The Crusader March 2023

Campus News, Page 4

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VOLUME 73 ISSUE 4 – EXTRA

SERVING ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 1949

Features, Pages 8 - 9

Environment, Page 13

ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL

Health & Tech, Page 14

March 2023 THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY

Rallies, House Games set stage for Crusader Games

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

The Spring Rally this month and the House Bowl in February served as the last rally and House Games, in a year where Riordan re-envisioned both the aspect of friendly competition amongst the Houses and celebrating the hard work of student athletes.

Student Activities implemented House Games each month as precursors to the Crusader Games and sports rallies returned for the first time since 2019.

Director of Student Activities Benny Willers ’08 stated, “The Provincials and I wanted to create more consistency and a sense of tradition when it comes to the House Games. We decided that we would do two in the fall and two in the spring.”

Football, cross country, volleyball, girls tennis, and girls golf were honored in the Homecoming/Fall Rally.

It featured Marina Viray ’24 singing the National Anthem, a dance

contest, and games such as limbo and tug of war.

Varsity volleyball player Katelyn Leong ’25, winner of the limbo contest, recalled that she “saw the game as a fun thing to do with the team at the rally.”

September and October saw the first two House Games of the year, where the highlight was Pilar eliminating Bolts in dodgeball in under 20 seconds.

Basketball had a special celebration during the Purple & Gold Madness rally in November, Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 where both teams showcased Will Parker ’24 and Santino Martinez ’24 lead the alma mater at the Spring Rally. their skills in traditional play and in a dunk contest. the teachers in a basketball game. earning free dress the following To end 2022, the third Wrestler Jose Aguilar ’23, Tuesday.

House Games in December was winner of the cotton candy The Spring Rally honored swept by Pilar, winning handball relay, stated, “I felt happy after baseball, lacrosse, boys tennis, and a teacher edition of Musical I won, mostly because I had my boys golf, swimming, and track Chairs against Bolts. teammates supporting me.” & field, as well as the cast from In January, the Winter The final House Games of this Fiddler on the Roof, the Robotics Rally celebrated basketball, year was the House Bowl held in team, and the new Esports team. soccer, and wrestling. Fiona February. The Houses faced off in The rallies and House Mulderrig ’25 sang the National arena-style football in the gym, Games made for entertaining Anthem and students competed with a student-teacher match moments amidst the routine of in a balloon relay and cotton occurring at the end, where the school, leading up to the 2023 candy relay, and faced off against students won 24-18 in overtime, Crusader Games in April.

Boys volleyball club sets foundation for future team

By Talia Bumanglag ’24

Boys volleyball is officially in action at Riordan, and students are elated. Since the shift to coed, many new sports have been added, and after the success of the girls volleyball program, boys have been anticipating their own team as well.

Many students have advocated for the inclusion of other sports as well, including girls softball and a cheer team.

Mateo Lapuz ’23 and Eric Dean ’25 have both been waiting for a team since their freshman years.

Dean said, “I’ve been waiting for a men’s volleyball team at Riordan since I applied in 8th grade. During my interview, they promised that they would try and have one my freshman year, but definitely by my sophomore year.”

Head coach and religious studies instructor Joshua Keeney commented on the tribulations from forming this team saying, “We faced a number of challenges, but the main challenge has been

Photo by Talia Bumanglag ’24 During a recent practice, Johnnie Peña-Muir ’23 bumps a volleyball, while Andrei Magno ’23 and Lucas Chow ’23 observe attentively.

gathering together the number of boys we need to play.”

“We have to continue to build the momentum and enthusiasm behind the sport. From last year to this year we have witnessed an increased amount of interest, so we will continue to ride that wave into the rest of our practices.”

This club will operate like a

real team, having weekly practices on Tuesday and Thursday, and later including intramural games.

Unlike last year’s open gyms, these practices will be formatted seriously and function like a real team, rather than open playing.

“My hope for this program is to potentially start a spark in boys’ love for volleyball,” Lapuz added.

The environment is very eager, and with a variety of skills, many players are helpful in giving pointers to others.

Girls from the varsity girls volleyball team have also volunteered to help by giving their insights and assist Coach Keeney during practices.

