Campus News, Pages 4 - 5
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VOLUME 74 ISSUE 2
SERVING ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 1949
Features, Pages 14 - 15
Sports Features, Page 17
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Sports, Pages 18 - 19
December 2023
The heat is on!
THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY
School’s boiler system undergoes repair, emanating heat through classrooms during winter months By Normay Arriola ’24
As winter approaches Archbishop Riordan High School, the newly fixed heaters are now being put to the test, transforming classrooms that had unbalanced temperatures into warm and comfortable learning spaces. The school experienced issues with the heating system last year, but these were fixed over the summer. Brandon Ramsey, Director of Facilities, stated that the previous heater had “incomplete data, uninsulated pipes [creating] a loss of heat, and bad or old valves [that] were not functioning properly.” The pipes were insulated and new valves were added to each room with a thermostat to receive better data. The temperature was also raised, so classes that were previously chilly now receive more heat. Ramsey is confident that the new heaters are equipped to handle the winter months but will gather more data over the next months to see where they can improve. AP Statistics teacher, Van Whipple, is conducting a project
or closed, and if the blinds were up or down. All of these factors are variables to consider. He elaborated, “I’m going to combine the data from the classes and see if there are differences between the classes or between the time of day. If we’re not seeing any differences, then that tells us that the system may not be working.” He concluded, “The goal is that by the end of the year, we can go to the admin and say, ‘Here is what each room temperature is like, what it looks like throughout the school’ and use that to help fix the system.” Some have noticed the difference, Photo by Nick Nye ’25 Reporter Normay Arriola ’24 interviews Facilities Assistant Jeff Ramirez and others have not. about the school’s boiler system and how it affects the heat in classrooms. English teacher Michael VezzaliHe raised the question of what Pascual ’88, whose classroom is where his students gather data on the heaters in each classroom factors contribute to the heating on the second floor, said, “In the to identify inconsistencies in system. “Is it caused by the morning, it’s cold in my room, so room temperatures, to potentially heaters or because some teachers I have not noticed a significant influence heating system leave some windows open or change.” closed? We’re trying to figure out On the contrary, Camille Brown improvements within the school. what the answer is.” ’25 said, “I have noticed the Whipple said, “It’s an idea His students measured the heating system has been fixed. that tries to make the class more practical and is based on temperature in each class, as well Walking around campus is way as if windows and doors were open warmer than before.” something that we care about.”
Dance team chaînés into new year By Sarah Cai ’24
Earlier this month, Riordan’s dance team officially kicked off, and students were overjoyed. Cara Wong ’24, a member of the dance team, expressed, “I’m excited that there’s an official dance team this year. In all the time I’ve been at Riordan, there have been dance club activities but they weren’t really consistent, so I’m glad that this year there is finally an established group.” The auditions were a huge success. It was held before the Thanksgiving break and lasted three days throughout the week. With almost 50 students auditioning, 34 members were accepted onto the team. The requirements were: warmup choreography, across-thefloors, and choreography. The dancers will be working on a piece called “World Eater” by Ashnikko.
Rehearsals will be in the cafeteria every Friday after school. During this time, they can be found warming up, practicing the basics and techniques, learning new dances, or planning future performances. Although the team became
Photo provided by Jade Nguyen
official this year, this is not the first dance team Riordan has had. There were attempts to create a dance team in the past, however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team was forced to shut down. It will be the first dance team to be organized in
this particular format. Dance Team and Color Guard Coach Jade Nguyen stated, “The main goal is to have a successful dance season with the dance team! This is my first time running a team like this and hope that this program can grow the dancers it has currently and future dancers.” “I plan to have fun and make a dance team that can shine and perform to their greatest potential,” she added. For the first year, the team will be performing for rallies and events at school but is hoping to expand in the future to other performing opportunities, such as the possibility of competing. The dance team aims to showcase the beauty of dance and enhance the overall spirit of the school community while fostering a sense of unity and creativity.
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Opinion
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
December 2023
Open gradebooks create increased anxiety for students By The Crusader Staff
The drive for success in today’s world has become extremely competitive to the point where it’s damaging students’ mental health. With colleges like Harvard having an acceptance rate of 3 percent and UC Berkeley having an 11 percent acceptance rate, being a well-rounded student just doesn’t work anymore. One of the major contributing factors to students’ increased anxiety and overall decrease in mental health is something a lot students use every day–the open gradebook. Open gradebooks can be found in apps like Schoology and PowerSchool, where students and parents can track their grades in real time. Through these apps, students can stay up to date on assignments and assessments, with full transparency between the teacher and student. Positive factors are that it helps build awareness and communication between teachers and students. Also, students can become more accountable having a real time grade tracker.
But, it can cause some students and parents to obsess over schoolwork. While some students see missing work as simply another task to complete, for others, the word “missing” next to an assignment is a stress inducing moment. On top of this, a parent or guardian might nag the student about this assignment until it’s finally shown as complete in PowerSchool. The fear of getting a bad grade is starting to catch up to students. Losing sleep, being anxious, and even developing depression are just a few effects that this strenuous cycle of keeping up and trying to become the “perfect student” has caused. Along with that, some students and parents with access to an open gradebook feel empowered to haggle for grade changes, which can cross boundaries with teachers and create even more stress for students. The range of emotions fluctuates with the grades. The expectation of straight A’s haunts parents and students, as high grades are now
Photo by Sean Reyes ’25 Students can check their grades any time via the PowerSchool app.
seen as a necessity for their future, not an academic goal. While pressure can be crucial in motivating students, pushing them to work harder, it can also be anxiety-inducing. One solution could be to remove percentages from being visible on Schoology and PowerSchool, to reduce nitpicking between letter grades. Additionally, not making the
grades available via an app, where anyone can access them on a phone or only having the gradebook open on Mondays would remove the constant access. Ultimately, though, students need relatable advice on how to deal with anxiety. By implementing changes, students can feel empowered to learn without the pressure of anxiety surrounding their grades.
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. Sports Features Editor Reporters and Photographers Ishaan Gupta ’26 Joshua Aguilar ’24 Rose Baik ’26 Arts & Entertainment Editor Daniel Barrett ’24 Katelyn Leong ’25 Eva Bennett ’25 Laila Briceno ’25 Environment Editor Anthony Chan ’24 Caitlin Dowd ’25 Michelle Chavero ’24 Charles Chu ’24 Religion Editor Angelo Coletti ’24 Daniella Lainez ’26 Chris Dilag ’25 175 Frida Kahlo Way Vincent Douglas ’25 Health Editor San Francisco, CA 94112 Hailey Ferrer ’26 Sarah Cai ’24 RCrusaderNews.com Talisha Flores ’24 RCrusaderNews@riordanhs.org Isaac Garcia-Zuro ’24 Science Editor Gregory Gonzales ’25 Griffin Doeff ’25 Editor-in-Chief Catherine Hansen ’25 Naomi Lin ’24 Annabelle Hazard ’27 Technology Editor Isabelle Huang ’27 Nicolo Ricci ’24 Managing Editor Addison Hwang ’24 Talia Bumanglag ’24 Finnbarr Harrington ’24 Features Editor Sasha Feliciana-Chan ’26 Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas ’25 Opinion Editor Sophie Bucker ’24 Exchange Editors Food Review Editor Alexander Datoc Jr. ’27 Campus News Editors Julien Untalan ’24 Constance Huynh ’27 Normay Arriola ’24 Taylor Tran ’25 Mario Perez de Leon ’24 Photo Editors Nick Nye ’25 Local & State News Editor Sean Reyes ’25 Jake Beeman ’24 Julia Yamsuan ’25
Reporters and Photographers Ana Hernandez ’25 Maxim Ivanov ’25 Malcolm Jones-Smith ’25 Polina Kozlenko ’24 Diane Lai ’24 Josh Lee ’26 Nora Lee ’27 Lincoln Maloney ’25 Noel Marquez ’26 Karlo Manglona ’25 Matteo Matteucci ’24 Thomas McGivern ’25 Jordan McKenzie ’24 Sara Noguera ’27 Angelia Richardson ’24 Emma Rocha ’25 Brandon Saavedra ’24 Julian Serrano ’24 Ashley Villing ’25 Bo Wyatt ’24 Myles Yan ’25 Andres Zamora ’26 Adviser Susan Sutton, MJE
Letters to the Editor
National & World News Editor Copy Editors Angela Jia ’25 Rhys Appleby ’24 Melissa Chiao ’25 Boys Sports Editor Hazel Nagata-Rampata ’26 Aiden Pavon ’25 Girls Sports Editor Hoorain Farroq ’25
Graphic Artists Vee Chen ’25 and Kai Murguz ’25
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.
December 2023
Opinion
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
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Does Disney value profits over inclusivity? Riordan Roundtable
By Isabel Fonseca ’27 We all know and love Disney. It is a crucial part of millions of people’s childhoods; from Snow White to The Lion King, this company has shaped the minds and hearts of many. Lately, however, this love for Disney has slowly faded. Many wonder what caused the lapse of quality in Disney films. Some point to the remake of The Little Mermaid, with Halle Bailey, a Black woman, cast as Ariel, a white character in the 1989 original. While representation is essential, it has to be done correctly, or its purpose is lost. Changing beloved classics to appeal to a modern audience is lazy because it can make people of color feel like an afterthought. When a character is changed because the actor is a different race from the original story, but nothing new is added to the story, least of all their cultural background, the character lacks depth and authenticity. This laziness in creating stories for diverse, modern audiences can also be seen with
the upcoming live-action remake of Snow White and the Evil Queen. In an interview with Rachel Zegler, the actress who plays Snow White, she says, “It is no longer 1937 and … she is not gonna be saved by the prince, and she’s not gonna be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the ruler she knows she can be.” However, Disney has taken the love out of a love story by making a new narrative that strays far from the original. Snow White has timeless values of love, honesty, and powerful themes highlighting even strong people being able to make mistakes. It is disheartening for a classic film to be bent and twisted so far from its core values. Being an independent woman is impressive; however, not every woman wants to be a CEO or the ruler of a kingdom. Some still want to fall in love and have a “happy ever after.” The old movie was not perfect, but that made it human and relatable. In the future, I’d like to see some films where a woman is a company’s CEO, and some where princesses are saved by a prince and fall in love—a harmony of different stories, so all can enjoy some stories made by Disney. If Disney realizes movies aren’t succeeding because they attempt to appeal to critics and not kids, it can be what it used to be: a household name of entertainment. Walt Disney built his company with a pioneering imaginative mindset and a mission to bring joy to all; now, the company would put him to shame.
