Campus News, Pages 4 - 9
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VOLUME LXX ISSUE i
SERVING RIORDAN SINCE 1949
Arts & Entertainment, Pages 12-13 Features: Riordan at 70, Page 20
Sports, Pages 21 - 23
October 2019
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY
Riordan institutes new grading system By Brandon Vargas ’20
Archbishop Riordan High School has always embodied a traditional grading system, up until this school year. Transitioning into a skillsbased grading system signifies a new approach the administration is taking: rather than including homework as a considerable part in students’ grades, homework is only considered “practice” in this new grading system. As a result, students’ grades are primarily based on assessments and final exams. According to Michael O’Brien, Dean of Academics, the administration “hope[s] to achieve an accurate measure of student learning based upon departmental criteria schoolwide.” Standards are, according to O’Brien, “a set of criteria and skills that a student needs to be able to master in order to do well in the class…” Standards may vary by academic department, but are consistent within each department. Every class assignment is linked to one or more standards, depending on the department and the teacher. The transition is challenging for
students and parents to comprehend, but teachers have a more difficult task: they are the ones who have to input grades. The teachers have received several training sessions, teaching them how to adopt this new grading system. “This has been a five-year process in developing this system,” said O’Brien. “Teachers have received professional development, in house and off campus, in seminars and other related areas.” In effect, all teachers are equipped with the necessary tools to be able to input grades into PowerSchoolPro successfully. Of course, training is still ongoing. Teachers are inevitably going to run into obstacles while inputting grades. However, teachers now have to work on implementing departmental standards in the classroom, whether that be in the form of lesson plans, lectures, etc. “Our next step,” said O’Brien, “is to give them professional support for instruction in the classroom.” English instructor Diana Assereto encourages students and teachers to use this system to
Photo by Brandon Vargas ’20 Math teacher Mary Ann Datoc helps Ian Slattery ’22 with his work. their advantage: “If students seriously look at standards, students can greatly benefit from knowing what specific skills they need to improve on.” However, Assereto stated that the grading standards are “only as good as the way they’re utilized.” She added, “If students read my feedback, I would be so excited.” If teachers input feedback on PowerSchool, but students fail to analyze the feedback, there is no point to the new grading system. According to Assereto, in order
for the new system to work, “We have to change our whole perception of grading.” Juniors and seniors may be confused by this new system; they have experienced the traditional system for two to three years up to this point. John Gill ’20 said, “I feel like the new grading system may lead to increased stress among students over getting a good grade on a test.”
Please see “Grading system,” on page 8
Field of Dreams develops closer to reality By Steven Rissotto ’20
The long-awaited Mayer Family Field is making monstrous improvements and is nearing completion. The once fairy tale is quickly turning into a reality that individuals forever connected to Riordan have long been waiting for. The first real realization that completion was near was when the school closed down the parking lot for the month of October. The construction team was in need of more space, which meant the faculty and staff had Photo by Antonio Maffei ’20 to relocate their vehicles to the As seen from a drone, the Mayer Family Field is nearing completion. Balboa Reservoir, owned by City storage inside the lot. Just over 20 began to roll out the turf. College of San Francisco. Director of Development John The results of the parking lot rolls of turf were visible for all to shutdown were immediate. Once see, and a clear sign that the field Ring said, “This is going to be a the field was leveled, pebbles and was nearing completion. Once the real sense of pride for everyone pebbles were placed, workers who has supported Riordan. It’s the rolls of turf were placed for
20 percent of our campus, and it’s going to make people feel good. It’s going to help drive enrollment.” The track is also getting a makeover. When the field is complete, the track will be painted over in order to blend the design together, as opposed to having an old track mixed with a new field. The Crusader football team has been widely affected as a result of the construction. Even though they started off at a respectable 2-5 clip, none of their actions have taken place anywhere near Archbishop Riordan High School. The target date for the first
Please see “Field,” on page 8 and a timeline of the construction at rcrusadernews.com
2 Opinion
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Athletes concerned about required game day attire The Crusader Staff Editorial In the last few years, our school has gone through several changes in its clothing policy. First it was the required A plus khakis, a mandate that caused many students to purchase several new articles of clothing in order to align with the dress code. Even though this regulation proved to be a failure, as it was redacted for the 2019-2020 school year, remnants of its rule remain through the uncomfortable legwear that can still be found in nearly every classroom of the school. Now, our student body faces two new regulations: required Riordan polos and required tracksuits for athletic teams. It has been made clear over the last few years that Riordan
students will grumble about even the most insignificant of changes. The protest of students is nothing new, and as such, the current outcry against these regulations would normally be seen as ordinary and dismissible. But lines must be drawn somewhere, and we, the staff of The Crusader, believe that we must stand in opposition to the new regulations on athletic wear. We understand the intentions of the new policy are admirable. Our athletic teams should look good, they should look orderly, and they should maintain uniformity. They represent our school, after all. We wouldn’t want them to look sloppy. Our enmity toward this requirement, therefore, is not as a result of its principle, but
rather its implementation. Our primary insistence is that students should not be required to pay for these uniforms. While $70 may not seem like very much, it could be the difference between a student joining an athletic program and wasting their potential. Issuing a mandatory expense to participate in extracurriculars disincentivizes involvement and is consequently antithetical to the mission of our beloved school. Over and over again, students of Archbishop Riordan have been bombarded with the same message: get involved. We are encouraged to throw ourselves into the activities of the school, and to commit our time and energy to all the school has to offer.
If this is truly the intent of the school, then why would it impose a veritable tax on involvement? It simply does not make sense. Besides, the school already provides uniforms to its teams. Would our school truly consider requirements for football players to purchase their own pads, helmets, and jerseys? Of course not. That would be preposterous. In the same way, the cost of these new uniforms should be placed on the shoulders of the school. Through the school’s purchase of the game day attire, the jackets will be converted from a burden on the most industrious members of our student body into an incentive to join athletic programs.
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.” Editor’s Note The original art for the masthead of this issue of The Crusader was created by Albert “Jim” Brush ’50. In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the newspaper, we are recreating some of the designs from previous decades. The new artwork was created by Miles Poon ’20. Social Media, Online Editor Antonio Maffei ’20 Exchange Editor Cole Anderson ’22 Copy Editor Brandon Vargas ’20
175 Frida Kahlo Way San Francisco, CA 94112 RCrusaderNews.com RCrusaderNews@riordanhs.org
Editor-in-Chief Steven Rissotto ’20 Opinion Editor Michael Gray ’20 News Editors Jamar Kittling ’20 Zachary Phillips ’20 Features Editor Alexander Ruivivar ’20 Sports News Editor Danilo Herger ’20 Sports Features Editor Aidan Murtagh ’20 Arts & Entertainment Editor Ian Martin ’20 Environment & Tech Editor David Dorantes ’21 Religion Editor Michael Conefrey ’21 Health & Science Editor Matt Balmy ’21
Photo Editors Michael Ortega-Portillo ’21 JJ Trujeque ’21 Art Director Miles Poon ’20 Staff Reporters Cameron Bevan-Abel ’22 Henry Bensurto ’20 Dominic Borrego ’20 CJ Cabanero ’21 Elijah Calip ’22 Christian Ramirez Cortes ’22 Michael Curran ’20 Sean DiNicola ’22 Sebastian Elsner ’23 Steven Elsner ’20 Logan Estrada ’22 Jonathan Godoy ’21 Mauricio Granera ’23 Massimo Hoffman ’20 Andrei Lynch ’22 Nathan Loeffler Malatesta ’23 Aysaiah Radoc Manrique ’21 Jordan Tyler Maralit ’21 Lizandro Munoz ’22 Christopher Murray ’22 Jordan Noeuku ’21 Grayson Salomon ’22 Nicholas Yee ’20 Adviser Susan Sutton, CJE
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.
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editors 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 the letter 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.
Corrections and Clarifications
The Crusader strives to maintain journalistic standards of accuracy and integrity at all times. We therefore wish to acknowledge and correct the following in the May 2019 edition: In the article headlined “Groundbreaking moment finally arrives,” we noted that donors contributed “$1.3 million into the field project.” This is incorrect. The correct amount is $3.1 million. In the article about the golf team, a student was quoted who was no longer on the team. In the review on “Urinetown,” our reporter wrote that the play was three hours long. In reality, it was approximately two and a half hours long, including intermission. The Crusader regrets these errors, which were corrected on our website.
October 2019
Opinion
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
3
Vaping epidemic causes health crisis for teens
Riordan Roundtable By Matt Balmy ’21 Vaping has skyrocketed to one of the most discussed topics among Americans today due to an increasing amount of people being hospitalized with lung disease. Vaping is one of many options for people trying to quit smoking cigarettes, but is it the most effective? In my opinion, no. I say no because teenagers have found ways to get their hands on these devices. The fruity flavors seem appealing to the youth, making it easier for underage kids to try vaping nicotine, which is just as addictive as heroin. What was thought of as a good idea to help smokers quit is doing the opposite by helping teenagers start early age nicotine addictions. San Francisco is one of the front runners in making an attempt to stop youth vaping by banning vapes entirely. This is a good move in my eyes because now people over the age of 21 cannot go into a smoke shop and buy a JUUL for a 16 year old. This alone will not stop youth vaping though, because San Mateo County still allows stores to sell vapes, and even worse, vapes with fruity flavors. President Donald Trump is working on a ban of vapes for the
Spartan Spear
By Christina Marie Green ’20
entire country, and while I don’t think this is a bad idea, it will not entirely stop youth vaping. There are many alternatives for quitting without vaping, and some of these alternatives include nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and going cold turkey. Many of the vaping deaths are caused by vitamin e being inhaled into the lungs, which happens because teenagers are buying fake marijuana vapes from street dealers trying to make quick money. There are also pesticides and other additives in these vapes, causing lung disease. A solution to this is to only buy products from legitimate dispensaries, or, not inhaling foreign substances into your body at all.
There has recently been an increase in deaths and illnesses connected to vaping in the United States. Vaping, also known as JUULing, has become more and more popular with middle school and high school students. As a result, teens are at risk of stumbling into a new health crisis. What is vaping? Vaping means using an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or other devices to inhale tiny puffs or clouds of vapor. E-cigarettes are batterypowered, delivering nicotine and other chemicals and metals (such as acetone, aluminum, iron, lead, and more) through a liquid (called e-juice), which turns into a vapor when using the device. Many of today’s youth have the misconception that vaping devices only deliver water vapor and flavoring. However, even e-cigarettes that claim to have no nicotine still have other chemicals such as benzene, which can have short-term effects like drowsiness and dizziness, and potential longterm effects like blood disorders and negative impacts on a woman’s reproductive health. Recently, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted
unanimously to ban the sale and distribution of all e-cigarettes in San Francisco. Mayor London Breed has signed this “SF Vaping Ban” to be enforced starting in early 2020. Although this is progress against the crisis of vaping in San Francisco, we must do more to prevent youth vaping. The best thing we can do now is to inform young people about this potential health crisis. Schools should educate their students on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, especially given the promotion and positive messaging young people see on social media around vaping. Acknowledging that these products will still be available coming from other communities, education will be key to guiding young people toward healthier and better lives.
Is new grading policy beneficial to students? Michael’s Mandate
By Michael Gray ’20 The recent change in the school’s grading system to a standards based policy, one with greater emphasis on assessments, has raised questions over the ability of such a program to enrich Riordan’s educational value. Although some may view this new policy with skepticism over its effectiveness, further examination reveals that this new system is not only better for the well being of students, but a better way to teach students course material. In weighing assessments such as projects, presentations, tests, and quizzes as the large majority of the grade, students are given specific focused tasks to complete instead of busywork assigned out of a perceived necessity for homework. Homework, or “practice” assignments, which once made up a good part of a student’s grade, are now worth no more than 5 percent, thereby allowing students to focus on practice assignments for concepts they do not understand and put less of their time into learning concepts they already know.
Pro
Less busywork and a decreased emphasis on homework gives a student more breathing room to complete assignments at their own pace, taking the stress off of their shoulders. At the same time, these assessments are a better indication of how well a student understands the material. Instead of using homework to bolster grades, grading based on assessments provides a more accurate representation of a student’s mastery of his coursework. Teachers are therefore better able to know which students are legitimately struggling with the course’s concepts without the homework grade to obscure their view. Lastly, a standards based grading system allows for clearer objectives for students, giving them more direction in their study and practice of material. These new grading policies may seem strange to many, but their implementation creates a less stressful and more educational environment for our student body, resulting in an overall positive impact on the school.
Dominic’s Decree
By Dominic Borrego ’20 The grading policy of Archbishop Riordan has changed to be more focused on assessments, and less on practice assignments like homework. This new policy for all classes is not the positive change that some see it as. In classrooms around school, teachers are assigning “practice” instead of homework, where it can only be graded as 0-5 percent of a student’s grade. This may seem like an excuse for students not to do homework, but this is deceptive and misleading. The whole reason homework is assigned is to prepare you for the test, and if you do not complete a practice for a test, the grade will reflect a lack of preparation. Before the change, homework counted for much more, which encouraged students to complete the work to help them prepare for the test. Speaking of the old value of homework, under the old way of grading, some classes were completely homework and class work based, which rewarded participation and hard work. Usually, students who did homework did well on tests, and
Con
if they were not getting the best scores on the exams, the large homework buffer helped their grade. The word “buffer” makes it seem like the homework grade inflated a person’s grade, but this, in my opinion, is wrong. If you were to do all the work in a class, and fail a test, it can mean a multitude of things. It could be that you are a bad test taker. It would not be fair that you completed the homework flawlessly, but your test brought it down heavily. The old grading system allowed for a student to show the teacher that he knew the content, and his grade could still stay afloat while the teacher determined a new assessment for that student. In addition, PowerSchool may look deceptive. With a grade based mostly on assessments, teachers who do not often give quizzes or tests may not update grades because they have no assignments that can affect the student’s grade. This can result in a student having a bad grade for longer than he should. In short, our old grading system felt right.