“I hope to see our program begin to play other high school teams by next year and then hopefully join the WCAL,” said Keeney.

“We have a long way to go to arrive at that goal, but if we bring together our best athletes and show them how fun the sport of volleyball is, then we can easily gain the numbers and skill we need to compete on the court at a high level,” Keeney added.

Students hope this foundational stone will create a larger platform for other sports to begin as well.

In the future, this program could become another success, and a new jewel in Riordan’s crown.

2 Opinion

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

March 2023

Brave students needed to enhance school spirit The Crusader Staff Editorial School spirit is something that builds community and pride and can be defined as something that can make you proud of your school.

When you imagine “school spirit,” what do you see? Is it face paint, school logos on t-shirts, and cheers like the scenes you see on TV? For us, that is the main image of Riordan’s “school spirit,” and it can be uplifting for some, but it can also be scary for some students to participate in.

School rallies are a good example where you can easily see how being put in the spotlight scares some people. Events like a student versus teacher basketball game put students front and center in front of the whole school. If you mess up, everyone will see it. As a result, we believe that some students are scared of participating in school rallies or events due to embarrassment.

Being afraid to get out of your comfort zone is a familiar experience to many people, making it hard for some to spread the pride they have for their school. Simple things like clubs

and sports are places that may take a bit of courage to start speaking out in. However, the new friendships built with club members or teammates is a result of that courage.

Though it’s hard, pushing yourself to take that big leap outside of your comfort zones can motivate you to get out there in public more often.

It isn’t just about being happy at the school you attend, but what you can contribute to Riordan. Activities like student parliament focus on uplifting the school spirit by creating events and focusing on getting students involved with the school’s community. By joining a group, you have the potential to step out of your comfort zone, becoming stronger as you step up to take the lead.

The people you surround yourself with in places that help you become a better person can also help you become more ambitious. This will help you to strive toward volunteering for events that need a leader.

School spirit isn’t just about getting a new opportunity

Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 “Four Houses under One Roof” is the spirited theme that unites Riordan.

to meet new people, it’s also about supporting athletes and other students. Supporting them can have positive impacts by boosting their motivation and confidence when they know that someone believes in them. The feeling of knowing someone values you can create a sense of belonging.

This feeling of belonging with a community of people creates a bond between students in the

school environment.

In fact, studies from Panorama Education show that having a sense of belonging helps students by becoming more engaged, achieving more academically, and reducing behavioral incidents at school.

School spirit is not just rallies like those on TV; it is a concept of community, togetherness, and bravery.

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 Hoorain Farooq ’25

175 Frida Kahlo Way San Francisco, CA 94112 RCrusaderNews.com RCrusaderNews@riordanhs.org Editor-in-Chief Joseph Zuloaga ’23 Opinion Editor Naomi Lin ’24 Campus News Editors Eddie Ramos ’23 Julien Untalan ’24 Local & State News Editor Sophie Bucker ’24

Reporters and Photographers Jake Beeman ’24 Cash Bolos ’23 Arts & Entertainment Editor India Bowles ’23 Talia Bumanglag ’24 Jaecee Cantiller ’24 Gianluca Carboni ’24 Environment Editor Anthony Chan ’24 Mario Perez de Leon ’24 Jessica Cheung ’26 Griffin Doeff ’25 Religion Editor Caitlin Dowd ’25 Alex Robinson ’23 Emma Gruzman ’25 Ishaan Gupta ’26 Health Editor Catherine Hansen ’25 Katelyn Leong ’25 Sandra Halverson ’23 Miranda Hernandez ’24 Science Editor Rachel Kavanagh ’24 Normay Arriola ’24 Daniella Lainez ’26 Mason Lum ’25 Technology Editor Ethan Ly ’26 Julian Johnson ’25 Edward Macdonald ’23

Reporters and Photographers Matteo Matteucci ’24 Ceejae Minell de Lumen ’24 Hazel Nagata-Rampata ’26 Nico Navarro ’24 Nick Nye ’25 Aiden Pavon ’25 Sean Reyes ’25 Nicolo Ricci ’24 Joeliyn Rizzo ’25 Xianna Romprey ’23 Michael Schulz ’23 Julian Serrano ’24 Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas ’25 Ethan Vargas ’23 Marina Viray ’24 Zion Wells ’23 Marvin Wong ’25 Bo Wyatt ’24 Julia Yamsuan ’25

