speak out.
8 Campus News
May 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
The Crusader staff wins big at Anaheim convention By Ian Martin ’20
Every year, the National JEA/ NSPA Journalism Convention takes place in a different U.S. city, one in the fall and another in the spring, full of study sessions that help teach young, aspiring journalists useful tips and tricks about their future profession. The 2019 spring convention was held at the Anaheim Hilton, where thousands of high school journalists came from across the country to learn, connect with others, and compete. The staff members of The Crusader who attended the trip presented a session on creating headlines that will catch the attention of the audience while being creative as well. Adviser Susan Sutton taught the basics, and then students in the audience were given mock stories for which they had to write headlines. The Crusader staff members chose the winners, who received prizes. “I thought it was a lot of fun. I thought the audience was engaged and having fun learning about us, our newspaper, and winning some prizes,” said Steven Rissotto ’20. Sutton said, “The headline session was my favorite part of the convention because my students were center stage and students
from other schools looked to them as experts. It was a proud moment.” The Friday write-offs are where students compete in a timed setting to write a specific type of article on a topic that is revealed on-site. This year, Riordan had three students recognized for their outstanding work. Risotto won an Honorable Mention for commentary writing, Harrick Wu ’19 won Honorable Mention for News Writing for the second year in a row, and Eddie Monares ’19 was awarded a certificate of Excellence for sports writing. “I was decently surprised and it was an honor to win the award considering it was on-the-spot writing and I didn’t think I was gonna win,” said Monares. Beyond these achievements, the Riordan Journalism Quiz Bowl Team tied for third place out of 30 teams, the best Riordan has ever done at this event.
Photo by David Dorantes ’88 Seven members of The Crusader and adviser Susan Sutton stand in front of a sign advertising their session on headline writing.
The members of the quiz bowl team were Owen Murphy ’19, Risotto, Monares, and Wu. Murphy said, “I am very proud of how well we did. I believe that we will have more success in the future. We will continue to improve, and it is definitely within the realm of possibilty that we will be able to one day win the
entire competition.” Tim Reardon, principal of Archbishop Riordan, said, “The success of our journalism program is one of our top marketing tools. Eighth graders interested in writing have no better option in the Bay Area than Ms. Sutton’s journalism program at Archbishop Riordan High School.”
Riordan welcomes Cornerstone Church to campus By Eddie Monares ’19
Riordan has a new visitor on campus, with Cornerstone Church using the Lindland Theater as well as several classrooms on Sunday mornings for services. Cornerstone is nondenominational Christian church located in San Francisco, with the purpose of giving people a welcoming and safe environment to grow in faith with God. Cornerstone recently outgrew their previous location at the Armenian School on Brotherhood Way and sought a bigger space to hold their services. Dr. Andrew Currier said, “The negotiations included the President (me), the Archdiocese, and leadership from Cornerstone Church. There were several iterations of the contract to assure mutual satisfaction with both parties.” He added, “Any time an Archdiocesan Catholic school enters into an agreement for use of facilities for longer than three years, then Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone must sign off in agreement prior to entering into a contract. As Superintendent Pam Lyons stated at the September board meeting, the Archdiocese of San Francisco encourages schools and parishes to find creative ways to use the facilities to help with tuition assistance if the use of the
Photo by Eddie Monares ’19 The Cornerstone Church Sunday services include live music. facility aligns with the Mission of the Roman Catholic Church. In this case, the promotion of Jesus Christ to his followers aligns with the aims of Archbishop Riordan High School’s reason for being.” At each service, Cornerstone Pastor Terry Brisbane is broadcasted preaching to the live audience at Riordan as well as live music in the theater before the services begin. Along with their use of the theater, Cornerstone also uses several classrooms in the school to host younger children and help incorporate them into the Christian faith as well.
With Riordan lending many of the facilities, Cornerstone has also done many things to help benefit the Riordan community in return. Currier said, “The light and sound upgrades are direct benefits to Riordan. Also, there is a significant movement to upgrade our internet speed and Cornerstone has done an incredible amount of work in that effort. Riordan stands to benefit from the high speed internet upgrades in the next couple of years.” “Also, one of the best benefits is that Riordan families who are
Cornerstone Members already get to worship at Riordan on Sundays. In addition, many faith-filled families get to see Riordan and will hopefully consider Riordan as an option for their sons in the future,” Currier said. Currier also said, “I occasionally stop by to witness their services primarily to make sure everything is okay… When I have seen their services, I am impressed with the level of professionalism put forth into their program. It’s impressive to say the least. The sound, the messaging, the heartfelt promotion of Jesus, and the community atmosphere allows them to have a very vivid experience of the Word of God.”
May 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Campus News
9
Baseball team bolsters Challenger community
By Aidan Murtagh ’20
Following the Catholic spirit, the Riordan Varsity Baseball team uses every Sunday to give back to the less fortunate. The team is a part of the Challenger Program, in which members help kids who have mental and physical disabilities play baseball and have fun. The league takes place either on Treasure Island or at McCoppin Field in San Francisco, where kids and teenagers are able to play baseball when they otherwise could not have done so. The team became involved with the Challenger Program five years ago as a way to give back to the community, and it was a perfect way to help out special needs children and teenagers while enjoying the game of baseball. Members of the team have expressed a lot of positive feedback regarding participating
in the Challenger Program. Senior Dillon Ruggiero said, “The best part of working with these kids is the smiles on their faces. When you see them running around the bases or fielding a ground ball, it’s just a heartwarming experience when you get to see their smile.” Randy Abourette ’20 said, “It’s an amazing feeling knowing that the game of baseball makes the kids happy and I really enjoy being there.” Not only is the Challenger Program a way to help out children with special needs, but it also serves as a way for members of the baseball team to be humbled and grateful for what they have. Head Coach Brandon Ramsey explained, “Ultimately, it really allows you to maybe be a little bit humble about your own personal abilities, what you have, what God’s given you, and I think it really allows these kids to find the
Photo by The Crusader Members of the Challenger Baseball League include young people with varying degrees of physical and mental disabilities. joy in what they have.” Julian Castillo ’19 expressed the same gratitude, as he said, “Seeing kids who can’t walk or speak smiling just
because they get to run around and play ball is a very humbling experience and helps us realize the power of the game we play and how it’s bigger than all of us.”
Ramsey assumes new role at Riordan By Danilo Herger ’20
Riordan students and staff began to see a familiar face around campus more often at the beginning of the spring semester, with the hiring of Varsity baseball coach Brandon Ramsey as Head of Facilities and Maintenance. Before, he was the assistant to Scott Rea, who left in December. With this additional job, Ramsey now has to put in much more hard work, while still managing the baseball team. As part of his job duties, he responds to tasks ranging from changing light bulbs to fixing desks. Some major projects include intensive maintenance to the baseball field, which includes cutting the grass and preparing the field after rainfall. This will no longer be an issue, however, after the new turf field is installed this summer.
Another major project was restoring the wall above the downstairs bathroom. Diego Tzaj ’21 noticed how well maintained the school is at all times. “It seems like whenever a desk breaks it is fixed by next class,” he said. “It is nice to go to a school that cares about not only the students’ safety, but their well being. The landscape is always kept, and is always a refreshing touch.” Coach Ramsey said, “The biggest challenges would be paying attention to the small details.” In response to the weirdest or most complex part of the job, Ramsey said, “Definitely the boiler,” referring to the busted boiler in December. “Everything was above water. Down there was a Santa, so there was a Santa floating, looking at you.”
Photo by The Crusader Head Varsity Baseball Coach Brandon Ramsey is now Head of Facilities and Maintenance at Riordan.