4 Campus News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
October 2019
Russi rocks annual Frosh Olympics By Massimo Hoffmann ’20
On Friday, Aug. 30, in the Riordan gym, new bonds were formed within the freshman class at this year’s Frosh Olympics. As hundreds of upperclassmen spectators filed into the gym to watch their freshmen successors, many of them knew it meant more than a few games. In addition to being a fun way to introduce students to Riordan, it also serves as a way to get accustomed to the school’s culture. Freshmen competed against each other in Houses, squaring off in various games such as a plastic cup pyramid knockdown, athletics race, and musical chairs. One of the later events included an arm wrestling match between the Dean of Students Juan Zumbado ’98 and the Crusader mascot. Instead of being just another rally, it turned into something that students at Riordan cherish, and jumpstarted the newest class into their high school career. As the Class of 2023 embarked on an exciting journey that may set up their path for life, the Olympics were
there to remind them that it’s okay to have fun, and to not grow up so fast. When students walked in, they heard the echoes of the band playing at full steam, and the exuberant crowd ready to cheer for the freshmen representing their house. This year, Frosh Olympics was held during school hours, which helped raise involvement and show the Class of 2023 that all students are brothers, and support each other every step of the way. After a series of games, the houses were awarded points, scored out of 100, and it was a close one. Russi took the win at 100 points with Bolts following behind at 90, Pilar at 80, and last but not least, Cana at 70. Even though one house remained victorious, all houses walked away with something gained. “To me, it felt like something that can make the bond between us freshmen closer,” said Jordan McQueen, a participant. In this way, the freshmen got a glimpse of what Riordan is all about, brotherhood.
Photo by Antonio Maffei ’20 Representatives from every house participated in a massive game of musical chairs as part of the annual Frosh Olympics competition.
Crusaders connect through carpool By Mauricio Granera ’23 Getting to school on time can be a challenge, especially for those who come from far away. But not to worry, Archbishop Riordan is developing a plan to help students who come from the Southern Peninsula get to school on time. Starting in the next 90 days, students will be able to sign up for a carpool service that will help them get to school in a timely and efficient manner. There will be a fee for the service, which will become factored into the yearly school tuition fees. The Riordan Carpool Service will pick up students and drop them off on the Peninsula, as far south as San Mateo. According to Admissions Director Danny Curtin ’08, there is talk of using buses or vans from a company named Zoom, or using an in house vendor to provide transportation. The vehicles will be marked with the company’s name and/or the Riordan crest, just like the one that is on the formal dress sweater. The vehicles will be able to accommodate up to 12 people each. The drivers will be the same, most of the time, to avoid confusion. Students who use the service will not have to worry about being late because of traffic, according to Admissions Enrollment Coordinator Matt Fochtman said, “Students will not be marked late!” Students interested in using the service will be able to request a ride on a Google form sent through a nightly email. If a student needs to cancel a ride, they can email Curtin a day before to notify him. For now, Riordan does not have a name for this service, but Curtin said, “We will take suggestions.” For questions or suggestions, please email Curtin at dcurtin@riordanhs.org.
October 2019
Campus News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
5
Crusaders collect coins for AIDS Penny Drive By David Dorantes ’21
Bolts came in second with $1,254.74 Pilar landed in third with $673.57. Russi came in last, raising $572.70. During the drive, students were able to deduct points from a house by emptying out their pockets of loose change and putting them into their house rival’s jar. The House of Bolts was targeted with the most, with $371.74. Cana followed with $261.39, and Pilar and Russi had $231.57 and 256.70 respectively. Keeney said, “We raised a total of $4,183.40. We are still very happy with the amount we collected.” The money is donated to Gift of Love, which is run by the Missionaries of Charity in Pacifica. Gift of Love is a hospice facility for patients who suffer from severe to life threatening cases of AIDS. One of Billy Choy’s statements was, “If hatred could burn the world down, then imagine what love could do.” There was both love and competition, this year in the Penny Drive.
The 2019 Billy Choy ’06 AIDS Penny Drive took place between Aug. 26 and Sept. 6. As always, the students at Riordan made the Penny Drive a success. The AIDS Penny Drive is conducted in honor of Riordan alumnus, Billy Choy ’06, who was born with AIDS and died Sept. 26, 2015. The four houses competed against one another to raise funds for the drive. Joshua Keeney, moderator of the AIDS Penny Drive, said, “The house system enables us to engage in healthy competition aimed at bettering ourselves and our community at large.” He added, “Although intentions for donating money for some may aim at beating another house, the act of giving alms, or giving from one’s own means is a holy habit that we try to encourage. Hopefully, intentions can become more noble as people mature and see the meaningful impact of their donations.” Cana raised the most money, with $1,682.39. The House of Photo by Jordan Maralit ’21 CORE team members CJ Cabanero ’21 and Aysaiah Radoc Manrique ’21 count coins collected for the annual Billy Choy AIDS Penny Drive.
Summer reading speaks to students By Sean DiNicola ’22
When Laurie Halse Anderson wrote Speak in 1999, social media didn’t exist, cell phones didn’t do much more than make calls, and the founder of Snapchat was still in elementary school. Speak, which was the summer reading assignment, is a semiautobiographical novel about sexual assault and having the courage to tell one’s story. The main character, Melinda, is attacked by a fellow student at a party and keeps the details of the assault to herself. She ends up isolating herself from the other students, often in a janitor’s closet at school, and then stops speaking altogether. She tells her story at the end of the novel after some major reflection and encouragement from an empathetic art teacher. So, 20 years after its publication, would the story have played out differently if it was set in 2019? “I think the age of smartphones would have a great impact on the story of Speak,” said Arav Patel ’22. “Right now, more women are
speaking up about their assault stories with the #metoo movement. This movement and how the people received it would have a huge impact on the story of Speak.” Unlike past years, Speak was the only choice for all students at Riordan. This decision was for good reason, according to Principal Tim Reardon. “As you might know, over the past couple of years, we’ve had a few incidences of Riordan boys making comments or acting in ways that show disrespect, insensitivity, or just ignorance toward girls and women,” he said. “I thought this book would help our guys develop a more informed perspective regarding the challenges that girls face in society.” He added that he felt the Mentor Group system was a great forum for students to talk about the more difficult themes the novel presents. “Using the One School, One Book format seems like the most efficient way to get everyone talking about this important
Photo illustration by Antonio Maffei ’20 This summer, students read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. topic,” he said. The story was eye-opening for students, overall, and gave them a different perspective on sexual violence. Although this story takes place two decades ago, the
message remains important. Patel said, “The main thing I got out of the book was that you should always speak up about the situation you are going through and always try to find help.”
6 Campus News
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Address change causes delivery dilemmas By Christopher Murray ’22
With the new address change for Archbishop Riordan High School last year came a few difficulties. Last year, after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to rename Phelan Avenue Frida Kahlo Way, the disruption of deliveries and general confusion began almost immediately. When the address was changed from 175 Phelan Ave. to 175 Frida Kahlo Way, delivery drivers either misplaced packages or failed to deliver them altogether because they didn’t know whether the address was on Phelan or Frida Kahlo, even though the street signs clearly display the new name in large font with Phelan in a smaller font in parentheses. One major problem could be Archbishop Riordan doesn’t have a visible address in the front of the school showing 175 Frida Kahlo. English and journalism teacher Susan Sutton has had two schoolrelated packages either go missing or deemed “undeliverable” by Amazon. “In April, a huge box of supplies for the national journalism
convention was marked ‘delivered,’ but the package was nowhere on campus,” Sutton said. “With only days before the convention, I had to re-order and have the supplies sent to my house to ensure delivery. Fortunately, the package arrived in time, and I was refunded for the first box, which never materialized.” That was not the last time. “It happened again this year,” Sutton said, “when I ordered reporter’s notebooks for The Crusader staff. The driver could not find the address, so the box went back to Amazon.” Depending on the driver, some deliver the package, and some don’t. The new school year has arrived, and the confusion continues. The school’s envelopes and letterhead still carry the Phelan Avenue address, which is allowed for five years after a street name change. Also, with the new school year in full swing, the school hosts SAT and SSAT tests on Saturdays, and before a recent test, there were about 10 families asking Receptionist Cara Garcia to
Photo by Michael Ortega-Portillo ’21 Since the name change of Phelan Avenue to Frida Kahlo Way, deliveries to campus have gone missing. confirm the location. Teachers and students have also had difficulty with Lyft and Uber finding the pickup spot, noting that the GPS directs drivers to stop on Judson Avenue. President Andrew Currier noted that there used to be an
address sign in front and that it was removed years ago. While there are no definite plans to replace it any time soon, he is open to the possibility of increasing the school’s visibility and presence on the street formerly known as Phelan Avenue.
Prep Shop closes, opens online store By Brandon Vargas ’20
Over the summer, Riordan transitioned from a Prep Shop located on campus to an Online Prep Shop. This change was facilitated by the ARHS administration, with the help of a Uniform Committee. The committee, comprised of parents and administrators, worked closely with Dr. Andrew Currier, Riordan’s President, for several months prior to the beginning of the school year. Martha Ball, the head of the uniform committee, stated the decision to switch to an Online Prep Shop was not difficult. “The cost of maintaining a brick and mortar shop on campus was exceeding the revenue potential,” she said. In other words, the Prep Shop on campus was too expensive to run; Riordan was losing money as a result. The decision to switch to an Online Shop also stems from the great leftover inventory the brick and mortar Prep Shop contained. According to Dr. Currier, the Prep Shop had a “large scale of inventory on khakis for very odd sizes.” There were several khakis with size 46 inches by 43 inches, and the Prep Shop would just end up carrying those khakis forever. In effect, Riordan would not be generating revenue. This change
ensures that Riordan will not load up on inventory, but instead make a profit from every purchase made on the Online Shop. The decision to switch to an Online Shop involved the committee conducting a survey. According to Dr. Currier, the survey found that “people only really use the Prep Shop for uniform shopping once, maybe twice a year.” As a result, the committee felt that switching to a convenient, accessible Online Prep Shop was a strong move. Loads of benefits come out of this new Online Prep Shop. First, Riordan will save tons of money by switching to an online store. Dr. Currier estimates that the school could save anywhere up to $50 to 75 thousand a year. In addition, Ball loves the “onestop shopping experience” the online store offers. Most parents were previously unable to visit the Prep Shop on campus because it was only open during work hours. This new setup is meant to be more convenient and useful for parents. However, some parents prefer seeing clothing articles in person before purchasing them. In order to address this issue, the Mobile Prep Shop will be accessible at home sports games. Through the Mobile Prep Shop, parents and
supporters will be able to purchase Riordan gear at home games. According to Dr. Currier, the physical Prep Shop will now warehouse inventory for the Mobile Prep Shop. “We wanted to keep the best of what the Prep Shop had to offer at home games, while pushing the majority of the traffic and business toward the online store,” he said. The Online Prep Shop boasts a lineup of new gear in comparison to the brick and mortar Prep Shop. According to Jay’Sen Morris,
who is in charge of the Online Shop, everything in the Online Prep Shop is new, except for the formal sweaters and ties. Morris also mentioned that hoodies, women’s wear, and other items will be available as the Prep Shop expands its inventory. “There isn’t any thought of going back to a physical prep shop in the near future,” said Morris. “In the long run, for all parties involved, going to an online prep shop is the most beneficial.”
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Campus News 7
School launches state-of-the-art website By Grayson Salomon ’22
The Riordan website got a fresh, new upgrade. This fall, the Crusader website got a new design, with new features and plenty of items to see, according to Victoria Terheyden, Director of Communications. “I think this site will show who we are as a people and as a school community,” said Terheyden, who has been working on the website for about four months now. This is the fourth time the Riordan website has seen a new design, with the last time being about eight years ago. A redesign of a website usually happens every three to five years. This year, there are a wide variety of new features with the new website, which includes lots of new visuals, such as animations and videos.
It is also more friendly and easier to navigate than previous years. A major feature is the new translate feature. This feature allows the entire website to be translated into different languages ranging from Mandarin to Spanish. This will make it easier for foreign students and parents to keep up on what’s new around campus. One big improvement is the calendar. With the upgrade, it is now color coded and way smoother to use than previous years. Another feature is the map. This purple and gold map shows all the countries students and faculty have lived in to show how diverse the community is. These are just a few of the features that have been integrated into the website, and there are many more to be found by everyone who views it.
riordanhs.org Students like the new website due to its more organized look and how user friendly it is. Marcellus Edwards ’22 said, “My favorite feature of this new Riordan website is how organized it is. It gives more information while still looking good and running fluently.”
Santino Woo ’22 stated, “It shows what Riordan is all about.” Everyone likes this new website and seem to prefer this version instead of the previous one. Edwards added, “I think the new Riordan website is great. It’s good to see how Riordan is constantly improving.”
them become better people in their thoughts, actions, and words. The club meets every Tuesday in the lecture hall during lunch. The Sailing Club was started The Sailing Club is new to Riordan. by experienced life, including the rights of the students Declan Donovan ’22 unborn–those in the womb from and Jameson Datoc ’23. They conception to birth. This club also created a racing team, and also supports movements for this competed with Howard Kim. In cause, such as the Walk For Life their first race, out of the Golden campaign, which also supports Gate Yacht Club, they finished pro-life. They meet every Friday in 2nd place, which helped at lunch. boost interest and raise spirits. The YKNOT Mentality Club, The Sailing Club meets every a club founded by counselor Wednesday in room 103 at 12:30. and coach David Lin, focuses “If anyone’s interested, they on personal empowerment and could check it out. Right now positive thoughts. Through the were are learning about different club, members can work on boats and strategies,” said Alex targeting the areas that can help Datoc, coordinator of the club.
The Golf Club was started with the purpose of newcomers being taught how to become masters of the green and have fun. This club is also run by Datoc with the assistance of Social Sciences teacher David Elu. “Golf is a gentleman’s game of etiquette, respect, and sportsmanship,” Datoc said. Golf Club meets every Monday in room 219 at 12:30. Seeing a resurgence is the Robotics Club. With the revival of the club, technology continues to have a great influence on students. In this club, students expand their knowledge as they learn skills such as how to build robots and resolve technological problems. Elijah Sebastian Calip ’22 said, “I joined the Robotics Club because I felt it would be fun and exciting to make a piece of metal actually move around and complete tasks. It might help me decide what I want to do later in my life.”
