The Crusader December 2022

Library renovation booked for this summer

By Jameson Datoc ’23

The Library. A place with brand new tables and chairs. A place with the latest computers and software. Where students walk in with great big smiles. A quiet place with books galore, and for a student back in 1997, a student sanctuary forevermore.

This summer, the Riordan Library will be renovated once again to bring the full high school experience to a new generation of students.

The library is a secure and quiet learning environment for reading and studying. It’s a place where clubs hold meetings and where some teachers hold office hours. But as the student body continues to grow, it became clear that the school is in need of a renovated and updated library.

“It's about time they updated the library,” stated Chris Enriquez ’23. “This was long overdue.”

Once approved by President Tim Reardon, the project was then taken up by Daniel Appel, the

school librarian, and the English Department, who formulated the new ideas that encompass an academic vision for the new library.

“One idea was a device loaner program where if a student forgot their iPad they could check one out from the library and return it when the day was over,” said English teacher Brian Kosewic ’16, who spearheaded the idea to get students and teachers more involved in the planning.

Some other ideas also include a poster printer where students can print large posters for class projects and moving the school archives to the library so students can look through old yearbooks and Riordan memorabilia that can be used for history projects.

But that's not all. The library will also be remodeled to create a more 21st century dynamic while keeping true to its classic features.

“The library will be remodeled to a library and a learning center,” stated Vice

President of Advancement Simon Chiu. “It will become a place with new furniture that is comfortable and mobile and new books that are up to date.”

Additionally, the new library/ learning center will most likely get rid of all of the desktop computers and possibly transform them to study spaces or repurpose them to create more classrooms.

As of now, nothing has been

finalized, but Riordan can look forward to a renovated Library, possibly by next school year.

“I’m excited and a little jittery about the renovations,” said Appel. “Change is always exciting but sometimes nerve-wracking.”

Jadon Leung ’23 said, “I think the library has a lot of potential. It can change to a space where people can work and focus and study.”

Riordan inducts alumni into Hall of Fame

By Beatriz Dimayuga ’24 and Julia Yamsuan ’25

On Oct. 29, Archbishop Riordan celebrated four alumni at the 2022 Hall of Fame Ceremony during the halftime of the football team’s last home game against Sacred Heart Cathedral.

The ceremony was held to honor alumni who left a legacy at Riordan: Michael Brown ’76, Rodney Glover ’91, Terrence Wood ’97, and Tyrone McGraw ’06.

Michael Brown ’76, was a starter on the varsity football team for three years of his high school career, breaking many records and achieving many other accomplishments.

Brown was the first player from Riordan to rush for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, have 516 career rushing attempts, and was selected to be a part of the AllWCAL Team.

Brown always went by the saying, “The moral is to keep moving, don’t settle for less.”

Rodney Glover ’91 had many achievements in his high school

career. He was a part of an AllWCAL First Team, where he won quarterback of the year.

At Riordan, he was the starting quarterback, where he set the record for having the most touchdown passes in a season. He also placed in the top 15 quarterbacks of America.

Glover stated, “I loved participating in these events

because it was such a good bonding experience and was just really fun overall.”

Terrence Wood ’97 made many remarkable feats in both his high school and professional career.

During high school, he was a defensive back for the All-WCAL First Team, and was named an honorable mention All-State in football in 1997.

Wood stated, “The people at Riordan are more than just teachers and students, they’re family.”

Tyrone McGraw ’06 is known to be one of the most impactful and honorable figures in Riordan’s history, as he was an outstanding student athlete.

He is the holder of the singleseason rushing record and was selected for the Second Team AllWCAL as a junior.

He was also a member of the Track and Field team where he was the CCS 200-meter champion and was a member of the 2005 CCS championship team.

He also played football and competed in track and field for Stanford. McGraw died in 2017 after a long battle with cancer, leaving his everlasting legacy on Riordan.

These men are significant figures in Crusader history and will continue to inspire and motivate the students and athletes of Riordan.

Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Students and teachers use the library to study, work, or hold office hours.

Michael Brown ’76, Rodney Glover ’91, Tyrone McGraw’s godmother Cherrell Hallett, and Terrence Wood ’97 received plaques for the 2022 Hall of Fame.

Photo by Julia Yamsuan ’25

Athletic roster should extend to softball, boys volleyball

The Crusader Staff Editorial

As Riordan continues to expand, its sports programs are no exception. Though a majority of the sports has both boys and girls teams, some sports have been overlooked when it comes to creating new teams.

Particularly, girls softball and boys volleyball have been suggested to be added to the list of sports, but unfortunately no progress has been made.

“They’ve done a good job in including teams for sports that are set,” stated Chloe Leotta ’24. “But I think giving girls more sports, like dance and cheer, and giving girls equally as much attention and consideration as the guys would help a lot.”

Leotta has been a trailblazer at Riordan school by being the first female player on the boys baseball team last year, and advocating for a girls softball team since her freshman year.

“I think softball can be just as successful as baseball, and adds another sport that contributes to Riordan as a whole,” she said. “I

chose to play baseball last year to prove a point to the athletic directors that girls can play ball, and they deserve a team that can showcase their talent and bring them to the college level.”

Not only has girls softball been overlooked, but boys volleyball as well. Mateo Lapuz ’23 has been playing volleyball since he was 7 years old, and has been trying to create a boys volleyball team at Riordan since he was also a freshman.

“From what I have seen and heard there is definitely a lot of interest, maybe even more this year than the last. But we need people to actually show up to the open gyms rather than just say they went to play,” he said.

The interest in playing is the main reason why both sports have yet to form a full team. However, if interest is holding back the administration, advertising an idea for new sports would draw in more students’ interests.

Joshua Keeney, a religious studies instructor at Riordan,

Graphic by Talia Bumanglag ’24

commented on the addition of new sports saying, “Not everyone has had their sport brought in and I can understand the frustration for those who haven’t gotten their sport included.”

“However, I think we have done a good job in inclusivity considering the space that we have, resources we have, and the paradigm shift we took on from going to all boys

to co-ed.”

Regardless of whether it’s volleyball, softball, dance, or cheer, the administration should create more opportunities that attract a wider audience of students. Yes, the school has done a lot for sports and extracurriculars already, but the addition of more activities would create another aspect of Riordan that incoming students look forward to.

Hopefully, in the near future our sports programs will expand, however until then athletes will not stop pushing to improve the school’s sports program.

Mission Statement for the Archbishop Riordan High School Newspaper

The mission of The Crusader is to inform, educate and entertain the readers—students, teachers, parents, members of the community—about issues that affect the students as well as citizens of San Francisco and the nation. We hope to instill a sense of understanding, responsibility, and curiosity in our readers that results in an eagerness to learn more about their peers and the world around them.

Hoorain Farooq ’25 Arts & Entertainment Editor Talia Bumanglag ’24 Environment Editor Mario Perez de Leon ’24 Religion Editor Alex Robinson ’23 Health Editor Shridavi Raghavan ’25 Science Editor Normay Arriola ’24 Technology Editor

Julian Johnson ’25 Features Editors

Angelina

Reporters and Photographers

Joshua Aguilar ’24

Rhys Appleby ’24

Daniel Bales ’24

Jake Beeman ’24

Cash Bolos ’23

Sarah Cai ’24

Gianluca Carboni ’24

Jaiden Cherkis ’24

Deanie Cooper ’24

Charles Chu ’24 Nicole Diaz ’26

Beatriz Dimayuga ’24

Bianca Dizon ’23

Talisha Flores ’24

Jackeline Gamez ’26

Ishaan Gupta ’26

Sandra Halverson ’23

Haley Hang ’25

Mahkai Hunt ’23

Julian Iaconetti ’26

Ari Jaboneta ’23

Daniella Lainez ’26

Katelyn Leong ’25

Reporters and Photographers

Ethan Ly ’26

Edward Macdonald ’23

Nora Maguire ’24

Arman Mander ’25

Catie McGoldrick ’26

Hazel Nagata-Rampata ’26

Nick Nye ’25

Aiden Pavon ’25

Sasha Peraza ’25

Sean Reyes ’25

Nicolo Ricci ’24

Angelia Richardson ’24

Emma Rocha ’24

Michael Schulz ’23

Julian Serrano ’24

Chloe Skye Tobias ’25

Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas ’25

Ethan Vargas ’23

Hana Wadlow ’25

Bo Wyatt ’24

Julia Yamsuan ’25

Adviser

Susan Sutton, MJE

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editors will be accepted with the same deadlines as ads. These letters may come from students, staff, parents, board members, or other members of the community. The Crusader reserves the right to edit the letter for grammatical and spelling errors, as well as length, but not content unless it includes foul language, plagiarized material, or libelous content. If the claims or assertions are incorrect, The Crusader reserves the right to refuse publication of the letter.

