The Crusader Dec 2014

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VOLUME LXV ISSUE ii

ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL

SERVING RIORDAN SINCE 1949

December 2014 THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY

MadBum delivers third World Series trophy for Giants By Jake Rassam ’16

The San Francisco Giants have quickly become the face of San Francisco athletics, and arguably the Bay Area. Coming into the 2014 season, the Giants were not even predicted to make the playoffs. However, they sure did have one giant year. The preseason was filled with uncertainty and low expectations amongst so-called baseball “analysts.” Obviously, the Giants may have been overlooked. The predictions were understandable though: the Giants had exited the 2013 season without a ring, or even a playoff appearance; in fact, all they achieved was a 76-86 record. Despite the poor finish, Giants general manager Brian Sabean made a few key additions. Included was the resigning of Hunter Pence, Tim Lincecum, Javier Lopez, and Ryan Vogelsong. Furthermore, he signed Tim Hudson, veteran pitcher from-most recently--the Atlanta Braves and-more memorably in the Bay Area-the Oakland A’s, and Michael Morse, a powerful bat much needed in the lineup.

Travis Ishikawa stepped up when the team needed him most. Photo courtesy businessinsider.com

As the preseason commenced, second base man Marco Scutaro looked healthy, giving hope to fans and coaches. Unfortunately, he suffered another back injury early in the season, preventing him from playing for the entire year. Star first-baseman Brandon Belt suffered a concussion and a broken thumb later in the season. Also, backup catcher Hector Sanchez suffered a severe concussion. As darkness slowly encompassed the organization, fresh legs at second base, Joe Panik, and behind the plate, Andrew Susac, surged the organization

Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey celebrate the last out, crowning them World Champs, again.

into a winning streak. Although postseason hopes still were not realistic in the hearts of the fans, the Giants started to create chemistry. Belt came back healthier than ever, Panik etched his name in as the starting second-baseman, and in a flash the Giants were playing their way into the postseason against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Being the better team, the Giants easily defeated the Pirates 8-0 in the NL Wild Card game. (Ironically, the AL Wildcard champions, the Kansas City Royals, later met the Giants in the World Series.) Nevertheless, the Giants beat the first place Nationals in four games, and won the NL Championship against the powerful Cardinals in five games. On the other side of league, the red hot Royals seemed to cruise into the World Series. Until meeting the Giants, the Royals had not lost a single game during their post-season run. Although being unorthodox candidates for the World Series, both teams proved to be formidable opponents. The Royals’ success with a “swing-a-way” attitude was rudely disrupted by our ace, Madison Bumgarner, in game one. He ushered the Giants into a 7-1 win. The Giants then dropped the next two games, losing 2-7 and 2-3 respectively. Next up was pitcher Ryan Vogelsong, who was one of the players re-signed in the pre-season. The veteran started out poorly, but with the help of the Giants’ accurate bat, as well as relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, the Giants came out victorious, winning 11-4. Hunter Pence batted 3-5 with three RBIs, while Joe

Panik and Pablo Sandoval each had two RBIs. Petit held the Royals scoreless from the fourth to sixth innings. The series tied 2-2, each team proved its worth to not only their fans, but the nation. Game 5 was a “must win” according to ace Bumgarner. Fortunately for the Giants, Bumgarner’s excellent post-season performance continued and even improved as he pitched a shutout game. The Giants won 5-0, but their 3-2 series lead proved fruitless when the Royals demolished the Giants in Game 6, 0-10. The destiny of both teams would be determined in Game 7, definitely one to remember. Tim Hudson, a 16-year veteran pitcher, got the start for the Giants, becoming the oldest pitcher to start a World Series Game 7, at the age of 39. Although being his first season with a post-season series win, as well as being new to the Giants organization, Hudson had more than enough experience to handle such a big task... or we thought. Giants stars Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence showed up early by scoring two runs consecutively in the second inning. Hudson put up one and a half innings before allowing two runs to score. With the game quickly tied, the Giants’ pitching issues were extremely prevalent, much earlier than they had hoped. Relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt helped the Giants by pitching two and one-third scoreless innings. The Panda pushed the Giants into the lead by scoring another run...Giants up 3-2. Although Affeldt had been doing an excellent job on the mound, his

Photo courtesy theguardian.com

arm was not strong enough to carry the team past the 5th. Then, the soon to be World Series MVP achieving an outstanding 3-0 World Series record, Madison Bumgarner took the mound. Although being quite the health risk, Bumgarner successfully shutout the Royals by pitching four and twothirds innings, until the final pop-up out was caught by none other than Pablo Sandoval. The Giants, 2014 World Series Champions, were pinned as misfits, too young, poor pitching staff, etc. Regardless of the odds or the “professional analysts’” opinions, they are once again sitting atop the baseball world, proudly flashing their World Series Championship trophy...again. Alex Herrera ’16 said, “The Giants started off their season very well, but took a turn for the worse mid-season. I honestly lost faith in the chance of them making the playoffs. Like two years ago though, they proved me wrong.”

Jeremy Affeldt held the Royals in check until Mad Bum came in to seal the deal. Photo courtesy washingtonpost.com

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OPINION

December 2014

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Drinking and driving: It’s never worth the risk By Gavin Kinahan ’15

Drinking and driving is a persistent

problem in the United States today. Driving while intoxicated has lead to more than 11,000 deaths alone in 2011, with the highest death toll in Texas at 1,216, and the lowest in Washington, DC at only 8. With the holidays approaching, it is important to remind drivers and passengers alike that it is never ok to drink and then get behind the wheel. Now, there are harsher penalties for drinking and driving. A driver may have to pay anywhere from $500 to $2,000 for receiving a DUI if it is his first offense. Also, he can also automatically lose his license

for 90 days; it can be more than that

they may be held responsible for their

depending on the circumstances.

child’s actions.

If the driver refuses to take a blood

Those who receive a DUI face

or a breath test, he can automatically

consequences later in life as well, such

get his license suspended, regardless

as being excluded from being able get

of guilt or innocence. Usually, if a

a job as a bus driver or a cab driver, or

driver passes the breathalyzer, which

any other job operating a vehicle.

has to be less than 0.08 percent,

Penalties for a DUI can vary on

(depending on the state) he will still

the situation. For example, if a driver

be tested other ways.

kills someone while drinking and

There are numerous ways that

driving, he might have to go to jail. In

a police officer can check a driver

California, drivers lose their license for

for impairment and awareness of

one year for a first offense. Then, they

surroundings. One way is to check to

can lose their license for two years

see if a driver’s pupils react to a light.

for a second offense, and for a third

For minors who are not 21 and

offense, for 3 years.

get caught drinking and driving, they

face two separate crimes. First, it is

can send drivers to jail for four days, a

illegal to drink alcohol under the age

second offense will cost 90 days in jail,

of 21. Second, there is the drinking

and for a third offense, up to 120 days.

and driving charge. Since there are

Although there are many legal

two crimes, a minor will get double

consequences

the

authorities

everyone should focus on the life-

will automatically take the person’s

altering consequences first. Know the

driver’s license with no questions

difference between right from wrong.

asked. Also, the authorities might

Make the right decision, the decision

charge the driver’s parents, incurring

to not drink and drive. The wrong

loads of money in legal fees because

decision can cost a life.

punishment. The

As far as jail time goes, an offense

to

drunk

Co-editors: Mike Patterson ’15 Greg Schoepp ’15 Contributing editors: Jordan Batres ’15 JC Canicosa ’16 Brandon Castro ’18 Alex Herrera ’16 Gavin Kinahan ’15 Brian Kosewic ’16 Ron Manlapid ’16 Luis Martinez ’15 Keven Munoz ’18 Karim Ndiaye ’15 Sean O’Driscoll ’16 Brad Peraza ’16 Roman Peregrino ’18 Jake Rassam ’16 Baktu Godhwani Segismond ’16 Stephan Smith ’15 Jacob Taylor ’17 Andrew Trapsi ’15 Newspaper Advisers: Ms. Mary Dalton Ms. Susan Sutton, CJE

driving,

1949

Gaming on iPads: a social experiment By JC Canicosa ’16

Last year, the announcement was made that video games are banned during the day, which didn’t bode well with much of the student body. While controversy of this decision is fairly large, making a case as to why video games should be a student’s choice can be analyzed from three fronts: What faculty had to say about the banning, why video games are not anti-social, and why video games should make a comeback at Riordan. On the anti-games front, Dean of Students Juan Zumbado said, “I was against playing games during the day because I think students should talk to one another and when they’re playing games, they’re not socializing. People are social animals, so we need to

socialize with someone else and it’s sad that we’re connected to the Internet and our iPad, but we’re not connected to ourselves. It’s really important people socialize with one another.” English and social science teacher Chris Fern said, “When I was in high school, I played video games all the time, and I was able to maintain a 4.0 my junior and senior year and that worked for me, that doesn’t work for every person. For each person, it’s different. I think if you don’t have a lot of stuff to do, video games are a great way to bond, but if you have a ton of homework, it’s not a good choice to do that. It’s all about personal responsibility.” Video games bring people closer together, not further apart. Let’s look at the most popular games in the iPad era of Riordan: Prop Hunt, Super Stick Man Golf 2, Flappy Golf, Light Bike 2, Fun Run, Modern Combat 4, Minecraft, Football Heroes, NBA 2k13, Ruzzle, Madden, etc. All of these games are multiplayer games that we play with friends and this allows us to share moments on a competitive and passionate level that we couldn’t achieve by just talking. Even single-player games like Flappy

Bird, Temple Run, 2048, Subway Surfers, and Candy Crush give us common interests to share with friends or people we don’t know. Achieving goals and overcoming high scores add another level of competition unachievable through any other activity. “The ability of video games to get your emotions going or fire you up for competition with friends is what builds communities through video games; people are really passionate about them,” added Fern, who moderates Fantasy Club. Games shouldn’t have been taken away from us. The administration claims games make us anti-social, yet the banning of games make people more anti-social. Students are forced to hide in hallways if they’re dying to try a new strategy on Candy Crush or play an eight-letter word on Words with Friends. If the school really wanted their students to socialize, the ban would be lifted and allow kids to play games with each other the way it should be. Games are many people’s way of socializing, and it’s counterintuitive to force students to only socialize by talking. Fern said, “Video games are a really cool form of art that includes visuals,

music, and storyline that people are really passionate about and brings people together.” As students, we all work hard in class to get the best grades possible, and games are really a good way of relieving stress. Taking away games doesn’t allow us to recuperate from the vigorous block schedule as productively as we could. My personal experience with the banning of games isn’t unique. Before, I saw Riordan as a second home and was really comfortable with the environment I had. Now, I’ve lost a certain comfort level I had during the day. I feel like I can’t be as expressive as I was when I could game with my friends and really relax and recuperate. Gaming is a great, fun way to bond with friends on a competitive level and a great stress reliever. For many, gaming is the easiest way to get to know someone or make friends. Just talking is a good way to socialize, but not the only one. Games definitely need to make a comeback soon because showing friends what you just built on Minecraft or beating a rival on a half court buzzer beater on NBA Jam is really what brotherhood is all about.