New clubs foster cause for change, brotherhood By Logan Estrada ’22 and Jordan Noeuku ’21
This year, a few new clubs were introduced into Riordan at the annual Club Rush. Here is a closer look at them, and their impacts on the Riordan community. First, the Veteran’s Alliance Club, founded this year by Alex Ruivivar ’20, focuses on supporting our armed forces. This club is also open to any donations that can help fund the military services. Next, the Homework Club. The name is pretty straight forward. The club gives students the opportunity to have time to interact with and help each other with homework. The club is open to all grades. Crusaders for Life, a club started by seniors Adam Kolokotrones, Aidan Murtagh, Zachary Phillips, and Religious Studies teacher Joshua Keeney, supports the Christian philosophy of pro-
Athletes build strength brick by brick By JJ Trujeque ’21 A new source of motivation in work ethic, attendance, and attitude was unveiled for all aspiring athletes participating in Archbishop Riordan athletics for the 2019-2020 school year in the form of weight bricks. There are three tiers of weight bricks: black is for training during the summer, purple is for training during the school year, and gold is for those that accomplish both. The black weight bricks have been around since the summer of 2018 where athletes were able to earn one in their sport. A year later, Jones decided to implement two more tiers of bricks, thus instituting a new tradition within Riordan athletics.
Ryan Jones ’08, explained, “The initial idea came from the construction that’s happening outside. I was talking with our athletic directors about how do we build a strong athletic program. When you’re talking about the concept of building, what’s a core concept of that? You have your materials and that’s where the bricks come in. You’re trying to build a program, and you do that brick by brick.” The bricks are stacked in the front frame of Jones’ office window inside of the gym workout center. Jones said, “I want to keep this for as long as I’m here, and I plan on being here a long time. I want it to be something that you can come back to and see your name on the wall.”
Photo by JJ Trujeque ’21
8 Campus News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
October 2019
Cafeteria brings appetizing upgrades to the table By Elijah Calip ’22
After a long summer break, school was finally back in session in August, and students were greeted by lots of changes to the cafeteria. Chaminade Hall had definitely changed from last year. One of the major changes is the moving of microwaves for the new refrigerators, sponsored by Deja Blue. Students see the refrigerators as an improvement, due to its diverse selection of drinks at reasonable prices. The new drinks include Gatorade, Hansen’s Natural Soda, 7Up, and more. The refrigerators also hold a new item on the school’s menu: Cold Take Away. This new part of the menu has a Signature Sandwich that could be bought with a drink for just about $7.00.
The next change is the transition to My School Bucks as the new payment for lunches. My School Bucks has its own app that makes it easier to obtain purchases, meal balances, and allows students, staff, and teachers to make payments from the touch of a phone. It also offers benefits such as support, low balance alerts, security, and especially helpful, automatic payments. Furthermore, the addition of My School Bucks has made it easier for students to transfer paper money into digital money. Instead of going to the Prep Shop to add money like last year, students can transfer money directly to the cashier. Having an easier payment method has definitely improved the cafeteria for the staff and for the students.
The new changes to the cafeteria have garnered positive and negative feedback from students. John Kosewic, ’22, stated, “I feel like the cafeteria changes have been positive. However, on some days, the quality of the food is either good or bad. But on the days the cafe food is good, I like it.” Tyler Chan ’22 said, “I feel that the introduction of My School Bucks has made lines go faster.” With the new changes in the cafeteria, the Crusaders are hopeful that their favorite part of
Photo by Antonio Maffei ’20 Epicurean now uses My School Bucks as payment for snacks at munch and meals at lunch.
the day will continue to be just that.
International Food Festival celebrates diversity By Henry Bensurto ’20
Archbishop Riordan High School hosted its annual International Food Festival on Sept. 21 in Chaminade Hall. More than a dozen booths represented various cultures, showing what food they have to offer. Riordan, a multicultural school, has been hosting the festival for a few years now to promote understanding and appreciation among different cultures that are represented in the school. “The reason why we have a food festival is because the one common thing that everyone shares is food,’’ said Religious Studies teacher and Food Festival participant Kenn Swan.
Francisco Lopez, his fourth year at the festival, serenading the crowd with his guitar, playing tunes such as “La Bamba.” “I think the best part is that everyone is having fun,” he said.
He was followed up with a couple of hula dances, some performed by Swan. A food festival would not be complete without food. The food served from the event ranged from lumpia from the Philippines to Shepherd’s Pie from Ireland and curry from Japan to the kimchi fried rice, cooked by the members of the Asian Students Association Club. “It’s important to celebrate your culture and other people’s cultures,’’ said Jordan Forte ’20, the president of the Asian Student Association. “I think it’s really important that we keep this around for the Riordan community to experience different cultures.”
respective retake policy, allowing students to improve their “I” grade. In addition, assignments with “I’s” only go down to fifty percent, whereas the traditional “F’s” went all the way down to zero. This change was implemented because the administration does not want students to feel as if they cannot raise their grade. According to O’Brien, after
the first quarter, “The amount of students on probation is roughly the same, but [there are] far fewer students ineligible.” There are definitely benefits and drawbacks to this new grading system. What students can expect, however, is just to continue completing assignments. The grades will come, as long as students put in the work.
Photo by Henry Bensurto ’20 The annual food festival featured foods from various cultures. The festival started like other events in Riordan, with a prayer. While people were eating, a DJ played songs from different countries. The entertainment started with
Field, from page 1
home game still remains Nov. 2 against St. Francis, which would mark the first home football game on campus since 2014. As of now, their home games have been played at Jefferson High School in Daly City and practices at Gellert Field. Football player Jordan Renteria ’21 said, “Traveling every day to Gellert is a grind because it’s something new for us, but it’s what we do to get our work in. It’s a hassle, but we have no excuses.” Nov. 9 is on the calendar as the field community opening, and
more information will be released in the coming weeks. The last major event held on the premises was the groundbreaking ceremony on May 14. That marks nearly seven months of construction, which many around the school won’t miss. Jarrell Taylor ’20 reflected, “Just being able to play the first ever football game on it is going to be something special to me and my teammates. It’ll be something I’ll never forget in my lifetime.” With construction wrapping up, the dream of Riordan having a new field is about to come true.
Grading system, from page 1 John Banzon ’20, on the other hand, feels that “it’s kind of cool how [the administration is] trying to make homework not mandatory.” Upperclassmen may be worried about their college transcripts because of this change. Rest assured, “the transcripts look no different than they did before,” said O’Brien. “Report cards,
though, will look a bit different.”Report cards will not include pluses and minuses. Instead, they will only include a letter grade (A, B, C, D, I) and percentages. While “F” denotes “failure,” “I” means “insufficient evidence” in the sense that the student has not shown enough evidence to be given a grade. Each department has its own
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Campus News
9
New teachers, staff welcomed to Riordan By Jonathan Godoy ’21
Brian Davis joined the Math Department this year. Previously an institutional bond trader who worked in finance, Davis knows his way around numbers. He graduated from California State University at Chico. Not only is he involved in math, but he also takes part in the football program as an assistant football coach at all levels.
Laura Flaviani brings her musical talents to Riordan. Prior to Riordan, she worked at St. Anne’s and helped with the Crusader Mixed Choir. Now, she helps with the liturgical choir, Crusader Mixed Choir, and RSP. Flaviani said, “I’m happy to be here and have the opportunity to work with the staff and the boys and their beautiful voices.”
Mark Modeste came from Houston to join the ARHS community. Coach Modeste has lived in San Francisco before and is familiar with Riordan, as his father coached the football team and led them to victory years ago. He is a part of the security team as the Assistant Dean, and Head Football Coach. He hopes to inspire young men on and off the field to follow Christian values.
Kristen Murtagh comes from IBM Watson Health as director of client services. She joined the staff this summer, helping the Development Team, and assisting President Andrew Currier. She has known about Riordan since she was a girl at St. Thomas Moore, and came here for the plays. She has two sons who attend the school, and is glad to join the community in a more prominent way.
Cara Garcia is the front desk receptionist, replacing Nora Birmingham who is now the Attendance Supervisor. Garcia’s prior job was a dispatcher at Stanford Hospital. She is in charge of directing visitors, first aid, and the Daily Bulletin. She is grateful for the opportunity to work here because she is a mother of three, and the brotherhood is inspiring.
Richard Kim, a new addition to the Math Department, graduated from UC San Diego. Before teaching, he was a lawyer. Kim also works with the RSP department. He is excited to see the full extent of Riordan’s community because he has heard people say great things about it, and believes the school lives up to it.
Chris Saunders is not a Sarah Schoellkopf joins the new teacher, but he is new to World Language Department as a Riordan. Saunders previously Spanish teacher. She comes from worked at SI as a teacher and St. Veronica’s Catholic School, coach for the football team. Here, where she was a language teacher, he is a Social Studies teacher and she also taught Spanish and Varsity football coach. He at Piedmont Adult School. enjoys the outdoors and loves to Schoellkopf went to college in go backpacking and skiing. He Connecticut, and completed her is excited for the journey ahead doctoral work in Spanish and of him, and is ready to join the Portuguese at UC Berkeley. Brotherhood. Editor’s Note: Look for more staff features in the December issue.
Mysteries of Mary continue to intrigue all graced by her presence By Steven Rissotto ’20
The story of the Mary statue is one like any other when it comes to folk tales around campus. Located in the courtyard, the statue has many different meanings. However, the historical value it has carries more stock. The Immaculate Conception sculpture has been in the Riordan courtyard for 65 years. In 1957, Gaspare Taini sprang into action when an earthquake struck. Taini was the school’s gardener and his son, Reno, was a sophomore at the time of the quake. The statue survived the jolt, but just barely. Tilted to the side, the elder Taini grabbed Reno and went to find a way to prop it back up. This May, in preparation for the restoration, the junipers that surrounded the statue were removed, and during the summer, lilies that Gespare planted decades ago sprouted up. Reno, who taught at Jefferson High School for about 40 years, recently came on campus to clean up the dated statue. He and V Fontana & Co. teamed up to
power wash and hand scrub the moss and dirt that had taken up residence on the statue. Along with the new look, a plaque will be installed to honor Reno’s father. The wording is still being worked out, and will be a key part of the next phase. “It has always been a focal point of the school, and I wanted to make sure it remained a focal point,” Reno Taini said. “It was put here for a new, young Riordan. Now, generations will continue to enjoy it.” Now that the snake scales under Mary’s feet are clear and visible, the search for the creator is underway. The Crusader is currently undergoing an investigation to figure out who the artist is. Records show that the statue comes from Italy, and is made from Carrara marble. In 1954, it was placed at Riordan to celebrate the centennial of the definition of the Immaculate Conception and the Marianist year. The rest is unknown. Taini said, “Boy, I’d sure love to know who the creator was and connect with their family.”
The Crusader staff Reno Taini ’59 donated his time to beautify the Mary statue.
10 Local News
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
George Washington mural spurs protest, ballot measure By Jordan Maralit ’21
The George Washington mural in George Washington High School has stirred a lot of controversy. In the past few months, the San Francisco school board voted to cover, but not destroy, a mural that depicts the founding father George Washington owning slaves, and the conquest of the Native Americans brought on by colonization of the Americas. The mural, titled “Life of Washington” was commissioned in 1936 under a New Deal era art program and painted by Victor Arnautoff. Arnautoff was a Russian-American painter and professor of art. He worked in San Francisco and the Bay Area from 1925 to 1963, including two decades as a teacher at Stanford University, and was particularly prolific as a muralist during the 1930s. The art has a fresco style. His Washington mural has existed at the school for 83 years. According to the SFUSD, the cost to paint over the art would cost $600,000. The 13 panel, 1,600-square-foot “Life of Washington” mural depicts, among other things, the nation’s first president with slaves — which Washington owned — and directing settlers westward as they step over the body of a dead Native American. By a 4-3 vote, lawmakers approved a plan by board president Stevon Cook to save the mural at George Washington High School from being painted over. Back in June, the board voted to paint over the mural, prompting cheers from supporters, and jeers from others. According to news reports,
Photo by Iker Bautista ’22, Washington High School This mural of George Washington is under scrutiny for its depiction of Native Americans and slaves. Paloma Flores, the program coordinator for the district’s Indian Education Program, told the board Native American children continue to face trauma in their daily lives as the community faces issues including disproportionate rates of suicide. A member of the Pit River Nation, Flores echoed other feelings that the mural evokes pain for African American and Native American students who must walk by it every day to get to class. “It’s not a matter of censorship, it’s a matter of human right: the right to learn without hostile environments,” Flores said. “Even the best intentions do harm.” Danny Glover, actor, civil rights activist, and Washington High School alumnus, disagreed with the decision. He wanted to preserve the art, despite knowing
that it made many students uncomfortable. Glover, an African American, said painting over the mural would be government sanctioned censorship. In news reports, he said, “To destroy them or block them from view would be akin to book burning. We would be missing the opportunity for enhanced historic introspection that this moment has provided us.” Despite the controversy, Glover believes that the board’s decision to block the art is removing history. Virginia Thomas, grandmother of Jamar Kittling ’20 and George Washington High School alumna, Fall Class of 1959, also said, “I think it should remain, and remind people about how it was. We don’t want people to forget... we’re not trying to hide what happened in history.”
Art teacher Irman Arcibal said via email, “Personally, I see the mural as an artwork that is historical in nature. It does not glorify the ways of the past, it teaches about it.” Arcibal also disagreed with the board about plans to cover it, saying, “I do not think it should be covered. It speaks to the history of what happened in this country, and is not something that should be ignored or hidden. Covering it robs viewers of a visual reminder of some things in our collective consciousness that still affect what happens in our world today. It is covering a part of history.” Arcibal suggested,“The best way to preserve the art is to leave it as is. It should not be covered. The time and money that would be spent on covering it would best be allocated to more pressing educational needs.”
City sets sights on Balboa BART parking lot as site of homeless center By Aysaiah Radoc Manrique ’21 City officials of San Francisco have proposed a nearby parking lot to be used as a center for homeless people living in their vehicles. Supervisors Ahsha Safai and Vallie Brown Monday stated this center to be at 500 Geneva Ave., at Balboa Upper Yards, and would give people a safe place to stay and hold social events. On Saturday July 20, a meeting was set to discuss Balboa citizens’ thoughts on the proposal. As of now, the SF Examiner writes, “People would be allowed to reside in the parking lot for 90 days, with options for renewal until housing is made available.” This site, only a few blocks away from Archbishop Riordan High School, would be a temporary one, as officials hope the Balboa Upper Yard will be able to hold a facility with affordable housing for those in need in the future.
Photo by Jamar Kittling ’20 The Balboa BART parking lot may be the site of a new navigation center for the homeless who live in vehicles.