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SAT, ACT

do

not

accurately

assess

academic

Riordan Roundtable

By Edward Macdonald ’23

During the pandemic, SAT and ACT facilities were not available. In response, almost all colleges went either test optional or test blind, meaning that potential students were not required to take the SAT or ACT.

As the deadline for the Class of 2023 to apply to college approaches, a majority of institutions remain test optional. For some years, the debate on whether colleges should use the SAT to determine the college readiness of a student has continued, and this has many people wondering whether we really need standardized testing.

Standardized tests have often been criticized for testing whether a student is good at taking tests or has rote knowledge of Math and English, but not whether they have the skills they will need to succeed in college.

Research by the American Educational Research Association concluded that a high school student’s grade point average is a far better indicator of how a student will do in college than standardized testing. This is because a high GPA requires students to engage in class and develop strong academic skills such as time management, notetaking, and critical thinking.

Standardized tests are often seen as a fair and equal measure for colleges to use because everyone is tested on the

skills Moral dilemma: Separating the art from the artist

By Angelina Ning ’23

Kanye West has not stopped spiraling ever since the passing of his Mother, Dr. Donda West. His moody behavior and drastic life changes have affected him greatly, including the divorce from his wife–Kimberly Kardashian West–of almost a decade, and the custody of all four of his kids.

same content, but this is false.

Standardized test scores have been shown to unfairly advantage students from wealthy families and disadvantage students from low income households and nonEnglish-speaking families.

This is due to the high cost of getting a good score. The average student hits their target score after three attempts, and each attempt costs around $60. Furthermore, most students need tutoring or a class if they want to achieve a high score. The Princeton Review, one of the most popular SAT prep companies, charges $420 per hour for a private tutor and $7,500 for a class.

Most families cannot afford these prices, thus students who might be extremely successful are excluded from a college education at a selective college because of their financial circumstances.

Therefore, standardized testing should remain optional and should be considered less important than other indicators of college readiness.

For many months now, fans and observers have been watching his social media closely, screenshotting, reposting, and commenting on his social media “breakdowns.” His most recent controversy has caused him to lose almost everything. Kanye West has expressed multiple times that no matter what he says or does, his biggest partnership brand, Adidas, would never “drop him.” This all changed in the matter of minutes when he tweeted an antisemetic comment.

The backlash of his comment left him with dropped partnerships with brand deals such as Adidas, Gap, Balenciaga, JP Morgan (Chase), MRC, CAA, Footlocker, TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Marshalls, Christie’s, Madame Tussauds London, TheRealReal, and his legal firm, Cohen Clair Lans Greifer Thorpe and Rottenstreich.

Kanye reportedly has lost over $2 billion and now an additional $200,000 a month in child support, to his ex-wife. Kanye West also shut down the Donda Academy, a school which he founded this year.

but should people still listen to his music, and how can we separate art from artists? It is no doubt that Kanye West has been dubbed the father of the revival of the 808 beat and usage of samples, all prevalent in his music. His songs “Bound 2” and “Heartless” have been trending on social media platform, TikTok, and many say that his music is monumental to the growth of the present day industry and the generation of people. Many still stream his songs, which means many don’t plan on dropping his music.

A similar case has occurred in the NBA industry. Basketball player Kyrie Irving was suspended from his team the Nets for refusing to say he had no antisemitic beliefs when meeting with reporters at the Nets’ practice facility.

It is important for people to be held accountable for their actions, especially those in higher positions who have much influence over younger generations. It was smart of the NBA to suspend Irving and for brands to drop their deals with West. But, brands should stop selling West’s creations, as many still refer to certain designs as Yeezy, even if it were branded something else.

People should still be able to enjoy listening to the music created by West along with enjoying the sport and games that Irving plays in, but supporting them as individuals is a moral question that each person must consider themselves.

When should Christmas celebrations commence? November December

By Hazel Nagata-Rampata ’26

Every Who in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, so much so that they celebrate it before it even starts! Nevertheless, some in San Francisco feel the same as well. So, what makes Christmas so special that we feel the need to start the season in November?

Spanish Instructor Armando Castillo said, “For a short period of time, people want to get together and hang out. Spending time with each other is the special part of Christmas. This season of the year gets people in a holidaytype of mood.”

He added, “We’re only here for a few weeks! The kids like it; taking photos, posing for Instagram with the decorations, it makes students excited and happy. The classroom turns into a fun environment with the decorations.”

We should all be thankful for our loved ones and those who we spend time with. The beauty

of this season is something that we can all share good memories about, even when it comes to simple things like the small decor.

Christmas is about family, spending time with those you may not see often, or maybe all the time. During the holidays, it can feel a lot easier to realize what you have to be thankful for. The togetherness of sitting next to close-ones opening gifts, or even talking about the surrounding decorations is something that we don’t get to experience often.

As The Grinch said, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

By Areeshah Farooq ’23

Although there may be controversy on the right time of the year to begin hanging up stockings, decorating Christmas trees, and filling the house with a sweet cinnamon scent, there really is only one answer. The month of December.

“I start celebrating Christmas after Thanksgiving,’’ because “I think thanksgiving should have a month to itself,” said Scarlett Borges ’24.

As a national holiday, Thanksgiving deserves the month of November for celebration and so customarily December should be for Christmas.

Although some aspects of decoration preparation, such as tree buying, are commonly done during Thanksgiving to get better deals on pricey items, most people celebrate during December.

The two weeks before Christmas Day are plenty of time to get into a jolly mood for celebration. Besides, two months of listening

to Mariah Carey week after week may cause you to lose interest. “I really like ‘Santa Tell Me.’ It’s my favorite Christmas song I listen to every Christmas,” Jaqueline Bartholomew ’23 said.

No matter what your opinion is though, Christmas will always be the time of year everyone looks forward to.

“I like Christmas because it symbolizes the end of the year and it gives you a long break. I like looking forward to it every year,” Bartholomew added.

Regardless of our opinions as to when to celebrate, many can agree Christmas brings about a time of joy everyone looks forward to at the end of the year.

Graphic by Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Graphic by Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Riordan Band sets tempo for successful year

By Naomi Lin ’24

This year, the Riordan band demonstrated their ability to not only successfully modify their schedule to accommodate many changes, but to perform and accumulate prestigious awards along the way.

The 4x4 schedule prevents the band from meeting all year long.

“Almost all performing arts courses, especially performing ensembles, rely on courses being year-round,” stated Band Director Kyle Hildebrant.

According to Drum Major Jameson Datoc ’23, the 4x4 schedule has forced many band members into making difficult decisions.

“Now because our schedule switched to the 4x4 it’s more difficult for many of the band members to continue doing band because it intertwines with another class. This forced many band members to make the choice to either set down their instrument or switch up their whole entire schedule.”

Fellow Drum Major Tommy Galvin ’24 added another challenge created by the 4x4 schedule: deciding when the band should meet.

“To solve this problem, we meet during zero period in the

second semester, but that gets tricky with conflicts like student parliament,” stated Galvin.

Nevertheless, members continue to exhibit their dedication to the band by working tirelessly and showing up to practice sessions that occur outside school hours.

“Everyone has worked really hard on memorizing their music and marching. From arduous rehearsals to winning awards at our most recent competitions, our band has stuck to it through highs and lows,” said flutist Vee Chen ’25.