December 2014

CAMPUS NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

3

ACT or SAT: Students put to the test By Jake Rassam ’16

SAT and ACT may be the scariest six letters to a prospective college student. Unfortunately, the pressure of today’s educational system seems to be solely based on the scores of these exams. Most of the fear generated by these exams comes from a lack of knowledge. Not the lack of knowledge in terms of education per se, but more the lack of knowing what each exam covers. Previously, only certain schools in the United States acknowledged the ACT; however, currently the ACT is accepted by every four-year college. On the other hand, certain colleges require an SAT score be submitted along with one’s application. The more common of the two tests is the Scholastic Aptitude Test, known as the SAT. The test has been administered since 1944, implemented by Harvard’s assistant dean Henry Chauncey. The test was first used as a military entrance IQ exam during World War I, created by Robert Yerkes. Later, American

College Testing or ACT was created by a University of Iowa professor E.F. Lindquist in 1959. Both tests have inevitably changed over the years. The SAT consists of three sections: math, critical reading, and writing. Each of these sections is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, making 2400 a perfect score. The SAT focuses a lot more on vocabulary, and questions presented are written in a more abstract way. The math covered in the SAT includes all math to Algebra II. Also, when given SAT scores, admissions offices will see each of a student’s specific areas of weakness and strength, making their judgment a bit more critical. One of the major myths about the SAT is to leave a question blank if the answer is unknown...but this is not true. Statistics show that if you can eliminate one choice from a question...GUESS! Students taking the ACT will receive a number of different scores in the Subject Test Scores: The English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science

Tests are each given a score from 1 to 36. Composite Score: The average of the scores of the four subject tests (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science). Unlike the SAT, the written portion of the ACT is optional; however, a majority of college admissions require this portion be completed. The ACT is a broader test, covering much of the material presented in high school. This being said, the math content is significantly more complex than in the SAT. Also, science is covered on this test, unlike the SAT. Since the ACT is a more generalized test, admissions offices are more interested in the composite score. So, if a student is weak in English, for example, but excels in math, his grade will still look good as a whole. The SAT would more prominently reflect his weaknesses in English. Ultimately, taking both tests is the best idea. There is no reason to stress about each of these tests. It is not the only ticket into a good college. All of the material on each of these tests

are basically a review of a student’s academic career. Some tips are: students should complete the questions they know, do not waste time second guessing; use the process of elimination and do not be afraid to guess; do not write a sloppy essay, and make sure to use an expanded vocabulary, and fill up all the lines if possible. College counselor Melissa said, “The ACT was most prominent in the Mid-West region, causing the East and West coasts to become skeptical about the test. Rumors were started that implied the ACT was not as good of an exam as the SAT...which is false. The major difference is the SAT is composed of strategic questions that try to trick you while the ACT is a ‘do you know it or not’ type of test.” Andrew Trapsi ’15 said, “I liked the SAT better because of the way the test was set up; but, kids should take both to get a feel for what type of test they like best.”

Top five college entrance tips By Alex Herrera ’16 It’s the end of the fall semester a few weeks closer to the ultimate goal of graduating onto bigger and greater opportunities, meaning that college applications are on the majority of seniors’ minds. College applications can be intimidating and overwhelming to the unprepared, so here are five tips for more effective and impressive applications. Tip #1: Timing is key One factor that can make applications intimidating and overwhelming is their volume and numerous requirements. Be sure to start early so there is enough time to thoroughly fill out every section of each application. In addition, starting early will prevent any stress as a result of late nights, consisting of sloppy essays and incomplete sections. Being thorough and having enough time to look over an application will increase the chances of impressing college admissions directors with well done applications. Another aspect is simply turning in applications on time, and being aware of the time it takes to mail and be received by admissions. Be aware of each college’s application deadline, giving a general idea of how to effectively use time. Lastly, try to turn in applications early. Admissions receive thousands of applications close to the deadline, so beat the crowd. This shows an

applicant’s unquestionable interest in attending that college. Tip #2: List and emphasize extracurriculars Although test scores, grade point averages, and essay responses mainly dictate whether or not an applicant is admitted, the extracurriculars can show admissions what the numbers can not. Sports, clubs, volunteer work, and internships all define a student’s capacity to exceed the requirements of academics in and outside of a school setting. To admissions, extracurriculars show that the applicant is willing to maintain his academic responsibilities while being involved in collegiate events and institutions. It can simply be seen as a way to express oneself and their defining characteristics. Given a situation where admissions are split between two students with similar test scores and academic standings, they are likely to look at the extracurriculars each includes in their application. A 4.0 student who plays a sport, participates in multiple clubs, and helps his community, is more likely to be accepted than a 4.0 student who only attends classes and goes home. Tip #3: Utilize resources that are offered online and at schools The best applicant is one who is informed and has a plan for tackling all aspects of the application process.

Resources such as SAT/ACT practice tests and reviews can easily be found online, bettering one’s chances of scoring high on the standardized tests. Forums and online articles can provide tips on how to apply for colleges, avoiding common application mistakes. At most high schools, guidance counselors and teachers offer a source of knowledge, offering recommendation letters and professional advice on the best way to apply. High schools should offer meetings with college representatives, trying to convince students to attend. This is a great time for students to ask questions and ensure that they would like to attend the college. There is many benefits and no harm in attending these meetings. Application requirements and general information of the college are definite subjects of the meetings. TIP #4: Get good letters of recommendation Most colleges require one or more letters of recommendation for the application process. Similar to the importance of extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation can show an applicant’s character and personality since letters convey the opinions of others. Teachers, coaches, administrators, and other adults are the perfect people to write requested letters of recommendation. Since most are

likely busy with their occupation and personal life, be sure to ask in advance. Allow the writer enough time to write a thoughtful essay. Inform them of when the application is due, giving them a sense of how much time they have to write the letter. College admissions want to see the kind of person each applicant is, giving them a sense of the student who will be representing the school in the near future. Letters of recommendation confirm the characteristics that define an applicant since letters are the viewpoints of people around them. Choose the writer wisely. A well-written and meaningful letter of recommendation can go a long way, possibly the difference between being declined or admitted. Tip #5: Stay honest and original One of the worst things an applicant can do is embellish on his application. It may seem like a good and slick idea at first, but embellishing the truth will only hurt applicants in the long run. One may think that college admission officers will not be able to evaluate the credibility of each application, but the truth is that they can. Admission officers have the authority to verify any claims and references included in applications.

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CAMPUS NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

December 2014

2014 Walkathon takes huge step forward By Roman Peregrino ’18

The morning of Oct. 24 came with anticipation; the entire school was energized for the annual Walk-aThon. At 8:30 a.m., the event officially began. The cross-country team and anyone who wanted to run the event occupied the inside two lanes. The goal was for everyone to complete 12 laps around the track, the equivalent of 3 miles. The students were spurred on by Principal Vittorio Anastasio, who announced fun facts and jokes over the P.A. system throughout the day. Everyone involved enjoyed the day and had fun walking or running the track with friends. Esquivel Santana ‘17 said, “It was an enjoyable day because we got to exercise and have fun.” The groundwork for the Walk-aThon started a month earlier. That was when the student council and event leaders met to decide what the funds raised from the event

would go toward. “We went to the seniors, the juniors, the sophomores, the freshmen. We wanted this to be student-driven,” Alumni Director Marc Rovetti said. “Everyone wanted to refresh the exterior of the school that we are proud of.” So it was decided that the PaintOur-School Project would be where the funds would go. The mission is to re-paint the school, with the the goal being to rejuvenate the curb-appeal because it should match the great education the institution provides students. Many students were happy to donate. “It was a good cause. No pointless plot behind the donations,” J.P. Detweiler ‘18 said. There were many different raffles to reward those who donated. For example, anyone who turned in $150 was given a wristband that gave them modified free dress until Halloween, college free dress on Fridays for the rest of the school year, and a free

lunch on Nov. 6. Seniors who turned in that amount are allowed to grow a mustache until Jan. 5. The donation of $175 gave a person a chance to win different prizes. The coveted lunch line fast passes were won by Milo Lewis, Kyle Politz, and Nestor Fernandez; dance tickets (not Prom) were won by Roman Peregrino, Gabriel Rouhani, and Julian Rodriguez. DeVante Ellis Brown won prom tickets, Jack Wynne won a $200 iTunes gift card, and Orlando Diaz won a 55” Flat screen TV. In addition, thanks to a generous donation from a Riordan alumnus,

more than 30 others won tickets to the Oregon-Cal game at Levi’s stadium on Oct. 24. One winner was especially happy with the prize he received. “I was grateful that I won the pass because a lot of the time I don’t buy lunch because the lines are too long,” Nestor Fernandez ‘15 confided. “It makes it easier for me on days I have club meetings.” Final results, as of Oct. 28, were that the students brought in upwards of $53,000 with Jennesis Jensen being the top homeroom teacher in terms of dollars raised. Many students were proud of the level of participation and the funds raised to help the school. “I really want to see Riordan improve,” Fernandez said, “ I know that this money is going to help our school.” A great way to continue to contribute to the Paint our School project is by purchasing a brick in the Chaminade Courtyard. Each brick is $250. Please talk to Mr. Rovetti in his office or visit Riordan’s website for more details.