This facility would have 138 housing units; along with lighting, restrooms, a parking lot able to hold 33 vehicles, and security run by community ambassadors. The location of the future facility is quite close to De Wolf Street, home to many homeless people living in their vehicles. Residents on this street wanted to ban parking RV parking on the block, similar to other streets throughout the city. Supervisors Safai and Brown Monday wanted to address this, and the idea for a homeless center at Balboa BART was born. “We’ve seen a rise in homeless people living in their cars in our neighborhood,” Safai told the San Francisco Examiner. “This is an honest conversation, nothing’s been decided yet.” If the community of Balboa Park area agrees with this proposal, Safai and other supervisors expect the building and control of the site for the center to take shape by November of this year.
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Local & State News
11
30 years after Loma Prieta: Are we better prepared? By Steven Rissotto ’20
2019 marks the 30th anniversary of one of the Bay Area’s largest and most destructive disasters. A gigantic 6.9 magnitude earthquake rocked a good segment of Northern California, killing more than 60 people, and injuring a couple of thousand. It was 5:03 p.m. in the Bay Area on Oct. 17, 1989. Although the sun was on its way down, it was still attempting to shine for the fans at Candlestick Park awaiting Game 3 of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics. The crowd was electric and the commute on freeways was intense, as everyone was trying to reach for the television set to tune into the game. A minute later, there was no electricity, literally. People ran for cover and for a handful of moments, nothing was on the human mind. Afterward, the damage was clear. It was the largest quake since 1906, nearly 83 years before. The San Andreas Fault had been due up until this point, and finally gave way. It was later named for the Santa Cruz Mountains section of the faultline, Loma Prieta. English teacher Michael Vezzali-Pascual ’88 was a vendor at Candlestick. “It was kind of exciting at first, then we saw the Bay Bridge. It was really scary, almost like a psychological
were falling down below. The already visibly deteriorating Candlestick Park wasn’t a safe place to play baseball. The Series was canceled for 10 days and when it resumed, the A’s defeated the Giants to complete a sweep of the series. The World Series wasn’t played that night, nor the next night, nor the next night. With the Marina District on fire, players usgs.gov and their families During the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, buildings on landfill, like these covered the field in in the Marina District, collapsed when the 6.9 quake rolled through the City. shock, with pale faces hangover for three days.” being done to lower that risk. all around. Candlestick Park, the Buildings were damaged and About 66 percent of the people home of the Giants, was known sidewalks developed fatigue, killed during the earthquake for its windy atmosphere. which cost just over $5.5 billion to were victims of the Cypress Thirty years later, the bottom repair. The cost that is priceless, Freeway incident. Many local line hasn’t changed. Preparation however, is the lives that were news stations regarded this as is key, and scientific studies show lost. Part of the famous Bay one of the many main events that that the next big earthquake is Bridge, which separated Oakland defined the legacy of an ugly scene on its way. There have been a and San Francisco, collapsed. It in the Bay Area. The upper deck few teasers over the years, but would be rebuilt and re-designed of the freeway collapsed, crushing none significant enough to be little-by-little, but the new design the people on the lower deck. considered “the one.” Everyone has been criticized by commuters Many attending the game that living in Northern California is on both sides of the Bay. day would say that they thought advised to be ready. Officials say that another major the shaking was simply just a Vezzali said, “We just have to quake could snap the bridge large gust of wind, not knowing be prepared. I need to restock my again, but work is frequently that chunks of the upper deck food.”
California promises free community college By Alexander Ruivivar ’20
Free tuition for two years at California community colleges sounds too good to be true. Well, it’s the truth. Governor Gavin Newsom just recently expanded a tuition waiver program, and the number of students who will benefit depends on who qualifies. Melissa Nagar, Riordan’s college counselor, believes this is a good program for students who come from low-income families. “I think that free community college is an excellent program for students,” she said. “I think that access to education is sometimes difficult and we’re moving that barrier of having to pay for general education or whatever programs that a student might be seeking at a community college helps with access.” There are two programs that help pay for tuition at community colleges in California: California College Promise Grant and California College Promise Program. The California College Promise Grant pays community college fees of lower-income, California resident and AB 540 eligible students. The grant is available regardless of how many units the student takes.
The California College Promise Program offers two years free tuition for first and full-time students in California. Full-time students, California residents or AB 540 students, and first-time college students qualify for the Promise Program. California Community Colleges report that about 2.1 million students attend one of the 115 community colleges in California. According to the Governor’s budget summary, 33,000 students are estimated to be eligible for the second year of free tuition under the Promise Program and is budgeted at $42.6 million. That’s about 1.5 percent of students who attend a community college in California, and this program is paid for by the Proposition 98 General Fund. The Promise Program pays for two years of community college if a college chooses to waive fees. A student who attends a California community college is a California resident or exempt from non-resident fees under the California Dream Act, and have financial aid qualify for the Grant Program. There are three ways that students can receive financial aid: Type A, Type B, and Type C.
California Budget and Policy Center According to the California Budget and Policy Center, more than one-third of California community college students already pay no tuition through the help of various government programs.
Under Type A, a student receives Temporary Aid For Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI/SSP), or General Assistance. Under Type B, a student has to meet the
income standards that are based on federal poverty guidelines. Lastly, under Type C, a student has to submit FAFSA or a California Dream Act application (CADAA) and must show that he or she did not meet financial aid.
12 Arts & Entertainment
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
October 2019
Disney to launch new streaming service By Aidan Murtagh ’20
The days when you can watch Disney movies and TV shows on Netflix are numbered. Starting Nov. 12, Disney will have its own streaming network called Disney+ (Disney Plus), and it will end its licensing deal with Netflix. The new Disney+ network will include movies and TV shows from Disney’s wide catalog as well as new, original content. A monthly subscription is only $6.99, which is much cheaper than Netflix’s $12.99 monthly subscription fee. Disney+ is also offering a bundle that offers ESPN+ and Hulu that will cost $12.99. Viewers will now be able to access three different streaming services for the same price that they would pay to access Netflix alone. Disney+ will also allow users to download all videos for offline viewing, while Netflix and Amazon only allow viewers to download some content. Another key difference between Disney+ and other services is that it will release episodes weekly as opposed to whole seasons being released all at once. For viewers, this means that they will not be able to bingewatch their favorite shows all in one sitting unless they wait for the whole season to be released. With Disney’s recent expansions, the service’s content is far from limited. In addition to Disney’s own movies like “Frozen” and “Moana,” viewers will have access to Marvel movies and TV
Wikimedia Commons Disney will launch its own streaming network, Disney+, next month. shows, every Star Wars film and TV show, National Geographic documentaries, every season of “The Simpsons” (thanks to Disney and Fox’s recent merger), and so much more. Despite this abundance of content, Disney+ will not have any Rated R movies in order to maintain its familyfriendly allure. While Disney+ is using all of these TV shows and movies for its streaming site, Netflix will no longer have access to them. Although the company will still have its original TV series and movies, its variety of choices will decrease dramatically, which may lead to viewers revoking their subscriptions.
Economics instructor David Elu explained, “It hurts Netflix not so much as a Netflix versus Disney [competition] but more of a Netflix versus Amazon Prime because Amazon Prime didn’t have [Disney movies and shows] while Netflix did, so families would gravitate towards Netflix, but now that Disney has its own [streaming service], and Netflix no longer has it, Netflix and Amazon are more on par a little bit.” Netflix might have to preparefor a complete change in its functions as a streaming service. Not only does it have another threat in Disney+, but it will now be able to offer significantly less than what
it used to. Coach David Lin ’98 explains the effect of Disney’s breakoff from Netflix, saying “Definitely it is a hassle. Currently, I probably watch Netflix more than I do TV, and I think it would be annoying to have to create a new account and figure out whether I only have to pay for Disney. It just complicates things.” Netflix will soon suffer a major setback and a big hit to their supply after the launch of Disney+. Only time can tell whether their viewers will remain loyal to their platform or cancel their subscriptions for alternative entertainment sites, like Amazon Prime or Disney+.
Minecraft crafts its way to the top By Ian Martin ’20
Fortnite, the popular battle royale game, took the world by storm in 2018. It ruled the entire gaming scene with over 250 million registered players worldwide. There were many competitive tournaments for the game, as well as massive amounts of viewers through Twitch, a popular streaming service for gaming. Certain Twitch streamers like Tfue and Ninja boosted Fortnite’s popularity by playing the game at a pro-level, gaining a massive online following. It seemed that Fortnite was going to be the top dog for years to come until another game began to rise with the help of a certain individual. Pewdiepie, the hit YouTube celebrity, started his own Minecraft series as a meme. Little did he know that the game had been receiving constant updates over the years and many
Photo by Antonio Maffei ’20 After school, engineering students play Minecraft in the Makerspace.
people were not aware of the changes. The publicity the game received from his series boosted the game’s popularity. With the stale gameplay of Fortnite and
many Twitch streamers voicing their bad experiences with the game, Minecraft’s Twitch viewership drastically rose. “Fortnite basically ruined
itself. They added too many new weapons and vehicles that made the game unbalanced,” said Aidan Horgan ’20. Minecraft was in the spotlight again and became the first game to beat Fortnite in viewership in months. Minecraft’s popularity kept rising with the thousands of memes and Keemstar’s “Minecraft Monday” event, a Minecraft tournament where all of the participants are YouTube celebrities. All of the attention Minecraft received basically pushed Minecraft so far past Fortnite in popularity that it left Fortnite in the dust. “Everything has its time in the sun,” said Chris Fern, RCade Club moderator. “The fact that Minecraft is popular again means that it’s possible that Fortnite may return to its golden days.”
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Arts & Entertainment
13
Sweeping the clouds away, ‘Sesame Street’ commemorates 50 years By Jordan Maralit ’21
Today is a sunny day! It is the 50th anniversary of “Sesame Street,” and this year will be a special one for the show. This show has a lot of fan favorites: Bert and Ernie, The Count, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and Elmo. “Sesame Street” was practically everyone’s favorite show growing up. The show first aired on public broadcasting television stations on Nov. 10, 1969, and will reach its 50th season in November 2019. The history of “Sesame Street” reflected changing attitudes to developmental psychology, early childhood education and cultural diversity. Sesame Street introduced values as well as brought lifelong lessons to life. Through Sesame Street, children learned the importance of sharing, understanding differences, and making learning fun. Many consider Infinity War as the biggest crossover of alltime, but the title goes to the collaboration with Jim Henson’s Muppets. It’s a combination of animation, live shorts, humor and celebrity appearances which helped garner appeal from people of all ages. It was the first television program of its kind to base its content and production values on laboratory and formulation research, and the first to include a curriculum, “detailed or stated in terms of measurable outcomes.” RSP coordinator Nate Simon commented on his own memory of the show. When asked about his favorite character, he said, “It was Oscar the Grouch, of course.” Simon said, “I loved it. Now
pbs.org This November, “Sesame Street” will celebrate its 50th anniversary of educating and entertaining children of all ages with fan favorites such as Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover, Elmo, and Abby. looking back as a parent, I like it even more. They tackle some difficult questions in a way that kids can understand. They make diversity and acceptance a central theme at all times, and they make learning fun.” Simon likes all the episodes from “Sesame Street,” saying they are “great, and have had an impact on several generations.” A recently posted poll on The Crusader website asked readers who their favorite “Sesame Street” character was. The results revealed Cookie Monster as the top choice, probably because of his famous song, which proclaims his love for cookies, “C is for cookie, that’s
good enough for me.” Cookie Monster continues to make kids laugh as many love to replicate his voracious cookie eating habits. Radley Simpson ’21 said, “Elmo is my favorite character. He was pretty funny and I grew up with him.” Simpson said, “It gives me a sense of nostalgia, thinking about the show that I watched as a kid.” The new Algebra II/ Trigonometry teacher, Richard Kim, also wanted to share some of his favorite moments with “Sesame Street.” He said, “My favorite character was Ernie.” Kim explained, “My first impression of the show was that
it was a lot of fun. I got to watch a ton of fun characters, sing songs, and learn a little something.” Kim added, “I don’t remember any specific episodes, but I loved the songs The Count would sing. It was definitely my favorite show when I was really young. Also, we didn’t have cable so there were only like, five channels total.” The anniversary will bring people together through social impact initiatives, digital campaigns, and community events that reflect Sesame Street’s unifying messages. “Sesame Street” will still make more episodes, and will spread a positive impact to the kids who are still watching the show.
KFOG radio station signs off the air after nearly 40 years By Michael Curran ’20
The 36-year old, treasured radio station, KFOG, has been replaced by KNBR. Where will the alternative rock fans go? After years of declining ratings, radio station, KFOG shut down last month, after 36 years. “It’s the end of an era,” said English teacher Michael Vezzali-Pascual ’88 a long time KFOG listener who has a BA in Broadcasting from San Francisco State University. The station used to be very popular, but got a lot worse after the March Massacre back in 2016, when they let go many DJs and hosts, and lost shows like Acoustic Sunday and the Morning Show. Three years later, the situation looked bleak. After Sept. 6, the station became KNBR, the sports leader of the Bay Area. KFOG was one of the last alternative rock stations
kfog.com KFOG radio station shut down last month after 36 years. in the Bay. The only place to go for alternative rock now is KITS. Raul Velez ’87 was hired to work at KFOG by another Riordan almunus, Bill Ruck. Velez said, “In the late ’80s
working in radio meant something. There were a lot of personalities and while you may have enjoyed the content a station was playing, you stayed around to hear what the jock was saying. DJs were the original
‘influencers.’ It was just a lot harder to land a gig in the past. Radio is the ‘OG’ of social media.” Some are glad that KNBR is picking up where KFOG left off. KNBR fan Ethan Daly ’20, said, “I never listen to KFOG, but KNBR sounds better on FM.” Vezzali-Pascual said, “I’m bummed it’s gone.” The station first aired in 1960 as KBAY and was changed to KFOG because of the foggy Bay Area. It was originally owned by Kaizer Broadcasting, but in 1974, the station was acquired by General Electric. In 1982, the station’s format changed from more instrumental music to rock. The station was later sold to Susquehanna Radio Corp with the station KNBR for $17.5 million. Susquehanna was merged with Cumulus Media, the current owner of the station. Like a song stuck in your head, KFOG will be remembered.