Spartan Spear
By Veronica Leon ’24 Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary, reflecting on the unforgettable mark on global entertainment with nearly 800 films and the famous Disney Parks in California, Florida, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The Disney Company’s vast influence extends beyond films to shape pop culture and childhood experiences. Their objectives are to entertain, inform, and inspire future generations through their storytelling in more ways than one. While Disney intends to be inclusive, they also see the heavy profit they could make off creating diverse stories once they realized how much the media was calling Disney out for mainly having all-white female main and side characters like Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and more. Disney makes sure that they are doing the right things to avoid getting canceled for not showcasing those of different ethnicities and cultures. Earlier this year, Disney released The Little Mermaid,
casting Halle Bailey, a woman of color, as Ariel. They received backlash from the media because they decided to make Ariel a Black woman, who in the 1989 film was white. I do not believe that Disney went into their casting looking for a person of color as the lead, but were amazed when they crossed paths with Halle Bailey when she had auditioned for the role. In an interview, she believes she only got the role because she made the casting directors cry because of the delicacy of her voice. Disney thought it was a great opportunity to make more money, especially since Bailey is a woman of color. However, when children saw their first look at the trailer of The Little Mermaid, it brought tears to their eyes seeing someone like them shown as a princess. As someone who has loved Disney their whole life and watched many of the films that Disney has created, it is vital to recognize that Disney is still a company that seeks to generate profit. If they do not cater to their fanbase, they run the risk of losing money. Even if their reasons for making these films more inclusive are not ethical, children will grow up seeing themselves on screens. Growing up, I had never seen any princesses who looked like me. I am so excited for future generations to be lucky to say that they grew up with films like this. Editor’s Note: Every issue, The Crusader collaborates with ICA Cristo Rey’s newspaper The Spartan Press to address prominent social issues.
Don’t trivialize mental health By Naomi Lin ’24
I observe as she aligns her pens and notebooks with meticulous accuracy, ensuring each item on her desk occupies its designated space. While recognizing her own display of arguably mild perfectionism, she proudly proclaims, “I’m so OCD.” Not desiring confrontation, my eyebrows furrowed as I suppressed my overwhelming urge to correct her, yielding to her upsettingly nonchalant reference to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This particular occurrence was just one among the numerous occasions where I observed the term “OCD” tossed around casually. These occurrences ranged from casual statements to quizzes that measure one’s “level” of OCD on the basis of one’s discomfort with out-of-place items, and even apparel blatantly
mocking the disorder. With each careless reference, this disorder diminishes in significance and is reduced to a mere synonym of perfectionism and transformed into a joke. The American Psychiatry Association characterizes OCD as a mental disorder consisting of recurring, intense, and unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations, which are neutralized by compulsions. This poses the question: how are we able to distinguish OCD from its societally twisted version? OCD causes a noticeable functional impairment. According to Michigan Medicine, people with OCD exhibit heightened activity in brain areas recognizing errors but diminished activity in regions aiding in impulse control. This suggests that while people with OCD are acutely aware of their
irrational intrusive thoughts, a phenomenon known as cognitive fusion renders them helpless in controlling them. It entangles individuals with their thoughts, amplifying and trapping them in a vicious cycle of persistent and disturbing mental patterns that linger throughout their waking moments. In an attempt to neutralize these thoughts, individuals feel the need to perform rituals (or compulsions), such as repeatedly using strong chemicals in fear of contamination, or excessively checking to affirm that they are not bad people because of their thoughts. These repetitive rituals are incredibly time-consuming and mentally draining, severely interfering with one’s work, relationships, and other normal aspects of life. Thus, this is what OCD does
not, by any means, do: serve as an advantage by causing a proclivity for cleanliness or organization. People who use the term in a manner that deviates from its clinical definition are most likely not experiencing OCD. Conversely, individuals who are clinically diagnosed with OCD, would refrain from using it indifferently because they understand the debilitating anxiety, loss of identity, and grief that accompanies the disorder. Do not be the reason someone hesitates to receive treatment because they dismiss their symptoms as perfectionism. Instead, think critically and educate yourself on the implications of your language before unintentionally belittling someone’s lived experiences and struggles, hindering their recovery process.
4 Campus News
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
President’s reception formally inaugurates new library, classrooms By Addison Hwang ’24
On Nov. 9, Archbishop Riordan held the annual President’s reception. This time, the Riordan community came together to celebrate the Student Life Enhancement Project. Amidst returning, over 100 alumni and Crusader families entered Riordan’s familiar hallways for many different reasons: to celebrate the official unveiling of the new library and classrooms. English teacher Brian Kosewic ’16 cheered at the new “Riordan look” stating, “I’m really excited that we have this new space now that people are into, excited about, and it’s fresh. It’s a good place for people to hang outça lot of beautiful places in the new library” To start the night, there were speeches, followed by a ribboncutting ceremony by President Tim Reardon, student-led tours, and a blessing for each of the new rooms by Fr. Greg Heidenblut. Admissions Associate Sally O’Connell said, “This is a super exciting night, [with] a huge turnout, and to see all the work we’ve done over the summer for you guys, so I am super excited to be here.” But beneath this celebration
Photo by Nick Nye ’25 Brian Spiers ’75, Chair of the Board of Trustees, cuts the ribbon for the new academic wing outside of the library, which is named for him and his wife.
“It’s a good place for people to hang out–a lot of beautiful places in the new library.” -English teacher Brian Kosewic ’16
was the profound envisioning of an improvement to Riordan, along with its tedious process. In preparation for the largest enrollment of 1,150 students this year, Riordan took on a summerlong construction project to
further support and adhere to the new student community’s needs. With a newly rebuilt library, two new classrooms, and a video production room used to film the telecast, students such as Alana Radoc Manrique ’24 can have a
“bigger space with better lighting, which allows us to create a better show and makes the class much more fun!” Kosewic commented, “This has been a long project in the making but it’s been really cool to see the whole community come together. As a telecast alumnus myself. It’s really cool standing in this new state-of-the-art telecast green room.” Architect of this project, Tony Pantaleoni ’70 stated, “I am tickled pink the school honors me by allowing me to do work for the school here for almost 30 years. We just finished this renovation of the library and extra classrooms and we are happy that you guys are enjoying it.” Admissions Director Danny Curtin ’08 stated, “I’m super excited to be here tonight. I just know that when kids step on campus, they know the facilities match the people and if they go there, they can be the best versions of themselves and achieve all the goals they have for themselves academically, personally, and through extracurriculars. In the future, Riordan hopes to further improve its campus by working on the cafeteria and parking lot to further refurbish Riordan’s 74-year-old campus.
Big Purple joins Crusader mascot family By Isabelle Huang ’27
At the annual 2023 Winter Sports rally, Riordan’s first mascot, Big Purple, made an appearance for the first time since his “death” in the 1990s. Big Purple’s roots trace back to an old Riordan fight song in the 1960s. Recited by Michael VezzaliPascual ’88, English teacher and House of Bolts provincial. It went along the lines of, “Roll on big purple, roll on big gold, roll on big purple, fight fight fight.” Upon Riordan referring to themselves as “Big Purple” from the chant’s lyrics, Riordan’s mascot was born. With the school student body size continuing to grow, there’s a desire to have a group of characters representing Riordan, rather than just the Crusader. Consequently, this heavily influenced the comeback of the Crusader’s previous mascot. More plans for Big Purple are currently in the works, and Crusaders anxiously wait to see what Big Purple has to offer. Ultimately, as Riordan transitions into a new era with exciting changes, Big Purple’s presence brings more prospects to Crusader life. The return connects tradition from the past with Riordan today,
Big Purple made a comeback appearance at the winter rally, joining the Crusader mascot.
bridging together two eras with more traditions to come. Maddalena Dito ’26 said, “I thought Big Purple was a stunt for the school to get a fun sense of attraction.”
She added, “It reminds of the
character Grimace, in a way but overall I think it was a one hit wonder.” Vezzali said, “Some things are
Photo by Nick Nye ’25
naturally going to get left behind, but some of the ones like Big Purple are wonderful, and you guys get to make up new legends about him, and that’s how it all continues.”
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Campus News
5
Toy drive collects 500 gifts for SF children By Brandon Saavedra ’24
Mahatma Gandhi once observed, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Today, this is lived out through Riordan’s charitable students and faculty. The Archbishop Riordan Toy Drive recently ended. Partnering with the San Francisco Fire Department, and the San Francisco Police Department, it strives to make an impact on the children of SF. The Toy Drive was established by the C.O.R.E team to aid the children of San Francisco. By donating toys, the community can spread holiday cheer, especially approaching Christmas. The C.O.R.E team stationed themselves in the front of the school every morning to collect toys from the students. Then once R-Time began, they circled
around the building to collect more toys. Bins were also been placed around the Riordan campus for easy drop-off. The reason why the team even started this drive, is because, as Hana Wadlow ’25 said, “It brings joy to us that we can share with those in need.” She also added that “helping the less fortunate is the reason why we formed the C.O.R.E team.” The duty of the C.O.R.E team is to help out those in need, and with these drives and other charity missions, that goal will be complete. The Toy Drive is set to help hundreds in need, and everyone at Riordan is to thank for it. From the Campus Ministry’s C.O.R.E team, to the gracious, general student body. Every student can make an
Photo by Addison Hwang ’24 The toy drive will serve hundreds of San Francisco youth this Christmas.
the world and make it a better impact on the world. As the late Nelson Mandela place. It is in our hands to make stated before, “We can change a difference.”