Features Editors Areeshah Farooq ’23 Angelina Ning ’23

Adviser Susan Sutton, MJE

Food Review Editor Nathan Loeffler Malatesta ’23

Copy Editor National & World News Editor Ryan Lee ’24 Angela Jia ’25 Photo Editor Boys Sports Editor Jameson Datoc ’23 Don Tsang ’23 Girls Sports Editor Addison Hwang ’24

Graphic Artists Vee Chen ’25 Kai Murguz ’25

Exchange Editors Melissa Chiao ’25 Makayla Fong ’25 Taylor Tran ’25

Letters to the Editor

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

March 2023

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Opinion

3

Dahl’s books reflect inescapable flaws of humanity

By Sophie Bücker ’24

For most of human history, the notion that ideas should be expressed freely has been an unpopular one. Only recently has the right to freedom of expression become enshrined as an inalienable right, a right given to each individual upon birth.

Yet even in today’s world, censorship has remained rampant — and it reared its ugly head again just three weeks ago, when Penguin Random House announced that it would publish new editions of acclaimed children’s author Roald Dahl’s books containing rewritten passages meant to make the books more suitable for modern readers.

According to the Guardian, in these editions, Dahl’s work has been wiped clean of any phrases that could appear to cast a negative light on characters’ appearance or identity – “mothers and fathers” has been changed to “parents,” “enormously fat” has been changed to “enormous,” and so forth. Likewise, sentences have been added under jokes or comical descriptions, clarifying them and taking any humorous connotations out of them. For

instance, under a sentence revealing that the witches of The Witches are bald, a paragraph about the various reasons women might be bald has been inserted.

While some find these edits to be a way to freshen his books up to appeal to all tastes, books aren’t meant to be palatable for every taste. To treat books as something meant to be glossed over is to treat them as a commodity, whose worth is built on the copies able to be sold, and not the message they are meant to communicate. Altering Dahl’s word choice simply disregards his intent as an author in favor of selling books to an audience that agrees with these edits.

But on a more profound basis, changing his words assumes that children aren’t capable of thinking critically – which is blatantly untrue. Children are born with an innate curiosity, a desire to learn as much about the world around them as possible – and this includes fictional worlds as well. The lessons they take away from reading go far beyond vocabulary; they teach them to look beyond the surface in the world around them.

Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 The late Roald Dahl, author of Matlida, is the subject of a revision movement.

By removing opportunities to teach children to question authors’ opinions, it teaches them to be gullible, to simply accept the status quo. It teaches them that there is simply no excuse to look into the lens of the past, that the past must have been exactly as our present.

Likewise, just as each human being is shaped by the unique experiences they have faced, each and every author comes from a distinct background, formed by the times they lived in, the extraordinary circumstances they faced, and the people who surrounded them.

Their work comes from their

lives – and just as life itself is full of imperfections, so are writers.

To whitewash their work is to place writers on a pedestal, to claim that they must be perfect to have any merit. But to be flawed is to be human, to possess the capability to come up with the fictional works we so idolize.

We can acknowledge that our authors came from vastly different backgrounds, from times unlike ours, while preserving their life’s work. Books are not meant to be paragons of contemporary morality, nor are they commodities to be repackaged as companies see fit; they are the story of humanity, flawed as we are.

San Jose Flea Market feels effects of urbanization

By Mario Perez de Leon ’24

After more than 60 years of commercial and ethnic hospitality, the Berryessa Flea Market in San Jose is less than two years away from being reduced to a third of its current size. Hundreds of vendors will lose their main source of income, all due to the San Jose City Council’s interest in a few dozen acres of land.

The long-standing attraction will be replaced by the BART Urban Village, a dense collection of retail outlets and housing.

Despite several claims of serenity among the vendors, contempt is still rampant among them.

Indifferent and selfish, the San Jose City Council and the Bumb family, the documented owners of the land La Pulga lies on, are making decisions resulting in a worn down moral between vendors.