“Flintstone House,” continued from page 12 right, and we’re fighting back,” Alioto said. In addition, Alioto said, “We believe it’s based on the fact that she is Chinese.” According to the news release from the Town of Hillsborough, “The allegations of discrimination are baseless. The property owner has been treated with patience and respect by Town employees at every stage. The current legal action is the result of the
property owner’s own unpermitted activities. Every Hillsborough resident would be treated in the same way,” said Assistant City Attorney Mark Hudak. Driving down I-280 it is fairly easy to spot the peculiar home, and for some Bay Area natives it may be reminiscent of childhood car trips. Michael Vezzali-Pascual ’88, Senior Composition and Literature teacher, said, “I first
saw it when I was five or six years old coming back up from the freeway. My grandparents lived in San Jose. I remember my brother and I getting a big kick out of it driving back up. We thought it was something from outer space, like the moon. We were just fascinated and it captured our imagination.” Richard Sylvester ’01, World Literature teacher, said, “I could see why someone might complain
about the construction of putting them (dinosaur statues) up and maybe that might be a nuisance, but I’d have to see what their yards look like and what their view is. I might think it’s kind of cool, especially if I had kids.” This is the kind of imagination that Fang envisioned, Alioto said. “It’s wonderful that someone is willing to spend money to make other people smile.”
10 Alumni Features
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
May 2019
Velasco answers calling to priesthood
By Zachary Phillips ’19
Instantly, after his creation of the highly acclaimed show, “Breaking Down the Bible,” Jimmy Velasco ’17 became a celebrity in the Riordan community. But Jimmy’s theology career didn’t stop there. He is now pursuing his passion of the Christian faith at the Bishop White Seminary in Washington. Velasco credits Riordan as a major contributor to why he chose the path to priesthood. He said, “Campus ministry helped me know myself more, especially LIFE team, interacting with teachers and seeing the vocation in me. My pastor, Father Mike Quinn saying I’d be the priest at Riordan one day inspired me.” Velasco was heavily influenced by all of his peers and educators who told him multiple times that he would be a fantastic priest. One of the goals of a Riordan education is to help foster a spiritual life in students.
Over the years, Riordan has been very successful in this mission, and Velasco is an example of how beneficial this kind of education could be. In regards to his favorite aspects of Riordan, he said, “All the relationships and brotherhoods I made with other students was a huge support system for me. In addition, the faculty and staff were extremely helpful to me in my faith journey, but my favorite part of the whole school was campus ministry. It really helped me discover what I love to do, spread the Christian faith.” High school is a time where Photo provided by Jimmy Velasco ’17 many students struggle to hold on to a spiritual life. But in these Jimmy Velasco ’17 (center) with Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane (left), times of change and growing and Fr. Patrick Summerhays, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese. up, Velasco’s faith flourished. Velasco’s advice to young people a deep prayer life. You can priests.” is, “Don’t be afraid to discuss develop your faith life by taking Over the years, 20 Riordan your spirituality with those who part in events like mass or graduates have entered the are close to you. Be open with adoration. If you are considering priesthood, and 10 have become the priesthood, talk to other your faith journey. Always have brothers.
Peregrino pursues passion at Georgetown By Eddie Monares ’19
Former Editor in Chief and first School Captain in the House System, Roman Peregrino ’18, graduated just last year and is already making waves in college. Peregrino was accepted to Georgetown University, and knew instantly he wanted to continue working in journalism. Peregrino said, “One of the first clubs that I joined at Georgetown was The Georgetown Voice. After being a member of The Crusader throughout high school, I decided that I wanted to keep up one of my passions, journalism, into college, so, I joined the Voice’s news team.” Peregrino quickly climbed the ranks as part of the Voice, and is currently assistant news editor. Although Peregrino mostly covers news and features, the Voice gave him the opportunity to branch out and cover a Georgetown vs Liberty basketball game. Peregrino said, “The sports leadership are very willing to bring
new writers into the fold and give us opportunities.” Being former Editor in Chief and covering various events in his time at Riordan, Peregrino was more than equipped to cover a college basketball game. Peregrino said, “At Riordan, Mr. Rassam invited me to commentate several of the basketball games, so I knew how to keep up with the action. Outside of Riordan, I worked for Prep2Prep Sports for several months, which helped me learn how to write recaps and handle interviews with coaches.” Rassam ’87 said, “I noticed Roman enjoyed new challenges, so I asked him if he would like to move from running the camera or board at the basketball games to being a color analyst. While he seemed nervous, his answer was, ‘Sure why not? Let’s give it a try.’ I would love to see more students show that kind of drive and willingness to go beyond what is comfortable.”
Photo provided by Roman Peregrino ’18 Roman Peregrino ’18 (right) with friends at Georgetown.
Fails succeeds on silver screen Jimmie Fails ’11 started his acting career at Archbishop Riordan, which included a role in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and has produced and starred in two films. His first film was “American Paradise,” released in 2017. This summer, his latest endeavor “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” is set to hit theaters. The movie, which also stars another African American San Francisco native, Danny Glover, also includes Tichina Arnold, Mike Epps, Jonathan Majors, and Thora Birch. The plot focuses on one family’s struggle to remain in a city that
seems to have abandoned them in the midst of the tech industry boom, when those who have lived here for generations are pushed out due to the exceedingly high cost of rent and everything else. Black Student Union President Darien Thomas ’19 said, “When the BSU heard about Jimmie Fails and his success in the movie industry, we were extremely elated to see a Riordan alumnus successfully pursue his dreams, because it showed us that if we work hard for the things that we believe in, then we can achieve them.”
May 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Arts & Entertainment
11
Everything has a perilous price in ‘Urinetown’ By Cheyne Fernandez ’20
From March 29 to April 7, the Archbishop Riordan High School drama department presented their spring musical “Urinetown,” an ironic comedy, set in a dystopian society that has been ravaged by a 20 year drought. The main plot of the story is a revolutionary rebellion against the UGC, short for the Urine Good Company, a private corporation that extorts money from the poor by charging them to use the restroom. This rebellion is led by the hero of the story, Bobby Strong, played by Riordan’s own Estefan Granucci ’19. Bobby’s uprising rebellion thrives on the premise of people being able to do “whatever you like, whenever you like, with whomever you like, in whatever location you like.” New, yet familiar drama director, Greg Callaghan, chose this interesting play, explaining, “I wanted to do a comedy with great parts for the leads and the ensemble, every actor on stage had a clearly defined character…I also wanted to do a show that spoke to a larger social issue, I wanted to do a show with a small band instead of a full orchestra, I had seen ‘Urinetown’ when I was in high school and have been obsessed with it ever since.” Throughout the course of the play, glimmers of American social
values were hinted at. The three hour long play contained comedic, ironic, and wholesome aspects that reeled the audience in, and the outstanding performance by the students captivated the entire theater. The most substantial component was the singing, as each person in the cast contributed to the beautiful harmonies sung in each verse. The performance on stage was not the only jaw dropping aspect of the production. Behind the scenes, Riordan’s stage crew worked tirelessly on designing and creating a set for the musical. The stunning 8 foot tall, 25 to 30 feet wide structure was an eyecatcher, taking two and a half additional weeks prior to tech week to build. “It took us about two additional weeks prior to the beginning of tech week, initially, due to our process of set design in the past,” said Amanda Grace of Mercy ’19. “I had some doubts of our stage crew’s ability to perform such a task, but to my surprise, we were clearly able to efficiently finish this amazing set in time for the play.” New set designer Hector Zavala encouraged the stage crew to make strides in the right
Photo by Lifetouch Estefan Granucci ’19 starred in “Urinetown” as Bobby Strong. direction in terms of set design. Additionally, Grace stated, “Moving forward, since we have a new technical director, our sets are definitely going to be a lot more pleasing to the eye. I think we have a bright, new future for set design for this crew so I’m really excited for what’s to come.” The chemistry witnessed on stage between the cast was incomparable to the family like dynamic off stage. “The cast is a family. We work together to try and build each other up, and I think that’s a part of why we
perform so strong on stage, because the fact that we have this family like relationship off stage… and also the fact that we are all getting along, we can just encourage each other to do better,” said Eva Moody ICA ’20. Although Riordan’s drama club is referred to as a tight knit community, they are open to new members. Henry Bensurto ’20 said, “It’s an exciting family to be in. If you mess up, they’ll help you. If you want to join musicals or plays that Riordan hosts, become part of the family.”