New campus club celebrates Irish heritage By Hoorain Farooq ’25
Photo by Hoorain Farooq ’25 The Irish Heritage Club is a new club on campus open to all students.
As Riordan’s diversity increases, so does its club variety. With an increasing number of Irish students, a new club has emerged: the Irish Heritage Club. The
club’s focus is to bring light to the history and background of Irish culture, while also being a space where students feel represented and connected.
Club leader Ashling Greene ’26 shared her motivation for starting the club, “I want to show Riordan that the Irish were also discriminated against by other countries. Just to name a few, the Anti-Irish Sentiment in the United Kingdom, the Great Famine in 1845-1852, and NINA (No Irish Need Apply). Irish culture is more than just green and leprechauns, there is a history behind it.” One of the club’s goals is to let students dive deeper into Irish heritage as well as share stories about their ancestry. With the club being fairly new, Greene hopes to expand the club’s
outreach and invites any students to join, even if they aren’t Irish. She said, “We love everyone in our club and I love teaching new people about Irish culture.” The Irish Heritage Club encourages students to connect with their Irish heritage and learn about Irish history. Club Moderator, Shannon Moran shared, “This club is a good opportunity for me to learn more about my Irish roots along with the students.” She added, “We are also starting a project that is exchanging videos with Ms. (Karen) McDermott’s old students in Ireland, so we are excited to see how that turns out.”
Science labs experiment with new furniture By Michelle Chavero ’24
At the beginning of the second quarter, room 209 experienced some changes. The old tables and chairs were stripped from the room and replaced with new and improved workstations. The old ones are being saved to help replace old furniture in other classrooms. The room is filled with roughly 32 workstations, which encourages students to work together and be more active. Science teacher Colleen O’Rourke said, “This would help support our style of hands-on and projectbased lessons, rather than purelecture like what science classes used to be many years ago.” The blacktopping chemicalresistant countertops and higher stools–chosen by O’Rourke and science department chair Julia Stricker-Balistreri–are meant to give the feeling of a professional modern lab. The tables allow students to place their bags in
the new setup. Tuel said, “We do quite a bit of group work in the sciences and the elevated tables would be a great addition.” Students in O’Rourke’s class have a split opinion about these new additions. Some love the professional look while others complain about it not having a backrest, to which O’Rourke responded with, “Backless seating can improve overall posture by strengthening core muscles which are often under-used, and backless stools help improve metabolism, blood New furniture emulates modern labs. Photo by Hoorain Farooq ’25 circulation, and overall posture.” designated cubbies to reduce the the amount of clutter on the Students like Maximillian risk of any tripping hazard and workstation itself,” said science Reese ’24 agrees, and he said, “The give them more room. instructor Brian Tuel. stools are actually comfortable. I “I believe that the elevated As of now, this new arrangement do not mind that they do not have workstations allow for more is only available in room 209 with a backrest.” freedom of movement, as you the hope that it will be adopted by Reese has also noticed that can easily switch from seated to other classrooms in the following with the change he has felt “more standing. Also, the additional years. Other science teachers like engaged in the class while doing storage under the desktop limits Tuel have also taken a liking to the work.”
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The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
December 2023
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Health
7
Teen invents soap to treat skin cancer By Talisha Flores ’24
Virginia-based Ethiopian teen has been awarded for his invention of soap that could potentially treat low-grade skin cancer at an affordable price. High school student Herman Bekele named his scientific invention, “Skin Cancer Treating Soap,” otherwise known as SCTS. Before his research, Bekele collaborated with the University of Virginia to help conduct preresearch on skin cancers and treatments. In October of 2023, Bekele was awarded America’s Top Young Scientist during the annual competition, 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which awards 5th through 8th graders and gives winners a a $25,000 prize. His invention of this soap continues to be recognized for its potential to influence future treatments. Michelle Anzueto ’24, a student with a lighter complexion stated, “As someone with a lighter skin complexion, I’m always cautious with what is placed on my skin, what I touch, and even being careful in the sun. It’s great to have affordable treatment methods that have been recognized for this type of cancer.” Bekele shared his plans with ABC News to focus his invention
on those who are unable to afford modern skin cancer treatments. Once all research is completed on the effectiveness of his product, he plans to simplify the soap to make it accessible in comparison to modern clinical treatments that many are unable to afford. Even with these plans, the soap will still have to undergo the regular clinical trials, which could take up to 10 years. Many people worry about the effectiveness of the soap. As the product is first being publicly introduced to the public, many voice their concerns and opinions on its impact. With the possibility of clinical trials taking years to complete, many seek their own ideas of its usefulness. Kyra Milachuk ’24, an AP Biology student asserted, “I think the soap could work really well or work very badly. The main problem is that the majority shows up in very small spots that you may necessarily wash well with soap. My grandfather got skin cancer on the very tip of his ear, a spot most people would not even consider seriously washing.” Bekele stayed hopeful as he patiently awaits the trials and results that he believes could take
Graphic by Talisha Flores ’24
up to five years. He hopes to take the soap to market to begin a nonprofit, so it can be available to those who need it. His submission, skin cancertreating soap (SCTS), works to replenish the skin with dendritic cells, which are responsible for initiating all antigen-specific immune responses. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Dendritic cells are essential for the initiation of immune responses by ensuring the link between innate
and adaptive immunity. Dendritic cells play a pivotal role in tumor control via the uptake and presentation of tumor antigens.” Bekele explained that using his soap every couple of days on the affected skin would result in improvement. Statistically, The American Cancer Society estimates about 97,610 new melanomas will be diagnosed. Because of advances in treatment, the mortality rate of melanoma patients has decreased overall.
Scientists cultivate human kidneys in pig embryos
Photo by Carolina Biological Supply Company
A wild pig embryo as it reaches its 10 millimeters stage.
By Anthony Chan ’24 Over 170 million citizens of the globe are registered as organ donors, yet only three in 1,000 are ever healthy or capable of having their organs harvested in the process. Each day, 17 people die on that waiting list, all due to the inability to receive those critical organs. Now, a new revelation has transformed the field of public health. Scientists from all over the
country have been working hard on mixing genetics and cell splicing to produce an extraordinary outcome, the creation of kidneys in embryos. According to scientific research papers, scientists were able to inject human cells directly into the eggs of a pig, used for reproduction, and then insert them into a genetically modified pig to hold the new embryos. After 28 days of growing, the kidneys grew to full size and were reported to be of normal structure
but required more maturing to be maturing to be fully usable. Nevertheless, scientists are optimistic about the outcome and are looking forward to producing fully stable kidneys and other organs that could be extracted and used by humans. Albeit, several other researchers have raised moral questions regarding the extraction of organs from pigs and also the possibility that human-implemented cells might affect other aspects of the animal in its functions and evolution. Campus Ministry member Zachary Reburiano ’24 commented, “It is very important to keep in mind the ethical responsibilities of treating other animals as God created everything and everyone to be respectful to all,” yet adding, “on the other hand it is good that we are doing what’s best for saving lives on a massive scale.” Biology student George Gamarra ’26 debated, “If someone who is passionate about animal cruelty is in need of a kidney, and the kidney shortage is a real problem right now, are they not going to take it from a pig?” Moreover, others have inquired about the practice of inserting unnaturally-grown biological parts into the human body to replace and renew.
“I see it as a vast improvement to human life; it has its uses . . . this may spark an ignition into a modern-day Renaissance, focused on advancing technology.” - Russell Shiu ’24
Environmental science student and science enthusiast Russell Shiu ’24, countered, “I see it as a vast improvement to human life; it has its uses,” continuing, “this may spark an ignition into a modern-day Renaissance, focused on advancing technology.” Be that as it may, the development has been a long time in the making, with the first recorded attempt of building an organism with DNA from two different species originating in 2017 by the University of Texas. While the complete product has a long way to go, optimism remains high on the future of health technology, yet also further explores the question of how far humans can meddle in creation.
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National & World News
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
December 2023
California left out of America’s strong literacy rates By Vee Chen ’25
A recent analysis on literacy rates in the United States shows that 79 percent of its population is highly or moderately literate, but when it comes to states, California ranks 49 out of 50. English teacher and Dean of Academics Diana Assereto commented, “The impact [of this] is far reaching and multilayered… It means a more knowledgeable and skilled workforce.” The literacy levels of the United States can be further broken down into individual states, the most literate of which include New Hampshire, Alaska, and Vermont. In these states, nearly 90 percent of their populations are literate. This can be attributed to their attention towards funding children’s education and the placement of literacy programs to make sure all citizens in such states are educated. Citizens greatly benefit from literacy in all aspects of their lives. Economically, being literate allows them more employment opportunities and subsequently more money to live a more comfortable life. It also gives citizens the ability to advocate for their own political and medical rights. In addition to individual benefit, literacy also aids society as a whole. Interacting with the economy benefits its general health, and having a more educated population aids their
Graphic by Naomi Lin ’24
choices. As Assereto summarized, “Healthier people means less stress on the healthcare system and happier citizens, which can have even more far reaching effects.” On the other hand, states with the lowest level of literacy include New Mexico, California, and
Texas, where the rates of literacy range from 70 to 75 percent. Factors related to these levels may include a large population of citizens born in another country or insufficient funding for literacy programs, which is something these states are working on implementing. Annually, low literacy rates cost
the United States over $2.2 trillion due to lack of earning and the loss of job opportunities–an issue that may be worsened from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic evidently made education more difficult. Assereto remarked, “... there is no denying the lockdowns, school closures, and remote learning have had a widespread negative effect on education globally[.]” As America emerged from a brutal three years of social isolation, a third of its youth have been missing reading benchmarks. Over 60 percent of students at lower socioeconomic schools around the country were found to be at high risk for reading problems in 2022, which was over twice as much as the year before. Assereto continued, “...there is no denying the lockdowns, school closures, and remote learning have had a widespread negative effect on education globally[.]” To combat the issue of illiteracy, America instituted programs such as the No Child Left Behind program, which ended in 2015, to help students reach their required reading levels. Clearly, more intensive programs are needed now. Alexandra O’Neil ’25 stated, “Literacy is important because reading is critical to everyday life.”