Firstly, several practices have left the vendors behind, and some seem to actively seek to harm them. For example, in late 2021, an unprovoked $300 damage fine was sent to each individual vendor. Such a fine has never happened in years and was never warned about. On top of this, the San Jose Spotlight reports that when vendors asked for six-month leases to preserve their place when news of the closing first came forward, the Flea Market owners responded by granting it to them, in exchange for six months

rent upfront. For most vendors, one month of rent for a plot is no less than $700. Demanding six months rent upfront is not only unethical, but it also seems completely blindsided considering the already taxing price for just one month.

Moreover, the City of San Jose’s official website shows that the city council only hosted three public meetings on the closing of the Flea Market when the news first became public. Only one of these was a vendor meeting.

Here, vendors were free to ask the city any questions or voice any concerns. Even then, it was by and large a presentation instead of a public forum. The end of the PowerPoint gave four names for the vendors to ask any remaining questions to, but only one was listed as Spanish speaking, and that is the dominant language within La Pulga, spoken not only by vendors, but by almost everybody that visits.

However, the city did provide $2 million to spearhead efforts to find a new location as well as to support vendors during the transition. As it turns out, the Bumb Family also provided $500,000 as the first of many identical transactions that will eventually lead up to $5 million.

Right now, this fuels the endeavor with $2.5 million. So far, the city has only used the funds given by the Bumbs to help vendors, and it

likely that the city’s portion and the bulk of the Bumbs’ portion will solely go toward buying a new location. Of the $500,000, the San Jose Spotlight reports that $350,000 went towards studies of the Flea Market’s economic, social, cultural, and fiscal impact. The other $150,000 will go to advisers and consultants. However, this first installment could have been better spent on stipends for the vendors, especially since there’s been a drastic drop in business when news of the closing first came. Patrica Mota, someone who’s been vending at the Flea Market for eight years, stated, “People already think it’s closed, so no one comes anymore.” The whispers of the closing are already affecting vendors, but the city does not help.

Next, the scale and implementation of the village contradicts its supposed purpose.

The new Urban Village promises a welcoming environment, where thanks to the nearby BART station, curious foot traffic can wander through the village and support the small businesses set along the repetitive grids that define this project. The City Council is very interested in the growth of small businesses and the opportunities that can come from this new village, yet these small business opportunities have always existed in the Flea Market.

Admittedly they are much smaller

endeavors, being less risky and more inexpensive than a typical start up. Nonetheless, the Flea Market provides an income to over 400 vendors, and building new but fewer dreams atop a mountain of shattered ones is simply immoral.

On weekends, I often would vend at the Flea Market with my mom. Our first day there we were greeted with nothing but hospitality, resting under a Good Samaritan’s tarp when the heat got to be a little too much for us.

Our neighbors would change the next time we came. This time, we were in the middle of the heart of a close-knit circle of vendors from all kinds of backgrounds.

Gradually, we would learn about the people around us, their stories, and what defined them. For many of them, the Flea Market was a way for them to invest themselves in what they loved doing, be it growing exotic fruit, sculpting terrifyingly lifelike dogs that startled passersby, or making pastries with their children.

Preserving this culture is important for San Jose, because whatever replaces La Pulga will never replicate the diverse yet full representation of several cultures, from Mexico to Vietnam. Every fragile tent, every sugary concha, every tamale sold by a 6-year-old, every piece of advice given by a gravelly voice wearing a tallcrowned sombrero, counts for so much now, so treasure it.

4 Campus News

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

March 2023

Community embraces McGarry as he retires from teaching

By Aiden Pavon ’25

ALS is a disease that affects around two in every 100,000 people each year. Unfortunately, one of those people is Riordan mathematics instructor Mike McGarry.

In recent months, McGarry’s ALS has become progressively worse and to the dismay of many, he will have to give up teaching.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a “progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord,” according to als.org. It is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the Yankees player who retired from baseball in 1939.

McGarry has been with the Riordan family since 2021 and wasted no time creating friendships and memories with students and faculty members.

“Every single time I walk into the faculty lounge, regardless of who’s there, I’m walking into a room of friends,” McGarry said.