‘Avengers: Endgame’ marks end of an era By Jordan Maralit ’21
On April 26, a new superhero movie skyrocketed the box offices again. “Avengers: Endgame,” according to some people, is one of the greatest Avengers movies of all time. Thanos, the mad titan, has snapped his fingers and half of the universe has turned into ashes. This movie will also be the final movie where we see the first six avengers together. Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye have reunited once more to defeat Thanos. Some new superheroes have joined the original six avengers to fight Thanos. The new superheroes are, Captain Marvel, Ant Man, and Rocket (the only surviving guardian). A sidekick joined the fight as well, War Machine, (the only surviving sidekick). Millions of people were excited to see this new film, and how it can affect the future of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). In my opinion, I think the movie has the perfect closure of the original six Avengers and start with a new era of superheroes. According to Rotten Tomatoes, 424 reviews were counted had 95
The official movie poster features the major Marvel heroes. percent of the critics liked the movie. Rotten Tomatoes also recorded the audience score and 90 percent of the people loved it. “Avengers: Endgame” is currently breaking the box office with $427,099,795 in domestic total as of April 30. The foreign total was $1,054,000,000, and counting. Adding them together
makes it a worldwide gross of $1,481,099,795. During opening weekend, the domestic summary was $357,115,007 in total. If the numbers keep going up, it could dethrone “Avatar” with $3 billion at the box office. It is also on the pace to be the first $1 billion domestic grosser in initial release.
Marvel Studios William Blanchi ’21, said, “I think ‘Avengers: Endgame’ should surpass ‘Avatar’ as number 1 and the MCU deserves all the recognition off the hardships and work they went through.” To people who haven’t watched “Endgame” yet, get to it. Try to avoid spoilers as much as you can!
12 Local News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
May 2019
50 years later, questions about Zodiac Killer remain By Dominic Borrego ’20
The Zodiac Killer was a serial murderer who operated in the Bay Area during the late 60s and early 70s and was known for strange cryptic messages to the police and local media. The only information known about the killer is a police drawing, and the fact that the Zodiac was a male. The Zodiac murdered victims in Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa, and San Francisco between December 1968 and October 1969. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his last murder. During his reign of terror, he is confirmed to have killed five and injured two, but experts suggest it is likely he killed possibly 20– 28, although he claimed to have killed as many as 37. As many note, the Zodiac Killer was never caught, and people theorize about who it could have been or could be. The Zodiac terrorized the Bay Area for almost seven years, and methodically struck fear into the people of San Francisco and Vallejo. English teacher Kim Loder grew up in Vallejo at the time the Zodiac was lurking the streets. “It was a scary time,” she said. “There was curfew, and although it was not mandatory, you were really taking a risk being out after dark.” Loder, who graduated from St. Vincent’s School in 1969, during the height of the killer’s spree, said the murders changed their high school years. “Everyone was so uneasy. He really took away our freedom, and the carefree attitude that teenagers have,” she said. “It was
unsettling. We were always on edge, constantly looking around around to make sure we were aware of our surroundings. Who would be next? Was he in my neighborhood?” The way the Zodiac was able to be so publicly known is because during the ongoing investigation, he sent his puzzles and encrypted letters to the newspapers of San Francisco and others in the Bay Area, with the threat of more killings if they were not published. Librarian Danny Appel, who was living in the South Bay during the Zodiac’s spree, said, “I was living in San Jose, but the killings were so random that it was in the back of my mind about, well, being a victim.” The Zodiac Killer is not just infamous among the people who lived during the murders, but also journalists. As mentioned before, the Zodiac Killer sent letters to newspapers such as The San Francisco Examiner or the Vallejo Times. Not only did he send letters saying that he was the Zodiac Killer, but he also provided evidence to prove it, and added a deadly threat if they did not follow his directions. Although the story of a serial killer is huge for newspapers, journalists were not necessarily eager to write about it. Appel confirmed that he would in fact have written a story about the Zodiac, saying, “Yes I would write about the Zodiac if I could back then because it was such a huge story, it would be odd for the newspaper not to.” One of the Zodiac’s encrypted messages was, “If you do not do
this I will go on a kill ram page (sic) Fry night (sic) that will last the whole week end I will cruse (sic) around and pick off all stray people or couples that are alone then move on to kill some more until I have killed over a dozen people.” People were afraid, and for journalists, it presented a problem for the code of ethics because they would not want to give credit to or write a story about a killer who is threatening to kill people. However, they also did not want to see if he was bluffing, and considering the fact he was a serial killer who had killed dozens of people already, the balance between publishing a terrifying, fascinating story and sacrificing ethics made the Zodiac even more threatening. John Bowen, Media Ethics Professor at Kent State University, said, “The ethics involved is an issue of greater good. Does it serve a higher need to publish or to withhold? What harm will it cause and to whom?” Bowen added, “It should take a lengthy discussion by the editors before a decision is made. I think that decision is one they make for each occurrence based on a number of circumstances. If they perceived the greater good was to publish, then I would have to
Creative Commons The Zodiac Killer was never caught or even identified. agree considering they discussed the alternatives.” The Zodiac not only threatened journalists, but also the police, essentially mocking the SFPD. Over the past decade, with advancements in DNA testing, investigators extracted DNA from the envelopes, noting that the killer had to lick the envelope to close it, but were unable to identify a suspect. Fifty years later, Loder said, “It’s something I will never forget. It was like living in a nightmare.” The Zodiac killer has never been revealed or caught, but 50 years later, people still wonder where he is now, if he will resurface, or of someone else will take up the mantle.
Town files lawsuit against famous Flintstone House owner
By JJ Trujeque ’21
In March of 2019, the town of Hillsborough filed a lawsuit against Florence Fang, the owner of the house commonly referred to as the “Flintstone House,” because of alleged landscaping renovations that she did not have the permits for. However, Fang denies those allegations and has filed a counterclaim. The home was designed using an advanced building method, monolithic dome construction, in 1976 by architect William Nicholson and originally had a white color. It was in the mid-1980s that the home first disturbed locals when it began to show signs of severe damage with deep cracks growing in the walls. Eventually in 1987, the dome house was resurrected when a change in ownership gave way to profound renovations and a new orange coat of paint. After several other changes in ownership, the iconic home was purchased by Fang two years
Photo by Jonathan Blecha ’21 The back of the Flintstone House can be seen from Interstate 280. ago for $2.8 million. The newly renovated backyard of the home includes: multiple 15foot dinosaurs, a metal wooly mammoth, a metal giraffe, a UFO surrounded by extraterrestrial life, and numerous vibrant mushrooms scattered around the entire property. In an email to The Crusader,
Hillsborough City Manager Ann E. Ritzma said, “Due to litigation, Town personnel have no public statements regarding the issue.” Ritzma included a news release from the Town of Hillsborough, which read in part, “The property owner has constructed a large project without design review or first applying for required
building permits. The Town of Hillsborough is committed to requiring that everyone follow the same long-established and fair planning and permit procedures. The Town’s goal is to balance individual taste with consistent community standards, as is true in most well managed communities.” In a phone interview with The Crusader, Fang’s attorney, Angela Alioto, said there is no required permit for statues. “Can you imagine if there was? No one would have statues in their yards—not even St. Francis. This is merely a matter of harassment.” Alioto added that the dinosaurs and other characters can only be seen from Interstate 280; neighbors cannot see them from the front of the house. “She has a First Amendment right to put whatever she wants in her yard. It’s a Constitutional
Please see “Flintstone House” on page 9
May 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Local & State News 13
Proposed state cell phone ban unpopular among students By Harrick Wu ’19
Cell phones. Almost every student, teacher, and staff member in schools has them in this technological age. It has many important and useful functions like texting, calling, and checking the time. However, students in California might have the privilege of having and using cell phones during school might be taken away from them as California proposes a bill which would require school districts to limit or prohibit the use of cell phones of students. Even if this ban passes, it will not directly affect the students at Riordan as it is a private high school, but some teachers would like the administration to follow suit. Although there are benefits to having cell phones, teachers think that the negatives outweigh the positives, especially at Riordan, where students can utilize iPads instead. Some think that cell phones distract students from reaching their full potential at school. Some even believe that students are wasting their parents’ money, who are paying for their sons to have a quality education at school, not to use their cell phones. David Elu, a Social Science
OverYondr.com Yondr sells pouches where students can place their phone during class time and be assured it is safe and undisruptive. Instructor, said, “It should be banned, because they are a distraction to students. Students become fixated on whatever is on their phone, and they tend to tune out to whatever is being discussed in class and that brings down the class as a whole, because so many people could be participating, giving their ideas, giving their input that are no longer in tune with the class.” He added, “It hurts not only them, but hurts the other people in the class that could be getting insight from a different point of
view.” Furthermore, teachers would support the ban on mobile devices, because of their small size, which allows students to easily use them during tests or during a lesson to do other work for different classes. Mary Ann Datoc, Math Department Chair, said, “They use them to cheat, text others, and to do other homework. I have caught several students cheating. They are easier to hide versus the iPad or laptop, which they can easily put away.”