14 National News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
October 2019
Shootings puncture hole in America’s sense of safety By Michael Conefrey ’21
A series of shootings that occurred across the country over the span of a week left 36 people dead, 68 injured, and millions saddened, but left relatively unsurprised as this deadly trend continues. America was given little time to recover from a shooting that killed four at the Gilroy Garlic Festival before another shooting at an El Paso Walmart killed 22 people and injured an additional 24. Only 13 hours after the attack in El Paso, a gunman in Dayton, Ohio killed 10 and injured 27. “When I first heard about the shootings I was obviously very saddened like so many other people,” said Social Studies teacher Cory Nelson. ”I was planning on going to Outside Lands, which was only two weeks after the Gilroy Garlic Festival attack. I emailed the people in charge to make sure that security was being heightened in response, and they reassured me that the proper precautions were being made.” The perpetrator of the El Paso attack seemed to be motivated by his alleged white-supremacist views, and reportedly told investigators that he “wanted to kill as many Mexicans as possible,” a motive that was seemingly shared by the Gilroy shooter. The Dayton shooter, on the other hand, was a leftist that supported the domestic terror organization “Antifa” and earlier
According to Giffords Law Center, six of the country’s deadliest mass shootings have taken place in the last 10 years.
Giffords Law Center voluntary gun buybacks so that people who don’t feel comfortable with their firearms can turn them in. I also think that we need to seriously invest in mental health programs to give help to people who might be considering violent acts.” President Trump proposed building new mental health facilities to help treat people with complicated mental conditions and curb future shootings. Mental institutions have become less and less prevalent since the 1950s, reducing from 550,000 hospital beds for the mentally to 33,000 in 2016. “We don’t have those institutions anymore, and people can’t get proper care,” said the president to his supporters at a rally shortly after the shootings.
attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. Many Democratic presidential candidates were quick to blame the shootings on President Donald Trump. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker bluntly said in news reports, “Donald Trump is responsible for this. He is responsible because he is failing to condemn white supremacy and see it as it is, which is responsible for such a significant amount of the terrorist attacks.” This statement came prior to multiple occasions in which Trump had denounced white supremacy. Booker’s opponent in the Democratic primaries, Congressman Robert Francis O’Rourke, who is from El Paso, also blamed the president for
the shootings in his hometown. O’Rourke has recently sparked controversy for supporting mandatory gun buybacks, a policy that other Democrats have not yet dared to openly support. When asked at the Democratic debate if he was proposing taking away the firearms of the American people, O’Rourke responded with “Hell yes, we’re going to take away your AR-15, your AK-47.” O’Rourke also called the AR15 a “weapon of war,” despite the model being specifically sold for civilian use. “I definitely don’t think more guns is the answer to the problem, but I don’t exactly agree with mandatory buybacks,” said Nelson. “I do think that we should run
was the U-2. “I believe in the possibility of alien life somewhere else in the universe but I don’t think they would ever bother to visit here,” stated Science Department Chair Colleen O’Rourke. The origin of this event could have been found on Facebook before the event organizers removed it. The event was intended to be a joke and started picking up traction on the internet. Thousands of memes were being shared about it and in the blink of an eye, hundreds of thousands of people had signed up for the event. When the memes were in full swing, more than two million people had signed up for the event and another million people marked that they were interested. “Would I have gone? No, but when I was a huge X-Files fan, probably,” said O’Rourke. With this much attention on raiding a military base, the authorities had to be a little cautious. There are always those who will take things too seriously, so there were extra guards posted at the gates to Area 51 to stop
people from actually raiding it. Only a few thousand alien enthusiasts showed up and they did not cause any trouble. Most of the attendees just stood outside the gates and had friendly conversations with the guards. Many people were surprised that Photo by Jacob Botter via Flickr people actually The Area 51 raid did not play out as advertised. showed up. “I’m not surprised,” said Ethan entrance to Area 51. Due to poor Daly ’20. “There are some crazy management, this event was people out there.” canceled. The event organizer, Roberts, The Area 51 raiders were going took the event down from to barge into the facility using Facebook after so many people the “Naruto running” method. signed up because they feared “Naruto running” is a form of people would actually go in and running from the popular anime, get hurt. As an alternative, a Naruto, where the person in new event called “Alienstock,” a question puts their arms behind music festival, was to be held in their back, leans forward, and Rachel, Nevada. runs as fast as possible. Rachel is a small town near the Nobody was hurt.
Area 51 invaders come in peace By Ian Martin ’20
Area 51 was scheduled to be raided by more than two million people on Sept. 20. “They can’t stop all of us. If we Naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Let’s see them aliens,” posted organizer Matty Roberts. Area 51 is a popular U.S. military base commonly depicted as an alien-holding facility in science-fiction movies. This conspiracy began in 1954, when President Eisenhower gave the green light on a project to start testing secret aircraft to be used in stealth missions to spy on the USSR. The first of these aircraft to be tested was the U-2, which flew at an altitude of 60,000 feet. The next closest military aircraft to this maxed out at around 40,000 feet. Keep in mind that commercial airlines only flew at around 10,000 to 20,000 feet, so to people on the ground or in other aircraft, the U-2 looked like a small speck in the sky, moving around on its own. This is when people started to claim that they saw UFOs, but in reality, it
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
World News
15
Hong Kong protests intensify as government refuses to relent
By Alexander Ruivivar ’20
Hong Kong is facing a major political crisis amid repeated street protests and mass demonstrations. This protest began when the Hong Kong government proposed the Fugitive Offenders amendment bill. If this bill passes, it will allow Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, to extradite criminal fugitives who are wanted in territories that Hong Kong does not have extradition agreements with, including Taiwan and mainland China. Concerns were raised about the bill because it would place Hong Kong citizens and visitors under mainland China jurisdiction, undermining the autonomy of the region, and people’s rights and freedom. To appease the pro-democracy lawmakers, proponents of the bill made some modifications. However, opponents of the bill want it to be withdrawn altogether. On June 9, almost a million people staged a peaceful protest to persuade Lam not to push the bill through Hong Kong’s legislature. Unable to convince her, they staged another protest near the government offices on June 12 to delay the debate that would have expedited the bill’s approval. The protest turned violent, with police firing rubber bullets, tear gas, and beanbags at the protestors; they even arrested a few.
thousands of paramilitary police have been positioned in the city of Shenzhen, ready to silence the protestors’ actions. Experts are still divided about whether the Beijing government will take the drastic measure of sending troops across the border. Some believed they would show their power before Oct. 1, which marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Others thought they would show restraint, given Creative Commons the world’s attention to the unrest and Hong Kong’s Thousands carry umbrellas on the streets of Hong Kong to protest status as an international the Fugitive Offenders amendment bill by the Chinese government. financial hub. Science teacher Lauren Soon after, Lam announced her labeling the demonstrators as Upadhyaya, who was in Hong decision to “indefinitely suspend” “rioters.” They are also seeking the proposal. However, the amnesty for the residents who Kong during the start of the announcement, viewed by most have been arrested under the law protest said, “Unfortunately, I as a delay tactic, only led to more and want the government to start think eventually they will use unrest. Since then, there have an investigation into police abuse. whatever force to crush down the been weekly demonstrations Most importantly, they want Lam protests. It’s hard to say. I think across Hong Kong. to resign and have the right to this obviously could affect the While the retraction of choose Hong Kong’s leader in a global economy. Hong Kong really links the East and West markets the extradition bill remains a democratic election. priority, the violent June 12 While mainland China ignored and losing it to China will lose the encounter with the police has the protests, that has changed as democratic capital, and it will be led to additional demands. The the demonstrations continue to detrimental to the global economy. This has been building up for the residents want officials to stop intensify. Since Aug. 13, last couple of years, since 2014.”
Families demand answers as deaths in Dominican Republic increase By Andrei Lynch ’22
Nearly a dozen people who have recently visited the Dominican Republic died, and many more became ill after visiting certain hotels. Some of the tourists felt sick after eating or drinking items from the hotel mini bars. Other tourists have died of heart attacks and respiratory issues. Officials in the Dominican Republic have stated that the deaths are not connected, but have introduced new safety measures. To date, 11 tourists have died, and many others have experienced illness after drinking or eating something in minibars at these hotels, which include Terra Linda Resort in Sousa, in Punta Gunta, Grand Bahia Principe, and Hard Rock & Casino and the Grand Bahia Principe in La Romana. Some tourists are scared to go back to the Dominican Republic because of the deaths, but the Dominican Republic government states that tourists shouldn’t be afraid of going there. While talking to Time Magazine, The Dominican Republic Tourist Minister said, “The country is the safest place to visit because of our
initiatives.” Vherny Rustrian ’19, stated, “It is the most welcoming place to visit. Tourists should not be afraid to go there, even after the deaths and illnesses.” The FBI got involved, and the Dominican Republic is looking for the truth behind the incidents. Many tourists think that the deaths are connected, and someone is behind it all. Others think every death is separate from the others. The FBI has done toxicology reports and have come up with an answer, which was recently released to the public, according to news reports. Foul play has been ruled out as an answer to the deaths. The Dominican Republic Tourist Minister said the investigation is “overblown and aimed to damage the Dominican Republic’s stellar reputation as a ‘model’ tourist country.” Tourism is a big industry for the Dominican Republic, and tourists, while not afraid, do not want to be the next victims. For the families of the deceased, however, the Dominican Republic is not a safe place to visit.
The victims of these incidents range in age from 31 to 78, and were there for many reasons which include, celebrating birthdays, vacationing, and celebrating Father’s Day. The time frame of these events happening is between April and July 2019. While the FBI continues its investigation, the Dominican T o u r i s t Ministry is godominicanrepublic.com conducting The Dominican Republic is a popular tourist spot. their own investigation, but continues caution to people traveling there. to say that the country is safe, Still, tourists come to the and will continue to be safe Dominican Republic because “it’s for tourists. The United States a beautiful place and the family has not issued a warning, but vibe it provides,” according to has kept Dominican Republic Rustrian. “Who wouldn’t want to level two security, which means go to the Dominican Republic?”
16 Technology
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Coming soon: House system app to be introduced By CJ Cabanero ’21 After a long process, the Archbishop Riordan House App is almost here. There’s an app for everything, and now the Riordan House system has one, which will launch this semester. Antonio Maffei ’20, as well as, Joey Klobas ’07 have been working constantly to get this app out and running. This new app features everything one can possibly think of about the House System: House Points, Riordan’s Best, and even a calendar to keep track of upcoming point opportunities. There is also a cool feature on the app that allows students to communicate with House Provincials, Mentor Group, and Student Parliament. “The application will be likely coming out after the website launches,” Maffei stated. The website has the same
Screen shot by Antonio Maffei ’20 features as the app, however, the app can be more useful to get to faster. With just one click of a button, students can now
automatically access the upcoming news about the House System, rather than going to Safari and typing in the website.
Riordan’s House System is set to introduce a new app.
Final countdown begins for Adobe Flash By Andrei Lynch ’22
At the end of 2020, Adobe Flash will no longer be with us. Adobe Flash was software that allowed the user to support animations and games that were streamed on the internet. The games that supported Adobe Flash player were Cool Math Games, Club Penguin, and Happy Wheels. Adobe Flash will be shut down by blocking Adobe Flash and disabling Adobe from working on the website. Adobe’s official website said, “Specifically, we will stop updating and distributing the Flash Player at the end of 2020 and encourage content creators to migrate any existing Flash content to these new open formats.” Adobe acquired Macromedia Flash Player in 2005. Over the years since then, Adobe Flash started having issues. The issues included, security concerns and hackers. Because of this, many companies and industries don’t run Adobe Flash anymore. The Adobe website stated, “Where we’ve seen a need to push content and interactivity forward, we’ve innovated to meet those needs. Where a format didn’t
exist, we invented one – such as with Flash and Shockwave.” At the very beginning of the internet, people used Adobe Flash to play games, watch animations and also for the library of content on YouTube in the early 2000s. “Everyone who uses computers knows about it,” said Javier Sanchez ’22. In 2007, everything started to fall apart because Apple decided to not allow Adobe Flash on their devices due to the fact of security flaws, and replaced it with HTML5. YouTube also dropped Flash for HTML5. Many browsers have disabled Flash, as people must enable Flash themselves. Microsoft will completely end support for the Adobe Flash in 2020. Adobe will be missed by kids in the 2000s because they loved how they could play games on the internet. John Wu, Director of Technology said, “At school, when the lunch bell rang, my friends and I would try our best to run to the computer lab and played these Flash games together instead of eating lunch.” Shutting down Adobe Flash will impact people who still use those sites that run on it because they will have trouble trying to
Wikimedia Commons Adobe will end support for Flash by the end of 2020. use it. Many industries have been incorporated around Adobe Flash, which includes gaming, videos, and education. They will continue to run Adobe through 2020 and then they must find other players. Adobe isn’t gone forever. Wu said, “I don’t think Flash
will go away completely. It’s not obsolete, it’s just a platform that we could look back on and appreciate it for what it was.” Animation studios use Adobe Flash to make animations for Disenchantment, and many other cartoon shows. Fans can still check out some of the websites that still run on Adobe Flash, such as NewGrounds.com, Cool Math Games, and Y8. Wu said, “Adobe Flash will be remembered by people reminiscing about it and remembering how much enjoyment Adobe Flash helped put in their lives.”
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Religion
17
‘Jesus Shoes’ blesses soles with holy water By Zachary Phillips ’20
Looking for a more modern way to express your faith? The company MSCHF may have come up with a solution with their creation of the “Jesus Shoes.” Contrary to the usual depiction of Jesus wearing sandals, these shoes are a pair of Nike Air Max 97’s decked out with holy water from the River Jordan pumped into the soles, a crucifix, a “drop of blood” on the tongue, and frankincense-scented wool insoles. The shoes were offered for $1,400, but sold out in minutes. But before Christians begin to write a check to purchase a pair, they have to consider their Christian morals in relation to the product. Father John Jimenez discussed how it could be problematic when it comes to buying these shoes. “It’s ok when groups make t-shirts to evangelize. Maybe they make a little money. But, Nike already has a bad track record with having their shoes manufactured in exploitative situations,” Fr. John said. “So this seems like a whitewash to cover up their bad record.” Christians commonly use different items to represent aspects of their faith, such as crucifixes, necklaces, Jesus t-shirts, statues, and more.
MSCHF has turned a pair of Nike Air Max 97 shoes into the “Jesus Shoes,” stirring controversy.