McGarry had previously taught at other schools such

McGarry continued to teach despite his ALS and always seemed to be positive no matter his mood.

For a while, his ALS only affected one of his hands, which made it difficult for him to teach, but he managed to do it anyway.

The disease suddenly spread to both hands and later it became

nearly impossible to teach once he was not able to hold his head up.

Marco Romero ’25 said McGarry is always in a light mood, no matter the situation.

“He is very professional and even with setbacks he always manages to lighten the mood, no matter what vibe of the day.”

Teachers are inspired and uplifted by McGarry.

“One of the most positive and optimistic people I’ve ever met,” said English teacher Kevin Estrada ’00.

“He just has such a wonderful spirit, he’s very kind, and he’s always full of wisdoms. And I think he’s a great addition to this school and he fit the Riordan community like a glove.”

Riordan will miss McGarry for his kind, understanding, and uplifting spirit, which is so contagious to everyone around him.

The Crusader family will never forget what he brought to the Riordan community, even in the short time he was here.

capped it off with a win on the road against Sacred Heart Cathedral, capturing a share of the WCAL title along with Archbishop Mitty.

Both schools finished with a record of 12-2.

In pool play of the CCS playoffs, however, Riordan fell to SHC and beat Menlo-Atherton and Sacred Heart Prep. The loss to SHC in the first round cost the team the chance to advance to the CCS finals and defend their title from last year.

After their showing in CCS, the Crusaders were seeded #4 statewide for CIF NorCal state playoffs. The team started off strong, with a win against Campolindo 57-46 in Round 1.

However, the strong showing by the Crusaders took a turn when they faced Inderkum in Round 2 on March 2. What was a dominant performance by the Crusaders over the Tigers at home with the band playing along was cut short

when the game was called with 1:15 left in the 4th quarter due to an altercation on the court.

The next day, the CIF decided that the final score would stand at Riordan 61, Inderkum 52.

However, they also decided that Riordan wouldn’t host any remaining playoff games, causing the team to play on the road at the ninth-seed Granada’s home court.

Five players being suspended by the CIF hindered the Crusaders against the Matadors, leading to a heartbreaking 69-57 loss.

Despite all this, the Riordan community was warm and supportive of the team, knowing that all players, managers, coaches, and anyone else involved with the program are hardworking, dedicated, and caring individuals.

Coach Joey Curtin ’01 and the team hope to come back better and stronger, ready to conquer WCAL, CCS, and State next season.

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23 Zachary Jones ’23, Angelo Orellana ’23, Jacob Kleppin ’23, Valente Espino ’23, AJ Buban ’23, and Ricky Corvera ’23 gather around Mike McGarry.

as Impact Academy of Art & Technology in Hayward, LickWilmerding in San Francisco, and the Athenian school in Danville.

But he believes that Riordan is special, stating that Riordan is a “one of a kind place” and that “people that are here want to be here.”

For the first several months,

Boys basketball displays strong showing in playoffs

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 Christian Wise ’23 outleaps an opponent at the tip off against Inderkum.

For the boys basketball team, this season did not end as they had hoped. On March 4, they were eliminated from the CIF NorCal Division I state tournament in

the Semifinals against Granada, two wins away from the finals in Sacramento.

The Crusaders cruised through WCAL league play strongly, and

Engineering students cultivate fresh ecological, agricultural opportunities

By Catherine Hansen ’25

From the outside, Riordan’s inner courtyard may appear as a drab and empty plot of land but behind the scenes, the engineering students and teacher strive to revamp this area into an organic space that can be enjoyed by the entire community.

According to engineering teacher Frank Torrano, the engineering program is a center of innovation where students can build on and expand their ideas.

This year, four students from the Engineering Program have been constructing a FarmBot for the plants in the inner courtyard.

Torrano said, “I’m hoping that this project, once it’s in place, is really going to give momentum to this area.”

The original FarmBot project first began in 2011 and was started by student at California Polytechnic State University, Rory Aronson. The FarmBot is an open-source software farming project which consists of an automated planter bed capable of planting and growing crops, along with software built to monitor soil conditions and pull out unwanted weeds.