Students disagree with the ban. They think cell phones are the best way to allow parents or guardians to contact them in the case of emergencies and for them to ask their parents to bring items they forgot at home. Darien Thomas ’19, said, “They could be used for a family emergency. For example, your parents get in a car accident, you need to know. Then, something less serious would be if you forget something for class. Just text your parents to bring it to school, and they can get it to you.” Elu proposes the school invest in something similar to the Yondr pouches, where students can place and lock their phone in. It can not be reopened without a special device. These pouches allow students to have a sense of security by knowing their phones are safe, but not able to use them. Elu said, “If people can’t police themselves, then someone has to police them. Teenagers aren’t mature enough to police themselves and that’s part of what we do: to teach them to try to police themselves, and this may be the kind of tool that teaches them how to do that. If not this tool, then some other type of tool so that if you are not in the position emotionally or mentally to police yourselves, it comes down to us.”
SF Supervisors ponder shuttering Juvenile Hall By Jamar Kittling ’20
Juvenile halls have been costly investments in many counties in California. These institutions have been under scrutiny for some time, but as of late March, Mayor London Breed established a Juvenile Justice Reform Blue Ribbon Panel that will examine and reform the juvenile justice system: such reforms may include the controversial decision of shutting down San Francisco’s Juvenile Hall. The juvenile justice system of California was not as expansive as it is today because of extreme rise of juvenile crime that occurred in the late 80s and early 90s. According to the SF Chronicle, the period between 1987 and 1995 was plagued with a severe uptick in youth homicides and arrests. In that time period, a youth was killed every day on average in California, with juvenile homicide doubling from 162 in 1987 to 382 in 1995. In addition, the arrests of youths averaged 60 a day. The state’s response was to increase the punishment of juveniles who commit crimes by legislation and, of course, juvenile halls. In 1995, the minimum age for adult prosecution was lowered from 16 to only 14. This was bolstered by Proposition 21, passed in 2000, that made it easier for minors to be tried as
adults, and enacted tougher punishments and sentences for crimes involving gang activity. With this, 41 of California’s counties expanded juvenile halls to accomodate them. However, shortly after this extreme rise in crime came a potent and enduring drop. Between 1995 and present day, youth homicides fell 83 percent from the previous figure of 382 in 1995 to the modern figure of 63 in 2017. Furthermore, youth arrests fell 86 percent. Ultimately, this drop led to 4,700 less minors killed in the last two decades. These developments are not unique to California either, as this reduction in crime is occurring throughout the United States. Some theories experts use to explain the sudden drop involves the decline of organized crime and drug use, specifically crack cocaine. During the 1980s, the increased use of crack cocaine would have brought more crime as more youth and minors participate in the business of buying and selling the substance. The eventual decline of crack cocaine coupled with mass incarceration of adults would have led to a decrease in crime, but does not completely explain the continuing decline of crime because of developments such as the opioid epidemic and incarcerated parents. Another
Photo by Vicente Francisco ’19 Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors have proposed closing the city’s Juvenile Hall for good. theory is the development of technology keeps youth indoors, decreasing crime. Whatever the cause, the decline in crime but increase in development of the juvenile justice system produced many nearly vacant halls and centers. In 39 of the 43 counties with juvenile halls, the juvenile halls were less than half full. Yet, the cost of maintaining these centers and the juveniles is becoming more expensive: about $500,000 annually is spent on a youth in a juvenile hall compared to $11,500 spent annually on a student’s
public school education. Many advocate funds from juvenile halls go to healthcare, housing, and education. According to Mayor Breed’s website, she said, “While we have had success in greatly reducing the number of incarcerated youth in San Francisco, we need to take the next step and reimagine what our system will be in the future. While there has been talk of shutting down our Juvenile Hall, it is important that before we make any decisions we look at the juvenile justice system as a whole.”
14 National & World News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
May 2019
Christchurch mourns murdered mosque members By Michael Gray ’20
There were no words to console. There was no amount of time that could heal the wounds of those left dead or dying. There was no therapy session that could mend the minds of the survivors. On Friday, March 15, all that was left in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand was a community in tatters. Beginning at about 1:40 pm, a gunman began his attack, which he streamed through Facebook Live, on two local mosques, Masjid al Noor and Linwood Masjid. The attack has proven to be the most deadly in New Zealand’s history, leaving 50 dead and 50 wounded. In the aftermath of the shooting, a diverse group of issues have been called into question, ranging from gun bans to social media restrictions. First and foremost among the mounting concerns is the role of guns in New Zealand’s society. Just six days after the shooting, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern proposed legislation banning all militarystyle semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles, as well the sale, import, supply or possession of pump-action shotguns that can be used with detachable magazines or that hold more than five cartridges. Although the bill seems to have bipartisan support in the legislature, there is a mounting concern among New Zealand gun owners regarding their ability to possess firearms. Without a constitution or gun rights organization advocating for gun owners however, these worries, much to the distress of New
Zealand’s gun owners, are being overshadowed by the demands to prevent future attacks. On top of gun ownership, in the wake of the attacks on Christchurch, the role of Social Media outlets has also fallen under scrutiny. Prior to his attack in Christchurch, the shooter posted a 74 page manifesto on the no-holds-barred website 8chan, leading many to call for increased restrictions on the site. Although there is increased demand for higher regulations, there have been no indications that any changes will be made. Many have speculated that the attacks incited the Sri Lanka bombings which targeted Christians during Easter Sunday and killed more than 250 people. Although Ruwan Wijewardene, Sri Lanka’s state minister of defense, stated that the bombings were “motivated” by the attacks in New Zealand, no conclusive evidence has come forth linking the two. With both national and international issues taking up the media spotlight after the shooting, the area affected most —Christchurch itself—can be overshadowed. The effects of the Christchurch attacks are brought into perspective by Anne Freeman, a current teacher at Archbishop Riordan and a past resident of Christchurch who stated that, “I lived in Christchurch throughout the 1990s… Christchurch definitely felt like a close-knit community… I expect that residents of Christchurch are still in shock. I know that I am still in shock. I can imagine my friends
Creative Commons Residents of Christchurch gather to mourn those killed or injured in a terrorist attack on a mosque in March. talking about the shootings and trying, but failing, to make sense of them. I expect all the places of worship are seeing big crowds as people seek comfort in their beliefs and from each other… will the shootings alter their lives? Yes, I am sure of it. But I cannot speculate on that yet. I’m still grieving. I am still in mourning.” The events of March 15
devastated not only the immediate residents of Christchurch, but all those connected to it, fracturing a once strong community. The devastation will take time to recover from; a broken community is not so readily repaired. But with the hearts of the world behind them, those affected will find a way to rebuild, recover, and reestablish their lives.