El Salvador’s president eyes re-election By Julian Serrano ’24
The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, temporarily stepped down from office on Dec. 1 after having a 90 percent approval rating in order to focus on his campaign for the 2024 Salvadoran Presidential Election. Bukele first started as mayor of the small suburban village of Santa Tecla, which allowed him to rise to the mayor of the country’s capital San Salvador. In 2019 he ran for president against El Salvador’s two major parties and won with 53 percent of the vote. His most famous action as president, one which has people all over the world conflicted, is his major crackdowns against his nation’s drug cartels and crimerings. Before Bukele took office, El Salvador had the highest crimerate in the world, but as of 2023 has one of the lowest in Latin America. In order to fund this “Territorial Control Plan” he needed a loan from America, but the legislature refused it in 2020, and the court called it unconstitutional.
While this may seem dictatorial, Bukele’s party Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA) won a majority in the 2021 Legislative Election, and he has the highest approval rating of any political leader in the world, at roughly 90 percent or more. This leads to the February 2024 election, one which is filled with controversy. Polls suggest that Bukele and his Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas) party will win reelection with 68.4 percent of the vote; a landslide by all means. But the main concern is the fact that under El Salvador’s constitution no president can serve for more than one term. In 2021, the Supreme Court of Justice ruled that a president could run for reelection despite a 2014 ruling that said otherwise. This was seen as democraticbacksliding, as the Supreme Court of Justice’s five members were appointed by Bukele following the 2021 Salvadoran Political Crisis. The 2024 election will be interesting when it comes to the nature of governance and the everevolving political history of El Salvador.
Photo by Creative Commons The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, is seeking re-election.
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Local & State News
9
APEC meets minor public resistance By Jake Beeman ’24
From Nov. 12-18, San Francisco hosted Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, a gathering of delegates from 21 Pacific Nations in negotiations on trade, investment, and general economic issues. The conference, according to the U.S. State Department, resulted in advances in international connection, building enterprise, and over $50 billion in investments by U.S. companies. The State Department claims a significant investment in U.S. companies by APEC partner economies as a knock-on effect of the conference and its surrounding talks. Partnered with a meeting of some of the most wealthy and influential CEOs in the modern world, the conference was perhaps the largest gathering of power, both political and economic, in recent history. The illustrious guest list included names such as Presidents Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, and Justin Trudeau, along with CEOs Marc Benioff of Salesforce, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.
The gathering of so many members of the highest classes of society, among a variety of global controversies, led to expectations of abounding protests. Most notably, on Nov. 15, the date of a large gathering of APEC leaders on the Embarcadero, was met with multiple protests around the city and at its gates. “We’re here tonight because Joe Biden is supposed to be in town, and we believe with one phone call he can shut it (the conflict in Gaza) down,” Margerie Michaels, a protester near the meeting’s gate stated. Directly outside the gathering, a sizable group braved the rain, facing down well equipped police guards in anticipation of President Biden’s arrival, chanting slogans in protest of the U.S.’ support of Israel in the recent Gaza Strip conflict. “President Biden is strongly supporting genocide,” George Marx, an activist for social justice, stated. With its conclusion on Nov. 18, the APEC conference ended with success in its organizers goals, met with relatively docile public resistance.
Photo By Jake Beeman ’24 Protesters imitate corpses and carry signs in protest at the APEC gate.
“The protests seemed very underwhelming as compared to what was expected by the APEC conference leaders I was working with.” - Lupe Cope, APEC security volunteer
San Mateo County overwhelmed by domestic abuse By Angela Jia ’25
As of press time, all five homicide victims in San Mateo County have been killed by domestic violence. This has prompted County authorities to create a Domestic Violence Task Force which aims to address the causes of domestic abuse and prevent future acts of violence. The victims were all women, and all were killed by former or current boyfriends. The San Mateo County Domestic Violence Council came up with the idea of a specific task force on Sept. 18, which was announced by County Supervisor Noelia Corzo. The task force consists of survivors of domestic violence and their advocates along with various government officials. In an interview with San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, who is part of the Task Force, she shared that she brought forward an initiative for a co-response model for domestic violence. “It’s overwhelming…especially when you have people that are dealing with trauma that are afraid…a lot of… the victims are the ones that are the ‘stay at homes’ and take care of the family and so [they’re] not going to survive if [they] don’t have a job…and then on top of it there’s sometimes language barriers and the court process is challenging and overwhelming….” she explained. Frances Lucero, 27, was allegedly
Infographic by Angela Jia ’25 Statistics by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
shot four times by her boyfriend, Romier Taguiam Narag, in front of her children, aged 3 and 4. According to the GoFundMe for Lucero’s funeral service, she was “the most genuine, thoughtful, loyal and ambitious woman we’ve all been blessed to know” who “touched countless lives of those around her.” Narag faces murder charges. Maria Romero-Molina, 28, was allegedly strangled to death by her boyfriend, Eduar PajoyDelgado. Pajoy-Delgado faces murder charges and remains in custody on no bail status. Claribel Estrella, 41, was reportedly stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Mark Stephen Mechikoff. Her accused murderer filmed her death and posted her covered in blood on Facebook. A dozen of Estrella’s friends
and family represented her loss in the courtroom, who described her as someone who was kind and quiet. Mechikoff is charged with first-degree murder. Yesenia Lopez Hernandez, 41, was allegedly stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Jose UriarteMartinez, in front of her 17 year old daughter who was also stabbed as she attempted to save her mother. A neighbor described her as a hardworking mother who went to church. Martinez is charged with murder and attempted murder. Grace Marie Kelly, 49, was shot and killed, allegedly by her boyfriend, Aubrey Avery Jr. Her body was found by her 83 year old mother. She is survived by her two children. Kelly was described as a kind friend who put others first. Avery Jr. is charged with her murder.
According to the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, while about 25 percent of the population–overwhelmingly and primarily women–experience domestic violence, only 2.5-15 percent report it. Moreover, women of color are disproportionately impacted, as evidenced by San Mateo cases. Although causes of domestic violence are varied, one reason is that abusers feel a need to control their victims. A peer reviewed research article by Katharine J. McCarthy finds that a significant risk factor in domestic violence is a belief in traditional gender roles and male dominance, as well as male entitlement. Regardless, the defining feature of nearly all abusive relationships is how the abusive partner tries to establish power and control over their partners. Red flags include, but are not limited to, jealousy over friends or time spent away from them, insulting or shaming their partners, intimidation through threatening looks or actions, and pressuring partners to have sex. The National Domestic Violence Hotline encourages victims to reach out and get help; the organization also has resources and support specifically for teen relationships at loveisrespect.org. Sheriff Corpus said that domestic violence is “a complex situation, but there are services ...to get help.”
10 Arts & Entertainment
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Fans eat up Hunger Games prequel By Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas ’25
The highly anticipated prequel to the original Hunger Games film series, “A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” arrived in theaters on Nov. 17. Set in the 10th annual Hunger Games, the story follows the life of a young Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth in this new film, who is Panem’s future corrupted President, as seen in the first four films where the character is portrayed in a chilling performance by Donald Sutherland. The live-action adaptation of the book is broken into three parts: “The Mentor,” “The Prize,” and “The Peacekeeper.” The film focuses on how the events of the 10th annual Hunger Games changed young Coriolanus Snow’s life after he was assigned to mentor District 12 tribute Lucy Grey Baird, played by West Side
Story star Rachel Zegler. The story follows the romance between Snow and Lucy Grey and their journey through the gruesome Hunger Games and the aftermath. When watching their love story form, I would’ve liked it portrayed in a less rushed way with more detail and time. The transition from parts two and three was done incredibly well. Using the right costuming and lighting to go from a colorful theme to strictly grays and whites really showed his drastic change in character. “I noticed that the movie had really good CGI. The CGI looked so real and made the scenes more intense and interesting,” said Mia Magpantay ’25. The film presented a bookaccurate Panem during this era with spot-on casting and costuming, using direct quotes
Art by Chloe Hui ’25
from the book, and paying great attention to detail, which fans praised. This two-hour and
28-minute movie was most definitely worth the watch and lived up to its expectations.
‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry dies at 54 By Ashley Villing ’25
On Oct. 28, actor Matthew Perry, most known for his role as Chandler Bing in “Friends,” was found dead in his hot tub at age 54. At print time, his cause of death is reported to be accidental drowning. As a youth, Perry got into lots of trouble. In his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” he admits that his actions originated from feeling like an outsider in his own family. As a young man, he moved to L.A. with his father where he found his passion for acting. His big break came when he auditioned for the show “Six of One,” later known as “Friends.” He embodied the heart and portrayed the life that he lived off screen. In his personal memoir,
Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 Fans of the TV show “Friends” left flowers for the late Matthew Perry, creating a memorial in front of the iconic apartment building from the show.
Perry wrote, “When I read the jokes, copying my mannerisms, script for ‘Friends Like Us,’ it photocopying my world-weary yet was as if someone had followed witty view of life.” me around for a year, stealing my Unfortunately, for Perry, this
newfound fame and wealth that resulted from the popularity of the show did not resolve his internal issues from the past— he continued his long-term struggles with smoking and drinking. In 1997, things took a turn for the worse after a jet-ski accident left him with an addiction to the painkiller Vicodin. Perry brought light into the homes of many by offering a glimpse into his life through Chandler Bing. Wellness counselor Pia Crosby stated, “It gives us insight into who he was as a person and how much he wanted to get better and hoped that his story could help others be better. Help doesn’t mean that you are weak, it means that you are courageous for asking.”