In competitions, band members arrive at Riordan before dawn and board the bus to head to the different high schools that host the competitions.

When the competition begins, students lock into places, marching into formation and playing for three consecutive minutes. Afterwards, they unwind and attend the awards ceremony.

“The most memorable part of the competitions for me at least is not the award ceremony, but performing our best for people and in front of the judges and the journey getting there. It’s the thought knowing that all our hard work leads up to a successful band competition year and finishing off on a high note,” said Datoc.

Temperatures in classrooms dip as winter arrives

By Sarah Cai ’24

As temperatures drop during the winter months, students at school are feeling that the classrooms are too cold, and some are too warm.

Classrooms on the east end tend to be warmer than classrooms on the west end.

Temperatures can plunge down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, impacting students’ health and interfering with their education.

Francesca Delgado-Schaumberg ’24 stated, “The temperature outside is already cold and for the classrooms to be cold as well, makes it unbearable to learn. I hope the school will address this issue and relax the rules on uniform guidelines.”

Some of the classrooms have working heat, while others do not.

Science teacher Colleen O’Rourke noted, “I’m really unhappy about this situation. Even before COVID, I would always get sick in the winter and it was largely due to being in a cold room all day.”

Many students resort to wearing puffer jackets and multiple layers of clothes when the windows are open and there is no heat radiating throughout the school.

Some students believe the uniform guidelines should be modified.

Dean of Students Juan

Zumbado ’98 clarified, “The deans would prefer you be in required attire, despite the coldness.”

Director of Facilities Brandon Ramsey explained how the heaters function.

“The heaters run through a hydronic boiler system that pumps hot water throughout the school. Each classroom has radiant floor heating where hot water passes through pipes inside the floor and the heat radiates through the classroom.”

During this past year, the school has worked to provide the best for students. The three major projects completed are the roof renovation, the restroom remodeling, and the new Wi-Fi system.

President Tim Reardon added, “We spent an enormous amount of money on the roof and the bathrooms…we’ll be addressing the heating systems in the near future—hopefully over Christmas break.”

This year, instead of just marching in a straight line like previous years, the band has integrated new marching formations, such as windows and chevrons. In addition, they have been playing more advanced pieces and are diving deeper into music theory, transposition, and playing technique. The band overall won 10 trophies this marching season, ranging from parade band, color guard, and concert band.

In terms of adjustments the band directors hope to implement in the future, Hildebrant and

fellow Band Director, Lance Ohnmeiss, are looking forward to introducing new music theory techniques and performance opportunities. In addition, they are looking to rotate in new instruments to replace old ones, some of which are over 30 years old.

Hildebrant added, “In the band we believe in constant, never-ending, improvement. The end goal of each year is to achieve the best at each individual’s level, which in turn helps the entire group get better as a whole.”

Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Diane Lai ’24, Jameson Datoc ’23, Tommy Galvin ’24, and Chris Enriquez ’23 display the Band’s three trophies from the Fairfield Tournament of Champions.

“We’ll be addressing the heating systems in the near future—hopefully over Christmas break.”

-President Tim Reardon

New Central Subway opens, connecting Chinatown to Downtown

By Julian Iaconetti ’26

SFMTA announced the brand new $1.95 billion downtown San Francisco Central Subway system opened on Nov.19, four years after its initial opening date.

From fire and water damage, to Covid-19, and discovering an unknown underground river, the project had been delayed for four years but now, the wait is finally over for the long anticipated subway system.

The soft opening takes riders to four new stops, traveling from 4th Street to Chinatown, and although the project has taken a lot of criticism from its delays, it's still been long anticipated by residents.

“We didn’t know what to expect in terms of people participating. So many people coming out here to share this with us made it so special,” stated Julie Kirschbaum, MTA’s Director of Muni, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The brand new Subway system will improve transportation to and from SF’s widely populated areas and according to KTVU, several Chinatown business owners are anticipating more tourists and visitors to revive the downed economy.

Although the new transit will reduce traffic, it came at a

$1.95 billion as the project went $375 million over the original estimated cost.

Archbishop Riordan receptionist Chrissy McGoldrick said, “I think it was a good idea because it will be beneficial to all the people that take public transportation and help free up some of the congestion.”

She then added, “Obviously, spending more money is not ideal, but it was stuff that would have needed to

be addressed anyways.”

Social Science Department Chair teacher Cory Nelson, a San Francisco resident and sports fan, appreciates the new Central Subway system, saying, “It will help me get to arenas and stadiums.”

From fire and water damage, to Covid-19, and discovering an unknown underground river, the project had been delayed for four years but now, the wait is finally over

for the long anticipated subway system.

It’s only the start for the brand new Subway as plans are in the works by SFMTA to extend the service to North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf.

After the soft November opening, residents will be expecting the full opening in just a few months as SFMTA and Bay Area residents get ready for the long anticipated debut on Jan. 7, 2023.

St. Emydius Turkey Drive shares holiday cheer

By Gianluca Carboni ’24

A nice warm meal for a hungry person who can’t afford one is what volunteers provide when they donate turkeys and other food items at St. Emydius Nov. 19 and Dec. 17.

The 11th annual SF Turkey Drive at St. Emydius Church gives meals to St. Anthony’s Dining Room. Last year, the effort contributed 1,392 turkeys, made into 60,000 meals. Online donations, checks and even boxes of veggies are converted to “turkeys” - $25 per “turkey” unit.

Organizer of the turkey drive Pierre Smit said, “I started in 2012 from my home. I thought of asking neighbors if they wanted to bring me turkeys that I would bring to St. Anthony at the same time as the turkeys that I was bringing there anyway. In 2013, I asked St Emydius Church to join me in doing this event twice a year.”

Smit continued, “All the food is moved by a U-Haul truck to St. Anthony in the Tenderloin right after the Turkey Drive.

They cook about 50 turkeys for about 2,600 meals. Later in the year, they will cook a different meal like a turkey meatloaf so the diners don’t always get the same meals.”

Smit is happy that he found a way to help an organization feed those who have nothing to eat. This event opens a door to a better future for them.

On Nov. 19, people brought frozen turkeys or boxes of fresh vegetables at the drop-off site or donated online through the website at SFTurkeyDrive. com, resulting in 679 turkeys donated.

A woman in the long line for Thanksgiving lunch said, “I got a brand new jacket and it’s wonderful to get a meal.”

Director of Mission at Saint Anthony Carlo Fiaratone said, “Saint Anthony’s provides groceries, clothes, medical care, housing, and a safe and welcoming community for all.”

When asked for ways to improve the program, Smit

suggested, “I believe Riordan students should go sometime to help at St. Anthony.”

The food drive will once again accept donated hams or boxes of fresh veggies for Christmas dinners on Dec. 17, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the St. Emydius parking lot on De Montfort Avenue.

“We provide hope and walk with their journey to build stability. In offering renewal, those who are helping are also renewed.”

- Carlo Fiaratone, Director of Mission at Saint Anthony’s Dining Room

Volunteers pose in front of the U-Haul truck as they prepare to bring turkeys to St. Anthony’s Dining Room in San Francisco.

Photo by the Crusader Staff

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23

The newly opened Central Subway connects San Francisco’s Chinatown to Downtown via MUNI.

Iranian women lead protest against government

By Julian Serrano ’24

On Sept. 16, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was allegedly killed by police for improper wearing of her hijab, which violated an Iranian religious law.

Resulting protests in Iran have reached a fever-pitch, to the extent that almost 100,000 people are rioting in the streets.

“There’s been a crisis in Islam since WWI with its relation to democracy, and until that issue is resolved it will be a problem,” said Bob Harrington, a World History teacher.

The Middle East has seen violence, protests, revolutions, wars, strife, and terrorism for the past few decades- especially in Iran, formerly known as Persia.

The Iranian Revolution in 1979 brought an end to the pro-Western monarchist regime and instilled an anti-Western theocracy.

That meant that Islamist religious figures were in charge of the government, and could enforce religion into direct law.