December 2014

CAMPUS NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

5

LIFE Team breathes energy into Marianist tradition By Mike Patterson ’15

The LIFE Team here at Riordan is the student Marianist representation on campus. The 2014-2015 LIFE Team this year is made up of 10 diverse seniors: Julian Bermudez, DeVante Ellis Brown, Christian Fierro, Paris Gomez, Eric Guzman, John Howard, Conor Laughlin, Elliot Lloyd, Michael Patterson, and Andrew Trapsi. The LIFE Team first met together as a group at the end of the of the school year last semester in the Passing Of The Torch ceremony, where the previous 2013-2014 LIFE Team gave up the reins and responsibilities to the new

team. “I felt honored to be welcomed into the family,” said Andrew Trapsi. During the summer, the LIFE Team experienced a six day retreat with four schools from Hawaii, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Louis School, Maryknoll, and St. Anthony’s, and one school from Los Angeles, Chaminade College Preparatory. During the six days at CYO camp in Occidental, the LIFE team members got the opportunity to bond amongst themselves and also with the LIFE members from the other schools. Each day contained several unique activities that man-

aged to get all 58 total LIFErs together. The retreat also helped the LIFE members prepare for their monthly MLCs and prayer services. “I made a lot of new friends that I still talk to and miss dearly. The experience changed my life and I will hold onto it forever. It was the best week of my life,” said Trapsi. The LIFE Team meets every Tuesday. Each member contributes his own ideas in the planning of the MLCs which are hosted on Thursdays either after school or during lunch. So far, the LIFE Team has hosted two

successful MLCs, one after school and one during lunch. After each MLC, the team re-evaluates what it did right or wrong. This can help the team learn and improve as the year progress to be the best it possibly can be. “We have shown a lot of progress. We continue to become stronger as a team and embrace the Marianist values set by the Blessed William Joseph Chaminade,” said Trapsi. The LIFE Team myself, hope they can continue to be strong and creative leaders and brothers at Riordan throughout the school year.

Marianist Team: ARHS fulfilling its mission By Mike Patterson ’15

On Sept. 25, a few special individuals arrived at Riordan High School: SM Fr. Manuel Cortés and SM Bro. Maximum Magnan, Assistant General for Education. Marianist Brother William Bolts, a 1953 Riordan alumnus, and Marianist Brother David Betz, both members of Riordan’s board of trustees, escorted the guests around the campus. Every six years they visit each of the 20 Units of the Society of Mary in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

master, provincial and member of General Chapters throughout the last three decades. During the General Chapter of 2006, Father Manuel was elected 14th Superior General. Since that time, he has guided the SM as it faces the challenges of religious life today. While, technically he lives in Rome, he spends one-half of each year traveling throughout the world visiting Marianist communities and works. Brother Maximin is a member of

Marianist guests with members of the ARHS MIT Team.

A little bit about the visitors: Father Manuel Cortes, born in 1945, is a native of Valencia, Spain. He is one of eight siblings, four girls and four boys, three of whom are members of the Society of Mary. He entered the novitiate for the Province of Zaragoza at Elorio in 1961 and professed his first vows in 1962. In 1966, he professed perpetual vows. He was ordained to the priesthood in Fribourg in 1974. Throughout his religious life, Father Manuel has served his Province as a teacher, chaplain and pastor. He has generously assumed many leadership roles including novice

sector coordinator and regional superior in Togo (he was in his second term at the time of his election to the General Administration). Throughout most of those years, he also served as director of Collège Chaminade in Kara, Togo. He is well respected in Africa and beyond for his leadership skills and commitment to education. He is the first African to serve on the General Council of the Society of Mary. “It had rained overnight, but San

MLC centered on the conservation of water resources. The meeting began with prayer, then proceeded with a video and an individual survey on conserving water. The session continued with a small group activity in which Father Manuel and Brother Max participated. The Marianist superiors were impressed by Archbishop Riordan. “Father Cortes and Brother Magnan learned about our curricular

Francisco and Riordan gave them the most sunny welcome,” Brother Bolts said. The visitors first gathered in the Presidential Library for an overview of Archbishop Riordan as a Catholic and Marianist school.The Marianist visitors were shown the Chapel of the Assumption; the Riordan Archives; the Boarding Department; Campus Ministry Office; Lindland Theatre; and the gymnasium. They visited various classrooms and interacted with the students and faculty. At noon, they met with the Marianist Life Community of about 50 students. The activity during the

offerings, the incredible dynamic between faculty and staff, and experienced Riordan hospitality,” Joseph Conti, Riordan president, said, “This was a great day in the history of our school.” “They were impressed by the friendliness of the students, rapport between students and faculty, dedication of students, faculty, staff, and parents, and the Catholic and Marianist symbols and spirit on campus,” Brother Bolts said. Brother Bolts also added, “The visit may have lasted for one day, but the superiors got an excellent impression of how Archbishop Riordan is fulfilling its Catholic and Marianist mission.”

Photo courtesy Alex Datoc

the Region of Togo. He was born on May 28, 1961 in Lomé-Tokorin, Togo. Having completed novitiate studies in 1986, he professed first vows at Abidjan that same year. On Sept. 21, 1991, Brother Max professed perpetual vows. He has studied in Africa, Europe and the United States and has degrees in catechetics, mathematics and physics. He speaks several languages fluently. In the SM, Brother Max has served many years as a leader, both on the Unit level and in education. His service of leadership has included as a provincial counselor (Switzerland),

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CAMPUS NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

December 2014

P o l y C l u b Meet a boarder : G’day, Robert C olton! w h o o p s w a r By Karim NdiayeA’15r c h b i s h o p Australia. Coming from a family of same time in the cafeteria every day. Riordan High five, he is in his senior year. Colton, Living far away from his parents helps School, San being a boarder for a few months, said him grow up quickly and makes him cry for new F r a n c i s c o ’ s that it’s been a positive experience be more responsible, and also helps oldest all male so far even though it’s hard to leave him learn to live in a community. m e m b e r s school opened home far from his family. He also had Colton wants to pursue his education By Ron Manlapid ’16

The Polynesian Club plans to bring the island culture to Riordan, with members talking about exciting plans for the year such as the “Haka,” a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Maori culture of New Zealand. With Juniors Mavaega Maga and Jack Luavasa leading the way, many see this club as a fun way to relax, listen to island reggae, and enjoy the lunch break. Every Wednesday, the Polynesian Club meets in adviser Armando Castillo’s room, 205, and is open to everyone willing to be in touch with the Polynesian culture and brotherhood. Freshman and Polynesian club member, Keanu Tafeamalii said, “I’m looking forward to learning more in depth about my culture and becoming more intelligent with the other Polynesian cultures as well. Doing the Haka this year will show that the Polynesian culture is still part of modern day.” There are many members of the Polynesian Club such as Samatuafaiga Tofi, Folasa Tofi, Jamarian Caston, Andrew Wiles, Andrew Trapsi, Mavaega Maga, Jack Luavasa, Keanu Tafeamalii, Phillip Kaulave, and Christopher Umanzor. At every meeting, members share laughs, lunch, conversation, and culture with one another. Throughout the course or the school year, the club will discuss performances, trips, and other events. Although this club is new, it is already popular, with an abundance of new members to fill up the room, but there is always room for more.

DJ Club spins musical magic By Ron Manlapid ’16

The DJ Club, a way for students to relax, listen to music, and learn how to DJ, has exciting plans this year. John Aguliar, DJ Club moderator, said, “I am looking to put together a three on three basketball tournament this year for anyone to listen to music and play basketball.” Every Thursday, the club has many new and old members listening to music and showing their skills on the turntables. DJ Club is not only for people who are experienced; Aguilar and the members of the club are open to teaching new people. Secretary Jaron Balisi said, “My role in DJ Club is to make sure everyone signs in, participates, and enjoys their lunch break. I love DJ Club because of the environment and music.” Every Thursday in DJ Club older members show their skills and play tracks that everyone usually likes. DJ Club is a place for music, brotherhood, and of course, DJs. It is open to anyone interested. “If there was one word to describe the atmosphere at DJ Club,” Balisi said, “I would probably say it would be ‘Brotherhood’ because of how students get along in there.”

its international boarding program four years ago where people from different nationalities live together. We take a close look at one of the new students and basketball players in the boarding program, Robert Colton. Robert Colton is from Canberra,

to adjust to his new routine during the first couple weeks of school. He said that his adaptation was easy because people are really nice and are so helpful. Robert Colton says enjoys the dorm life, different from home life. He learned to live with other people from different parts of the world, sharing stuff, eating at the

in the United States. He wants to be a lawyer, and also play basketball in college and professionally. He also wanted to give some advice to his fellow students: work hard to achieve their goals, learn to face challenges, and treat everybody with respect.

undergoing implementation around the country. In another recent poll conducted by PDK/Gallup, 62 percent of parents said they oppose the standards being taught in their community. Reasons for opposition to the standards vary. Some conservative-leaning parents have called the Common Core an example of federal overreach, since the federal government incentivized states to adopt the standards. Others take issue with high-stakes standardized tests associated with the Common Core. Forty-seven percent of parents from another recent Gallup poll said they had heard a great deal or a fair amount about the Common Core. Only 19 percent said they had heard nothing at all. Last year, 55 percent of public school parents said they were

uneducated about the standards. Just as parents’ reported satisfaction with their child’s education came up from 2014, the American public reported more favorable opinions on education overall. Compared to last year when 45 percent of Gallup respondents said they were satisfied with the American K-12 education system, 48 percent said they were satisfied this year, the highest level since 2004. Once again, the results come even as other polls show that general support for the Common Core has plummeted. A recent poll from the Harvard education journal Education Next, found that 53 percent of respondents expressed support for the Common Core in 2014, compared to 65 percent in 2013.

language, and dance. I hope they are more active in the community by going to cultural events with ICA.” With the PAC sweaters, the club hopes to add to its funds and attract new members, including those from other schools. Michael Patterson ’15, a four year PAC member, stated that he loves the atmosphere and the brotherhood in the club. Patterson said, “I predict this year as a club we plan to learn more and more about the Filipino culture.” Member Ethan Camacho ’16,

stated that the club is welcoming to everyone and anyone who interested. PAC, a predominantly student run club, has a lot of support from the parents of the students in the club. Last year, the PAC hosted several fundraisers and public activities, and hopes to be able to do that again this year. At meetings, students discuss several fun activities planned throughout the year, with the focus on everyone’s opinions and concerns being heard.