The new Mean Girls movie is so fetch By Hoorain Farooq ’25
On Nov. 8, the trailer for the new Mean Girls movie, set to release on Jan. 12, 2024, brought a great uproar of excitement from fans. This new movie introduces a new cast starring Reneé Rapp who will play Regina George, Angourie Rice who will play Cady Heron, and Christopher Briney who will play Aaron Samuels. Nevertheless, there will still be some glimpses of original cast members such as Tina Fey and Tim Meadows who played Ms. Norbury and Mr. Duvall. Despite the common misconceptions, this new movie is not a remake, but an adaptation of the “Mean Girls” Broadway show which was first shown in 2018. Many fans are confused as
to how the movie will turn out since the official trailer released by Paramount Pictures does not depict the movie as a musical. Tina Fey, who wrote the script for the 2004 “Mean Girls’’ and the book for the 2017 Broadway show also wrote the script for the new musical movie. Therefore, the overall idea of the new musical movie is likely to stay the same as the original “Mean Girls.” Although the overall concept of the movie will stay the same, there are sure to be many changes like the introduction of many more songs and the change in time setting from 2004 to 2024. The original Mean Girls movie is a classic that started many trends and features iconic quotes, such as “On Wednesdays we wear pink” and “That’s so fetch,” among
Photo from meangirls.com
Marley Naniola ’25 said, “I have mixed emotions about the others. With the new movie, fans are new movie because reboots tend eager to see how the two will to mess up what isn’t broken, but compare and if the new movie will I will definitely still watch it to see live up to the hype of the original. if it can live up to the original.”
December 2023
Arts & Entertainment 11
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Clever cast creates captivating ‘Clue’ By Katelyn Leong ’25
Whodunit? It was the Riordan Drama Department in Lindland Theater! The classic murder mystery story and comedy Clue was adapted for this year’s fall play, running from Nov. 16 to 18. When choosing this year’s fall play, director Greg Callaghan said, “One of my goals is to give our students involved in Riordan drama as well as the audiences a variety of different shows. Last year we did kind of a contemporary drama and I wanted to do something different like a comedy this year. Clue is one of my favorite movies and so I was really drawn to it.” Set in 1954 New England, the story surrounds six blackmail victims who are brought to a secluded mansion by the very man carrying their dark secrets. After handing each of them a murder weapon, the lights go out and he is mysteriously murdered, leaving the six strangers to uncover the murder mystery and the other murders committed as the evening progresses. As the house opens, the audience is buzzing with excitement. The 1950s jazz music sets the mood, the crowd settles in, the lights
Photo by Sean Reyes ’25 The characters in this year’s fall play, “Clue,” receive their murder weapons from their blackmailer in the dramatic climax of the classic “whodunit?” play.
dim, and the show begins. The spotlights illuminate the vibrant and majestic sets that tower in Lindland theater. While it was challenging to adapt to the multiple locations in the mansion that the story is set in, “I think that one of the biggest ways we adjusted to it, especially with working with the set pieces and stuff, it really brings the whole show to life […],” remarked Daniel Barrett ’24 who portrayed Mr. Green. “[…] The set pieces,
the way it was designed, is just brilliant.” Marina Viray ’24, who played Miss Scarlet, said that they wanted to bring a new perspective to this timeless story by “how funny we make it and the fun we have in the cast, and that fun energy really brings out in the way that we perform.” The cast includes a mix of newcomers to drama along with seasoned veterans like Viray and Barrett who have been
performing in Riordan drama productions since their freshmen year. Their experience and ability particularly shine on stage in each of their performances. Aiden Jantz ’24 gave another stand-out performance, excellently portraying the lead role, Wadsworth, by bringing the same chaotic yet comedic energy from the character in the 1985 film to the stage. Jantz remarked, “You wouldn’t expect a high school play to make you bend double with laughter, but the entire cast was excellent at being really, really funny.” It’s evident that the cast and crew worked tirelessly together to create a cohesive and very funny fall play. The cast dynamic translated brilliantly into their acting to create a funny and lighthearted but also mysterious and intriguing play. The sets and lighting allowed for seamless transitions and storytelling and added a unique touch. All in all, the fall play was most certainly a must-see. The drama department is now preparing for the spring musical: The Sound of Music. At press time, the cast was set and rehearsals had already begun.
New Beatles’ song on track to be released By Joshua Aguilar ’24
After almost 50 years since their last song, The Beatles, combining their iconic sound with revolutionary modern technology, revived and released John Lennon’s unreleased song, “Now and Then.” The Beatles, who consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, were single-handedly the most popular band in the ’60s. According to TheDailyBeast, the band’s charm and handsomeness when performing in public contributed to their popularity, though their unique sound and style are most likely the reason for their unsurmountable success. AP Literature teacher VezzaliPascual ’88 said, “They were so influential in so many ways to rock and roll and a lot of genres we have now. […] They had a lot of magic and they spoke to a whole generation and all of us since then.” After a decade of fame, The Beatles broke up in 1970 due to Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono’s interest in social justice. During this time, he also spent time taking care of his son Sean Ono Lennon. However, he still continued to make and record songs on a cassette tape. On Dec. 8, 1980, John Lennon was leaving his apartment in
New York when he was shot and killed. According to the YouTube documentary “Now and Then,” Ono gave the cassette tapes with Lennon’s recorded songs to The Beatles. The three remaining Beatles reunited to record those songs in memory of Lennon. Although one track entitled “Now and Then” was almost impossible to revive due to the blending of the piano and Lennon’s vocals, many of the other tracks were recorded successfully. During the recording of The Beatles’ movie “Get Back” in 2022, the producers were able to separate the audio and instruments in their recording session on Abbey Road. The audio had been separated and autofilled by artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the audio quality. Vezzali stated, “It’s pretty amazing that the science fiction future is here.” Seeing this revolutionary technology, McCartney asked the producers to employ the same techniques in John Lennon’s “Now and Then.” The piano and vocals could then be clearly heard. McCartney and Ringo added their own bass and drum lines as well. AP Computer Science Principles student Octavio Hoglund ’25 said, “It’s an interesting endeavor. While it’s possible to reconstruct
Photo by Disney Plus Press Coming to Disney+ is the short film “Now and Then: The Last Beatles Song,” a track that was recorded using artificial intelligence to revive their iconic music.
them, I doubt it’s possible to provide the feeling that the original authors had.” The experimental technology of AI helped to revive the iconic music of The Beatles after almost 50 years. Modern technology has evolved to perform
the vocals of a man who died almost 40 years ago. Hoglund added, “I’d like to describe our progression with AI as a S-curve. Currently, we are at the bottom of that curve, still discovering what’s possible…It’s clear we’re not close to the end.”
12
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
December 2023
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Environment 13
Non-native plants on Mt. Davidson pique environmentalists’ interest By Caitlin Dowd ’25
Sitting at the highest point in San Francisco, Mt. Davidson is a staple landmark that can be seen from all points in the city. With the distinctive cross at the top, many enjoy leisurely hiking up to enjoy fantastic views and a gorgeous, plant-filled hike, in such an urban city. The plants that call this mountain their home are many. From monkey flowers to violets and California poppies, it makes for a beautiful place. Native plants help to enrich Mt. Davidson in a culture of pride and history. These plants and trees are the home to birds, insects, and even raccoons. However, some of these plants are non-native to California and have been causing trouble. The east side of the mountain is covered in blue gum forest and Himalayan blackberry scrub, both of which are invasive.
Photo by Nick Nye ’25 Mt. Davidson is home to many non-native plant and tree species.
Intense wind has caused the tough blackberry shrubs to take over most of the dainty poppies and violets. Only 20 percent of the mountain remains native.
Efforts starting in the 1980s have pushed for the removal of non-native plants. Though no city-wide action has been officially taken, local environmental groups go to the
area to pull these weeds to make clearance for native plants to flourish. Science teacher Colleen O’Rourke stated, “Many of the common non-native plants we have in San Francisco are severely damaging to the overall biodiversity of our environment.” These overpowering plants make it hard for the native ones to survive. These plants have negative effects only, O’Rourke shared how “ice plants were originally brought into the area to try and reduce erosion around the World War II bunkers along the coastline, but ironically ice plants actually increase erosion.” Lots of continuous efforts will have to be taken to restore Mt. Davidson back to its original, fully native roots. Work will have to be done almost daily to ensure the invasive vegetation does not grow and all roots are pulled out.
Hazy ‘Fog Blanket’ engulfs Beijing By Sara Noguera ’27
A Fog Blanket engulfed Beijing with worsening conditions in Northern China. On Nov. 1, a thick layer of fog and smoke covering China’s atmosphere, known as a Fog Blanket, hung over Beijing. The lack of cold air currents from the north made it impossible to dissipate the smog, leading to the formation of the Fog Blanket. In the Hebei province and in Tianjin city, citizens experienced heavy winter fog, causing the air to be murky with poor visibility past 50 meters. “I didn’t expect the smog to be so bad these days. The masks I’ve
bought are almost used up,” said a 24-year-old Beijing tourist surnamed Gao. Crop fires and industrial activity had contributed to the blanket formation. This was not the first time areas of China were affected by a major fog blanket. A couple years ago, a city less than 300 kilometers from Beijing, Shijiazhuang, had been known as the most polluted city on the planet. Efforts by the government had paid off resulting in the pollution level dropping by 42 percent. These efforts have increased the human lifespan of individuals living in China by four years.
Photo by Nick Nye ’25 A Fog Blanket, similar to this bank of fog on the Pacific Coast, engulfed Beijing last month, leading to speculation of the cause.