However, some feel like this pair of shoes somehow crosses the line. Religious studies teacher and former seminarian Joshua Keeney commented on how these shoes differentiate from other Christian items. “It’s about intention. What is the intention of it? Is it about evangelization or to make money? They are trying to make money off of Jesus and the relevance of
the River Jordan. But, the image is to make money, not to spread the Gospel.” He added, “There are many religious symbols that are used. Jesus culture is ok. We want Christian symbols. But the intuition behind this is just to make money. In addition, you can’t sell holy water. But the biggest thing is the intention, and that’s what differentiates a youth
group shirt from this.” Even though individuals educated in theology are able to see how buying a pair of these shoes could be wrong, a lot of young people don’t see it as a problem. “I don’t really see what’s wrong with them,” Christian Castillo ’21 said. “They’re actually sick. I’d definitely buy a pair of those.”
SB 360 threatens sanctity of confession By Nicholas Yee ’20
“For Catholics, confession is sacred, and the ability to confess our sins confidentially is essential to your religious belief and practice,” Archbishop Cordeileone said on June 23, 2019. Under Catholic liturgical law, priests are not to share any information during a private confession; however, SB 360, a California bill, would have required members of any religious affiliation, whether it be Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or Orthodox, to report any knowledge of child abuse cases to the authorities, including during private confessions. This would require priests to break the sacramental seal of confession. Oakland’s Bishop Michael Barber was more extensive in saying, “Even if this bill passes, no priest may obey it. I will go to jail before I will obey this attack on our religious freedom.” Most people who are against this bill are religious groups who stand by undisclosed conversation and respect the sanctity of the confessional. Father John Jimenez said, “Whatever a person
tells me in confession is between that person and God and my role is to listen, and if I can help guide them through their problem or sin, then I cannot reveal that to anybody, even to the point of death.” The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act passed in 1980, and there are 46 categories of mandated reporters including teachers, daycare employees, social workers, therapists, etc. who are obligated to report any suspected abuse or neglect to law enforcement. The new bill proposed on May 23, 2019 would have removed the penitential communication exemption from the clergy. In 1997, the act included clergy members as mandated reporters, but they do not have to file a report when they “acquire knowledge or reasonable suspicion… during a penitential communication.” Tomizo Callejas ’20 said that it would “Violate the freedom of religion,” which is the First Amendment in our Constitution. This comes during a time when Catholic clergy are increasingly being accused of scandalous acts, including child abuse.
Photo illustration by Antonio Maffei ’20 SB 360 would have changed the way the law views confessions. The bill passed in the California Senate 30 to 4 on May 23. State Senator Jerry Hill (San Mateo), who is behind this bill, said in media reports, “[The bill] had one purpose only, not to restrict faith, but to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable of the faithful: children.” California withdrew the bill on
July 9. California is not the only state to have proposed a similar law, as states like Connecticut, Mississippi, and Texas have seen similar legislation. However, California is the first state to withdraw this bill, because of so much controversy, especially from members of the Catholic Church.
18 Environment
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
‘Earth’s lungs’ struggle for breath as fire in Amazon rages on By Jamar Kittling ’20
The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most significant areas on Earth, harboring nearly 3 million different plant and animal species, with 400 billion trees absorbing millions of tons of carbon dioxide annually, helping to alleviate the effects of climate change and produce about six percent of the oxygen on Earth. Along with being the “lungs of the Earth” and the most biodiverse area in the world, the Amazon Rainforest also cycles water from the soil to the air, contributing heavily to natural cycles and producing atmospheric rivers that significantly impacts global climate. Despite its importance, this refuge for biodiversity has been under greater threat than ever before, with deforestation through wildfires surging to its highest, threatening the future of the Amazon. Since the year started, 4.6 billion acres of rainforest have been consumed by an estimated 77,000 wildfires, according to theweek.com. Of the fires, 36,000 started in August alone. Today, the deforestation of the Amazon is occuring at an average rate of three football fields a minute: roughly 2,880 feet a second. These fires are killing off wildlife as well as native populations. Smaller animals such as amphibians and reptiles will be unable to flee the fires. Other inhabitants may struggle to find a new habitat, with other areas of the Amazon being
already dense with life. Dr. Alexander Lees from Manchester Metropolitan University, reported to the BBC: “‘It’s not like there’s necessarily lots of spare space,’ he said. ‘Most areas are already at carrying [full] capacity, so they’ll need to displace another individual of the same species from their own territory.’” The loss of animal life deprives many of the indigenous populations of the Amazons of their food and livelihood. The conflagrations continue to destroy their lands. This cruel reality, coupled with the global environmental importance of the Amazon, makes the fires a significant humanitarian issue. Michael O’Brien, AP Environmental Science teacher, said, “What matters is what effect it has on human life.” The blame for this destruction is aimed largely at the Brazilian government. President Jair Bolsonario, who started his term on the New Year, has been a proponent for opening the Amazon for development and economic resources to assuage the struggles of Brazil’s economy. Long time harmful practices such as slash and burn agriculture has been allowed to continue under his administration to promote key industries such as soy and beef. As the situation has grown out of control, Bolsonario has resisted accepting aid, viewing the outside interference from environmentalists and other
Photo by Joshua Stevens for NASA The red areas represent active fires in the Amazon rainforest.
nations as a threat to Brazil’s sovereignty. According to the New York Times, at the G7 summit meeting, Bolsonario said that he would not accept the $22 million in aid unless French President Emmanuel Macron retracted statements claiming Brazil’s inability to handle the situation. Eventually, Brazil accepted $12 million in aid from Britain and temporarily banned the setting of fires in the Amazon to clear land. In many incidences, wildfires are a natural occurrence that benefits the environment. Nutrients left after a fire allow for there to be
new vegetation and boosts the life in the region overall. Theoretically, it should not take long for the Amazon to rebound. “Primary succession [new growth] immediately following the burn will occur within months,” O’Brien said. “Fires are actually a good thing.” However, the issue of the Amazon is both the extent of the conflagrations and agricultural practices afterward. Crops like soy sap all of the nutrients out of the soil and make it infertile, which is why the Brazilians
Please see “Amazon,” on page 19
Mercury levels in murky Lake Merced increase By Antonio Maffei ’20
Not many major cities can boast of having its own, natural lake, but San Francisco can. Lake Merced is a small “freshwater” lake on the southwest corner of San Francisco. The lake is filled with history, beginning when it was discovered in 1775 by Father Pedro Font on the De Anza expedition. According to historical reports, Father Font described discovering Lake Merced, saying, “We saw a grove of live oaks near which is the Laguna de la Merced, where Captain Ribera stopped; and here we saw dozens of bears.” Settlers began to set up tents and villages around the lake, especially amid news that gold was found in California in 1849. At approximately 11p.m. on Nov. 22, 1852, a large shaking was reported to have occurred by those in the areas around the lake. The next day, settlers discovered a fissure around half a mile wide and several hundred yards long through which the waters of Lake Merced were flowing into the
Graphic by Antonio Maffei ’20 This overhead view of Lake Merced shows that the lake is far from the pristine condition the early explorers found it in. Pacific Ocean. The cause of the fissure was most likely heavy rains, forcing a passage through the sandbank at the north-west end of the lake. On Sept. 13, 1859, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court David S. Terry killed United States Senator David C. Broderick in a
duel over slavery at the lake. In the present, many can agree that Lake Merced is not in the same pristine condition as it once was, with its green water staring back at visitors. What exactly is wrong with the waters is speculative, and so, on a Saturday morning, with the fog encircling
the lake, The Crusader ventured out there to perform several tests on the water quality. The results were interesting, and quite different from 18 years ago. Mercury levels were higher than previous tests, which adds evidence to a recent report from the California Fish & Game Department that states shrimp are extinct from the lake and trout are getting close to extinct. This is because of oil from cars, dirt, and materials inside of gutters and a variety of other contaminants being washed into the lake during periods of precipitation, which added to the lack of circulation of the water gives the lake its green color. Science teacher Michael Hickam, said, “You can see the containments going into the lake and disrupting the ecosystem.” Sufficient water for the future is being secured through a pending plan with neighboring town Daly City to capture and treat storm-water runoff and channel it to Lake Merced.
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Science 19
NASA proposes next ‘Giant Leap for Mankind’ By Jamar Kittling ’20
On May 14, roughly 50 years since humanity first set foot on the lunar surface, NASA confirmed that they will bring humans back to the Moon by 2024. Jim Bridenstine, the administrator for NASA, proclaimed, “We are going to the Moon to inspire the next generation… to advance our understanding of the universe so that we can share the benefits with all, here and now.” In this new lunar endeavor, dubbed Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, NASA plans to establish sustainable manned missions and explorations of the lunar surface to uncover useful materials and develop technologies that ultimately will assist the journey toward Mars. The original Apollo missions were ambitious in their task, yet were motivated by different reasons. In the early ages of Space exploration, the United States and Soviet Union were in the midst of a bitter international rivalry known today as the Cold War. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, was created by President Dwight Eisenhower in response to the Soviet Union launching the first man made satellite, Sputnik, in the 1950s. The following race to space and the Moon between these two countries was meant to demonstrate national strength. Through these political motives, NASA received the funding to make the Apollo program a success, fulfilled with Neil Armstrong’s historic first step, and continued until its last mission, Apollo 17 in 1972. Without the Cold War funding and with dwindling public interest, NASA struggled to find the funding necessary to return back to our revolving neighbor. According to Physics teacher Tony Dunn ’82, NASA continues to face a dire financial situation, for the vast amount of staff needed to work on the project alone can be an issue of concern, let alone the resources used in the manufacturing and fuel of the rockets. A future with humans back on the Moon mostly depends on the current whims of the politicians and the state of the government economy. Because of the many current economic issues affecting the nation, the government often removes costly funds from those with less priority, like NASA. Dunn said, “When a president promises to return to the Moon, the next president often cuts it.” “Without a Space Race right now, it will never get the funding.” President Barack Obama cut
NASA celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing by announcing their intention to return to the Moon by 2024. funding for George W. Bush’s Constellation Program, which aimed to get humanity back to the Moon as a stepping stone to Mars, similar to the current Artemis Program. According to Space.com, the official review known as the Review of United States Human SpaceFlight Plans Committee, found on NASA’s website, deemed the Constellation program is too behind schedule and overfunded to be able to achieve its goals. The report states, “Under the FY 2010 budget, the lunar landing and surface systems will also be delayed by over a decade, indicating that human lunar return could not occur until well into the 2030s.” Mirroring this is President Donald Trump’s cryptic tweet in June of this year, which denies NASA going to the Moon. Despite these political setbacks, NASA stays determined to get to and stay on the Moon with new strategies and more efficient technology. NASA is supporting efforts to commercialize low Earth orbit to make ventures such as launching to the International Space Station more cost-effective. Programs such as the Commercial Resupply and Commercial Crew Program make it possible for American companies to contribute to the industry of low Earth orbit. Some of the new technology under development includes NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle; both are leftovers of the Constellation Project. The SLS is planned to be the most powerful rocket ever built, topping the previous title holder used in the Apollo missions, the Saturn V. The Orion Spacecraft is the capsule designed to harbor humans beyond low Earth orbit into deep space. The first planned, uncrewed
test flight of these two systems is scheduled to take place between 2020 and 2021 under the name Artemis 1, or Exploration Mission 1. In this multi-staged mission, the Orion Spacecraft will enter orbit around the Moon for six days and become the farthest spacecraft capable of manned flight, with its farthest point being 1,000 times farther from Earth than the International Space Station. For sustained missions and eventual bases on the Moon, NASA has the Gateway. As the name implies, Gateway is a proposed lunar orbiter that is meant to serve as an access point to the Moon. Gateway will be built in stages: a foundation is scheduled for completion in 2024 and later modules will gradually develop the orbiter with succeeding missions. Eventually, the Gateway is planned to mirror a Space Station around the Moon. The Artemis Program is developed with the end goal of Mars in mind, as many of the feats and achievements that will go into establishing a Moon base will be instrumental, if not vital, in humanity’s journey to the red planet. The Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee further states, “While Mars is the ultimate destination for the near-term human exploration of space, it is not an easy place to visit with existing technology and experience. No
“Amazon,” continued from page 18 moved on and did the same to newly cleared lands in the Amazon. Continued exploitation of the Amazon Rainforest is going to lead to its eventual demise and irreversible damage to the biosphere. Theweek.com reports
nasa.gov human has ever traveled more than three days from Earth, and none beyond 386 miles away for almost 40 years.” It further stated, “No American has been in space much more than 180 days at a time, or exposed to the full radiation of free space for more than about a week. Mars requires a trip in space of almost 900 days. We do not have flight-demonstrated technology to confidently approach and land a large spacecraft on the Mars surface. However, most of the Mars systems can be tested on the Moon, making the Moon not only a conceptual testbed, but also an actual testbed for Mars systems.” As well as serving as a trial site for Mars, the Moon can also be a literal stepping stone. The scavengable resources and reduced gravity can produce needed materials and propel spacecraft. Dunn said, “We could launch from the Moon. The Moon has one-sixth of the Earth’s gravity. The Moon has a lot of resources.” Ultimately, the Artemis Program hopes to pave the way for exploration of not only the Moon, but greater exploration of the entire solar system. In 2019, 50 years after the first small step and after 40 years of relative inactivity, humanity endeavors to continue its legacy toward the stars, first returning to Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor, and later expanding to explore the solar system and the greater universe.
that if another tenth of the Amazon is lost, it will convert into a savanna, permanently disrupting the systems vital in slowing climate change, regulating global weather patterns, and protecting its numerous unique species. O’Brien said, “We’re in trouble if we don’t stop those fires.”
20 Features
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
October 2019
Celebrating 70 years of Crusader Brotherhood By Aidan Murtagh ’20
For Taini, Riordan was a way to see the world. Thanks to Riordan, Taini was able to meet a legendary poet and get a glimpse of his higher education. Riordan offered him opportunities like no other, and they still are fresh in his memory all these years later. Not only was Taini a student at Riordan, but he was also a member of the Board of Trustees for many years. He recalls, “There was a cutting edge that Riordan seemed to maintain. I was on the board for many years and got to feel the momentum. Always, it seemed that there was deep care for the students. I am not around the school as much these years, but when I visit I feel the ‘family’ power and the ‘village’ vibe.”
Looking back, Taini still holds fond memories of the school and its tight-knit community close to his heart. Riordan played a huge role in his life, and it shaped who he was as a person. Lastly, he says, “I love that school because of the people involved in it. All of the students and staff past and present seem to keep the essence of what I certainly have felt from the first day I ever entered that school.”