Pa r e n t s u p p o r t f o r C o m m o n C o r e c r u m b l e s By Karim Ndiaye ’15

Even as American students continue to post underwhelming results on international exams, most parents are pleased with the education their child is receiving, according to a recent poll. A poll from Gallup released Thursday found that 75 percent of parents would describe themselves as somewhat or completely satisfied with their child’s education. Last year, 67 percent of parents said the same, the lowest since 1999. The positive results come in a year when groups of parents around the country have rallied against the Common Core State Standards, a new set of math and reading benchmarks designed to make sure kids around the country are on the same track. The standards, which were adopted in a majority of states, are currently

PAC focuses on Filipino culture By Luis Martinez ’16

The Philippine American Coalition, led by Counselor Jonathan Aguilar, has many activities and plans this year for all students to enjoy. Aguilar said, “I hope to gain new members, attend the same workshops as last year or more, perform Filipino cultural dances, and be more involved.” PAC plans to debut new club sweaters this year. Math teacher Mary Ann Datoc said, “I’m hoping that they can connect to the community through food,

Drama Club sets scene for success By Luis Martinez ’16

The Riordan Drama Club is not only one of the oldest clubs on campus, but it is also one of the most diverse and most active. Most Drama Club members are part of the International Thespian Society, in troop 5596. The club meets every Monday and Thursday during lunch, in the theatre, and is moderated by Valerie O’Riordan, and co-moderated by Activities Director Joey Klobas ‘07, who are assisted by club officers President Michael Archer, Vice President John Howard, Fundraising Chairman Austin Pallad, and Secretary Luis Martinez.

The Club has had success with fundraisers such as selling flower bulbs, Friday Film Fest, where they show top movies in the theater, and the biggest: Lucky 13. Lucky 13 was a huge fundraiser that was held on Labor Day 2013. The event brought alumni from the past decades to celebrate accomplishments of Riordan Drama. The event raised more than $15,000 for the department. In addition, the drama club has raised money for non-profit organizations such as Brothers Against Guns, Ribbon Of Promise, The Make A Wish Foundation, American

Blood Banks, and more, totalling more than $20,000. The Riordan Theater is the host of the annual Shakespeare Speaking Competition in March, where teenagers from all over the Bay Area compete for a cash prize and the chance to compete nationally, in New York City, against other teens from around the country. The Club also competes in a Bay Area theater competitions at Ohlone College in Fremont every year. This year, the theatre department’s fall play was Dead Man Walking and it’s spring musical will be Godspell.

December 2014

CAMPUS NEWS

7

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Origins of Halloween Ju n i or s re c e i v e r i n g s rooted in har vest season a t U n i t y M a s s By Brian Kosewic ’16

By Luis Martinez ’16

Halloween. The time of the year where boys feel like superheroes for a night. This year, Halloween conveniently fell on a Friday, which meant most students did not really have to worry about waking up early next morning after a long night of fun and trick or treating. Add to that the fact that the Giants’ World Series parade was also on Halloween, making the day a true Black and Orange event Whether students spent Friday at a haunted house, trick or treating from neighborhood to neighborhood, or were too tired from the parade, many adults stressed the need to stay safe while having fun. The origins of Halloween are not marked by evil spirits, but to note the end of growing season. The word itself

means “All Hallow’s Eve,” since it is a day before All Saints Day. Halloween is celebrated in almost every corner of the world and has other names names such as Noche de Las Brujas, the “night of the witches.” Some Halloween traditions, such as bobbing for apples, were done to obtain favor with spirits. People in villages would be on their knees and bob for apples, and the first person to get the apple would have good luck for the next season. Bonfires came from the time of animal and human sacrifices, where at the end of the ceremony, they would throw the remains into a fire. The next day all that was left were ashes and bones. Thus came the name bonfires, bone-fires.

The Class of 2016 received advice, gifts, and their class rings at the Junior Unity Mass on Oct. 23. The ceremony recognized their new position and responsibilities as upperclassmen in the school. The Mass was celebrated by Father Bill Brady, with many parents and family members in attendance. “I was really touched that my mom wanted to support me by coming out to see me recognized as a fully fledged junior,” said Baktu Godhwani Segismond ‘16. “It meant a lot to me.”

The Mass was a quiet and reserved affair, with a pleasant homily by Father

Brady. After the Mass, Interim Junior Class Moderator Kerry Oshita had a few words of advice for the juniors, reminding them how quickly time passes, and that the time that has passed since they started their freshman year is about the same amount of time that they have left until they begin college. Oshita also said that the class has grown in maturity since they began high school, but further growth is still required for them to be prepared for college. “It really got me thinking about how high school has been a major journey for me,” said Sean O’Driscoll ‘16. Next, Principal Vittorio Anastasio and Oshita handed out gifts to all of the juniors: metal keychains with a large Riordan ‘R” logo. After that, the guests and students who did not order a ring were dismissed to a reception outside. Those students who did order a ring were presented with them individually.

‘Dead Man Walking’ shines spotlight on death penalty The Play

By Luis Martinez ’16 On Nov. 14, the Riordan Drama presented its fall play, Dead Man Walking, the true story of a convicted murderer on death row, and the nun who answered his plea for a pen pal and spiritual adviser. The play is directed and produced by Valerie O’Riordan, a veteran of many great productions in Riordan’s Lindland Theatre. The cast and crew of the production rehearsed tirelessly for the show for more than a month and spirits were high on opening night. The cast was led by Dominic Collantes ‘16, a recent Saint Ignatius transfer, as Matthew Poncelet, and Lizzy Merski, a senior at Lowell, as Sister Helen Prejean. Behind the scenes, Michael Umari was the set and light designer, while Nic Nelson ‘09 was the costume designer. On Nov. 24, the entire student body was treated to a special performance.

The Music

By Roman Peregrino ’18 "The Dead Man Walking theater project requires schools to have across the curriculum involvement," explained Valerie O' Riordan, ARHS drama director. O' Riordan and Band Director Scott Souza took that as a challenge and went a step further by having their two classes work together. "I decided that my students would write lyrics, Mr. Souza's class would make music, and lets see what happens." In fact, the idea for a collaboration came to be long before these two Performing Arts teachers decided to work together. It started when O' Riordan lobbied for the school to take a different approach to summer reading. "I had been on the academic council for years, and I wanted to start the one school one book [project]," she said. "I was hopeful that the administration would [be sup-

portive]." They were, and the project soared from there. Having everyone read the same book allowed the teachers to create unique lesson plans based on the book and the concept of capital punishment. All the teachers incorporated the book in some way, but O' Riordan's was probably the most unique. "During the school year [Mr. Souza and I] decided on a timeline for my students to write the lyrics, so his students could read them and make the music," O' Riordan remarked. "Then our students met one time with a guest speaker, Jake Heggie, who composed the opera of Dead Man Walking. He talked about the process [for the opera] and listened to [the students'] songs and gave them feedback." Not all of the students’ lyrics were used in the play, but all were shared and posted in the theater lobby, giving credit for their hard work. Many

theatergoers were impressed with the students and the results of the collaboration itself. One Riordan parent said, "I was touched by how well the music supported the emotional journey that the play took us on. I was even more impressed when I realized it had been a result of a student partnership." Was the project a success? "As a first time venture, yes. We used some of [the students’ lyrics and] music in the show,” O’ Riordan said, and the collaboration is "something Mr. Souza and I said we would [like to do again in] the future." Students who knew the story behind the music enjoyed it more knowing that classmates had written and performed it. It created an even greater connection to the themes of the production and many hope this was not a one time collaboration.

O p e n Hous e wel come s pro sp e c t ive students By Keven Munoz ’18

Open House is the day when sev-

The presentation of the school is

sources, and books. The administra-

smiled brightly as their booth in the

enth and eighth graders visit Riordan

important for many reasons, and so

tion beamed with pride as parents,

gym was approached and the infor-

with their families, and when the Cru-

the Lancers, teachers, staff, adminis-

some of them graduates of Riordan,

mation was plentiful.

saders get to show off what ARHS is

tration, custodial staff, and many stu-

walked through the hallways with

Many young men visited Riordan

made of. This year, it took place on

dents (including the band!) worked

smiles and nods of approval.

with their families. Perhaps they will

Oct. 26, with purple and gold bal-

together to create a memorable mo-

Parents and prospective students

be here next year as members of the

loons and the Crusader band to wel-

ment for visitors.

thought the quality of each presenta-

Class of 2019.

come everyone.

Teachers were excited to show

tion was well executed, and the hard

off their classrooms, experiments, re-

work was apparent. The presenters all

8

LOCAL & WORLD NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

December 2014

Yu l i n D o g F e s t i v a l c r e a t e s culinary culture clash By Sean O’Driscoll ’16

Earlier this summer in Yulin, China, people gathered together to celebrate one of the most infamous traditions in modern-day China: the consumption of dog meat. Many people gather each year for this event in Yulin, wanting to partake in the festivities, or to protest the buying, selling, and butchering of dogs during the event. The event is surrounded with criticism from around the world,

and from most people in China. The festival has been around for as long as anyone in China can remember. In Yulin, the festival is viewed as a deep tradition, and many from the province do not want to give up their long-practiced tradition. “This is our tradition and we are used to eating dog. It’s our culture and we won’t change ... It’s tasty,” said one butcher at the festival as she prepared

a dog carcass for sale. New regulations have been passed in China that have begun to prohibit the slaughter and consumption of dogs. Many restaurant owners have to be careful when they prepare their meat. “Now we have to do it as though we are thieves,” one restaurant owner told a Chinese TV station. Even with current regulations in place, the festival still holds public stalls with butchers proudly displaying their carved dog carcasses available for sale. In addition to the sale of meat, many breeders come to sell dogs raised on a private farm. Unless regulated and properly documented by the appropriate groups, the sale of dogs is considered illegal. Many activists come to protest the event, such as Du Yufeng, an animal rights activist from Sichuan in southwest China. She participated in protests that lead to the shut-down of the yearly festival that would happen in Jinhua, in Zhejiang province. She, and many others, feel that this festival is unethical and brings shame to her country.

“The biggest change is that the word dog on street signs have to be covered. This means the government has become aware that this needs to be canceled. Many people also realize that eating dog is not an honorable thing.” She does feel that the situation is improving in China because of the raised awareness and the changing opinions of people in the province. “I feel like we’ve had a lot of improvement in public awareness. The first time we came here in 2011 all you could hear were dogs wailing as soon as you entered into the city,” reflects Yufeng. Besides protests, other activists choose to use their own money, or money donated from fundraisers, to buy dogs that are put on the market. One woman named Yang Xiaoyun bought 300 dogs, worth 90,000 RMB, which is equivalent to $15,000 in U.S. dollars. It took her about 11 hours to transport the animals back to her home town of Tianjin. The festival is widely criticized around the world, and in China as well. Protests continue to dog the festival and only time will if laws are passed that will finally prohibit it.