Chemical company redirects to sustainability with Climate for Change focus By Nora Lee ’27
As the need for sustainable practices becomes stronger, companies are increasingly taking up the mantle of responsibility to minimize their negative impact on the planet. One company at the forefront of this movement is Baden Aniline and Soda Factory– or BASF– the largest chemical company in the world. BASF was founded by German industrialist Friedrich Engelhorn in 1865, and it focuses on improving sustainability. The company recently established their movement Change for Climate, in which the company strives toward reducing emissions, creating cleaner substances, and discovering new, innovative ways to save and reuse energy and materials.
So far, the company has been effective, as BASF states,
“We have an established track record in reducing our global CO2 emissions. Since 1990, we’ve almost halved them.” The company intends to keep reducing their emissions even further, planning to eventually neutralize them by 2050. In addition, BASF introduced projects they believe will be the future of renewable energy including a heat pump the size of a soccer field, the biggest wind farm in the world, and fuel-efficient airplanes based on the science of the movement of a shark’s fin. Environmental Club member Julia O’Neill is optimistic, stating “It’s great that new ways are being found to reduce climate change, by major corporations. They’re responsible for most of the negative impacts on our environment, so this is a massive step in reducing our carbon footprint.”
Photo by BASF SE
Lab employees Maria Quintero and Timo Striebinger evaluate the success of new active ingredients in crop protection products. Here, BASF is conducting research on new active ingredients for future innovative crop protection products. The aim is to reduce the concentration of the test substances so that farming has less impact on the soil.
14 Features
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Schoolhouse Rock! bills 50th anniversary By Hailey Ferrer ’26
Jan. 6, 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of US network ABC’s Schoolhouse Rock! The show aired from 1973-1985 on Saturday mornings children’s programs before its infrequent showings, and then was later canceled by ABC in 2001. Created by David McCall, according to Schoolhouse Rock Wiki, the idea started because one of McCall’s sons was having difficulty remembering the multiplication tables in school, but memorized the lyrics of many Rolling Stones songs on the radio. This caused McCall to return to his office and run the idea of combining math with the sounds of ’70s music, to jazz pianist George Newall. Newall later reached out to another jazz pianist and composer, Bob Dorough, to try and make McCall’s educational music ideas without writing them down to the kids. Dorough began to look at his daughter’s textbooks and came back with Three is a Magic Number, a tune that covered the symbolism of the number 3, multiplication, shapes, and addition, all in less than 3 minutes. Debuted on Jan. 6, 1973, The ditty later became the first episode of Schoolhouse Rock! Schoolhouse Rock consists of six seasons and 74 episodes
Photo provided by ABC Archives
The iconic episode about conjunctions with a catchy tune livens childhood memories for many.
of animated musical shorts: Multiplication Rock, Grammar Rock, America Rock, Science Rock, Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips, Money Rock, and Earth Rock, teaching the ways of the covered subjects of mathematics, grammar, history, economics, politics, and environmentalism. The show now is available on Prime Vieo, Disney+, Vudu, and Apple TV, each episode being about 3 minutes.
Its purpose was to help kids learn the basics of school in a musical way, sometimes without even realizing it. Because of this, it was commonly used by teachers to help their students academically. English teacher Kevin Estrada ’00 said, “When I was in grade school, my teachers showed us Schoolhouse Rock episodes, and the songs have stayed with me my whole life.”
Ashling Greene ’26 grew up watching the show. She said, “I loved Schoolhouse Rock as a kid because it was a fun way to learn.” She added, “When I was little I always thought that I would have a hard time learning about history but when I found out that Schoolhouse Rock existed I was able to learn and understand history in an easier and more fun way.”
Welcome to The Rock!
60 years after final lock up, Alcatraz still welcomes visitors By Diane Lai ’24
Alcatraz: A tourist attraction, movie location, home to birds, and, previously, a home to some of America’s biggest criminals of its time. March 2023 marked the 60th anniversary of the prison’s closure. Before becoming a maximum security federal penitentiary, it was originally a military prison in the mid 19th century. In 1934, the island was changed into the federal prison we know today. The strong currents and cold temperatures of the water surrounding the island made it nearly impossible to escape. Almost a year before the closure of Alcatraz on June 11, 1962 three inmates escaped, brothers John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris. Director of Bands and history enthusiast Lance Ohnmeiss believes that the three escapees were a factor in the closure of the prison. Ohnmeiss stated, “The
prison lost its fear factor. It was advertised as an inescapable prison, yet three prisoners were still able to escape.” And 60 years later, despite not holding any famous prisoners, the prison is still standing and more famous than ever. Alcatraz later closed due to high maintenance costs, holding its last inmate in March of 1963. While the island was closed to the public, from November 1969, to June 1971, a 19-month-long protest by a Native American group, known as “Indians of All Tribes,” arose with claims that the land was theirs under the Treaty of Fort Laramie. Despite the Occupation of Alcatraz taking place over 50 years ago, students today can connect to the historic moment. John Wong ’24 stated, “Even though I wasn’t alive for it I still know the basic facts about it. Native Americans occupied the island in a way of protest. The Native Americans lived there for
Photo by Aliana-Urdaneta-Rodas ’25 Despite its ominous appearance, hundreds visit Alcatraz every year.
over a year, and they got forced off of the island in the end.” While it’s no longer a federal prison or occupied, it is one of San Francisco’s biggest tourist attractions. In one year, over 1.5 million people venture across the bay to the national park.
Tommy Galvin ’24 recalled going on a field trip to the island, saying, “I remember going there in the third grade. We went when we were learning about San Francisco history. I recall learning about how it was one of the nicer prisons in its time.”
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Features
15
Facilities Team steps up campus aesthetics By Sean Reyes ’25
Behind the brick and stucco walls of academic achievements, sports, and all experiences that students go through, there is a story waiting to be told. Within the school, there is a group of dedicated individuals whose work sometimes goes unnoticed. They are the Facilities Team. They help out with security, teaching, and pitch in with skilled labor. The role entails tasks ranging from something as small as cleaning a spill or bringing tissues from classroom to classroom, to a job as demanding as bringing in larger pieces of equipment and hanging them up. Facility team member Dante Biagini ’14 said, “The dynamic nature of my role entails varied responsibilities each day, ensuring there’s always something new and engaging for our team to be a part of.” Throughout the summer, the team did a lot of work to help make the school clean and ready for the school year. Director of the Plant/Facilities Team Brandon Ramsey said, “This summer, we focused on the library, courtyard, and a little bit of work on the cafeteria in preparation for this summer. We were also able to finish the renovation projects for all the classrooms, do some flooring in the science room. That’s all the
Photo by Nick Nye ’25 Clockwise, from the left: Brandon Ramsey, Dante Biagini ’14, Jeff Ramirez, and Kenneth Walker represent Archbishop Riordan’s Facilities Team.
“The dynamic nature of my role entails varied responsibilities each day, ensuring there’s always something new and engaging for our team to be a part of.” - Dante Biagini ’14, Facility team member main composites.” He added, “We worked on the heating to insolent the pipes and try to get a better heating system, and new carpeting and paint in the dormitories.” Even though the team completed these many tasks, they make sure that all maintenance needs are addressed efficiently without compromising quality or safety standards.
Jeff Ramirez, who is also part of the Facilities Team, said, “The summers are usually very busy with helping the process or remodeling certain areas of the school.” Regarding the physical demands of the job, Ramirez added, “Stretching and eating properly has to become part of the routine if I want to perform well at my job.”
2020 was especially demanding for the team, as they carried out a wide variety of projects simultaneously, with only two people. “So many things were getting done at once while only with a staff of two. We were putting in 12 to 14 hour days, which was extremely physically demanding,” remarked Ramirez. Some of the projects for 2020 included preparing for the girls after the coed transition, and for COVID-19. Ramsey explained, “We had to work on the locker room project, to get that going and come up with a temporary option in the bathrooms in order to create two women’s bathrooms for that. All the while prepping for COVID with spacing, signage, supplies and everything for that.” The role the Facilities Team contributes to the school is seemingly silent, but vital to Riordan’s prospering community. Their contributions and dedication affect every part of school, and even though students might not notice the differences, it makes quite a significant impact. Religious studies instructor Joshua Keeney was one of the teachers who had his classroom remodeled this summer. He said, “They are responsive and quick to help, in whatever I request of them or ask of them, and they’re a positive presence here on campus.”
Dickens Christmas Fair creates winter wonderland amid controversy By Rose Baik ’26
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair was like entering a wonderland. Once you enter, you do not want to exit back to reality. Everyone was dressed up in traditional Victorian clothing, Victorian folk songs were sung, and fish n chips were sold. It was as if time traveled to the past and you were living a moment in history. “I’ve been going to the Dickens fair for as long as I can remember. I used to go when I was really young with my family. It’s kinda like a tradition,” said Riley Guajardo ’26. This was exactly the memory Ron and Phyllis Patterson hoped to make when creating the fair. The couple previously opened a Renaissance themed fair in 1963, which gained recognition for its unique concept. Encouraged by this, the two decided on hosting a holiday party at their home which was located in Hollywood Hills. They set the theme from
the inspirations of the novels of Charles Dickens and the Victorian era. After another applause from their guests, the Pattersons expanded their fair to San Francisco and opened a Christmas fair originally called, “The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Pickwick Comic Annual.” It opened for three weeks in December of 1970 at Anchor Works, until permanently settling at Cow Palace in 2000. “The lively music, people dancing in old fashioned English dresses, vintage handicrafts, the atmosphere is truly amazing,” said Darla Hernandez, an annual visitor of the Dickens fair. But as joyous as everything may seem to be, an uprising of unhappy cast and crew members regarding the issue of racism and sexual harassment have started a boycott recently. “I love making old dresses. I love dancing. But I do not love them more than the safety and well being of myself and others
who are marginalized,” said cast member LaToya Tooles during an interview. She has decided to be part of the boycott and write letters addressing the issue to Red Barn Productions. In response to the complaints received, Red Barn Productions hired HR consultants for diversity and inclusion amongst the
workers and also released a “Red Flag Reporting System.” This system allows someone to anonymously report any unwanted activity. With these new rules, people are hoping for changes to come as the days grow colder and the festivity in the air signals people that it is time for another trip to The Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Photo by Rich Yee (Dickensfair.com)
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is an annual Bay Area tradition.