He recalls, “Some of my best memories are in the athletic area. While coaching basketball and baseball we took the teams on a number of trips to play in places such as St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Chaminade in West Hills, Pine Bluff in Arkansas, and a number of [trips] to the Anaheim Lions Baseball Tournament. It was a lot of fun for the players and the coaches.” While he cared about how his athletes performed on the court or field, he most importantly cared about how his students were in day-to-day life. Isola was not only a great coach, but he was a true educator. He wanted his students to become great young men, and he mentored his
students to achieve this goal. He describes, “... as Fr. Tim Kennedy, a former principal, said, ‘Times change...but the dream remains the same’. When the Marianists first came to Riordan 70 years ago, they had the same goals of educating young men as the school does today.” Using the Marianist values as his basis, Isola educated his students and formed them into great young men. His son Jeff Isola ’98 is also a graduate and teacher, and has been a member of the Social Sciences Department for many years. Isola was and still is a true Crusader. He has been an integral part of the community and
invested a great part of life into it. He says, “Such terms as ‘Brotherhood’ and ‘Strength in Numbers’ are not just words. You can feel them just by walking through the hallways. Riordan has always been blessed with students who give their all whether it’s in academics, athletics, activities and, most importantly, in helping others.”
In his time at Riordan, Dalton worked as a student during the daytime hours, and after school, he worked a myriad of jobs, including paper routes, restaurant cleaning, and butcher’s assistant. After his time at Riordan, Dalton attended San Francisco State University. Dalton recalls, “Although it took awhile for me to fully grasp the fact, Riordan provided me with an excellent education, which made it possible for me to succeed at San Francisco State College (I was the first person in my family to attend college). Also, it was at Riordan that I first felt the desire to become a teacher, perhaps because I encountered so many excellent educators while a student there.” A while after graduating from college, Dalton ended up back at
Riordan as a teacher, starting in 1978. He taught a variety of different subjects, ranging from World History to English to even French and German. Then, in more recent years, he began to teach alongside his daughter, Mary Dalton. He states, “Another unforgettable moment for me during my many years at Riordan occurred around the year 2011. At that time, my daughter began working at ARHS, first as a substitute, then as a part time instructor in the English Department, and finally as a full-time, tenured member of the faculty. When I began teaching at Riordan, she was so young I would carry her around on my shoulders! Now she
occupies the classroom where I taught for over 36 years and is the chair of the English Department. Amazing!” Although Dalton may not be teaching anymore, his legacy lives on through his daughter. Dalton is another example of a great Crusader. As both a student and teacher, he left his mark on the school in a way that will never be forgotten. Truly, he is a beacon of pride, purpose, and performance.
1950s: The Trailblazers Reno Taini ’59
One notable graduate from the 1950s is Reno Taini ’59. During his time at Riordan, Taini was greatly involved and truly made the most out of his high school experience. During his time at Riordan, Taini recalls, “I played football and track for all four years, and both were tremendous experiences. Also, I worked on the yearbook, which was a project that was challenging and rewarding.” Taini also recalls how the Marianist Brothers lived on campus during his time at the school. They taught classes and went on field trips with the students, some of which were Taini’s fondest memories.
He explains, “I remember a great field trip to U.C. Berkeley where we met Robert Frost, America’s chosen poet at the time. We got to shake hands, and I was too numb to ask for an autograph on the book of poems I was carrying.” He continues, “Then the greatest memory of all is when Brother Robert Nunes piled five of us juniors into an old Plymouth sedan and took us to tour SF State College. We were all kids from the Excelsior District and never knew what a college was about. Little did I ever realize what a great experience in science, biological exploration, and alternative education I would have there. Thank you, Brother Nunes. You made all the difference in my life.”
1960s: The Pioneers
Ron Isola ’60
Ron Isola was both a student and a teacher in his long career at Riordan. He graduated in 1961, but the overwhelming majority of his time at Riordan came as a teacher. He taught for 45 years and coached for many of those years, which has made him an integral part of the school community; he is part of its history. Isola coached almost his whole time at Riordan, mainly on the basketball court and on the baseball field. His presence is still felt at basketball games, as he is the play-by-play announcer at home games. Having coached and mentored so many athletes, Isola had some great experiences in the process.
Robert Dalton ’61
Another notable alumnus and life-long Crusader occupied room 204 for more than 36 years. Robert Dalton was an English teacher, who also taught French, German, and World History. He retired in 2018 after his 40th year of teaching. In recent years, Dalton taught the Honors and Advanced Placement English Courses for sophomores and juniors. Although his classes gained a reputation for being challenging, students loved the energy and insight Dalton brought to class. John Gill ’20 says, “I remember Mr. Dalton making jokes in class and always adding an extra history lesson into the novels that we read… World Literature Honors was perhaps the best class and I had the most fun in it out of all the classes that I’ve taken.”
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Sports Features
21
Antonio Brown blitzes NFL rules By Cameron Bevan-Abel ’22
Antonio Brown’s 2019 offseason was anything but normal. Brown did in one offseason what such well-known divas like Terrell Owens and Randy Moss could not even top in a whole career. Last offseason, Brown was traded by the Steelers to the Raiders, got frostbite on his feet, threatened to retire because of helmet dispute, captioned ‘release me’ on an Instagram post, was released by Raiders, signed by the Patriots, accused of sexual assault by his former trainer, released by the Patriots, retired from the NFL, and finally applied for online classes at his alma mater, the University of Central Michigan. All of this happened within a span of six months. Antonio Brown’s problems did not start with the Raiders, but are definitely spotlighted and it exposed to the media compared to his long tenure with the Steelers. Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders on March 9, two days after the Buffalo Bills’ and Pittsburgh Steelers’ plans on a trade including Antonio Brown were canceled because of his refusal to play for Buffalo. Antonio Brown was quiet for the most part during the summer, but then his problems just kept coming and coming. Brown would not participate in practices and training camp because of frostbite on his feet from a cryotherapy machine. Then, on Aug. 9, he threatened to retire from the NFL if he would not be allowed to wear the helmet model he had worn for his first nine years of his career (Schutt AiR Advantage), which is not allowed for use in the league because it has not been made within the last 10 years. Riordan Athletic Director Bob Greene thought the two issues were different, saying, “The helmet issue, you are willfully being difficult and trying at every turn to get exactly what you want and it almost seems ridiculous like you’re acting like a child… the foot issue I think could be a general problem if you can’t run, you can’t play football… if you can’t be available, then you can’t play, and that’s true whether you are hurt, whether you are dipping out, whether you are whatever you are. If you can’t be available, then you can’t play, and if he’s not making himself available, he can’t participate much on the team.” Brown eventually found a legal helmet he was comfortable with (the Xenith Shadow) and many assumed his problems were all in the past, and that he had a bright future with the Raiders. But that was not the case. The Raiders had
sent a letter to AB with almost $54,000 worth in fines for missing practices during training camp. Antonio Brown then decided to post a photo of the letters of the fines. After public altercations with Mike Mayock, the Raiders General Manager, Antonio Brown made a seemingly sincere apology. Mayock was still uncertain of Brown’s future with the Raiders and whether he would play for them as long as he is still under contract. Mayock decided to go after Brown’s guaranteed money and it was shortly after that when Antonio Brown asked to be released via social media. “It’s a business and a job to get paid to do something...when you are not doing your job or you don’t
Photo by Brook Ward via Flickr Antonio Brown had a busy, drama-filled off-season.
“It’s a business, and a job to get paid to do something. . .when you are not doing your job or you don’t show up to your job, I think there has to be repercussions.” -Athletic Director Jay’Sen Morris ’08 show up to your job, I think there has to be repercussions,” said Athletic Director Jay’Sen Morris. “If I didn’t show up to work every day, my money would be taken away from me. You have to show up to school every day, and if you don’t, there are consequences, so I think it goes the same way...nobody is bigger than the organization or the team. At the end of the day, he is making so much money, is that really going to hurt him?” Morris said. The NFL is a copycat league and great coaches and franchises emulate the legends from before. That is the case with the Bill Belichick-Era Patriots as they have had formed their teams in a similar fashion as the Al Davis Raiders. Davis, the former owner of the Oakland Raiders and father of current owner, Mark Davis, died on Oct. 8, 2011. Al had many favorite mottos, his most famous being, “Just Win Baby!” Al Davis did not care who his players were, or what they did outside of football, as long as they performed and won games. Many of Al Davis’s teams had players with questionable character, from the allegations against Ken Stabler being a womanizer and alcoholic, to the dirty and cheap in-game hitters Jack Tatum and George Atkinson. Most opposing fans, players, and executives greatly disliked the Raiders with Al Davis, but they were still winners. Bay Area native John Madden, the Raiders head coach from 1968-1979 under Al Davis had the highest winning percentage for a coach with at
least 100 wins of all time. Though he never directly said so, Belichick clearly has read a few pages from Al Davis’s book. Belichick, similar to Al Davis, has a team of outcasts: James Develin, Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, and now, Antonio Brown. Brown signed with New England later on the day after he was released by Oakland. Now this is where Antonio Brown is supposed to ride off into the sunset, right? His former team, the Steelers, had lost their first three games and his former QB whose relationship with him was strained last season, “Big” Ben Roethlisberger, is now on injured reserve, out for the remainder of the season. Oakland, on the other hand, recently faced a blowout loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in which QB Patrick Mahomes threw four second-quarter touchdowns against the Raiders’ defense and got blown out again the next week against the Minnesota Vikings to start their five-game road stand. They did win their next two games, in Indianapolis and London, against playoff teams from the previous season, but their lack of depth at the wide receiver position is obvious. Antonio Brown’s former teams are clearly far worse without him yet again he is facing more serious issues. Brown is now accused of sexual assault by his former trainer, Britney Taylor. With the case still under review, Brown was allowed to play week two against the Dolphins and had a productive day.
It seemed things would finally work out for Antonio Brown and he had finally found his home, among other outcasts, and would try to help the Pats on their potential Super Bowl run. Again, players rarely have storybook endings, as Brown was released by New England, just 11 days after being signed. Nike and Xenith also ended their contracts with AB. This caused analysts to believe no team would sign him. Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who actively reported Brown’s situations throughout the offseason had reported that other teams were still interested in Antonio Brown. Despite this, Brown decided to retire from the league and announced he was returning to school at Central Michigan by posting his online classes on social media. Analysts are unsure if he will ever come back into the league because no other player so dominant has ever left this game so early and for unusual reasons, yet most are sure he will eventually come back. If he does come back into the league, he will have to focus all of his energy on the field and off of it without any drama. For what team? We do not know because he has damaged three relationships with organizations. The Steelers throughout a decade, Raiders in one offseason, and the Patriots with just one tweet. Brown was released by the Pats mainly due to the allegations of sexual assault, but Antonio Brown decided to take a shot at Robert Kraft right after being released by tweeting, “these owners can cancel deals do whatever they want at anytime...sad they can just void guarantees anytime.” “If they are a distraction to the team, then they gotta find something else to do,” Head Varsity Coach Mark Modeste explained. “Each individual is as important as the whole and the whole is as important as each individual.”
22 Sports
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Football teams tackle new season with heads high By Cameron Bevan-Abel ’22
Both the Riordan Varsity and Junior Varsity Football teams have gotten off to hot starts this season. First year Varsity head coach Mark Modeste has fit well with the team, and has already changed the culture and philosophy of the ball club. “I have worked really hard in creating a high school philosophy on defense, and am very committed to installing that here, and we’re getting there…I have no doubt that we will be able to maintain that kind of progression on defense. We have good talent there,” Modeste said. The Varsity team’s success has mainly come from the running game after a total of 806 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in the first two games alone. In regards to his run-first offense, Coach Modeste said, “I’ve always believed if you can run the football, then you can manage the game in terms of the clock and kind of dictate how you want the game to go, and so that’s always been my focus when I try to build a program that we want to run the football, and I believe that we can with the type of athletes that we have and I think you can do it in any program as long as you put a lot of time and energy into it...the progression to being a successful passing team takes a while to develop and the running game just complements that.” The Varsity and JV’s combined pre-season record in the first three weeks was 5-1, yet all games have been on the road due to the construction of the new field. “I think right now it has been to our advantage...what it’s created is an environment where there are some things stacked against us and we have to overcome,” Athletic Director Bob Greene said in regards to the no home field advantage for the Crusaders.
Photo by Steven Rissotto ’20 Members of the varsity football team sing the alma mater after a recent game. The following Saturday, Riordan faced the Tamalpais Red-Tailed Hawks in another non-league match. The Crusaders noticed their ground attack against Terra Nova was 300 yards, 4 touchdowns and 5.7 yards per carry and still thought they could do better. They were right. Against the Hawks, they ran for 506 yards, 6 touchdowns and 9 yards per carry. Fazon Ruth only needed 24 touches to get 255 yards and 2 TDs. The Crusaders also had two other 100 yard rushers with Aden Jackson ’21 gaining 107 yards and a TD on only 11 carries, and Kemoeatu Kefu ’22 rushing for 106 yards and 2 TDs. The end result, a 39-27 Crusader victory. The Crusaders’ two-game win streak sadly came to an end after a bitter loss against the then 3-0 Justin-Siena Braves. The game was neck and neck until the end, and Carlos Valencia ’21 of the Crusaders even made a clutch field goal late in the fourth
quarter to take a 31-28 point lead, but disaster followed. Justin-Siena KR Solomone Anitoni ran the kickoff 96 yards back for a touchdown. The Braves capitalized on the Crusaders’ error just a couple plays later with a forced fumble and again Solomone took it to the house. That was his fourth TD of the game with two receiving touchdowns earlier in the game. Final score: Justin-Siena Braves: 43, Archbishop Riordan Crusaders: 31. The Varsity team looked to rebound from this tough loss two weeks later against Serra, the 131st ranked team in the nation at the time, in their first conference game. Sadly, they got blown out 41-0. After Aden Jackson’s ’21 long run in the 1st quarter, the run game just could not get going. The Crusaders’ Junior Varsity team got off on the right foot to start this season as well. Against Terra Nova, as a team, Riordan ran for 251 yards and 5
threetouchdown performance on only 8 carries by Tailback Jaren Estillore ’22. Curtis Jones ’22 contributed with 2 rushing touchdowns as well. QB Emilio Cruz ’22 threw for 72 yards and 2 TDs, with only one incompletion. The Crusaders cruised to a 48-0 win. The crusade continued the next two weeks with a 27-7 victory over Tamalpais and a 2814 win over JustinSiena. The Junior Varsity team’s first conference game was also against the Serra Padres.