College bribery scandal sneaks students into universities By Vicente Francisco ’19
March was an exciting month for this year’s high school seniors, who have been receiving decision letters from top tier public and private universities. However, shock unfolded throughout the nation after it was announced that wealthy parents, including actresses Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”) and Lori Loughlin (“Full House,” “Fuller House”), were accused of paying millions of dollars toward a college admissions scheme to get their children into top colleges and universities. Allegedly, the accused paid a consultant, William Rick Singer, who orchestrated the entire fiasco, which involved postsecondary institutions such as Yale University, the University of Southern California, UCLA, and a few others. Singer, paid in sums as high as $6.5 million, returned the favor
to these parents in several ways. Singer and his associates used stock photos that they pulled off the internet — sometimes Photoshopping the face of the child onto the picture of the athlete,” said Andrew Lelling, U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, who spoke at a news conference in Boston. Such images were sent to university sports coaches, who were also bribed to save a recruitment spot for a particular student who did not even participate in the sport. Senior Diego Bendana stated, “It is a shame to see that people we idolize are taking advantage of [their wealth] by skipping all of the hard work that normal people have to put in to get into college.” Moreover, Singer is accused of assisting in the cheating of standardized tests, known as the SAT and the ACT. Some parents paid between $15,000 to $75,000 per test, which arranged for a third person, to take the test in a
student’s place and replaced the student’s responses with their own. To avoid being noticed by testing administrators, Singer bribed them. The first, Igor Dvorskiy, administered SAT and ACT tests in Los Angeles and the second, Lisa “Niki” Williams, was based in Houston. To conceal these payments, Singer allegedly disguised the bribes to be sent to his not-forprofit charitable foundation—Key Worldwide Foundation—which was claimed to donate money to low-income students. Archbishop Riordan High School counselor Vanessa Martinez commented, “[The scandal] is really unfortunate because it discounts everyone else who got in on good merit, most especially students of color and low-income who had to work extra hard to get
Photo illustration by Danilo Herger ’20
there versus children of celebrities who didn’t want to go to college in the first place.” In response to the allegations, alumni and future graduates involved in the investigation speculate that their degrees will not be worth as much because future job opportunities will question if the candidate got into the college based on merit.
May 2019
Environment
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
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Youth cry out for action on climate control By David Dorantes ’21
You can not ignore the change in our climate, watching the news and seeing reports on massive hurricanes, flooding, and tornadoes. Chicago just experienced 80 degree temperatures one day followed by a massive snow storm the following day. Even here in San Francisco and the state of California, which had been plagued with extreme drought is now drought free. Climate change is a major topic among many people, and the younger generation is getting more involved. According to NASA, “Earth’s climate is always changing. There have been times when Earth’s climate has been warmer than it is now. There have been times when it has been cooler. These times can last thousands or millions of years.” NASA studies climate change by satellites, looking at the land, air, water, and ice. They study the energy that the sun emanates. Studies show that the planet’s average surface temperature has risen 1.62 degrees fahrenheit since the late 19th century. The reason for the increase in temperature is from increased carbon dioxide emissions such as the mass burning of fossil fuels. If you look at all the cars on the road, the constant traffic congestion, one can not help but wonder what the carbon dioxide is doing to our climate. Our oceans have absorbed much of the increased heat, with the top 700 meters or about 2,300 feet of ocean showing warming of more than 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969. So what does this data mean? An example of this change
from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment shows Greenland lost an average of 286 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2016, and Antarctica lost 127 billion tons of ice per year during the same years. The rate of Antarctica ice mass loss has tripled in the last decade. Because of the ice melting, there has been an increase of water level, which has risen 8 inches in the last century. With this data, the future seems pretty bleak. However, global activist, Greta Thunberg, inspired a world wide protest on the issue of global climate change. In 2018, while watching videos in class about plastic in the ocean, starving polar bears, and feeling as though the adults did not take these issues seriously, she felt that those who were here to protect her and her generation had failed. The 16 year old Swedish activist set out to bring more attention to this issue. Against the wishes of her parents and without the support of her classmates, Thunberg sat outside Swedish parliament with her handmade banners trying to bring attention to this cause. She sat there all day long by herself. The next day, she was joined by others who were concerned with the climate change. Her support grew. Within a year, Greta inspired the Youth 4
Creative Commons Young people from all across the country gathered in Washington, DC to call attention to the need for more work to recognize and fight against Global Warming.
Climate movement. The global youth climate movement has spread around the globe. On March 15, 2,052 events in 123 countries participated in the Global Climate Strike. One of the cities that participated in this march was San Francisco. The goal is to make not only their future, but their children’s future a place where they will be able to live without the need for protective suits. “We are not going to sit and watch our futures being trashed because of their (adult population) addiction to the fossil fuel industry” said Tasmanian Toby Thorpe. The United States government has taken some action in trying
to combat climate change. This included new nationwide fuelefficiency standards for cars and light trucks. States have their own separate laws, with California the state will cap greenhouse gas emissions from factories and power plants, and, eventually, emissions from vehicles. Keeping the climate safe for humans and animals to live on is important, and the focus has shifted to not destroying the planet. In August 2015, then President Obama spoke at the Glacier Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. President Obama stated, “Climate change is no longer some far-off problem; it is happening here, it is happening now.”
Riordan’s summer weather report By Antonio Maffei ’20
Summer is upon us and so is some very interesting weather! First, I wanted to recap some of the weather that we have had in the past year because it has truly been one of the craziest years in terms of atmospheric conditions. It began in November 2018, as the deadly and tragic Camp Fire raged. North/Northeast winds sent smoke and ash from that fire down into the Bay Area, which led to San Francisco and Sacramento having the unhealthiest air on the planet, and also causing the Riordan Administration to cancel school for a day. Then in winter, we had some of the craziest weather that I’ve seen in the Bay Area, including wicked storms and atmospheric rivers, (shoutout to whoever saw me bracing the elements getting some data), hailstorms, and even SNOW on our highest peaks.
But, what’s happening for summer? Well, as always, we will have our classic Karl the Fog around for coastal regions, but I forecast that we will see above average wildfire conditions. You are probably saying, “Antonio, but we had a wet winter, how can we have a wildfire!?” Well, a wet winter is not necessarily good news regarding the potential for wildfires in the summer, especially when summers tend to be dry. This is because the extra precipitation can lead to a more robust growth of grasses and other vegetation that can become fuel for fires as they dry out. I also am forecasting a much
Graphic by Antonio Maffei ’20 The red areas represent where a wildfire is most likely to spark this upcoming fire season due to fire conditions. wetter summer than normal, especially in regions such as the Sierra Nevada, where thunderstorms are common in
summer. Thanks for another year of forecasting, and I’ll see you all next year! Have a great summer!