F o r m e r O l y m p i a n g u i l t y o f ‘c u l p a b l e h o m i c i d e’ By Brian Kosewic ’16

On Sept. 11, 2014, a double amputee Olympian Oscar Pistorius was found not guilty of murdering his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp. The next day, Judge Thokozile Masipa convicted him of culpable homicide, the South African legal term for an unintentional, but illegal killing. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Judge Masipa sentenced Pistorius to five years in custody. The first 10 months will be served in prison, and Pistorius will spend the rest under house arrest. In anticipation of the controversy that the sentencing would cause,

Judge Masipa said, “Having regard to the circumstances in the matter, I am of the view that a non-custodial sentence would send the wrong message to the community. On the other hand, a long sentence would also not be appropriate either, as it would lack the element of mercy. What may appear to be justice to the general public may not be justice. Society cannot always get what they want.” Pistorius is a double amputee who competed for South Africa in the 2012 London Olympics. His televised trial captivated both South Africa and the world. Early on the morning of Feb. 14, 2014, Pistorius shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp. He claims that he awoke and heard noises coming from the bathroom of his home. The door of the bathroom was locked. Believing that it was a burglar, Pistorius fired four shots through the door, killing Steenkamp, who was inside. During the trial, the prosecution claimed that the killing was premeditated. Text messages between Pistorius and Steenkamp were used as evidence that their relationship was strained. In one message to Pistorius, Steenkamp said, “I’m scared of you

sometimes, of how you snap at me.” Additionally, the trajectory of the bullets through the door indicated that Pistorius was wearing

The ruling by Judge Masipa has been highly controversial, and sparked a backlash across the Internet and social media. On the website debate.

his prosthetic legs when he killed Steenkamp. According to the prosecution, the amount of time that putting on prosthetic limbs would have taken showed that the shooting of Steenkamp was intentional. The defense argued that all of the evidence was circumstantial and did not contradict either version of the story. They also used psychological evaluations to show that, as a result of his disability, Pistorius was more likely to act aggressively in “fight or flight situations.”

org, 84 percent of users consider Oscar Pistorius guilty of murder, with many criticizing his hard-to-believe story that seems to imply a total lack of intelligence and common sense. According to one post on the site, “Everything he says is full of holes, just like Reeva who was the only one who could tell us the truth - anyone going after an intruder would communicate with their loved one first, and make them safe.”

December 2014

9

LOCAL & WORLD NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Battle for Ukraine claims civilian lives By Brad Peraza ’16

On a bright, beautiful day, Malaysia Flight 17 was shot down and 280 people lost their lives. In February, the President of Ukraine, Yanukovych, fled the country to Russia to escape having to deal with protesters. Protesters were furious at their president’s refusal to sign the European Union, an association agreement that would have allowed Ukraine to open up its borders, allowing travel and trade easier, which would ultimately boost Ukraine's economy. With tension starting to increase with pro-Russians coming into Ukraine and Ukraine in desperate need of a leader, on June 6, the Ukraine elected Petro Poroshenko president. Everything started to come together, but then the pro-Russian separatists began its terrorism campaign. The pro-Russians attempt-

ed to take cities, and allegedly shot down planes. This caused both the pro-Russians and Ukrainians to acquire missiles, preparing for a com-

world now believe that the pro-Russian separatists shot the plane out of the sky. While many agree that the

ing war. This lead to the crash of Malaysia Flight 17. Some originally thought that the plane crashed somewhere in the ocean, never be found, but many governments and citizens of the

Ukraine crisis is tragic, others see it as something that was coming. Due to Ukraine only being about 23 years old, getting its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, it is seen by neighboring countries as Russia's

little brother. In fact, many in the Ukraine also look to themselves as Russia’s simpler sibling. Being "Russia's little brother” means Ukraine has to rely on Russia, with Russia seen as a huge economical partner. Not including the current crisis that Ukraine faces, the country has suffered from a weak government. While its population is 45 million people, the country is controlled by basically 50 of the richest people in Ukraine. The type of government that is in power is an oligarchy of successful business men who are ultimately looking for self gain through economical means. In war, there are many casualties and yes, sometimes innocent ones. And there are limited rules. Yet, the world does not look upon the loss of Malaysia Flight 17 as a casualty of war, but rather, a travesty.

American shares Rwandan genocide stor y By Karim Ndiaye ’15

On April 6, 1994, a plane c a r r y i n g R w a n d a n President Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot down. Violence began almost immediately and lead to the Rwandan genocide between the two majors ethnic group of the country, the Hutu, 85 percent of the population, and Tutsi 14 percent of the population. All foreign embassies evacuated their citizens, but one American remained: Carl Wilkens.

Eb ol a By Jacob Taylor ’17

Wilkens, the former head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International in Rwanda, talked to Archbishop Riordan students about his experiences in the country before, during, and after the genocide. When the violence broke out, he decided to stay, believing that it would not last more than two weeks. He also did not want to leave his two Tutsi house workers to be killed. Wilkens, when told to leave, said “I’d much rather stay than leave Theresa (his wife) in a place where I might never see her again. Theresa had the much harder job.” The night before his wife and children left, his wife baked chocolate chip cookies and they played Red Light,

out bre a k

With the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone killing about 2,430 people, people all around the world worry and question the control governments and health agencies have over the deadly virus. The truth is a significant amount of people do not have to worry. Ebola is not an airborne virus and only can be transmitted when the infected person’s body fluids come in contact with someone else. This means anyone who is not currently in Sub-Saharan Africa or has not been around an Ebola victim is not at risk of contracting the disease. The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a disease that affects both humans and primates. Ebola can be transmitted from one host to another through body fluids, such as blood, sweat, semen, and mucus. Once infected, hosts start display-

ing symptoms after two to 21 days. The first symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. Following this is vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and impaired kidney and liver functions. Internal and external bleeding has been reported. Ebola's infectious transmission, symptoms, and fatality rate of about 50 percent lead to Ebola receiving a Biosafety Level (BSL) of 4, the highest level of awareness given to biological agents. Another reason for this high level of precaution is due to the fact that no cure has been found for Ebola. The origins of this virus are found in sub-Saharan Africa, where in 1976, the first outbreak was recorded simultaneously in Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These two outbreaks lead to the deaths of about 430 people.

Green Light to the sounds of gunshots. Then, he said goodbye to his family. He knew his life was at risk, but not more than the other workers and Tutsi people. For Wilkens, there is an incredible power just being present and simply asking questions. He asked a solider in charge of the killing to stop and he actually did listen to him. He believes with God, no one is ever alone and even in the worst situation, everyone still has a choice. Wilkens acknowledged that when people think of Rwanda, they first think “genocide” and he does not want that. Wilkens wants Rwanda to be known for it beauty and diversity. From his experience during the

c aus e s

genocide, he learned how to not let terrible events take more space in his heart and wants also people do the same for a better world. He wants people to consciously look for good in people, and constantly examine what they believe. Wilkens believes that when people engage their mind and muscle in active service, it can change the world. “People are not helpless. Just talk and listen to them,” he said. Impressed by how the Rwandans go on today, living next to people who once tried to kill them or their loved ones, Wilkens said, “The Rwandan peoples’ stories are stories of forgiveness. This is a reality we live every day, and it’s called ‘forgiveness.’

c onc e r n

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LOCAL & WORLD NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Viking’s Subs is sandwich Valhalla By Greg Schoepp ’15

Viking’s Giant Submarines, located at 1300 Ocean Avenue, is conveniently a short walk for Crusaders wanting an an easy bite to eat after school. The storefront facade is a little disheartening, and makes most people think the shop is grimey or too cheap to be good, but in actuality, the first impression is definitely the wrong one. Don’t let the worn out appearance steer your culinary ship away to calmer waters. Try a Viking’s sub.

Viking’s does a great job of balancing taste, portion, and value.The sandwiches offered are large, ensuring the customer really gets the most for his money. Also, the thinly sliced meats are hot and juicy for every customer, and each sandwich comes with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and onions along with mayonnaise, choice of cheese, and Viking’s tasty special sauce. A few regular customers recommended the following sandwiches: 1: the crab sandwich, which does NOT have a ton of mayonnaise like a lot of other sandwich shops mistakenly do; 2: the roast beef with provolone; and 3: chicken teriyaki. The store also offers chili dogs, which are enjoyable, along with options for vegetarians. The only drawbacks of this place are that there is no public restroom available, even to customers, and that it is cash only. Also, the exterior and interior decor is a little shabby and plain, but if customers really appreciate a solid, inexpensive sandwich made quickly and well, then stop by and have a Viking’s Giant Submarine.

Where in the world is Kim Jong Un? By Sean O’Driscoll ’16

December 2014

Beep’s new owner launches expanded menu By Greg Schoepp ’15

Located at 1051 Ocean Avenue, directly across the street from the Whole Foods market, sits Beep’s Burgers. A family owned spot, the compact drive in joint has been a pulse in the Ingleside Community for more than 50 years. Scores of people, whether commuters from Balboa Park Station or along the MUNI lines, local residents, or even students from City College and Archbishop Riordan, have eaten at this rustic rotisserie. Starting off with the overall environment of Beep’s, it has an old school feel. A drive in by nature, the burger joint has a walk up/drive up counter. The large Beep’s sign out front on the corner of Lee and Ocean makes it impossible to miss this place. Signage in front advertises their key food items and their larger menu makes it easy to order quickly.

Moving on to the actual service, it’s pretty good. All food items are made to your order, not pre-made. So with a 10 minute wait, the polite cashier will call you up to pick up your order. The cashiers have always been kind and patient with customers. As for the food, there are a few shortfalls, but overall it’s still very good. The burger patties themselves seem to lack flavor sometimes, a result of being cooked too much. In addition, the burger is at times too greasy, making it hard to actually eat it while it slips out of your hands or falls apart. However, the best of the pros far surpass the cons. The french fries are actually large potato wedges that taste great hot and freshly salted. Also, the portion sizes in general are on the larger side, insuring hungry Crusaders can get a bang for their buck. The menu has a large variety, promising to satisfy customers of many different tastes. In addition to burgers, Beep’s offers cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches, corn dogs, fish n’ chips, milkshakes and rice bowls that can be accompanied with beef, shrimp, pork, or chicken. Bring your copy of The Crusader with you to Beep’s for a 10% discount on your next meal.