In videos of the uprising, protesters chant “Woman, Life, Freedom” and “Death to the dictator” as women burn their hijabs and cut their hair off in defiance.

Schoolgirls and other youth are also joining the protests, leading to hundreds of minors being detained.

“I don’t think I would feel safe [in Iran] if I were a woman,” said Kalven Navarrete ’23.

The government has restricted or cut off internet access in attempt to suppress protests.

Crackdowns have also escalated, with more than 500 protestors killed and around 15,000 people jailed by the theocratic regime.

This has even spilled out into

the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with an awkward moment wherein the USA team played against the Iranian team.

“The United States continues to find ways to support the Iranian people in the face of state-sponsored violence against women and a brutal crackdown against peaceful protesters,” the State Department told CNN.

The U.S. soccer team briefly removed the Islamist symbol from the flag, which was received with much backlash from Iranian press.

Many Iranian soccer players refused to sing the national anthem out of solidarity for the protesters.

But, more than a soccer issue, this is an issue among many different sides. Young versus old; authoritarianship versus the people; theocracy versus

progress; the west versus middleeast– all being played out before the world.

The future of these protests are uncertain, but history suggests that it may turn into something much bigger.

However, many still believe that this won’t be the end of the current Iranian regime. Harrington said, “That government is still strong, so I don’t see it being toppled for a long time.”

2022 midterm elections lead to divided Congress

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Voters delivered a split decision on Nov. 8 about the balance of power in Washington, D.C. for the 118th Congress.

A much talked of “red wave” was fended off by the Democrats as they held control of the Senate, and Republicans barely eked out a victory in the House, not winning by the predicted 20-30 margin.

Control of the Senate is 5049 for the Democrats, having flipped Pennsylvania, and the Georgia runoff between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker on Dec. 6 (insert outcome). Control of the House is 221-213 for the Republicans, having picked up eight seats.

Former President Donald Trump immersing himself into the midterms and endorsing weak candidates who denied the results of the 2020 election proved key to Republicans under performing and losing seats to Democrats, effectively killing any hope for a red wave. He later announced his run for president in 2024.

“The red wave fell through as people actually had become sensible of their ways and decided to vote for a party that hasn’t caused upright treason and chaos within our country,” commented Anthony Chan ’24.

During this lame duck session–the period of time between the current 117th Congress and new 118th Congress–the January 6th Committee is looking to finish their comprehensive report before Republicans take control, since the committee will most likely be disbanded at that time. Additionally, the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act, to protect the right to interracial and same sex marriage.

Democrats are looking to pass key priorities of the Biden agenda before their unified control of Congress ends and Republicans usher in a divided Congress.

Social Science teacher Bob Harrington explained, “The red wave fizzled out because many red-state voters were not very impressed with what took place on January 6th. Deep down,

conservatives and they don’t want rebellion, chaos, or disorder. Instead, they want stability and predictability.”

The Democrats controlling the Senate ensures President Biden some control over his agenda, as well as over judicial appointments, if another vacancy on the Supreme Court were to open.

House, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (RCA) is poised to become House Speaker when the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, but fractures have started to form in his party, with 31 members breaking ranks and not voting for him in internal leadership elections.

To officially become Speaker, he needs all House Republicans to vote for him, and can not afford to lose any votes since no Democrats are expected to vote for him.

Furthermore, Republicans now will have more checks on the Biden administration. The GOP will control House committee assignments and have announced they plan to launch oversight investigations on the origins of COVID-19 and on Hunter Biden’s dealings with Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

A few days after Election Day, outgoing House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she would not seek another leadership position but will remain as a representative for California’s 12th District, which encompasses most of San Francisco. Pelosi was the first female House Speaker, being in power for two decades.

Her replacement as House Minority Leader is Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York. He is the first African American to lead a party in Congress.

Harrington commented, “It is long overdue that the older generations gracefully step aside to make way for the younger generations—especially for Generation X.”

He added, “While Generation X has been patiently enduring the past few decades of civic dysfunction, Gen X also does not have much time left in the future to help the nation improve.”

When the new 118th Congress begins in January, Democrats will control the Senate and Republicans will control the House.

With Republicans flipping the

Graphic by Naomi Lin ’24

Photo by Gianluca Carboni ’24 A memorial in Washington, D.C. honors Iranian protest victims.

Study seeks to identify ‘mosquito magnets’

By Normay Arriola ’24

Female mosquitoes are generally attracted to all humans but will target humans with certain characteristics more than others, making them “mosquito magnets.”

Scientists conducted a research to see what scent mosquitoes are more attracted to. They wanted to test out the theory of whether factors such as eating garlic or bananas, blood type, or blood sugar level makes humans more attractive to mosquitoes than others.

The goal of the research is for scientists to find a way to improve mosquito repellents and figure out what it is about certain humans that make mosquitoes more attracted to them than the rest.

The research started by testing every participant against each other. They used a contraption which is a chamber and divided it into two tubes. The two tubes ended in a box that held a stocking. In the chamber, they put in two stockings from the participants and a species of mosquito called Aedes aegypti. They put the nylon on either end to see where the mosquitoes would go, the one on the left or the right.

One of their participants, Subject 33, was the most popular. Within a few seconds, the mosquitoes would flock to Subject 33’s stockings as soon as they

Art by Kai Murguz ’25

Scientists hope to give “mosquito magnets” some relief by identifying what makes them so attractive to the annoying needle-nosed insects.

dropped them in, more than the rest of the experimenters.

After this experiment, they used many different techniques to figure out what made Subject 33 and other high-ranking participants that the mosquitoes flocked to more attractive than the ones who the mosquitoes didn’t care about at all.

The researchers discovered that there was a certain substance in a person’s sebum, which is the oils on the skin and face that helps protect the skin, that makes certain people more attractive to mosquitoes. The substance in sebum reacts with the bacteria on the skin, making a unique body odor.

Humans produce two types of odors that mosquitoes use

to detect them, the Orco and IR receptors. The researchers specifically tried to engineer mosquitoes that only had one of the two receptors.

Their goal was to try to figure out, “Can we engineer or affect the evolution of mosquitoes so that they won’t bite humans?”

They discovered that the mosquito mutants with the Orco receptor were able to distinguish between mosquito magnets and non-mosquito magnets.

The mosquitoes with the IR mutants couldn’t tell the difference between mosquito magnets and non-mosquito magnets but were still able to find humans.

The researchers realized they could not engineer the

mosquitoes to not bite humans and that female mosquitoes have a lot of different systems in their body that allow them to find humans; the mosquito will always find humans.

The researchers are thinking of trying to manipulate the sebum so the mosquito won’t smell the mosquito magnet, but instead, smell the sebum from someone else who is less likely to be bitten.

If they could find a way to put the sebum in the bacteria from a non-mosquito magnet, maybe people can mask that person’s scent. That’s an idea that has not been tested and is very difficult to do.

Colleen O’Rourke, science teacher, said, “They don’t know yet what specific molecule is being secreted by the people who attract more mosquitoes. Without knowing that, you can’t really target treatments to block it.”

If someone has a lotion, changed in diet, or maybe just masking their scent and covering it with a non-mosquito magnet’s scent, then one could possibly prevent mosquito magnets from being bitten over and over again.

O’Rourke added, “Trying to identify the specific mosquitomagnet molecule would require many, many experiments with levels of biochemical assays, which is a lot of work (and money).”

NASA launches Artemis 1 to Moon 50 years after Apollo

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Roaring off launchpad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 16, 50 years after the golden era of the Apollo missions last carried astronauts to the Moon, the Artemis I rocket serves as a test flight for the Orion spacecraft that will return American boots to the lunar surface no later than 2025.

The third time was the charm as the previous two attempts in Aug. and Oct. had been halted due to mechanical problems, fuel leaks, and Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. The launch was a success, with the orange glow of the rocket fuel propelling the towering Artemis to the Moon and illuminating the dark, midnight Florida skies. The commanding presence of the SLS rocket for the Artemis mission resembles the look of the Saturn V for the Apollo missions.