16 Health & Tech
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
May 2019
Measles outbreak causes health concern By Nicholas Yee ’20
In 2018, there were 21 cases of measles in California. There have already been cases in California this year, 11 of which were outbreak-associated cases, and two that were linked to international travel. One case was from a person in San Francisco. Last year, there were a total of 349 confirmed measle cases nationwide, the second biggest number since the disease was eradicated in 2000. The last major outbreak of measles in California happened to people who visited Disneyland between December 2014 and April 2015. At least 130 people were infected, and the outbreak affected six other states, as well as Mexico, and Canada. Washington State declared a public health emergency near the end of January 2019. New York State declared a health emergency at the beginning of April and is facing its worst outbreak in decades, topping over 200 cases in New York State alone. As of April 26, 2019, there have been 704 confirmed cases of measles in 15 states, including California. Michael O’Brien, the AP Environmental Science teacher and Dean of Academics, said, “All vaccinations, including measles, need to have been done before the beginning of school, which is an Archdiocese rule.” The rashes will first appear on
discredited, but people still believe there is a risk. According to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “In 1998, Andrew Wakefield and colleagues published a paper in the journal Lancet. Wakefield’s hypothesis was that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine caused a series of events that include intestinal inflammation, entrance into the bloodstream of proteins harmful to the brain, and consequent development of autism.” According to the CDC, “Some people have had concerns that Autism Spectrum Disorder might be linked to the vaccines children receive, but studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing ASD.” Every vaccine has a different length of immunity, and a large percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated in order for the disease not to spread. According to the Epidemiologic Reviews, 83 to 95 percent of the population must be immune to measles in order to maintain the herd of immunity. Measles is an airborne disease that can linger for hours. It is highly contagious with an infection rate of 90 percent if one is not vaccinated. The disease is quite miserable, but, most people do not die from measles.
the ears, then will affect the rest of the body. Those who are affected are usually contagious for about four days before the rash starts and four days after. Some may have measles and spread the disease without having any symptoms for weeks. Most of the people who have contracted measles are those who are not vaccinated. If a person gets the shot, they have about a 5 percent chance of catching this disease. For children under 5 years of age, 30 percent are hospitalized. There are numerous reasons as to why parents do not vaccinate their children. One reason is because of their beliefs. Eighteen states, not including California, give parents the option of not vaccinating their child due to their beliefs. Before parents could easily opt out of vaccinations; however, in 2016, California ended the non-medical
CDC. gov immunization exemptions. This did not mean parents were forced to vaccinate their child. Parents could still go to their local doctors to obtain exemptions and send the state health department the reason they are exempting their child from being vaccinated. Subsequently, the Senate Health Committee approved a proposal on April 24 to give state public health officials, instead of local doctors, the power to decide which children can skip their shots before attending school. Another reason parents do not want their child to get vaccinated is because of pamphlets that show potential negative effects of the vaccine: including autism, brain damage, behavioral problems, and cancer. The Centers for Disease Control says these effects are unproven and vaccines are generally safe. An article published linking vaccines to autism has been
at Riordan. Artificial intelligence and robots can outsmart humans by working harder, more precisely, and having almost no rest. They can think just like us, only if engineers are updating daily algorithms and different type of data on a cloud-based program in which the machine can learn. But to really make all this possible, engineers have to spend thousands of dollars, resources, and time, so is it worth it? Bill Gates, stated on January 29, 2015, that over the next 30 years, there will be “rapid” progress in relations with the computers and technology around the world, not just in more developed countries. Artificial intelligence is the area of computer science that emphasizes the creation of intelligent machines that work and react like humans, and at the same time, they think just like us. Thanks to improvements and discoveries over the last few years about how robots can be more intelligent, and think just as humans, they can also learn from experiences and adjust to new data. A.I. first appeared back in 1956, but it became popular a few years ago, for the fact “that computers
have become faster, the appearance of advanced algorithms, cheaper, and their processing data is at a very fast rate,” stated Marrafao. With A.I., one can arguably lessen the risk to expose humans to dangerous journeys. For example, space exploration and the Mars rover, known as Curiosity can travel across the planet without having to risk human lives. As technology advances, many jobs have begun to disappear, since the replacement of human by intelligent machines. As technology lowers costs, people respond in one of two ways: they buy more of the item or spend their saved money elsewhere, creating needed jobs in those areas. As a result, some people are Photo by Owen Beard, Unsplash starting to fear that A.I. can take over humanity and began its own great challenge for society as a race, but super high tech advances whole, because for some people, it will be difficult to be re-trained haven’t arrived yet. Still, Stephen Hawking stated to perform at high skill jobs. on Dec. 2, 2014, that artificial Eventually, new jobs will emerge. A.I. is really not only improving intelligence “could spell the end the world, but human brains. of the human race.” Basic jobs might be replaced, so Even though statistics predict people will need to be re-trained in that it might cause a temporary order to perform different kinds of surge in a high unemployment jobs, which will require a higher rate in the next years, yet there are also positive outcomes. level of education. It could be a
Artificial intelligence impacts future job market By Fabian Aguilar ’19
Artificial Intelligence is invading many industries and warehouses around the world, replacing many jobs. A.I. has been evolving over the years, becoming more a threat for other fields. “Many robots will replace humans in manufacturing and logistics jobs (such as moving objects around, sorting packages, preparing assembly tasks, and tending machines)” according to Stephen McKinley, professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. Rapid changes and progress in the human brain is happening simultaneously because of the type of technology and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between language. From Siri (Apple personal intelligent assistant) to Tesla autonomous self-driving cars, artificial intelligence is growing at a fast rate. “A lot of technology changes at a faster phase never seen before,” said William Marrafao, engineering program instructor
May 2019
Sports
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
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Baseball team rounds bases final time on grass field By Jack McBride ’19
The varsity baseball team had a bumpy season, with a season coming to a close with a 0-14 in regular season games. The odds seemed to be stacked against them with early season injuries and a young team consisting of nine seniors, eight juniors, and two sophomores they were “facing some of the best teams in the state of California and the United States” said Julian Castillo ’19, the team’s 2nd baseman. Valley Christian’s baseball team is proud to say that they are one of the best in the nation with a 10-2 record in WCAL. Archbishop Mitty also boasts an impressive record with baseball inside the regular season and out.
With these impressive odds against them, the Varsity team has kept their heads up and are optimistically looking for an unlikely upset versus the infamous Valley Christian in their first postseason game. “Even if we don’t get em’ this year, we’ll get them in the next one” said Randy Aberouette ’20, a hopeful junior who was not ready to give up on this season and more then ready for the next. Coach Brandon Ramsey also has high hopes for the future of the program. “I believe the turf field will help out a lot with practice time,” he said. Aberouette added, “We have great potential. We just need to understand that.”
The team’s optimism is certainly not hurting them. The younger players are looking forward to the next season. With combination of a new field and Varsity experience, the team can go nowhere but up in the upcoming season. Coach Ramsey said, “I love these guys and can’t say enough on how proud of them I am. I believe this group will all grow up to be great leaders in the future.”
Photo by Alex Hsing ’21 Julian Castillo ’19 turns a double play.
Track and field team dashes into spring season
By Gabriel Santos ’21
Varsity track and field started off with a tough loss to Junipero Serra 98-17. Although they won the the second meet they participated in against Valley Christian High School, they
Photo by Alex Hsing ’21 Chris Balingit ’19 runs track. haven’t been able to pick up any wins recently. Much time was taken to prepare for the upcoming season, with preseason workouts and training, so getting a win
in their second outing in a very competitive league may have been a result of their preparation. Harry Casey ’21 said, “So our coaches, Coach Matt Ilarina and Coach Mark Thompson prepared us well because they helped us stretch every day and make sure we weren’t injured. We would also do many drills and exercises to help us improve in our ability to stay in shape and get faster.” Many of the meets were eventful, while wins were well within reach, but the Crusaders have not been able to grasp any since the Valley Christian meet. After this victory, the Crusaders were looking to keep the momentum rolling, yet came up short against Bellarmine 11615. Next, was the Fighting Irish of Sacred Heart Cathedral where they battled hard, but came up short 71-45. The last two meets have been
against St. Ignatius with a loss 84-36, and their most recent loss against St. Francis 114-19. While the regular season might not have gone as planned, the Crusaders look forward to the West Catholic Athletic League Championships. Casey said, “Our season is going well and we have a lot of competition knowing that we are in the WCAL. Overall our runners have improved in many ways such as speed, form, and ability.” The team faced adversity and overcame roadblocks, and their improvement may be a predictor for years to come. Azaan Ledbetter ’21 said, “There’s a lot of untouched potential on our track team. We have a strong sprint team, with our just as strong long distance team. This year was an experience to see what we could do in the years ahead of us.”