Levi’s Stadium: celebrated or cursed? By Ron Manlapid ’16

Kim Jong Un made his first public

by North Korea to their southern

appearance in at least six weeks after

neighbors since 2009.

a long absence from the public view.

Officials from North Korea could

Kim Jong Un was last seen on Sept.

have arrived in South Korea to discuss

3 with his wife on a field guidance

more important topics; however,

tour in Pyongyang. After this event,

Hwang is thought to be the second-

he was nowhere to be seen at any

in-command of North Korea, right

following events in North Korea.

behind Kim Jong Un himself. Theories

Speculation arose about his well-

arose that they could have been

being after he had been missing

discussing military issues between

for more than four weeks and the

the two countries, trying to improve

people wondered if the leader had

relations, or possibly discussing Kim

died or he had been deposed by his

Jong Un’s absence.

own government. Strangely, North

Conspiracy theories that Kim

Korean government officials Hwang

Jong Un had died were crushed on

Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae, and Kim

Oct. 14, 2014 when he made his first

Yang-gon arrived in South Korea to

appearance while holding a cane in

supposedly discuss the 17th Asian

one hand.

Games. This was the first visit lead

The 49ers’ new stadium looks to be a hit. Levi’s Stadium is new, modern, and advanced. A big change from Candlestick, Levi’s Stadium welcomes an artistic, yet futuristic look to it. Players from all over such as: Frank Gore, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, and even Payton Manning have been on the new field and played hard each time. This stadium, in Santa Clara, allows the 49ers to play in warmer weather with much more space for fans. While in the planning stages, the 49ers organization stated that

they wanted it to be amusing, interesting, for fans. Despite the excitement of the new stadium, fans complained about a lack of parking spaces, long lines at concession stands, and even the weather, claiming that as opposed to Candlestick, which was deemed too cold, now this stadium is too hot. In addition, the high ticket prices did not deter fans from brawling in the stands or in the restrooms. Add to this the lackluster record of 7 and 7 many fans already miss the ‘Stick and are calling the new stadium cursed. Levi’s Stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, 2016, the 2015 NHL Stadium Series featuring the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 21, 2015, and WrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015, and will be the new permanent home of college football’s annual San Francisco Bowl.

December 2014

ENTERTAINMENT & TECHNOLOGY

New iMac revealed

By Brandon Castro ’18

In the month of October, Apple revealed that the making of the iMac

was completed. Along with the iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 3c, Apple released data of the new and improved iMac with Retina 5k display. The New iMac, coming in at 27 inches, and with a display of 14.7 million pixels, has four times more pixels than the regular standard 27 inch iMac . Apple promises customers will experience “unbelievable detail, on a unbelievable scale.” They also added a new display with the performance to light up 14.7 million pixels, which reduces energy consumption while maintaining a high standard for brightness, and with all these new additions to the iMac they are still able to maintain an incredibly thin design. The new iMac with Retina 5K display does not stop there in terms of the newer, and greater screen. With a quadcore Intel Core processor available at up to 4.0GHz, it has the greatest AMD graphics and also an advanced Fusion Drive, and Thunderbolt 2. For pro or amateur photographers who want a better video quality screen, this is ideal. Those who prefer the written word, however, may want to look for another computer. As for gamers, this could be one of the best computers—If they do not want to buy a PC—because it gives consumers the best visual quality and a bigger screen. Start saving pennies, Apple fans, because the one worm in this deal is the cost: $2,499.

iPad Air 2 released

By Brandon Castro ’18

Along with the release of the new iMac, the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 2 are now on sale. The new iPad Air 2 has new features and now comes in the stylish gold and new Touch ID technology with a better looking screen. Even though it is 18 percent thinner, the new iPad comes with newer and better technology like a 64-bit architecture, 2.5 faster graphics, a 40 percent faster CPU, and

11

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

up to 10 hours of battery life. The new iPad has a thinner and better display with a 9.7 inch display, a 2048x1536 resolution and there are 3.1 million pixels, which is 264 pixels per inch. Along with the new iMac, the new iPad was given a better retina display and they also added antireflective coating, giving iPad Air 2 the least reflective display of any tablet in the world.

Along with all the new updates, they also improved the camera, saying that the new iSight camera is the best iPad camera yet. The iSight comes with a 8mp sensor and it captures images 3264-by-2448 native resolution, and the videos come in 1080p HD videos. The new iPad Air 2 price is $499.

Movie Reviews

Fury

By Stephan Smith ’15

Rating: 9.5/10 I’ll say this again from the point of view of an average American teenage guy: we’re not going to the movies looking for some garbage most adults would call great (even though both adults and teens can agree on this movie. We crave big action pieces, lots and lots of brutal onscreen violence, bloodshed galore and countless amounts of spent cartridges flying across the screen as the projectile flies into the enemy. And that is exactly what you get with Fury.

Alongside all the brutality that we love as moviegoers, we also get a decent amount of downtime to show what it’s like to be in Nazi Germany around the end of World War II, where the enemy was all around you and anyone that wasn’t American was a potential threat. The movie also shows the brutality of, as Shia LaBeouf’s character puts it, “what a man can do to another man.” Although I think Brad Pitt is a complete and utter jerk, he is actually quite good and intriguing as a Staff Sergeant who can at times be either quite heroic, or despicable. Same goes for the rest of his tank crew. In the final days of World War II, the allies are closing in on Nazi Germany, finishing off Hitler’s army as they make their way deep into the heart of Germany. Rolling by along with the soldiers were the M4A3E8 Sherman tanks, which normally required a crew of about 5 men. The crew of Fury have been together for 4 years, since the North African campaign. They are as follows: Staff Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt, Inglourious Basterds) Technician 5th Grade Boyd “Bible” Swan (Shia LaBeouf, Transformers) Corporal Trini “Gordo” Garcia (Michael Peña, Shooter, Observe and Report) Private First Class Grady Travis (Jon Bernthal, The Walking Dead) After their assistant driver is killed in battle, they arrive at a basecamp to receive their new orders and a new driver, Private Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman, Percy Jackson, 3:10 to Yuma,

nickname and learns that before the war comes to a close, as Wardaddy puts it, “a lot more people are going to have to die.” It is a true statement, and a haunting one at that. I honestly could not find anything big to complain about other than a particular scene involving two German women feeling too long. The action was savagely realistic, the tank warfare was brutal, and who doesn’t like seeing Nazis get their heads blown off by the good guys (who sometimes don’t act like they are)? And as a look into the horrors of war in general, it had things like coldblooded execution, bombings, battle casualties, and what the Germans would do to citizens who refused to fight for them. It is right along the lines of movies like Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Lone Survivor and The Hurt Locker. And the actors completely lose themselves in their roles. Pitt as an unsympathetic sergeant that will be with his men in any situation even if hopeless, LaBeouf as a good ol’ boy who uses his Christian faith to help him through the atrocities and offers comfort to the dying, and Lerman as an inexperienced pacifist that becomes a true warrior. I saw this movie, then I went back to the box office, bought a ticket, and saw it again. I’ll probably do it a third time when I get the chance. Who cares about movies like Gone Girl and The Judge? THIS is the one you’re gonna want to see this Fall.

Noah). This Private is not only not up to the job, he’s not even trained for it: he’s a typist, and has not yet been exposed to the brutalities of war. The crew of Fury initially despise Norman due to his lack of experience and sense of compassion towards the Germans, failing to take out a group of Hitler youths when they attack them and is eventually forced to get his first taste of death from Wardaddy, forcing him to coldly execute a captive German soldier in a disturbing segment that will probably have the more liberal or innocent minded individuals squirming in their seats. Eventually, Norman earns his war

You’ll get a slice of everything: savage combat, an immersive World War II setting, and some great acting from the cast. It all makes one great movie and probably one of the best of the year.

Annabelle

By Stephan Smith ’15 Rating: 4/10 Last year, one of the biggest movies of the summer was the supernatural horror film The Conjuring, about real life demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren investigating a haunted house in Rhode Island that threatened its new residential family and it all led to

continued on page 12

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ENTERTAINMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Annabelle continued from page11 demonic possession and exorcism. The resulting movie is well-crafted and at times is absolutely terrifying. It was a box office hit and regarded as a success for director James Wan, creator of Saw, Dead Silence, and Insidious. A year later, they announced the prequel, a spin-off surrounding the doll featured throughout certain parts of

The Conjuring. A lot of horror fans got to thinking that lightning was about to strike twice. They were wrong. This movie is freakin’ weak! Like there hadn’t already been enough movies about creepy dolls in the last decade, they decided that one more was in order. This one is about a newly-wed couple (the wife is pregnant) who move into a suburban neighborhood and become victims of a pair of Satanists who were not only part of the Manson family, but have just finished slaughtering their neighbors. The police arrive and gun one of the maniacs down, but not before the female Satanist opens her own throat, draws an arcane symbol on the wall with her blood and cradles a porcelain doll in her lap as she bleeds out. A few days and supernatural events later, they find themselves in an apartment building and, you guessed it, the ghosts keep coming at them. It’s a very predictable story and one I’ve seen a million times over. This literally felt like Insidious with a doll. It even has a weird demon! Everything that was original about The Conjuring was practically spat upon with this movie. Did we really need to know the backstory of the doll we saw in the opening? Did we even really care? New Line certainly thinks we did and threw this cash crop as soon as the poorly-written script was done. This movie just feels utterly pointless, which can be said about a lot of movie spin-offs. Its scares are cheap, and its story is worthless. The characters are practically cardboard cutouts and feel like they’re as pale and blank as the paper they were written on. I’m not even going to take up the normal length it takes me to write one of these reviews, because there’s really nothing else that can be said. This movie is worse than Space Jam. Now go watch a horror movie that is actually good. Do not bother paying good money for what amounts to being a complete waste of time.