Riordan students Edward Macdonald ’23, Johnnie Peña-

Muir ’23, Daniel Thomem ’23, and Lucas Chow ’23 are working on the FarmBot as their senior Capstone project. The FarmBot will have a robotic arm that moves on an axis to water and plant seeds for a more efficient gardening system.

This project will help to maintain the vegetation inside the inner courtyard, especially during the school’s week long breaks and summer vacations.

“This is going to do the daily maintenance that you just can’t do,” said Torrano.

Not only will this FarmBot improve the image and the efficacy of the inner courtyard,

but the power behind the bot is completely sustainable, coming from solar energy stored in 12 volt batteries.

Word of this project has sprouted interest in students outside of the engineering program. Caroline O’Connell ’25 hopes to unbury this forgotten area.

“My mom works at Riordan so I have spent a considerable amount of time here,” she said.

“I remember it used to be an area with plants and flowers, but ever since COVID hit, they stopped taking care of it.”

She added, “It is time to bring life back into that area.”

March 2023

Religion 5

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Kairos commemorates 40 years of life-changing experiences

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Kairos, a storied Riordan of each other.” tradition for seniors, is From Fall Kairos #108, Mandy commemorating 40 years this Chung ’23 recalled, “Everything spring. about Kairos was special: the Campus Ministry has expanded people, the memories, and the the program since the spring of experiences we all shared.”

1983, beginning with just one “Kairos gave me an opportunity retreat per year, to now this year to reconcile with myself, with being the first with four Kairos others, and to create more bonds retreats for seniors to embark on– with new people,” Alex Robinson Kairos #107, #108, #109, #110. ’23 added.

Michael Vezzali-Pascual ’88, From Winter Kairos #109, who attended Fall Kairos #10 in Oscar Hernandez ’23 noted the the fall of 1987 and a frequent special aspect of being able to Kairos faculty leader, highlighted connect with people in unique the unique level of encountering ways. and sharing that occurs at every Kairos.

“Kairos gave me an opportunity “Each Kairos I have led is to reconcile with myself, with special and different because the people are different.” He others, and to create more bonds with new people.” commended students for having - Alex Robinson ’23 the “willingness to courageously open up and share their lives with one another.”

Angelina Ning ’23 said, While all that happens on “Through Kairos, I was able to Kairos cannot be shared, current get close with many new people seniors did share a snippet of their and it was nice to hear many experiences from their respective funny anecdotes from others in Kairos retreats this school year. conversations.”

From Fall Kairos #107, Kaya With Spring Kairos #110 Manglona ’23 stated, “It was the currently on retreat as of press best experience I’ve ever had, but time, the legacy of Kairos carries on what made it really special was and will continue to impact many that my best friend went with me more generations of Crusaders, so we could share that experience with Vezzali adding that “Kairos with each other.” has the power to transform lives Emmanuel Lopez ’23 added, and relationships.”

“Kairos was life changing, and A recommendation from all of everyone there was really nice, these seniors and many more: Go caring, and extremely supportive to Kairos.

Photos provided by Campus Ministry Seniors, teachers, counselors, and alumni leaders particpated in the first three Kairos retreats this year: #107, #108, and #109.

Jewish Heritage Club invites school to experience vibrant culture

By Addison Hwang ’24

At the beginning of this school year, the Jewish Heritage Club was one of the many new clubs created during the 20222023 school year at Riordan.

“We are offering a place for Jewish students to meet and represent their culture,” said Armando Castillo, World Languages Department Chair and moderator of the Jewish Heritage Club.

Because of their fresh start, the club has 10 to 15 members who meet every other Wednesday in Room 205.

During meetings they can be found discussing agendas, planning events to figure out sales, or discussing their first ever club hoodie.

On the other hand, although the club was started only this year, this is not the first Jewish Heritage Club Riordan has had. In fact, they both share similar values.

However, because of the COVID pandemic, the club was forced to shut down.

Photo provided by Armando Castillo Mason Cohn ’26, Ariel Shkolnik ’26, moderator Armando Castillo, Ryan Russitano ’26, and Logan Tuman ’26 are members of the revitalized Jewish Heritage Club, which made a comeback earlier this school year at Club Rush.