In this 41-20 losing effort, starting running back Javius Redding ’23 ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in his second game on the team. The Riordan Freshman Team was off to a sluggish start. They lost their first two non-conference games and also lost their first conference game to Serra. Against Acalanes, they dominated with time of possession but still managed to lose 32-22. The next week, they lost to Menlo-Atherton 13-12 after the Bears scored 6 in the fourth quarter. Five days later, Serra held them to 6 points in a 21-6 loss. The JV’s 3-1 start is the best since 2013 and Varsity’s elite running backs prove they are legit contenders in the WCAL. Coach Modeste proclaimed, “I like their energy, we have talent but we have to mold it into a football team which is a challenge in any group.”
New athletics website vaults into action By Christian Ramirez Cortes ’22
Jay’Sen Morris and Bob Greene, the athletic directors at Archbishop Riordan High School, created a new athletics website for the school that was introduced for the 2019-2020 season. The new Riordan athletics website is in partnership with RepU, a platform mainly used for high school athletic departments, which allows for the growth and promotion of the school’s athletic department and for teams to engage with their fans. Greene said, “The thing about RepU that’s nice is that it’s very clean, very efficient, and you have the mobile concept, which I think is a big element. The mobile piece, the app, I think is really the key and that’s really why it’s such a
step forward for us.” The previous Archbishop Riordan High School athletics website was hard to manage behind the scenes and difficult for the athlete, student, or parent to find content. Although it did have many good features, they were not very useful for Riordan athletics as the main goal for Riordan was to have a user-friendly website where anyone could find anything they needed. This previous athletics website also did not include an app or mobile form of viewing, meaning that there could be no alerts or push notifications sent out to fans, which is something that the new athletics website is well
known for. Morris really pushed the idea of creating a new athletics website and showed great passion for it. The Riordan staff, students, and athletes have various opinions on the new website, which vary between positive and negative. On the positive side, the new athletics website can be updated quickly, meaning that there will be live scores, news, rosters, and even pictures from previous games. Alejandro Ovando ’21, varsity tennis athlete, said, “I think that with the new website, everything is easier to find and I can see what I need.” The athletics website works fast, as it is capable of sending out notifications regarding game results or any major news right
away. It features live updates on items such as game results, rosters, and even in-game photographs. Morris said, “Now we get instant results and rosters are readily available. You don’t have to go to another website or anything. It’s just an all-new improved look.” The future of the new Riordan athletics website holds many improvements and additions that will benefit the viewers and fans. There are several features on the website still available that will be used moving forward. Greene explained, “At this point, it’s going to be more about how we use the features that are available to us on the site more than the site doing anything for us.”
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Sports
23
Cross Country sets perfect pace for success By Christian Ramirez Cortes ’22
Elijah Odocayen ’20 and Aidan Murtagh ’20, varsity athletes, continue to lead the Archbishop Riordan High School Cross Country team to various successful meets, three in the past month. At the Lowell Invitational on Sept. 7, varsity finished 7th out of 30 teams and the other levels such as the freshman and junior varsity showed great improvement. Benny Willers ’08, head coach of the cross country program, stated, “It’s always fun watching the freshmen get their feet wet. The first race is always an anxious occasion for the youngsters.” The first WCAL meet on Sept. 18 proved to be successful and showed a lot of improvement throughout all the levels. There were two freshmen in the top 10 in the freshman race, and varsity finished in fourth place with four runners in the top 20. This was the best showing and performance since the 1980s. The Ram Invitational on Sept. 28 resulted in a third place finish for Riordan. Jordan Noeuku ’21 ran a very good race, but his score was not added to the total points
of the team. Conflicts such as his bib, paper with a number that is used to identify the runner, being lost and his tracking chip not being tracked affected the total scores. Instead of taking first place, the Riordan runners had to settle for third place. Murtagh ’20 said, “We were really happy with what we did, but we didn’t get to go home with a plaque.” Every year, there is an increase of five to 10 runners. There are a total of 55 on the team this year, Photo by Cole Anderson ’22 which is a record amount unlike seven seasons ago, when there EJ Odocayen ’20 runs toward the finish at the Westmoor Invitational. were only 18 on the entire team. The Cross Country program For the Junior Varsity and the state meet and finish in the has many goals in mind, both as a freshman level, the main goal top 10.” team and individually with each is to reach the varsity level and The future for Riordan’s Cross runner. What they do to prepare work hard in order to get there. Country program looks bright, for every race will be vital to Mary Dalton, Junior Varsity as leaders Elijah and Aidan are completing these goals. Riordan coach, stated, “For the Junior prepared for the season. Everyone also stands out from many other Varsity, we are focusing on is feeling good and ready to work cross country programs due to running faster and stronger.” hard following several successful various reasons such as mental At the varsity level, the main meets. toughness and teamwork. Aguilar stated, “I think we goal is to finish top four in the Jesus Aguilar ’22 said, “We league and ultimately win CCS. have a lot of things to work on like have to put in a lot of work, but Coach Willers has even bigger getting some injured guys fully we also have to consider how we goals for the Varsity runners. He recovered, but we are ready for are feeling and how hard we have explained, “For me personally, I competition and I believe we’re all to push ourselves.” would love to see them make it to in a good mindset for the season.”
Nicknames define players’ personalities By Steven Elsner ’20
The history of the nickname began with the Middle English word eke, meaning “also” or “in addition,” which was joined with name to form ekename—literally, “also-name,” used for a secondary or unofficial name. Over time, it became a nickname. Many people have nicknames, and professional athletes are no exception, with some of the most famous pros sporting nicknames. Let’s start with the country’s oldest organized sport, baseball. Coming in at number one is: Babe, The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat. George Herman Ruth Jr. was an orphan who caught the attention of Jack Dunn, the owner of the minor league Baltimore Orioles. His teammates jokingly named him “Dunn’s new babe,” and it stuck through his whole career. He got the nickname the Sultan of Swat from another Hall of Fame baseball player, Ty Cobb. Next, Charlie Hustle. Pete Rose got his nickname from Hall of Famer Whitey Ford when Rose, instead of jogging to first base after a walk, sprinted up the baseline. Third, Shoeless Joe. Joe Jackson got his nickname from a mill game, which is a game that was held by mill owners for their workers to play. The game that he got his nickname was played in Greenville, South Carolina. Jackson had blisters on his foot from a new pair of cleats, which hurt so much that he took his
shoes off before he was at bat. Fourth is The Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived. Ted Williams got his nicknames from his thin frame, agility, and batting ease, which led to his nickname the Splendid Splinter. Joe DiMaggio said that he was the greatest hitter he ever saw, thus his other adopted nicknames. Rounding out the top five is Hammerin Hank Aaron, who got his nickname from his ability to always be a threat to hit a ball out of the park on a regular basis. Honorable Mentions include: The Wizard of Oz (Ozzie Smith), Mr. October (Reggie Jackson), Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, The Ryan Express (Nolan Ryan), The Freak (Tim Lincecum), and The Rocket (Roger Clemens). On to basketball, where the top moniker is Magic. Earvin Johnson got his nickname from a reporter who showed up to his high school basketball game where he piled up 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 16 assists. A close second is Air, His Airness, and Captain Marvel. Michael Jordan earned his nickname from his high flying style of dunks. Next is Dr. J, Julius Erving, who got his nickname from his high school basketball teammate who called him “doctor,” and he nicknamed his teammate the professor. The Round Mound of Rebound, Chuck, Sir Charles fills the fourth spot. Charles Barkley got his
biography.com George “The Babe” Ruth Jr. nickname from his ability to rebound the ball at his size, which is short for the position he played. Finally, The Dream. Hakeem Olajuwon got his name from his college basketball coach because he said that his dunk looked like a dream because it was so effortless. The Honorable Mentions include: The Answer (Allen Iverson), Larry Legend (Larry Bird), The Iceman (George Gervin), The Human Highlight Reel (Dominique Wilkins), Black Mamba (Kobe Bryant), and The King (LeBron James). On the gridiron, the number one spot goes to Sweetness. Walter Payton got his nickname from Jacksonville State fans who originally called him Sugarman, but eventually it was altered into sweetness. The opposite of sweet, next is Mean Joe Greene, whose name did not fit his attitude, but his college because they were the
Mean Green. Greene was big in stature, so they called him Mean. In third place, The Refrigerator. William Perry garnered this nickname from Ray Brown, who said, “Man, you’re about as big as a refrigerator” when he could not get in the elevator with Perry. From big, we go to tall—Too Tall. Ed Jones got his nickname from his teammate because the first day of practice, he did not fit in his pants, and he said Jones was too tall to play football. Finally, Jack Tatum, The Assassin, got his nickname from his hard hit and presence on the football field. In his first NFL game, he knocked out two players. Honorable Mentions are awarded to Broadway Joe (Joe Namath), Prime Time (Deion Sanders), The Snake (Ken Stabler), Joe Cool (Joe Montana), The Nigerian Nightmare (Christian Okoye), and Night Train (Richard Lane). On to the ice where The Great One, Wayne Gretzky — considered the best hockey player ever — tops the list. Super Mario and Le Magnifique (The Magnificent), Mario Lemieux, was named such for his skill on the ice. Finally, Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, is called by this gentlemanly name because he was a 23-time All-Star and held most of the scoring records. Hockey Honorable Mentions include: The Russian Rocket (Pavel Bure), and The Golden Jet (Bobby Hull).
24 Food Review
October 2019
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Bay Area serves up savory slices By Grayson Salomon ’22
If you want a good Chicago style pizza in the Bay Area, Blue Line Pizza is the way to go. Blue Line Pizza is a chain restaurant in the Bay Area with stores from Daly City to Los Gatos, and all the way to Danville. At the Daly City restaurant, I ordered the Deep Dish Pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms and Kalamata olives, which cost $27.95—pricey, but worth it. They don’t just serve deep dish, you can also get thin crust. The wait is about 30 to 40 minutes, but when it arrives, the
pizza is hot, and you can see the steam when lifting up a slice. Since the pizza is a Chicago style, the sauce is on top while the toppings and cheese are underneath. The pizza comes with the usual toppings, parmesan cheese, and pepper flakes, but it also came with honey. Honey on a pizza? It sounds weird, but when adding it to the pizza only adds a little sweetness. When taking a bite, there is a lot of cheese pull. The pizza is very cheesy and very saucy, but in a good way because it has a good
balance. The sauce is not runny, but rather thick, and has tomato chunks. It has a little kick, but not over the top spicy. Some people don’t eat the crust. I usually do, especially since this cornmeal crust is crunchy and has flavor. This crust is made from. Overall, this pizza is great, and should be shared since it will leave you full after two slices. It gets 5 out of 5 stars.
By Sebastian Elsner ’23
Gaspare’s “Bruce’s Special” pizza.
By Andrei Lynch ’22
Blue Line Pizza with pepperoni, olives, mushrooms.
Gaspare’s Pizzeria has been open since the early 80s, but the atmosphere makes you feel like you are in the 50s. Gaspare, the owner, always wanted to move to America to start a business, and he brought the Italian love of pizza to San Francisco. At Gaspare’s, there is a wide range of pizza options—29 different types of named pizzas, and a million different types of custom pizzas that you can make. My favorite pizza is the Meat Lovers and the USF. The Meat Lovers has pepperoni, salami, Italian sausage, and linguica. The USF pizza contains hamburger meat and pepperoni. Another famous pizza is the Gaspare’s Special.
Some argue that pineapple shouldn't be on a pizza, but they are wrong. I got this delicious Hawaiian pizza at the quaint restaurant called Haystack Pizza located on 24th Street. The pizza, called Lelani the Hawaiian, had Canadian bacon, cheese, and of course, pineapple. The pizza arrived in a box, and I took it to go. I also got garlic bread, unaware of how good the pizza was going to be. The pizza was not crusty, but warm and covered with pineapple that made it sweet and delightful. Every bite was splendid and appetizing. The garlic bread was also very good. One bite made me fall in love with its savory taste. In addition to the Hawaiian, they also have their signature pizza, The Haystack, which
They even have pizzas named after people who are good friends with the owner, Gaspare. Gaspare has the standard pizzas like plain cheese, plain pepperoni, or Italian sausage, but they also have many creative ones such as the Mediterranean pizza and the Italian pizza. The Mediterranean has feta and eggplant, while the Italian contains sliced tomatoes and pesto sauce instead of tomato sauce. My parents’ favorite is the Bruce’s Special, which has linguica, ground salami, mushrooms, and garlic. One of the coolest things about Gaspare’s is that you can customize your pizza by choosing any size pizza with any toppings. They get five out of five stars. Gaspare’s is located at 5546 Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, and their website is gesparespizza.com.
Haystack Pizza’s Lelani the Hawaiian.
By Nathan Loeffler Malatesta ’23 Goat Hill Pizza on Potrero Hill has been in business for more than 40 years, and features items such as, well, pizza. Their pizza varieties consist of common items like cheese and pepperoni, but they also have unique toppings such as roasted garlic, basil, jalapeños and many more. I choose to be simple and just order half pepperoni and half cheese. I enjoyed this pizza, as it was probably in the top 10 best pizzas I’ve had, due
comes with sausage, salami, pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions. Other interesting specialty pizzas include Popeye the Sailor, with Pesto, fresh spinach, onions, and feta; the New Yorker, with cheese, garlic, and oregano; and for those that like thin crust, there is Alberto’s Classico, featuring thin crust brushed with extra virgin olive oil, topped with fresh sweet basil, garlic, diced tomatoes, and cheese. Unlike the typical pizza sizes, Haystack has: small (12 inches), medium (14), large (16), and wagon wheel (18). I would highly recommend this place for anyone who loves pizza. When in doubt, go to Haystack. Their website is haystackpizzasf.com.
in part to the delicious and creamy cheese, the perfectly burnt crust, and the savory pepperoni. Overall, the comforting food and the hospitality of the workers made Goat Hill Pizza a wonderful experience. A medium half pepperoni, half cheese, costs $19.99. Out of five stars, Goat Hill Pizza receives a total of 4 stars. Goat Hill Pizza is located at 300 Connecticut Avenue in San Francisco, and their website is goathillpizza.com/ locations/potrero-hill.
Goat Hill Pizza’s half pepperoni, half cheese pie.