16
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
December 2023
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www.sfggrugby.com | Instagram: @sfgg_rugby | admin@sfggrugby.com
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Sports Features
17
Twins double team competition to grab gold By Joshua Lee ’26 A counter punch to the face lands on her opponent out, winning Sara Noguera ’27, a Riordan freshman and karate practitioner, her second point, as well as 1st place in the National Karate Championships. On Nov. 10, Sara and her twin brother, Collin Noguera ’27 traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to compete in the ISKF/US National Karate Championships. Sara shared her thoughts of competing in such a big tournament, which includes over 100 people, from ages 7 to 65. “We were both nervous,” Sara said, “but we were also thinking of kumite [spar] and kata strategies. Basically, how to win.” Kata is a choreographed form of kicking and punching. Sara and Collin are twins who attend Riordan, both in the Biomed Program and members of The Crusader newspaper staff. In addition to their involvement at school, they also practice karate. “Growing up, we have always done things together,” Sara added. “We both started karate when we were 5 years old and haven’t stopped since.” Shotokan Karate is a martial art originating in Okinawa as a response to the Japanese banning the study of martial arts. The style of karate was named after the creator,
Photo by Michelle Noguera
Sara Noguera ’27 and Collin Noguera ’27 with their medals.
Gichin Funakoshi, using his pen name Shoto. The tournament went on from Nov. 10-12, representing the shotokan style that both Sara and Collin have been practicing for the past decade. The day after arriving, the events began, with Sara and Colin stepping into a competitive ring of opponents. In the 14-15 advanced divisions, both Sara and Collin competed
“It’s so important, it gives people inspiration that if they can do it then I can do it too . . . that’s why it’s so important.” - Armando Castillo, Spanish Teacher
in kumite and kata. Representing the Northwest region of the U.S., they participated in individual demonstration, then a team demonstration, and finally, sparring. Collin achieved the silver medal in his division, 2nd place for sparring. Sara received the gold medal for both Kumite and Kata, obtaining 1st place for each Finally, for team demonstrations, they, alongside members of their dojo, collectively won 1st place as the Northwest division. On the last day, Nov. 12, a closing ceremony ended the competition, celebrating each person’s efforts and accomplishments. Both students discussed whether they would compete a step further above the national level of karate competition. “Towards the end of next year, we will be competing at Nationals in Las Vegas and Internationals in London,” Collin replied. “For internationals, we may be competing with people from Australia, Mexico, Brazil, or even Germany.” Armando Castillo, Spanish teacher shared his thoughts on the importance of highlighting extracurricular accomplishments saying, “It’s so important, it gives people inspiration that if they can do it then I can do it too . . . that’s why it’s so important.”
Memories of The ’Stick endure in fans’ hearts By Maxim Ivanov ’25
The iconic stadium Candlestick Park stood tall on the western shore of the San Francisco Bay and was home to the San Francisco Giants up until 1999, and the Niners up to 2013. Many memories of great victories like the Brian Johnson walk off win against the Dodgers, Joe Montana throwing a game tying touchdown in the NFC championship against the Cowboys, and the comeback miracle against the New York Giants in the NFC Wild Card when the Niners were trailing by 24 points, were made at this once beloved stadium. Michael Vezzali-Pascual ’88, English teacher, shared his favorite memory at Candlestick, saying, “I saw Dave Dravecky pitch his comeback game after he had arm surgery because of cancer.” “They told him he’d never be able to be pitch again, let alone take his wallet out of his back pocket, and he came back, by God, he came back and pitched in August of 1989.” “I was in the upper deck selling ice cream, and when he came out of the clubhouse and started warming up in the Giants bullpen, the place went nuts . . . nuts! I can’t even tell you, and we wound up winning the ball game that day. ” Although Candlestick had its detractors, many legendary players took the field there to represent San Francisco teams.
Names like Joe Montana, Willie Mays, Steve Young, Willie McCovey, Jerry Rice, and Barry Bonds called it home, and created memories that remain in fans’ hearts as well as record books. The 49ers switched to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, while the Giants moved to Oracle Park in San Francisco. Leaving Candlestick came as a shock to many fans who called “The ’Stick” home for decades: nearly 30 years for the Giants and more than 40 years for the 49ers. City officials and team owners told reporters that the infrastructure of the stadium was falling apart, and repairs would cost more than the stadium itself. Temperature was also an issue as it was always in a shaded area, causing it to be very cold. Both team owners wanted new stadiums, and sought to vacate The ’Stick, which withstood the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake during the Giants-A’s World Series. Armando Castillo, Spanish teacher, said, “Now the thing (Levi’s) is a family section, whereas before Candlestick was a rough place to see games. There was a lot of fighting, especially when the Dodgers were playing, a rough place to see games. There was a lot of fighting.” Vezzali-Pascual added, “Dwight Clark, the former 49er tight end Super Bowl champion, said, ‘It was a dump, but it was our dump,’ and I think that
Photo by Alex Datoc ’87 Jameson Datoc ’23 and AJ Datoc ’27 at Candlestick Park in December 2013.
encapsulates the whole vibe for those of us who grew up there and remember it.” Giants fans embraced Pacific Bell Park, now called Oracle Park, and love its views of the Bay Bridge and opportunity for splash hits, but some 49ers’ fans criticize Levi’s Stadium for being too far from San Francisco and too hot. Vezzali-Pascual shared his thoughts on the stadium change. “I like Levi’s, but it is a long drive to get to Santa Clara.” He added, “I prefer Candlestick just because I have had so many great memories with family and friends there.” Vezzali-Pascual, who worked at Candlestick as a vendor
for 14 years, added, “I got to go to the World Series in ’89 and saw some great Niners games, all that kind of stuff just from working out there walking down and up the stairs selling soda and peanuts and hot dogs and ice cream . . . spending summer seasons in the sun was wonderful.” Although the stadium changed, fans’ love for the teams hasn’t. The Niners currently sit at the top of the NFC West and the Giants have won three World Series since leaving The ’Stick’. Castillo added, “It was old and falling apart but it had a personality which set it apart.” He continued, “I miss Candlestick. I loved it.”
18 Sports
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
December 2023
New coach sets goals for new season By Myles Yan ’25
As the soccer season kicks off, there’s much to look forward to as the Varsity team progresses and grows as players with their new coach. With many expectations this year as the program moves forward, new staff and players move up to play at the Varsity level as they said goodbye to last year’s seniors. The team is now led by Spanish Coach Álvaro Blázquez Gutiérrez, who has been coaching since 2018 and played soccer at Concordia College-New York. According to the players on the team he has a very deep passion for soccer and believes it has given him more than anything. He is currently coaching the SF United club team. The impact on the girls has already been shown as the Girls Varsity team defeated
Photo By Hailey Ferrer ’26 Cienna Lujano ’26 gets ready to pass the ball in a recent home game.
their last two competitors, Bay School 2-0 and El Camino 5-0 in the Firebird Classic. Varsity player Caroline O’Connell ’25 is ecstatic about the upcoming season and can’t wait to get on the pitch.
She said, “Riordan girls soccer feels like a family more than just another school team. Every practice we put our all into and have fun at the same time. It is a great experience.” She, along with other players
are excited about the changes that they are experiencing every day as the program grows around them. They are still actively going through trial and error as they find what works for the program and their path to success on the field. Though the program is not yet in the WCAL, the team is striving to make a run for the highly competitive league within the next one to two years. The girls soccer program is a recent installment to the wide array of Riordan athletics, beginning with the implementation of Riordan going co-ed, according to Coach Morello. She said, “I think with the addition of our girls soccer team in the WCAL, it will bring even more attention to Riordan.”
Girls basketball team joins WCAL By Julia Yamsuan ’25
Girls basketball at Riordan has developed greatly and grown exponentially ever since its start in 2020, although this season, they hit a very significant milestone: being a part of the WCAL. Excitement and other emotions swirled around the team for this notable accomplishment as they are now given the opportunity to play in a very competitive league. A few players on the team spoke of their ambitions for the upcoming season. Varsity player, Taryn Nasol ’25 said, “I feel as if this is our statement year where we are ready to prove everyone else wrong.” Teagan Radcliffe ’26 stated, “It’s exciting to know that we are going to upset some teams this year. Not many expect a lot out of us and I hope at the end
we can show why we belong in this league.” Varsity veteran Ashanti Dias ’24 remarked, “We hope to wake everybody up who’s been sleeping on us since the girls program started and let everybody know we here and we not going where.” Kona Dacoscos ’25 expressed, “Honestly, It feels surreal. I grew up watching and attending Riordan events and games my whole life, hoping and wishing I Photo By Julia Yamsuan ’25 could go to that school. So finally Ashanti Diaz ’24 prepares to knock down a free throw against Marin Catholic. having the opportunity to attend and play basketball is such a various pre-season tournaments. blessing.” freshman on the first girls The Varsity team placed 2nd The occasion is especially basketball team here at Riordan, in the Jim Soden Tournament more momentous to the seniors it feels great seeing how much the against Sacred Heart and the because of the hard work they’ve program has grown and improved. JV team won the Legends JV been putting in since their Also, how much support we’re Tournament at Carondelet High freshman year. They highlighted starting to get and from now and School. how proud they are as a team and going on it’s only going to get These accomplishments have as individuals. better and that’s for sure.” given both teams the full-fledged Dias added, “Me being a Both teams have had confidence in having a great debut senior and starting here as a promising performances in the season in the WCAL.