Engineering teacher Kurt Osmer recalls watching the Apollo missions. He stated, “I was 12 years old during the last Apollo mission and I was almost nine when Neil Armstrong stepped on the Moon.”

NASA turned its attention towards the Space Shuttle and the ISS. The age of Moon exploration became a fond, distant memory.

Now, 50 years after Apollo 17, NASA is seeking to return to the Moon with Artemis and revive their mission for continued and detailed space exploration. Joshua Greenbaum ’25 said, “America returning to the moon after 50 years is a step in the right direction of space exploration. I think that exploring space will further our knowledge about the universe and help us discover things we didn’t know were possible.”

This uncrewed mission will last for 25 days, with Orion orbiting the moon, conducting all of the steps necessary for a crewed mission to land on the moon, then heading back to Earth, landing in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 11.

When reentering the Earth’s atmosphere, the critical heat shield will be tested with temperatures that are similar to the Sun’s surface. The success of the internal systems of Orion determine how realistic the 2025 moon landing goal will be.

After many delays, NASA launched Artemis 1 on Nov. 16.

NASA’s goal is to land the first woman and person of color on the moon in 2025, and later build a lunar base and the Gateway space station orbiting the Moon, which will serve as a spaceport to help launch missions to Mars and further into our solar system.

Greenbaum added, “This mission will aid in continued space exploration by allowing NASA to further explore what lies on the moon and if it is habitable for humans.”

The future of space travel is looking like one dominated by private space companies, like Space X, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson are seeking to increase private space travel in the future and make it affordable.

With the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 17 landing on the Moon, earthlings look to Artemis with great excitement to guide us back to the Moon and usher in a new golden era of lunar space travel.

Photo by NASA

SF Trolley Dances exhibit city’s culture

By Kai Murguz ’25

If you ride the buses in San Francisco, it’s likely that you’ve seen advertisements for Trolley Dances, but have no idea what they are. I didn’t either until my friend insisted that I accompany her to see them one weekend.

The trolley dance is a 3-day long annual festival usually along San Francisco’s public transit lines, however this year’s was in SoMa and Chinatown. The festival features various dances and dancers every year.

The Trolley Dances are directed by Kim Epifano and supported and funded by SFMTA, CVS, Trader Joe’s, Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, US bank, and many other groups and organizations. This year was Epiphany Dance Theater’s 19th annual Trolley Dance.

Trolley dances have free admission, but it is recommended that you reserve your ticket in advance on their website.

This year, they presented many dance groups across a diverse spectrum of ages and cultures, including: Ballet22, Charya Burt, Epiphany Dance Theater, Flying Angels Chinese Dance Company, GRRL Brigade, and Megan Lowe Dance.

We started at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where a tour guide showed us around the Yerba Buena Gardens where the first three dances were performed.

After the first three dances, the members of the tour group had the option to go on the full tour, also free, which took us on the 30 bus to Chinatown where we watched the next three performances. The full tour went on for approximately two hours. All of the dances were recorded and can be viewed online at Epiphany Dance Theater’s website.

“I thought the variety of different dances and music was really cool,” said Juliana Murguz ’25. Though I wish I did it more

often, I rarely visit San Francisco locations that are typically considered tourist attractions. This tour allowed me to branch out and explore other neighborhoods I don’t usually visit in my day-today life.

Violet Gluck ’25 explained, “It was a fantastic cultural experience…The performances showcased all kinds of dance and kept you wondering what was next.”

What I found interesting is that all of the performances this year were done in an outdoor, public setting, where dancers used the space around them as part of the dance.

I enjoyed watching the trolley dances, and I think it is worth taking a day to watch them as well.

They are a cost-free, enjoyable event that opens your eyes to new cultures through dance and takes you around spots in San Francisco you may have never been before.

‘Book of Will’ debuts under new drama director

By Eddie Ramos ’23

From Nov. 17 to 20, Riordan’s drama and theater department (newly directed) performed “The Book of Will” by Lauren Gunderson.

Prior to the start of the school year, the program saw a change in directors as Greg Callaghan, a Santa Clara University alumnus, took over the program.

In an interview with Callaghan, he expressed that his goal is “always to empower the students [he] works with to own the show and to be proud of their work.”

Choosing “The Book of Will” was a perfect example of his teaching philosophy because the diversity of characters gives each student a unique and vital role in the play.

Placed in 1623, “The Book of Will” explores John Heminges (played by Lance Givant ’23), Henry Condell (played by Daniel

Barrett ’24), and more, eagerly searching to preserve the works of William Shakespeare after his death.

In hopes of publishing the First Folio, the cast performed a number of scenes that all portrayed the sharp and humorous writings of

Gunderson. In order to bring more life to the play, each character also seemed to have a personal roadblock that hindered their participation in helping to “save” Shakespeare’s work.

Friendship, loyalty, and honor are all found within the writing because the relationships between characters and the tension to maintain Shakespeare’s legacy was capitalized on through the emotion portrayed by the actors.

Sean Reyes ’25, member of the audience, mentioned the auditory aspect saying “the scenes were good but the emotion was great too.”

The next performance in the school year is “Fiddler on the Roof,” planned to premier March 29–April 2, also being directed by Callaghan.

More information regarding the musical will be released in upcoming issues.

Whitney Houston movie gives fans one more moment in time

By Addison Hwang ’24

and Deanie Cooper ’24

Set to be released on Dec. 23, the biographical musical film, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (who loves me)”, will highlight Whitney Houston’s life and singing career. The movie displays how Houston rose to fame, and eventually became one the greatest singers of her generation.

At a young age, Whitney was introduced to singing in church and from her mother Emily Houston, back up vocal group singer for Aretha Franklin.

Eventually, while singing at a nightclub in 1983, Whitney was discovered at just 19 years old by famous music producer Clive

Davis, known to have the “golden ear,” with Arista Records.

The film stars Naomi Ackie (Whitney Houston), Ashton Sanders (Bobby Brown), and Stanley Tucci (Clive Davis).

In an interview, Tucci said, “And I have to say, I had absolutely one of the best times working on that film.” He added, “I cannot wait to see that performance put together, because I have to say she [Naomi Ackie] is extraordinary.”

The movie about Whitney Houston, one of the most adored stars in the world, honors her legacy while highlighting her struggles with addiction in her rise to fame, and showing that nothing comes easy.

She spoke about this in a 2000 interview on Primetime with Diane Sawyer, saying “I can tell you that I am not self-destructive. I’m not a person who wants to die. I’m a person who has life, who wants to live. And I always have. And I wouldn’t mistake it for anything else other than that.”

She inspired and influenced people worldwide after setting many industry records and foudning the Whitney Houston foundation for children in need.

Head of college counseling, Melissa Nagar said, “Whitney Houston was a star and one of the all-time greatest vocalists. I think she is someone that young artists love to cover and aspire to be.”

Whitney Houston paved the way for many young artists, showing that nothing is impossible no matter where you start.

Photo by Juliana Murguz ’25

The Flying Angels Chinese Dance Company spins ribbon at Trolley Dance Festival.

Photo by Nathan Loeffler-Malatesta ’23 Marina Viray ’24, Siobhan LaRocca ’23, and Ismael Elkarra ’24 performed in the fall play, “The Book of Will,” last month.

Photo by Sony Pictures

Respiratory syncytial virus cases rise among children

By Talisha Flores ‘24

Hospitals have remained under intense pressure after the rise of respiratory illnesses amongst children. With the mix of Covid variants, the flu season, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pediatric units are seeing an overwhelming rise of young patients every day.

While some children deal with the after effects of having COVID-19, others are feeling the influx of widespread RSV transmissions. The younger demographic are not the only people experiencing this uprise of infectious illnesses. Adults and teens alike have endured immense damage to their health from all three infections.

“This reminds me of the times I’d see a rise of COVID cases all over the news a couple years ago. I sometimes worry that

we may be seeing another era of wearing years ago. I sometimes worry that we may be seeing another era of wearing masks and keeping distance,” said Jamil Flores ’23.