Lacrosse team slings its way to winning record By Steven Elsner ’20
The lacrosse team has been playing well this season, with a a record of 5 wins and 5 losses, which include wins against Washington in Fremont, and Hillsdale. It has been a better season for the lacrosse team this year. The team has played fewer games this year than they did last year. The Crusaders started the season of with a 0-2 loss versus Bay School. Then the Crusaders went on a two game winning streak then a four game losing streak. The lacrosse team has won their last two against Washington in San Francisco and Latino Prep. The coach of the lacrosse team is Coach Brooks. He has been the coach for the last five years, but thinks the program started two or three years before he took over. He used to coach in the Denver
metro area, moved out here,and saw that Riordan needed a coach. He understands how competitive lacrosse is in the Bay Area. Lacrosse has been one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Since not many varsity sports offer much playing time, if a player is willing to put in the work and learn how to play the sport, he has a good chance to see some action on the field. The lacrosse team has never had a home game this year and lacrosse Coach Brooks Thoroughgood said, “Up to this point, we have only had away games. Since we don’t have a field, we have to play at everyone else’s stadium.” He added, “It has been very difficult over the years because these players have consistently
Photo by Alex Hsing ’21 Jared Lindenmuth ’19 (left) and Alonzo Ball ’21 prepare to score. had to rely on their teammates to be their biggest fans. Next year I am hoping to have a few home games on our new field which should change the amount
of fans we have. We do have some parents join us for our away games and that is a true blessing.”
18 Sports
May 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Tennis team weathers tough, rainy season By Aidan Murtagh ’20
The days are getting longer, the birds are chirping, and the plants are blossoming. This can only mean one thing: the Archbishop Riordan Tennis Team is in the full swing of their season. The Riordan tennis team experienced a lot of growth through the season. First, the team received a lot more signups, so the added participation helped ignite further developments within the team. As the team literally grew in size, their training methods transformed as well. For example, the team added weight room sessions with Coach Ryan Jones to their training plan to enhance the skills necessary to succeed in tournaments. Although the team has begun to make many improvements, the process is continuing and work still needs to be made. Junior Cris Navarette explained, “The most obvious example of this is
that Riordan does not have the capacity for tennis courts, so the team has to practice a mile away from school at the Balboa Park Tennis Courts. The main challenge we face as a team is that we don’t have the same resources as other schools, especially those schools we play against.” Another problem this year for the tennis team was the numerous rainouts throughout the season that prevented the team from competing and practicing. Coach Ed Stephens explained, “The rains caused us to reschedule matches to alternative days. We had to reschedule one match twice. Team practice was diverted to the gym and weight room during the rain. We had to deal with adversity. This is a lesson that we will use to remind us of the different things that can occur in life that require making adjustments.” Despite the challenges, the
players and coaches share positive memories about the team’s season. According Stephens, “The high point in the season for the team so far is we are getting stronger and starting to compete rather than being lower-grade against some of the teams. I see that there is a lot of promise ahead for us in the future from some of the veterans. They seem to be dedicated and focused on improving their games” Navarette said, “The best moments I’d say are simply when the team is together because we know how to have fun and not let the stress of a competition get to us.” He added, “I am hopeful for next year because there is always progress, whether it be through new members, coaches or self-improvement. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for our team.”
Photo by Alex Hsing ’21 Caelan Bevan-Abel ’19 warms up before a tennis match at Balboa.
ARHS golf team finds its stroke this season By Jack Calonico ’19 Spring is in the air, and balls are flying off tees as Riordan’s Golf season is officially underway. The team kicked off the season against Sacred Heart Cathedral at the historic Olympic Club, home to the 2012 US Open. The Irish won the match 297-224, but Riordan meets them again later on in the season for a second matchup. Senior leader and four year Riordan golfer, Vince Sanbraillo had this to say about his last year at Riordan, “It’s truly surreal. I can’t believe four years went by like that but I’m excited to finish out the rest of the season with my brothers and the future of the program.” At the Dave Bonetti Classic held at the Crazy Horse Ranch, Riordan took 6th place and showed improvement in many ways. “We’re all getting more comfortable
CrusaderNation Robert DeGroot ’21 lines up his shot.
playing now with practices every Wednesday and we feel especially confident at Harding considering it’s been our home course for the past few years,” Sanbraillo said. After the tournament, the team was back to the regular season, facing top tier schools in the state such as Bellarmine, Saint Ignatius, Archbishop Mitty, Serra, and Valley Christian. The squad couldn’t manage to pull out a league victory in the regular season, but showed major strides in getting better. Dominic Stevens ’20 said, “Recently, I’ve been shooting my best and have confidence in each of my teammates to do well every time we go out for a match.” The teams super matches against their WCAL counterparts of Serra, Mitty, and St. Francis didn’t go as planned, but ended up coming within 4 points of beating Aragon in their regular season match.
NFL boasts successful off season as draft fills needs By Jack Calonico ’19 and Stephen Blecha ’19
After much anticipation, the NFL Draft commenced on April 25. For the past three years, the 49ers have had top 10 picks in the first the first round. In the past, it’s routine that the Niners go defensive line with their number one pick, and this trend continued in 2019. Dillon Fullerton ’19 said, “The 49ers’ biggest need on defense is an edge rusher and maybe a new player for the secondary if we trade back.” The top two candidates for the Niners, according to various mock drafts, were Nick Bosa, Ohio State; and Quinnen Williams, Alabama. John Lynch, GM of the 49ers, said in an interview with the San
Francisco Chronicle, “We are open to trading and even if they go back one spot, that may put us out of the Nick Bosa sweepstakes. On paper, Bosa is the best player for the most glaring need and makes that defensive line filthy.” The last need of the San Francisco 49ers heading into the 2019 NFL Draft is some secondary help. The Niners only racked up one pick six last year which is not the formula to a winning record. “Although their starters are coming back from season ending injuries in 2018, the Niners still need some help back there,” Mike Estrada ’19 said about the 49ers secondary. In a recent article in the Chronicle, the 49ers owner said the team was leaning towards a Bosa pick. Michael Jaurigui ’19
said, “Nick Bosa is a tank, that’s not great, but he’ll be good for the Niners regardless.” In addition to the draft, the NFL off season was off to a hot start. The Steelers Pro Bowl running back Le’veon Bell signed with the New York Jets (of New Jersey) and Legion of Boom captain Earl Thomas III has signed with the Baltimore Ravens. However, probably the most notable move of the offseason was the Giants trading star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns, buffing an already stacked receiving corps of tight end David Njoku and wide receiver Jarvis Landry, Beckham’s teammate from LSU. The Giants received a first round pick, third round pick, and safety Jabrill Peppers in return.
Another notable trade this offseason has been the Oakland Raiders trading for longtime Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. This trade removes the second of three key pieces of the offense that had made the playoffs in the last four years together, missing last year in wake of the Le’veon Bell season long holdout. A third trade with potential to be key is the Arizona Cardinals trading second year quarterback to the Miami Dolphins. This comes after the Cards took twosport quarterback Kyler Murray first overall in the 2019 draft. Murray is expected to be the day one starter, having unsigned from playing baseball for the Oakland Athletics. He also became the first player ever to be selected in the first round of both the MLB and NFL draft.