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December 2014

Console Wars: Commence battle By Baktu Godhwani Segismond ’16

The Console Wars date back to the 1980s, even though people generally think it started with the Xbox and Playstation consoles. The first popular home console video game was Pong, released in 1972. Pong, first introduced by Atari, was a tennis sport game with twodimensional graphics. Afterwards, Atari dominated the marketplace in console gaming. In 1977, Atari introduced the second generation console, Atari 2600, which popularized the microprocessor-based hardware and ROM cartridge. In this time period, Pac-Man was one of the most popular games for the Atari 2600, and having a popular arcade game brought to home gaming, made it flourish worldwide. Influenced by PacMan, which sold more than 7 million units, the Atari 2600 sold more than 30 million units worldwide. The Console Wars officially began

hardware and games. Furthermore, Atari released another console called the Atari Jaguar in 1993, but it sadly failed due to claiming that they had 64 bits. It was the first fifth generation console and was only sold in New York City and San Francisco in 1993; in 1994, it was sold worldwide. The Atari Jaguar was also the last American Console at the time until the release of the Xbox in 2001. The following Console War was in 1996 between three different systems: Nintendo 64, Sony’s Playstation, and the Sega Saturn. The Nintendo 64 was released in 1996 and sold more than 32.93 million units internationally. It was a fifth generation console and was the last console to use ROM cartridges. Like many Nintendo products, its bestselling game was Super Mario 64, with 11.62 million units sold. With the introduction of another incorporation in the video game

Jaguar in 1996. The Xbox was released in 2001 and sold about 24 million units. The Xbox reestablished online console gaming in 2002 called Xbox Live. Its bestselling game was Halo 2 with 8 million units sold. Lastly, the Sega Dreamcast in 1998 was the last Sega console ever since 2001, when it was discontinued. It sold about 10.6 million units, which was low in comparison with the newly introduced console, Xbox. Finally, the last Console War was between the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii. The Xbox 360, released in 2005, was a seventh generation console and sold about 83.7 million units. It expanded Xbox Live with a living-room computing entertainment system. It was considered the sixthhighest- selling video game console in history. The Xbox 360 had a larger storage system with a detachable hard drive varying from 20 to 320 gigabytes.

in 1988 between Sega and Nintendo. Nintendo first introduced the NES, otherwise known as Nintendo Entertainment System, which revitalized the video game industry and was considered the best-selling gaming console of its time. During this time period, the competition was all about having a higher bit since people would make assumptions that if they had a higher bit count, then it would generally be the better console. The NES, which sold more than 61.9 million units worldwide, had 8 bits, which wasn’t much compared to the Sega Genesis at 16 bits. However, it was still considered a great console since one of the popular game titles was Super Mario Bros, which sold more than 40 million units. The Sega Genesis, a fourth generation console, was one of the most profound consoles since it first competed against Nintendo and had 16 bits. Released in 1988, the Sega Genesis sold more than 40 million units and introduced another popular game to this day, Sonic the Hedgehog, which sold about 15 million units. Although the Sega Genesis and NES were competing against each other, Nintendo released another aspiring console called the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), in 1990. The SNES and the Sega Genesis had minor differences since they had some exclusives like Super Mario and Sonic, but were essentially similar in

industry, Sony exponentially flourished in this era. The Playstation, in 1994, sold more than 102.49 millions units. The Playstation was also a fifth generation console, which had 32 bits and lasted 11 years until the release of the Playstation 2. Another game that made Sony flourish was Gran Turismo with 10.85 million units sold worldwide. The Sega Saturn, released in 1994, began to lose market to the Nintendo 64. It sold about 9.5 million units and had 32 bits. Like all Sega consoles, its main revenue of money was Sonic the Hedgehog, which continues to this day. Moreover, the third Console War was between the Nintendo GameCube, Playstation 2, Xbox, and the Sega Dreamcast. Released in 2001, the Nintendo GameCube sold more than 21.74 million units and was a sixth generation console. It used optical discs otherwise referred to as a mini DVD. The GameCube established the support of online gaming and the connectivity with the Gameboy Advanced. It also had a removable storage with a maximum capacity of 16 megabytes. The PlayStation 2, released in 2000, sold more than 155 million units and was also a sixth generation console. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was a popular Playstation 2 game and sold more than 20 million units. Microsoft was the first company to produce an American console since the Atari

It was the first console to introduce Cloud Storage, a model of data storage, stored in an unknown environment managed by a hosting company. The best-selling video game on the Xbox 360 was Kinect Adventures with about 24 million units sold. The Playstation 3, released in 2006, sold more than 80 million units and was another seventh generation console. Some of the unique features that it had was a Blu-Ray Disc, connectivity with the Playstation Vita, a handheld electronic, Playstation Move, and compatibility with the Playstation 1 and Playstation 2. The best-selling video game on the Playstation 3 was Gran Turismo 5 with about 10.66 million units sold. The Wii in 2006 outclassed the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 with more than 100 million units sold. The Wii was compatible with its predecessor’s GameCube controller. Its top three best-selling video games were Wii Sports with 82.54 million units, Mario Kart Wii with 32.53 million units, and Wii Sports Resorts with 32.58 million units. The ongoing Console War with eighth generation consoles are the Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Wii U. This Console War started more than a year ago and is still going strong, but in the end, Console Wars don’t matter whatsoever--they just serve for entertainment.

December 2014

ENTERTAINMENT & TECHNOLOGY

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13

Vi d e o g a m e r e v i e w s Borderlands

The Pre-Sequel By Baktu Godhwani Segismond ‘16

Borderlands The Pre-Sequel is a first person shooter role playing game, otherwise known as FPSRPG. Borderlands The Pre-Sequel is the third released game out of franchise and it is described as an open world game. Created by 2k Games and Gearbox Software, Borderlands has evolved over the years with many different mechanics and graphics. Located on the moon of Pandora, Elpis is a bandit roaming area with little to no oxygen. The players are required to wear an O2 kit, nicknamed Oz kit , which allows them to move freely within the area. The Oz kit can be used for many things varying from destroying enemies or gliding throughout the area. Every Oz kit has a finite supply of oxygen, which exponentially involves the player moving into oxygen filled areas or small oxygen geysers scattered throughout Elpis. The time The Pre-Sequel is set between the original Borderlands and its sequel Borderlands 2. The game has four playable characters, Athena the Gladiator, Wilhelm the Enforcer, Nisha the Lawbringer, and Claptrap as Fragtrap, who have all been introduced in the previous releases as Non-playable characters and henchmen of Handsome Jack, the funny yet cruel antagonist of Borderlands 2. Like all the previous games in the series, Borderlands The Pre-Sequel has incorporated

thousands of other guns which gives it a variety of weaponry for people who have different play styles. Other critics say that The Pre-Sequel is similar to an expansion of Borderlands 2 since it did not provide many deviations from the core mechanics of its predecessor. Although the PreSequel has received negative comments, it still maintains its trademark humor that all the fans look forward to.

Super Smash Bros. By Andrew Trapsi ’15 5 out of 5 stars Recently, Nintendo released its fourth installment of Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS on Oct. 3; it was made available on the Wii U Nov. 21. Super Smash Bros. is a fighting game composed of characters of different video game franchises such as Nintendo, Capcom, Sega, and

Namco, and this latest edition has 49 playable characters with 15 new fighters. The original Smash Bros. characters have returned such as, Mario, Link, Captain Falcon, Kirby, Pikachu, and many more. These fan favorites joined new fighters in the battle, which now features Mega Man, Pac-Man, Little Mac, the Animal Crossing Villager, and more. Nintendo has added character customization, which allows players

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ENTERTAINMENT & TECHNOLOGY

to add stat boosts and special moves on playable characters. This feature also allows players to create their own Mii Fighter. There are three different styles of fighting for the Mii character, a brawler, a swordsman, and a blaster. Super Smash Bros. 4 has playable features such as Classic mode-similar to a story mode, All-Star Mode-where the player fights against all other characters, and Smash Run-a new feature where players can increase character stats and earn new items. Nintendo added Wi-Fi features for gamers to play against friends or other people around the world. Gamers can choose to play “For Fun” or “For Glory.” “For Glory” is to increase power rankings in competitive play by fighting 1-on-1 or in teams. IGN has rated Super Smash Bros. 4

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

with 4.5 out of 5 stars. This shows that Nintendo has stepped up its game in making improvements. They have continued to satisfy their fans and grasp the hearts of many others. Super Smash Bros. 4 is one of many great sequels created by Nintendo. They have installed many new aspects to the game, but still hold on to the original style of how it was made.

D e st i ny By Andrew Trapsi ’15 4 out of 5 stars Sept. 9 was the release of Destiny, rated T for Teenagers, produced by Bungie, which is playable on the

Playstation 4 and XBox One. Destiny is a highly anticipated game with high expectations for success. This game is packed with action, adventure, and destiny. Destiny brings a new style to the gaming world, which mixes campaign and online play in one. Players have the function to customize the protagonist by choosing character classes such as Titans, Hunter, or Warlock. The protagonist can also be customized in appearance. Destiny can be described as a mixture of Star Wars, one of the most successful movie sagas, Halo and Call of Duty, two successful gaming franchises. Destiny is placed in a post-apocalyptic 28th century where humans have gone to colonize other

December 2014

planets in the solar system due to destruction on planet Earth. The protagonist is a character who is fighting for the last city of Earth with allies fighting for the same purpose. These fighters are known as the defenders of humanity. The story is set on multiple planets in the solar system and has amazing storylines and warzones. Destiny is given 4 stars out of 5 by IGN, probably because it is a fun game and a great way to experiment a new form of gaming. Because it is the first of its franchise, it has a few things missing. Destiny lacks consistency in its maps, but can be improved with sequels and upcoming updates. Destiny is one of the greatest and highly anticipated games that have come out in 2014.