The flu virus is able to evolve and spread quickly. Students and teachers alike worry whether or not this can be contained before the next school year.

Colleen O’Rourke, a science instructor at Archbishop Riordan said, “The stress around schooling right now is really high as many students and families struggle with learning loss and recovering from the main surges of the pandemic, all of which could also be contributing to the rise in flu and RSV cases.”

She added, “The important thing to keep in mind is to take care of yourself and keep up to date on vaccinations.”

South Bay high school implements heart checks on student athletes

By Michael Schulz ‘23

Heart screenings for high school athletes may be a life-saver. Recently, Campbell Union High School District became the first district in California to screen all student athletes for heart abnormalities.

To support this endeavor, Campbell School District has partnered with the Los Gatosbased Kyle J. Taylor foundation as the first partnership of its kind in California.

The foundation was named after Leigh High School graduate Kyle J. Taylor died of sudden cardiac arrest at 18.

Kyle was asymptomatic prior to his cardiac arrest and the district hopes that heart screenings will help prevent another family from losing their child to sudden cardiac arrest.

Moreover, Campbell School District has suffered six student deaths in the last decade. “One in 300 kids have an undiagnosed heart condition, and sudden cardiac arrest is the No. 1 killer of students,” said Jennifer Sarmento, Kyle’s mother, according to The

Mercury News.

Sarmento added, “The pre-participation physical the kids currently do miss 90 percent of those because they can’t be heard through a stethoscope; they have to be seen through an EKG machine or an echocardiogram machine. That’s why we bring those in for that extra step.”

As a result of Kyle’s death, the district is motivated to make a change in their community and are hopeful that their partnership with the foundation will set the precedent and be a role model for other districts.

Additionally, Riordan’s Athletic Director, Bob Greene, believes that “any sort of screening or pre-emptive checking for health-related reasons for our athletes is good because it could help avoid an issue and raises awareness for the students.”

Greene also stated that “along with the pre-participation physical, all athletes and their guardians must review and sign an acknowledgment of information provided related to sudden cardiac arrest signs and

symptoms. In addition, all coaches have to do a sudden cardiac arrest training every two years.”

Greene has not had any students experience sudden cardiac arrest during his time at Riordan. However, Greene mentioned that many years ago, Athletic Trainer Erin Stovall, and another student saved a baseball coach’s life with life-saving procedures, which included the utilization of an AED machine.

Cross Country runner, Dax Vitug ‘23, believes that, “All

high school student athletes need to have a complete physical before participating in sports, including a heart test, so that cardiac arrests can be prevented.”

Heart health should be a priority for all athletes. Preparticipation screening of all high school athletes with an EKG, cardiovascular-focused history, and a physical may be an effective solution to help save lives, as athletes need to be aware of their heart health to ensure a healthy career in their sport.

Graphic from CDC.gov

The recommended course of action from the CDC.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons. A nurse administers an electrocardiogram (EKG) to a child.

“All coaches have to do a sudden cardiac arrest training every two years.”

-Bob Greene, Co-Athletic Director

Graphic from kylejtaylor.org.

The logo of the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation.

Tech companies offer deals to holiday shoppers

Consumers flock to stores on Black Friday in search of discounts

By Daniella Lainez ’26

It seems like yesterday, when students were sitting out in the sun and enjoying a day at the beach. The holiday season swooped in and took over with all of the festivities that come with it.

Before Christmas carols flood the airwaves, shoppers hit the stores for Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is when consumers rush out to stores, stand in line waiting for the doors to open, and wade through hundreds of equally ambitious shoppers to catch hot deals on the most wanted products.

Before the Thanksgiving break, Nykol Rodriguez ’26 said, “I am excited to buy gifts for my family and purchase a new keyboard for my iPad on Black Friday.”

Black Friday is a great opportunity to buy gifts for loved

ones. Amazon had up to a 50 percent discount on multiple electronic devices for sale. A few examples were Samsung galaxy tablets, fire tablets, and many gaming accessories. They also offered a 2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop: Apple M1 Chip, 13 inch screen for $799.

Anthony Tentes ’26, added, “I am going to buy a new gaming device for my cousins to use over the holidays.”

At Target, they offered up to 25 percent off smart TVs and up to 40 percent off on computers.

At HP, there were multiple sales of computers and computer accessories, such as can e-readers, headphones, and much more.

Black Friday was followed by Cyber Monday, with offers including 25 percent off Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription, up to 50 percent off of select games at GameStop, and 30 percent off gaming accessories at Best Buy, according to BusinessInsider.com.

Billionaire Musk takes over Twitter

By Julian Johnson ’25

The giant social media company, Twitter, has been involved in quite a load of controversy recently.

Following their new ownership under Elon Musk, Twitter has turned down a new path towards private ownership.

Elon Musk bought Twitter in late October for a whopping $44 billion and Musk wants to revolutionize the platform by increasing the access to freedom of speech.

In turn, this would benefit many celebrities and controversial political figures such as Donald Trump and Kanye West who have both been suspended from their accounts due to their controversial takes and opinions, but are now back on the platform.

Rishi Patel ’25 said, “While I love Kanye’s music, his actions and the things he has said are inexcusable and should not be promoted on the internet.”

Many are concerned with Twitter, as Musk seems to use the platform to stir controversy and gain attention.

One of Musk’s tweets

states, “Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.”

With 420 allegedly being a nod towards marijuana, a recreational drug.

Furthermore, Musk exposes himself as he mentions funding for a buyout without any further details. This caused him to be fined $40 million.

Though Musk’s policy of freedom of speech is what Twitter is centered around, those who preach hate speech will be demonized, creating a degree of punishment for such actions.

However, hateful tweets will not be removed and can still be found through specific searching.

For instance, viral internet sensation, Andrew Tate had his ban lifted, despite many believing he exhorts misogynistic beliefs that can negatively influence many young men.

Tate stated in a tweet on Nov. 18, “Mastery is a funny thing. It’s almost as if, on a long enough time scale, losing simply isn’t an option. Such is the way

of Wudan,” seemingly expressing his views of superiority to others around him.

Just recently, on Nov. 4, Musk cut roughly 50 percent of his headcount at Twitter, which is over 3,700 employees.

Musk claims these cuts were in order to repair his $44 billion debt from the company’s purchase and to direct Twitter on a positive path towards success.

Many see this abrupt dismissal as unjust, due to the

recency of Musk’s decision. Some believe not giving these workers enough time to find new jobs in order to finance their lifestyle and to keep themselves on their feet shows a poor character.

Musk’s new direction for Twitter comes with many benefits of increased freedom of speech, but also downsides such as a large reduction of Twitter’s workforce and the reinstatement of many controversial figures that many disagree with.

Photo By Jameson Datoc ’23

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23

Shoppers at Best Buy stroll down the aisles looking for the best tech deals on Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday was followed by Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday–which focuses on online shopping – and Giving Tuesday.

Multi billionaire Elon Musk bought the social media platform Twitter in October. The company, based in downtown San Francisco, has already seen changes to its interface and workforce.

“Musk cut roughly 50 percent of his headcount at Twitter, which is over 3,700 employees.”

2022 World Cup in Qatar captivates fans

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Usually set in the summer, this year the FIFA World Cup is being played in Qatar between Nov. 20 to Dec. 18–due to Qatar’s broiling summer heat–providing Riordan students with a unique experience of watching the event during the holiday season.

The tournament has been marred in controversy, with Qatar receiving the World Cup allegedly through corruption, having a poor human rights record, utilizing migrant workers to build the host stadiums, being against members of the LGBTQ+ community, and banning all sale of beer from the tournament.

“I never thought Qatar would be a good host and knowing everything about how corrupt FIFA is and all the lives it cost to make the stadiums it was not a good choice,” commented Marko Kesler ’23.

But, despite this, the World Cup has carried on. The teams that advanced to the knockout stage were the Netherlands, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Japan, Croatia, Brazil, South Korea, England, Senegal, France, Poland, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland.