Girls wrestling team grows in strength, numbers By Naomi Lin ’24 and Hoorain Farooq ’25
With the new year comes a new wrestling season. Three years ago, the wrestling team was co-ed due to the lack of girls. However, this year, the wrestling team has grown to 17 girls, allowing for an all-female team. The growth is credited to the fact that, “people are more interested now because we’re no longer worried about catching COVID in this high-contact sport,” said Helena Kai Murguz ’25. It is also due to how Riordan now has many more female students than when the school first went co-ed. As of Dec. 14, the girls have won two matches against Washington and Lowell High School.
Photo by Trevor Michalchuk Members of the girls wrestling team gather for a photo with their coaches Jose Aguilar ’23 and Jack Schindler after a successful meet this season.
Luna Medina ’24 explained, “So far something that we’ve accomplished is placing 9th out of 50 schools in our most recent tournament, Webber Lawson.” A lot of tenacity is required to participate in wrestling. Murguz expressed, “Wrestling is the most intense sport in regards to training, there’s so much you have to train for.” Along with the intense training comes a silver-lining. Murguz added, “The moments that always stand out are when watching a teammate’s match and seeing them have a comeback in the third period; everyone is screaming their heads off. She concluded, “The girls team is special that way, that we are always there to support and scream for each other.”
December 2023
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
Sports 19
Boys wrestling shoots for WCAL takedown By Kai Murguz ’25
Many people have high hopes for Riordan’s boys wrestling team this year after an exciting 2022 season, where they won an intense dual against Sacred Heart Cathedral and made WCAL finals and state. Having trained persistently since the start of the school year, they are ready to go up to the mat. “We made a lot of improvements from last year and now we’re building from that. We have a lot of momentum,” said head coach Jack Schindler. So far, they have dominated the mat with wins at the double duals against Lowell: 64 to 15, and George Washington: 68 to 6 in addition to multiple individual awards at the Colt Classic tournament. To help them on their path to success, the boys wrestling team
is equipped with new coaches, including Jose Aguilar ’23, former wrestler and Riordan alumnus. On top of that, the boys’ team numbers have grown from about 30 boys last year, to 62 this year. Schindler added, “It’s one of the biggest teams I’ve coached in 13 years.” The wrestling team trains very hard, as highlighted by senior Nicolas Galzote ’24. Galzote commented, “I assume most people really underestimate how we practice in this sport. The conditioning is tough. I can compare it to how the military trains.” The upcoming duals and tournaments for Riordan’s boys wrestling team include: Pat Lovell, Mid Cals, and the WCAL. They will be attending a total of seven meets and duals this season.
Photo provided by Jack Schindler Riordan Wrestling team photo following the Colt Classic at James Logan High.
Boys soccer team seeks redemption against WCAL rivals By Isaac Garcia-Zuro ’24
Last season’s soccer season was a year full of challenges, but this year, the team is looking for redemption. Head Coach Bill Chu and the players have used past challenges as motivation for improvement, looking forward to a fresh start. Left winger Julian Tototzintle ’25, provided close up insights into the team’s preparations, his commitment to daily training, both with the team and individually. As a junior, he looks to be a top goal scorer and a key player in the team’s success. “My individual goals for this season are to finish junior year as a top goal scorer as well as be a leader for my team, creating scoring opportunities and being the key player to the team’s success achievements/goals. A big achievement for me would be for me to make the WCAL first team and to really show off my abilities to be recognized by college coaches.” He emphasized Riordan’s determination to prove they’re not an “easy game” this year. Anticipating competitive matchups, Tototzintle expressed
Photo by Stefano Baldassi Jonathan Turnbull ’25 looking to pass the ball while running down field.
confidence, believing this season will be different. Center defensive midfielder Matteo Baldassi ’24, said, “In the off-season, we’ve focused on fundamentals through daily practices and gym sessions, building chemistry in pre-season games.” Personally, he concentrated on stamina and technical skills to
ensure peak performance. According to Baldassi, this year’s team chemistry is stronger, primarily consisting of junior players who’ve been playing together since freshman year. His goals include playoffs and securing a spot on the 1st or 2nd all-team. “Although it seems far-fetched for Riordan’s soccer program,
anything can happen when we work together. I am also looking to make it onto one of the 1st or 2nd all team player lists.” He also stated, “This season we are looking forward to playing against Sacred Heart Cathedral as we had a close matchup with them last year but lost.” Acknowledging challenges, Baldassi noted the team’s juniorheavy composition against seniorheavy opponents. However, they plan to leverage their strengths— hard work and team chemistry. As the soccer team steps onto the field this season, they embark on a journey of redemption, armed with determination, unity, and the lessons of the past. The narrative is set to change, and the Riordan soccer legacy is ready for a new chapter.
To read the story about Cross Country’s historic season, scan the QR Code to our website.
Varsity team laces up for new campaign to take state title By Angelia Richardson ’24
The Riordan varsity basketball team started their pre-season with a 4-3 record, most recently defeating Clovis North 74-65. Led by head coach Joey Curtin ’01, the Varsity boys hope to have a stellar regular season after the upcoming winter break with their first opponents in the WCAL, Saint Francis. Varsity Player Jasir Rencher ’25 said, “This season is different from last season because I am now an upperclassman so now I have more on my plate. I feel like people go to me if they don’t understand something.” He added, “I have been with Coach Joey for the longest on the team so I know what he expects
from us and what his standards are.” New player Nes Emeneke ’25 discussed how he feels as a new student and player at Riordan, saying, “Feels great to be at a school where diversity is celebrated and respected. I can see myself in everyone here who is trying to better their life using athletics and that’s really important to me.” In addition, Kaia Berridge ’24 and Jordy Mckenzie ’24 agree that their goals for this season are to win CCS and expand that win to state. This season, the Varsity basketball team will continue to strive for greatness to reach their goals of becoming the league
Photo by Julia Yamsuan ’25 Zeke Natorille ’24 goes for a layup against the Fremont Tigers.
champions, CCS and NorCal title holders, which they hope will
ultimately lead them to become state champions.
20 Food Reviews
The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School
December 2023
Soul Food enlightens taste buds Review and Photo by Julien Untalan ’24
Echoes of the blues sang out the front door of Hard Knox Cafe as I walked in; the sweet smells of spice and syrup welcomed me into the restaurant’s warm, cozy interior. The place buzzed with lighthearted chatter and laughter — the patrons’ mood seemed to be as hearty as the food. I ordered an entree of chicken and waffles, served with collard greens and cornbread. All of the food, once served, sized up to be roughly about the size of my head. Sitting in front of me was: a waffle the size of a dinner plate, a generous portion of golden fried chicken, a tub of collard greens and two cornbread muffins. As soon as I dug in, my soul was thoroughly transformed and I transcended into another world beyond.
Hard Knox Cafe
Like a golden river of decadence, maple syrup flowed over the valleys of the rich, fluffy waffle, and drizzled over the hills of the fried chicken, cooked and seasoned to perfection. The mild bitterness of the collard greens, combined with the unadulterated sweetness of the cornbread, made for a pair of side dishes that were worthy enough to be ordered solely for themselves. I combined morsel after morsel and found that each and every mix, without fail, ushered in a flood of flavor and satisfaction never felt before. I cannot recommend enough to visit Hard Knox Cafe in the Dogpatch, especially ordering its signature chicken and waffles. I guarantee that you will leave there both full in spirit and stomach.
Take-out container filled to the brim with soul food staples.
Review and Photo by Aiden Pavon ’25 Located at 360 Ritch St. in San Francisco is a welcoming soul food bar and grill named Victory Hall, with food provided by the restaurant Little Skillet. Despite its homey look on the outside, the moment I stepped inside the establishment, I was greeted by a lively, loud, and fun atmosphere. The bar offers outdoor seating, where my family and I found ourselves while we ate our dinner. The blue string lights brought a nice ambiance to our table. They also provided heating, which was perfect for the frigid San Francisco weather. The menu offered a plethora of enticing dishes and sides, and it was hard to choose what to order. After much consideration, I decided to order a soul food staple, two-piece fried chicken, as my main course. The chicken came out at the perfect temperature, steaming,
Little Skillet at Victory Hall
and smelt absolutely amazing. When I picked up the drumstick, just feeling the skin of the chicken told me all I needed to know about how it would taste. The first bite provoked a euphoric feeling on my taste buds, as it was exceptionally juicy and chock-full of flavor. It was one of those bites that you still think about days after. For my side I ordered another soul food staple, mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes also came out at a good temperature, although it didn’t have a very strong smell. Still very excited after trying the chicken, I tried the mashed potatoes as well, but after I took a bite of the potatoes, I was thoroughly disappointed. The mashed potatoes weren’t by any means bad, but it had a tough time standing against the fried chicken.
Freshly-baked macaroni and cheese served on a skillet.
Garnished fried chicken with by a bowl of mashed potatoes, two slices of lemon, and a jalapeño muffin, courtesy of Little Skillet at Victory Hall.
All in all, the Victory Hall is a great place to go to enjoy a nice meal while also providing a cozy ambiance and a fun atmosphere.
Little Skillet at Victory Hall is definitely worth a visit to try their mouth-watering fried chicken.
Review and Photo by Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas ’25
PoBoys
PoBoys Kitchen, located at Potrero Hill, is a Cajun restaurant that serves New Orleans Creole food. At first glance, the restaurant drew me in with inviting colorful shades of red, orange, and blue. From the decorations to the floral table covers, this ambiance brought me right back to Louisiana. After looking through their broad menu, I ordered their Mac and Cheese. The courteous server warned me to be careful after he brought a hot, black skillet full of mac and cheese. It took quite a few tries to be able to actually enjoy a bite of
it without burning my mouth. After a few bites I realized how delicious it was; the cheese and pasta came together in perfect harmony. The food was reasonably priced with the generous portion size and skillet served pasta. The seasoning was wonderful, the cheese was tasty, and the pasta was well cooked. While it was good, the Mac and cheese lacked simplicity; there were too many flavors put together at once. That being said, I would definitely come back again, but I would try a different dish.