Meet more new staff members By Keven Munoz ’18

Nazalia Bargshady Nazalia Bargshady came from Jefferson High School, after teaching there for six years. She worked at urban public schools for 9 years and taught summer school at Archbishop Mitty High School. After teaching at Mitty she said that she, "liked the environment and the number of students per teacher." The resources given to students was also intriguing, for example, the after school program and the technology. Bargshady is dedicated to reach out to her students and bring out their full potential by helping them after school and working alongside with the Robotics club. She wants to teach her students "value of learning and lessons of life, not only in terms of math or science, but in general teach-

ing in where teachers are all responsible for." As she begins her journey at Archbishop Riordan High School, she can already say that she likes the community and the commitment the students have towards learning. Bob Greene The Associate Athletic Director, Bob Greene, grew up in Fairfield, California and went to Armijo High School. Later he went to Solano College, followed by the University of Phoenix to get his Bachelor's Degree, and is currently attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Working at Trinity Prep in Napa as the Athletic Director for 7 years, he began his journey at Riordan as an announcer in the playby-play broadcast, last year. Later he was placed as the Associate Athlet-

ic Director here at Riordan with the goal of showing up every day with a lot of "excitement." Greene also said, "My goal, for myself, is treat people as well as I possibly can and just work as hard as I can to do what I think is best for the school in general." His key is to "work hard, have integrity, treat people well, and if your process is good you'll end up in a good place." Bob Greene is very energetic and tries to bring a lot of energy to all he does. "Honored" is how he describes his position at Archbishop Riordan High School and is "just jazzed to be here." Carolyn World Carolyn World grew up in San Mateo and graduated from Hillsdale High School and later attended UC Davis. World then taught Eighth grade So-

cial Studies and Reading at a middle school in Foster City for four years. How exactly did she arrive at Archbishop Riordan High School? She was brought by a program through USF while at graduate school. World "wanted to work with high school aged students." When she arrived at Riordan, she, "really enjoyed working with the guys," and decided to stay. Her goal is to "normalize" the idea of talking with the school counselor, as the "marriage and family therapist intern." This means that she specializes in "family dynamics," working with everyone. One of her more enjoyable parts of the job is seeing all the progress done, being the compassionate person she describes herself to be. She said, "I really care a lot about other people and really want to be there for others!" Feel free to visit her in the counseling department for anything. She would be more than glad to help.

December 2014

SPORTS

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The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Rugby Club refuels ARHS-SHC rivalry By Gavin Kinahan ’15 Everyone is accustomed to the common day sports of football, baseball, soccer, and basketball. But that was not good enough for Riordan. We had to go beyond the normal standards, and one person who saw an opportunity and jumped on it was Coach Tony Wells. Coach Wells is a huge rugby enthusiast, and has been playing rugby all his life: half his life playing and half his life coaching. Coach Wells came to Riordan with his youngest son Joshua Wells. Coach Wells has been coaching at the high school level for many years now, and he asked himself why there are not any teams for Rugby in the WCAL. That’s where Riordan Rugby came into play starting years ago and it is still going strong. Riordan Rugby had a rough start its first year, since everyone was looking at

this game as a foreign sport. No one really knew what they were getting into the first day of practice, coming with the mind set: “What the heck? Might as well give it a shot.” Coach Wells envisioned rugby as something huge that could happen and it did happen. With Bellarmine and Riordan being the only two WCAL rugby teams, it is difficult to make a season out of it. Riordan Rugby is not declared as a school sport as much as everyone thinks it is. Riordan has a Club Rugby team that plays teams all over the Bay Area, traveling to Los Angeles for a two day rugby tournament and as far away as Hawaii for a week long trip to play against Hawaii’s best teams on the island. Sports like American football and basketball are mostly known to be the huge game in the United States

continued on page 16

Sam Tofi ’16 lays the boom down on the tackler.

Photo courtesy Lin Lee

C ro s s C ou nt r y t e a m f i n i s h e s s t ron g By Greg Schoepp ’15

On Nov. 15, Ian Cranfield ‘17 and Brian Kosewic ‘16 crossed the finish line at the CCS Championships, bringing Riordan’s cross country season to a close. The varsity runners started their season on Sept. 6 at the Earlybird Invitational at Toro Park in Salinas. Because the CCS Championships were being held there, the team wanted to get a feel for the course. Things did not go as planned. Trevor Paulbitski ‘18 fell and gashed his knee, and Kosewic ran off a hill. All of the Crusaders struggled at the meet, but they walked away hungry to redeem themselves. They got their chance two weeks later at the Lowell Invitational in Golden Gate Park, with one of Riordan’s best cross country performances in recent years. Freshman, Trevor Paulbitski had a spectacular run and finished third in the freshman race. Sophomore Cranfield continued the success with a close fifth place finish in the sophomore race, and junior Kosewic hung on to a blisteringly fast varsity race to finish in a school record time of 16:01 on the 2.93 mile course. The Tuesday after the Lowell Invitational, Riordan competed at a small meet at Westmoor High School against Serra, Westmoor, and the San Francisco International School. The varsity team used the race as a workout to prepare for the upcoming Stanford Invitational, running together at a relaxed tempo pace for the first half of the race, and then turning on the speed during the second half. Once they did so, the varsity Crusaders easily moved up through the

race, led by Kosewic’s second place finish. With all five of their varsity runners finishing in the top 10, Riordan easily won the meet. There was no rest for the weary. The Saturday after the Westmoor meet, varsity travelled to the prestigious Stanford Invitational. Held at the Stanford Golf Course, which had somehow managed to stay pristinely green as state water reserves ran dry, the Crusaders competed against many of the top runners in California. The next week saw the opening of the WCAL season on a hot and sluggish day at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The Crusaders beat Valley Christian and Sacred Heart Cathedral to finish sixth in the league. The next meet for Riordan was the Crystal Springs Invitational on Oct. 11. The infamous course, with its deceptively easy first mile and punishing hills, is considered to be one of the toughest courses in the state. One memorable moment was Tycho Meimban ‘16, who fell during the initial chaos on the steep downhill at the beginning of the race. With a tattered singlet and a bloody shoulder, he got up and caught up to the race, and even set a small personal record on the course. That Thursday was the second WCAL meet, held at the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park. Paulbitski scored an exciting fourth place finish in the freshman division, and Kosewic ran a team-leading time of 16:30 on the 3 mile course. After WCAL 2, the Crusaders put in two solid weeks of hard work before

racing again, at the WCAL Championships, also held at Crystal Springs. It was a hot day, bad for racing, and times were slow across the league. It was at this meet where runners had to run the qualifying time of 17:35 to be able to run at the Central Coast Section Championships. Other than Cranfield, who led the team with a time of 17:06, the other Crusaders struggled. Kosewic, who had already run 16:37 at Crystal Springs earlier in the season, finished in a disappointing 17:11, and Paulbitski and Meimban both narrowly missed the qualifying time. And then there were two. Cranfield and Kosewic returned to Toro Park, where they had opened their

The varsity squad gather before the race.

season, for the CCS Championships on Nov. 15. This time they were better prepared for the course. They went out together conservatively over the flat first two miles, and waited until the steep succession of hills to make their move. Before the hills they were around 35th place, and when they emerged onto the final flat section of the race they were in the top 20. They narrowly missed qualifying for the state meet, with Cranfield finishing 17th and Kosewic 19th. All in all, this was a solid season for the cross country program, with growth and experience gained that will set the pace for the future.

Photo courtesy Jacob Taylor ’17

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SPORTS

Rugby Club refuels ARHS-SHC rivalry

December 2014

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Crusaders reclaim Stanfel Cup By Brian Kosewic ’16

continued from page 10 while there are games like rugby and soccer that are not too big in the U.S., but travelers will find that in other parts of the world, those two games are massive. Travel to New Zealand or Australia and ask residents about American football. They’ll give tourists a confused look, just like how rugby questions are greeted in the United States. Golden Gate Rugby Club or “SFGG” has been around for long time, and that is where Tony Wells really made a name for himself. Half of the Riordan Rugby team has know Coach Wells much longer than their time here at Riordan. Either playing rugby for him over has SFGG or knowing his son Josh. Sacred Heart Cathedral has been known for its football team, supplying more than 90 percent of the SFGG high school level rugby team. The other 10 percent are various players from around the bay playing for them. During Riordan’s first year of rugby, they played the San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby team and lost. Some players from that team were Riordan students and reported that it felt weird to play against Riordan. After beating Sacred Heart Cathedral that season in football, and bringing the Stanfel Cup back to Riordan, it felt great, but incomplete. That is where rugby comes into play. Even though SHC does not have an official rugby team, many students play for the SFGG, so Riordan Rugby players know they are basically playing against Sacred Heart. Having that school rivalry is what it makes it fun, and playing against familiar faces just makes it feel so much better. That’s what draws a crowd out to games like Riordan versus SHC in football, and gives the game more meaning. Coach Wells envisions that in the next five years every team in the WCAL will have a rugby team. This would give a game like Riordan vs. SHC rugby much more emotion to the game, making it more enjoyable. Also, playing a game like that gives the players memories for a lifetime, and moments that players can talk about with friends forever. Riordan rugby has huge potential and is striving to make other schools look at it and ask themselves, “Why don’t we have that?” Keep your eyes out for Riordan Rugby 2015.

JaMarian Caston’ 16 gets to the quarterback.

Photo courtesy Jake Rassam ’16

This fall, the Crusader football

SH teacher Nick Stanfel. The game’s

and Valley Christian while Luavasa

team experienced a turbulent season

result presented not only playoff im-

completed multiple touchdown runs

filled with close calls, tough decisions,

plications with a possible city cham-

while scrambling out of the pocket.

and a few big plays too many.

pionship, but also showed how the

All in all, the Crusaders fared bet-

highly doubted Crusaders were WCAL

ter than some expected, but not at

the field of play first against power-

ready and capable.

all up to their own standards. A lot of

house Milpitas, the team that is now

the team’s games were heartbreakers.

The junior heavy team came onto

These games started off strong, with the Crusaders holding the opponent to a low score, and a fiery defense. Unfortunately, the Crusaders could not transcend their intensity into the second halves of most games, a skill the juniors will need to hone by the start of next season. The coaching staff, however, will have a large class of ready seniors next year able to take on the league with serious game experience and a chip on their shoulder.

Stanton Thomas ’16 annihilates the Warrior running back.

Photo courtesy Jake Rassam ’16

competing for their league’s title and

a CCS title. This first game gave the

jury crippled the run game. Rayome

team a sense of the intense varsity

Sanders was out for a week and a half

competition the season would bring.

due to a broken toe and Jason Greene

The Crusaders' defense was stellar,

endured a season-ending ACL tear.

with junior Peyton Ilyaliu leading the

Two-way player Jake Cochrane broke

league in tackles. High ranked teams

his ribs at the end of the Serra game.

like WCAL notable Serra, were limited

Jamarion Caston was focusing on his

to only 3 points in the first half.

defensive duties as well, though he

Although

the

Crusaders

only

On the offense side of the ball, in-

had been one of his class’s workhors-

pulled off one WCAL victory, it was

es.

quite memorable and carried with it

At the QB position, Raul Callero,

a long history of tradition. This vic-

a senior, and junior Jackie Luavasa

tory was in the Stanfel Cup, a game

competed for the starting position.

played in honor of Riordan grad and

Callero saw TD passes against Serra

Angelo Novello ’15 finds the seam in the line. Photo courtesy Alex Herrera ’16