Bryan Santana ’23, a fan of Brazil, commented, “I am extremely happy they made it this far. I’ve been waiting for this day since they crashed out of the quarter-finals in 2018. Brazil wasn’t chosen as the #1 team most likely to win for no reason.”

The tournament has been one filled with surprises. In Group

match against Ecuador 2-0, and ended up losing all three matches of the group stage–the worst performance by a host nation at a World Cup.

Gerald Aguirre ’23 said, “Qatar will be able to look to this debut as a starting point in their yet-to-write history in soccer.”

In Group B, the United States returned to the tournament for the first time since 2014, but lost to the Netherlands in the Round of 16. Mexico was eliminated in Group C, causing them to not reach the knockout stage since 1990.

Group D saw defending champions France cruise to the top. Japan and Morocco surprised

everyone by finishing first in Group E and F, respectively. Fivetime champion Brazil ended up top of Group G and Portugal did the same in Group H.

World Cup fever has even reached Riordan. With games occuring during classes, students and teachers keep a watchful eye on the score, and some students even watch games at lunch. It is a backdrop to the semester coming to a close and provides a way to relieve the stress of finals.

Gina Zevallos ’23 stated, “I love talking about it with my friends and it’s funny when we’re in the cafe.” She continued, “Most people are watching the games, and when one of the players

makes a goal, one side of the cafe is cheering and the other is disappointed.”

“Despite it being during school hours, I appreciate the teachers who put the games on in class occasionally and I have kind of become the TV for my friends at lunch when the games are on,” Kesler concurred.

Modern Languages Department Chair Armando Castillo is also unhappy with the tournament occurring during school hours, but makes the most out of it. “I try to put the games on as much as I can, and it leads to a good overall atmosphere.”

First time World Cup viewer Diane Lai ’24 stated, “It’s a pretty cool experience. As a person that never watches the World Cup, it was nice to be surrounded by people that knew what was going on.”

She added, “I got to learn new things about a sport that I never really paid attention to until recently. It is also fun to see everyone’s reactions when something big happens during a game.”

As of press time, after the Round of 16, the quarter finals will feature Croatia vs. Brazil, the Netherlands vs. Argentina, Morocco vs Portugal, and England

WNBA star Griner freed from Russian prison in prisoner exchange

By Angela Jia ’25

Brittney Griner is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association. She’s an eight-time WNBA All-Star, a two time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, has authored a book, and has been married to her wife for three years.

She was also sentenced to nine years of prison in Russia since Feb. 17 for allegedly carrying marijuana concentrate in her luggage, and was released on Dec. 8 in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Victor Bout.

However, her detainment wasn’t just over the marijuana, as Vox explained that she has been caught up in a geopolitical conflict between Russia and the U.S. worsened by the conflict in Ukraine; but, her release may represent the tentative decreasing friction of US and Russia relations.

As of press time, Griner is now on a flight back to San Antonio where she will receive medical

care and reunite with friends and family.

During her detainment, her attorneys Maria Blagovolia and Alexander Boykov described how Griner was confused and treated unfairly by a legal system she is unfamiliar with in a language she does not understand.

KJ Dacoscos ’25, a player on the Girl’s Varsity basketball team, said, “I feel like Brittney should have made herself more aware of the laws in Russia. I don’t think she would have done what she did if she knew the consequences… She [was] probably being made an example by their government, like they’re making a statement that [whether] you’re famous or not, if you break the law in our country, you will be punished.”

On Nov. 17, she was transferred to a penal colony is Western Russia to serve out her sentence. That event sparked renewed efforts from the U.S. negotiating for her release efforts, which proved to be successful.

Negotiations entailed the U.S.

offering the prisoner swap with Russia, giving up Victor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, in exchange for Griner and Paul Whelan (another American detained in Russia).

In the end though, only Griner was freed.

Edward Macdonald ’23 said, “I think it’s great that an American citizen was released, but the arms dealer… just from a damagesdone perspective, it definitely wasn’t an equal trade off since Victor Bout caused more harm than her.”

Graphic by Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Photo by Wikimedia Commons

WNBA player Brittney Griner was freed from a Russian prison last week after the United States and Russian governments agreed to trade her freedom for that of arms dealer Victor Bout. Griner faced nine years for possession of marijuana concentrate. American Paul Whelan, accused of spying, remains in the custody of Russian authorities.

Fresh faces key to boys basketball team

By Deanie Cooper ’24 and Addison Hwang ’24

The Crusader basketball 2022-2023 season is off to a strong start, winning their 63rd Crusader Classic.

On Nov. 17 fans got a look at what the season is going to look like with the first win in a scrimmage against Jefferson High School. The boys varsity team is full of new talent and skill.

One new face to the team, Kaia Berridge ’24 said, “Coming here has just created so many opportunities.” He added, “back in NZ, we have quite a bit of talented players, but the talent in America is so much better and the level of basketball here is so much higher. The atmosphere you would get at a US high school game is something you won’t get in New Zealand.”

With only five returning players this season, it’s crucial to get the new guys familiar with the team that’s been built.

“We just have a different type of team, new players in style and size. Blending the old with the new,” said 16 season Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, Joseph Curtin ’01.

But Coach Curtin has shown the boys what it’s like to be a team player and lift each other up.

“Sometimes it can be a tough thing, a learning curve. The

group we have now everyone gets along works hard. They’re just good kids, it’s been really really great,” Curtin said.

Every day, except Sundays, the team can be found lifting weights, conditioning in the gym, or playing on the court.

Not only do they work on their skills, but also on getting to know each other, having six new members/transfers.

Another new addition to the team, Nathan Tshmala ’24, said he decided to come to Riordan for the basketball program to keep learning and improving.

Returning player, Christian Wise ’23 said, “It’s a little tough getting to know everyone, having people from all over the place, but it’s been good at the same time.”

Nonetheless, collectively, they all have the goal of winning CCS again, like last year, and eventually State.

Cross country crosses finish line to state

By Ethan Ly ’26

During the fall sports season, the cross country team has had a great accomplishment making it further than all the other fall sports.

They showed constant grit and determination during their season training everyday after school around the track or through the nearby streets, with their varsity team running for up to two hours a day after almost every school day.

In their past races, the cross country team has made constant podium appearances and solid places while almost always having a decrease in time.

Their hard work paid off as they moved onto state championships and were ready to face other schools outside of their division.

This was an important opportunity for everyone on the

cross country team as they are the only team to reach

Boys soccer looks forward to competition

Upcoming Varsity Games

Dec. 16 vs. Stuart Hall

Dec. 22 vs. Monte Vista

Jan. 3 vs. Bellarmine

Jan. 5 vs. Serra

Jan. 7 vs. St. Francis

Jan. 11 vs. Mitty

Jan. 14 vs. SHC

Jan. 18 vs. Valley Christian

Look for coverage of the soccer season in the next edition of The Crusader.

They had the privilege of representing the school against a different crowd of teams in this match.

On Nov. 26, they traveled to Fresno to compete in CIF State Championships.

Among the schools who participated in the race, the cross country team placed 11 out of 24 schools, their best finish in school history, having first reached the state championship in 2015.

Ben Parker ’26, a varsity cross country member who participated in the championships, said, “I speak for my team when I say I’m extremely proud of this season and hope for a three-peat next year in the fall.”

With the season over, they are now training for the next year and are ready to represent Riordan again in future competitions. this fall season out of the other teams.

Photo by Benny Willers ’08

Point Guard King Njsanni-Wilhite ’23 goes in for a layup.

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23

Brendan Grogan ’26 keeps a steady pace at the state meet in Fresno.

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23

Myles Yan ’25 and Domonkos Kiss ’24 are ready for the season.

Crusaders take down rivals at tournaments

By Charles Chu ’24

Riordan’s wrestling program has begun the season with early success, having 17 wrestlers place at the Colt Classic and five tournament champions, Evan Marigmen ’24, Marcella Fabre ’23, Andrea Aguilar ’24, Luna Medina ’24, and Mason Williams ’25.