May 2019
Sports
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
19
Gassner goes for the gold in fencing competitions By Jamar Kittling ’20
When the school year started, Ethan Gassner ’20 already had some impressive accomplishments on his fencing record. Training since childhood and professionally competing since the early age of 10, Gassner won numerous awards in 2018 at the Bratislava World Cup, Pan American World Cup, and Junior Olympics. This year, he continued to add to these achievements. In December 2018, Gassner competed at a Division 1 NAC December national championship, which hosts college as well as Olympic athletes. He got bronze, placing third and ranking next to an Olympian. Gassner said that the key to good fencing is keeping it simple. “... some advice I would give to people starting fencing is to get your basics down and to keep things simple. Fencing is a very in the moment kind of sport so if you think too much during the match,you can get caught up in continues to lead him toward an
Photo provided by Heidi Gassner Ethan Gassner ’20 celebrates a win at a recent fencing competition.
action or create openings.” This basic approach to fencing success. Another facet of fencing is the worldly experience gained. Gassner elaborates on how there
is more obtained from the sport than meets the eye. “I’ve met some of my best friends though fencing, I have gotten to meet many great coaches and have gained great
connections,” he said. “What I enjoy most about fencing is the travel. I’ve gotten to meet a lot different types of people around the world through travel and have learned about many different cultures.” This year, he got ninth place at the Junior World Cup in Lezno, Poland, his career best finish. In addition, he was on the USA team that earned gold in Bogota, Columbia. Along with his Cadet Junior Olympic Gold medal, he qualified for three of the Junior World Cup tournaments. Fencing did present some challenges for Gassner. Multiple knee injuries and pains from the sport may affect his performance. Nevertheless, Gassner shows no signs of slowing down, as just this past spring break he got eighth place in the Division 1 NAC April National Championships. As the end of the school year and summer approach, Gassner will continue on to the next competition.
Tommy John surgery severs baseball community By Steven Rissotto ’20
It takes a strong arm to throw a baseball fast, especially if one is doing it for a living. After all, it’s important to note that arms aren’t designed to throw in high and stressful situations. Throwing could result in numerous injuries, affecting the elbow, shoulder, forearm, and more. Tommy John Surgery is a ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction operation named after former Major League left-handed pitcher Tommy John. In 1974, Dr. Frank Jobe performed the inaugural surgery on John, whose elbow was torn from pitching. At the time, the surgery was extremely risky and there was a chance that an advanced operation like it could cause further damage. It was successful, however, and John took a year off in 1975 to return in 1976. During the surgery, the palmaris tendon is removed from the opposite elbow or hamstring; this is later placed in the elbow. Hundreds of pitchers have had the surgery, but it also occurs to position players. Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager underwent the operation and had the same recovery process that pitchers had. San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson underwent it twice; once in high school and another in 2012. The cause of this epidemic is often debated throughout the baseball community. Some blame year long baseball activities and others blame the velocity in which pitchers throw. In Major League Baseball, players have stronger arms than ever and they continuously train to enhance it via mechanics and offseason workouts. The training in today’s game is far more rigorous than 30 years ago, when players showed up to Spring Training camp out of shape with no sign of throwing during the winter. Joining travel ball teams during the summer could risk overuse of one’s elbow because rest is very rare while playing year-round. Driveline Baseball in Seattle gives perspectives on mechanics and the proper way to save the arm by providing offseason throwing programs that numerous professional pitchers take part in, such as Cleveland Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer.
Orthopedic and Special Medicine Institute Tommy John surgery, named after the pitcher who was the first to undergo the procedure in 1974, has experienced a resurgence. Riordan’s own varsity baseball pitcher Steven Elsner ’20 had a close call this spring when he was diagnosed with a torn UCL after feeling a “pop” during his start against Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton. Elsner has opted to avoid the surgery and will instead embark on a three month rehabilitation program to strengthen his arm. With aspirations to play college baseball, Elsner’s decision is crucial. He said, “I wanted to continue to play high school baseball. If I were to get the surgery, it would have wiped out my entire career at Riordan.”
20 Food Review
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
May 2019
Say cheese! Top five cheeseburgers in Bay Area By Michael Portillo-Ortega ’21
A mouthwatering view of something so small, yet filling, a nicely toasted bun with green lettuce, and a red tomato. This reporter from The Crusader recently reviewed five different burger spots: Nations, The Habit, In-N-Out, Beep’s Burger, and Whiz Burgers. First, I tried The Habit, whose wait time was about five minutes. The Habit was founded on Nov. 15, 1969 in Santa Barbara. It was a family owned business until it was purchased by KarpReilly in 2007. There are 243 locations, and the headquarters are in Irvine.
Their motto is: “Creating Habits Since 1969,” and their website is www.habitburger.com/about-us/. When the burger arrived, it had a nice aroma that made my stomach quake. When I bit into the burger its barbecue char tasted simply exquisite. You can taste the sauce’s tangy flavor, blended in with the crunchy lettuce with the gooey cheese. The French fries were very dry, though, so I would recommend eating them with ketchup. Out of five stars, The Habit’s original Charburger gets four and a half, and is priced at $3.15.
Burger lovers are quickly forming a habit for The Habit. When I went to Nations in Vallejo, it took 10-20 minutes for my burger, and fries to be ready. Nations was founded in 1952 in San Pablo, the headquarters are in El Cerrito. They have several locations around the Bay, including Westlake in Daly City. I went home looking forward to eating my food, but my burger was slightly soggy. Other than my burger being soggy, it was pretty good. The mayo and
cheese had a wonderful taste, while the crunchy lettuce and tomato added a freshness to the burger. I also had a piece of custard pie, which was excellent and I definitely recommend it. Choir Director Christopher Mariano confirmed this, saying, “They have pie, which is another good thing about Nation’s.” Out of five stars, Nation’s receives three and a half stars. The cheeseburger costs $5.10.
Nation’s Giant Burgers also sells various types of pies. The next place was In-n-Out, the meal I was looking forward to the most. In-n-Out features several secret menu items, such as the 6x6, which is six patties and six cheeses. Monkey style, which has French fries inside the burger, Animal Style, which has the spread and grilled onions, and finally, The Flying Dutchman which includes two patties and
cheese. The toasted bun was excellent, and went well with the special spread known as “Animal Style.” The fries were a little too salty for my taste, but other than that, everything was great. The wait time wasn’t as bad as I thought. “In-n-Out drive through is very fast,” said Leonardo Magnaye ’05 House of Bolts Provincial.
Once only available in Southern California, In-N-Out is a Bay Area favorite.
Beep’s on Ocean Avenue has been serving burgers and fries at this location since 1962. Next was Beep’s on Ocean Avenue, and it was quite scrumptious. The burger was delicious and I loved the fries. I think Beep’s has the best fries out of all the places I reviewed. Beep’s Burgers was founded in 1962 and was named after the “beep of the space age satellites.” Beep’s is recently under new management, and better than ever.
Beep’s Burgers website is www. beepsburgers.com/#home. “Beep’s is very tasty. The wait time for the restaurant can be quite long, but the burger is well worth it, along with the French fries, which are the best I’ve ever had,” said Josue Reyes ’21. Out of five stars, Beeps earns four stars. The burger costs $5.75.
Whiz Burgers on South Van Ness has been in business for more than 60 years, and features items such as the one-thirdpound Whiz Burger with “everything” plus two strips of bacon and avocado on a French roll. I enjoyed this burger, as it was probably in the top 10 best burgers I’ve had, in part because of the delicious bun. The cheese melted onto the bun, which was an added bonus. “Whiz Burgers is a good, old place,” said Father John Jimenez, who used to work at St. Charles across the street. Out of five stars, the Whiz burger receives three and a half stars out of five. The Whiz burger costs $5.45.
The Whiz Burger includes two strips of bacon and avocado. Overall, The Habit has the best burger because of the barbecue char, but Beep’s has better, crunchier fries. The Habit is cheap, fast, and delicious.