Regarding the tournament, Marigmen said, “Our team put a lot of hard work and dedication into last Saturday’s tournament. We did a great job this weekend and there’s only more to come.”

This past offseason the program went through some changes, with a new head coach and the mat room being converted into a classroom during the school day. Despite these changes, members of the wrestling program are optimistic and looking forward to their season.

Coach Jack Schindler is coming to Riordan following 10 years of coaching at Sacred Heart Cathedral, always having looked at Riordan as the place to be. “I always had my eye on Riordan, from when I was wrestling at SH to when I was

coaching,” he said.

The wrestling team has had some challenges this past offseason, for one, the wrestling room has been converted into a classroom during the school day. This has not fazed the program, as Coach Schindler mentioned, “it’s another challenge we face, however it’s not too big a deal, we’ve learned to overcome it.”

Fabre added, “In the beginning it was hard rolling out the mats every day, but we’ve gotten better at it as the season progresses.”

The wrestling team has another “good challenge” of being one of Riordan’s coed sports programs. Schindler said, “Adding girls to the program has been a challenge, a good challenge for us.”

This year there are six girls in the program. Fabre shared some of her goals for the season. “The goals I have for the season are to grow closer as a team and rebuild the program back up. Mainly, the goal of our varsity wrestlers is to inspire the younger wrestlers and finish our season

off strong.”

The Wrestling team gathered for a group photo after 17 Crusaders placed at the Colt classic, and five emerged as tournament champions. wrestling.

Coach Schindler shared this sentiment, as he said, “I want to help reestablish Riordan wrestling’s culture.”

Members of the wrestling program also would like to see more students involved with

Fabre stated, “If you’re interested in wrestling, or want to know more about it, reach out to me or Cash (Bolos). We want people to get more involved with the team, whether it’s watching the matches, or on the mat.”

Girls basketball bounces back for third season

By Mahkai Hunt ’23

The Riordan girls basketball team kicked off their third season.

Over the past three years, Riordan has been developing their girls basketball team to the highest skill level. The girls spent most of the summer and fall preparing for the first game in the winter.

Many of them prepare differently before the season and have different stories as to why they play basketball. Some members of the varsity girls basketball team talked about key components on their journey through basketball.

Aliyah Holmes ’23 said she has been playing basketball since the age of 8. “I come from a family of athletes and have played every sport, but I like basketball the most of all,”said Holmes.

Holmes has offers from

Girls soccer kicks off new season

Upcoming Varsity Games

Dec. 15 vs. Convent of the Sacred Heart

Dec. 21 vs. Presentation

Jan. 3 vs. College Prep

Jan. 6 vs. Harker

Jan. 9 vs. Mills

Jan. 11 vs. Mitty

Philander Smith College, Eastern Nazarene College, Fort Valley State University. Aliyah also participates in track at Riordan.

Holmes also noted her close relationship with God. She said, “If that’s God’s plan for me, then I will continue the journey he is guiding me through.”

Ashanti Dias ’24 is a junior who has been playing varsity basketball her whole high school career. She and her sister Aaliyah Dias ’23 are the team captains this year.

Ashanti said her goal this year is to take their team to a state title. She also said that often girls sports get put on the back burner but they want to change that narrative by being the best basketball team in the Bay Area. As of press time their record is 3-3 and they are on a three-game win streak.

Zion McGuire ’26 goes in for a floater against Valley Christian.

Photo provided by Coach Jack Schindler

“The goal of our varsity wrestlers is to inspire the younger wrestlers.”

-Marcella Fabre ’23

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23

Cienna Lujano ’26 battles an opponent in home game.

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23

Al Fin is a small Nicaraguan restaurant located in Daly City, a few minutes away from San Francisco, known for their delicious pupusas.

Although Al Fin is known for their pupusas, they serve many Nicaraguan specialties that I would recommend trying out. One of my favorites is Chancho Con Yuca, which is a pork dish served with fried yuca. Another dish from Al Fin I recommend is their Platanos Frijoles y Crema plate, which is a delicious and filling combination that I’ve grown up with and I think Al Fin did a great job making it for a small price tag of $6.

I have eaten at Al Fin many times before, as it is my Salvadoran family’s favorite place to get pupusas. My favorite pupusa from Al Fin is their Revuelta Pupusa, which consists of pork and cheese inside, and

their Revulta con Frijol pupusa, which also has pork, cheese, and beans.

I ordered the Revuelta Pupusa for about $3. I found it delicious, it was cheesy, the pork was good and the masa was very pleasant.

Overall, these flavors combined made for a very tasty meal and I was completely satisfied with it.

Al Fin is a cozy family owned restaurant, yet they are usually busy and rightfully so.

Walking into the small restaurant right at the corner of Daly City’s Mission Street, near the Colma border, you are welcomed into a busy restaurant with kind staff and affordable, good food.

I recommend trying out Al Fin and supporting a local family owned business.

One restaurant shines out the most when you’re in the mood for some Filipino food. Patio Filipino on El Camino Real, San Bruno, is where anyone can gather for a heavenly meal.

I was pulled inside with the delightful smell of garlic vinegar, and calamansi and when being seated, I noticed the vibrant room with each table filled with families of generations all enjoying a family meal. And hence, on the word “family meal,” everything on the menu is served in family-sized portions.

I decided to order traditional cuisines, Pancit Canton, Sizzling Pork Sisig, Lechon Kawali, and steamed rice. I was astonished to see my food ready after five minutes. So I made my plate, a spoonful of everything, the glistening Pancit Canton, the spicy Pork Sisig, the crunchy Lechon Kawali, and rice drizzled with Lechon Kawali

Patio Filipino

Sauce.

Crusaders crave cultural Christmas classics Al Fin Parada

As I took the first bite, I paused. At that moment, I saw palm trees, jeepneys, and the philippine islands. Then I returned to reality and started shoveling spoonfuls of food in my mouth. The Pancit Canton had the perfect sour blend, while the Lechon Kawali brought a delightful crunchy sensation.

The Pork Sisig mixed with the steamed rice got the correct kick and coolness. When I was full I noticed I had a tremendous amount of food left. This left me both happy and sad. Happy because I get to bring leftovers but sad because I have to share them.

As a Filipino, it’s incredibly grueling to choose between home cooking and a restaurant’s cooking. But during this holiday season, all I want for Christmas is another plate of food from Patio Filipino.

I often pass by Parada 22 in the Haight and see the deliciouslooking plates of plantains, aromatic meats, and rice. I have never tried Puerto Rican food, and I have been curious for a while.

Over a long weekend, I researched holiday season foods in Puerto Rico, and I found two dishes on the Parada 22 menu to try out.

I started with the tostones, smashed plantains fried into chip-like bites. They were served a creamy “salsa rosa” that was delicious and very similar to ranch. The outside was crisp and crunchy, but the inside was still somewhat soft, like a french fry.

The slight sweetness of the plantain mixed with the dill in the sauce made for an excellent combo, and I found myself scooping from the salsa.

For the entree, I ordered pernil asado, which is marinated pork shoulder, very similar to carnitas but not crispy. It came served with Spanish rice, two plantains, and a small side of salad. The serving was generous, and I found myself full after less than half of the plate. Perhaps, a good familysize meal. The pork was moist and flavorful and paired well with the plain rice.

The total for one appetizer and one entree was $36. The price was a bit steep for a single entree, but given the quality and volume of the food, I find it acceptable.

Parada 22 is an excellent restaurant choice for a family dinner, a birthday, and even a date. I recommend this restaurant to anyone interested in trying foods from different cultures.

Al Fin in Daly City serves a Revuelta Pupusa, made with pork, cheese, and masa and topped with cabbage and salsa roja.

Review and photo by Ari Jaboneta’23

Review and photo by Jameson Datoc ’23

Pictued is Patio Filipino Pancit Canton, Sizzling Pork Sisig and rice drizzled with Lechon Kawali all on a single plate.

Review and photo by Sandra Halverson ’23

The amazing tostones, pernil asado with Spanish rice on the side from Parada 22.