In a way, this club is working to revive it by bringing the Riordan community together to appreciate Jewish culture in a Catholic community.

This year, students may have seen the club selling baked goods at the Valentine’s Day carnival.

Ariel Shkolnik ’26, president

of the club, said she created this club to “help Jewish kids feel comfortable going to a Catholic school.”

Recognizing the hardships Jewish people face is an important value of hers, noting, “[we] spread awareness since Jewish people have to face

antisemitism every day.”

Although the Jewish Heritage Club has just started, they continuously work to represent their proud Jewish culture.

In the future, they are planning to sell traditional Jewish foods, with details to follow once their plans are complete.

6 Local and State News

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

March 2023

Transamerica Pyramid celebrates 50th with revitalization

By Rachel Kavanagh ’24

Just recently, the corporation SHVO announced their investment into renovating the Transamerica Pyramid building located in the Financial District of downtown San Francisco.

With last year marking the 50th anniversary of the completion of the building, Micheal Shvo, owner of SHVO Corp., claims their investment is a step toward revitalization of the downtown area overall.

Shvo purchased the building, along with two others on the block, back in October of 2020 amidst the first surge of COVID-19 for about $650 million.

The building has never been sold since its opening in 1972, as it was previously owned by and housed the headquarters of the Transamerica Corp.

Although it is now an iconic part of the skyline, critics had very unfavorable opinions of the building during its initial proposal.

Designed by William Pereira, the unique architecture was requested by Transamerica’s previous CEO, John Beckett, as an attempt to allow more light and air into the street, and conserve the city views.

As time went on, it is evident that San Francisco natives have come to love the uniquely designed and defining piece of the city skyline.

“I think it’s as iconic to San Francisco as much as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris,” said Kurt Osmer, Riordan engineering

instructor.

Since its change in ownership, many are looking forward to the variance of scenery downtown.

“I’m glad it’s under new ownership,” said Osmer, recognizing that the change should be welcomed because there isn’t much attraction to the area.

“Right now, especially in the Financial District, there’s not a lot for pedestrians to do,” he added.

Since the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, downtown San Francisco has been bleak and devoid of life. With many vacant apartments and office buildings being left untouched for almost three years since people began to work remotely, there has been little opportunity for further development of the downtown area itself. This dullness is exactly what SHVO wants to fix.

“This project is exactly how we are building our recovery — and a signal that our future is bright,” said Mayor London Breed in a tweet regarding the Pyramid’s 50th anniversary and partnership with SHVO. According to Breed in an article from the San Francisco Business Times, “This is about creating an open community space and place where people can congregate, where folks can dine and enjoy this particular neighborhood in San Francisco.”

The plan is to make the Pyramid the center of the new and improved downtown San

Photo by Angela Jia ’25 The City’s Transamerica Pyramid celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

Francisco, introducing a neighborhood within a city with hopes to redefine urban living.

Additionally, SHVO wants to draw people back to the once bustling and prosperous area as a starting point to breathe life back into downtown.

With a love for the Pyramid and the city, Michael Shvo is very

excited for the opportunity to revive what he believes is the heart of the city.

As quoted on his company’s website, SHVO.com, he said, “It’s always been ahead of its time, the city has always been ahead of its time. Together, with the city of San Francisco, we will bring back downtown.”

BART offers college students free ticket to ride

By Addison Hwang ’24

Starting on Aug. 15, 2022, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and BART began to offer free Clipper BayPasses, giving over 50,000 Bay Area students access to free transit on bus, rail, and ferry.

This pilot program was created by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bay Area transit agencies. The program’s purpose is to identify how much Clipper Cards are used and their impact.

“Public transit affects my life in a huge way. Growing up in San Francisco, Muni and BART were my main source of transportation,” said ASL III teacher Sabrina Andreatta.

According to BART, “This limited distribution, which will be based on random assignment, is designed to measure the impact on travel of an all-system pass when compared to students not using Clipper BayPass.”

San Francisco native Deanie Cooper ’24 said, “I think it’s really beneficial to younger

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23 BART and the MTC began offering free Clipper BayPasses to Bay Area students in August of 2022.

people especially because it’s affordable to get across the city.”

It has already been confirmed that students at San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, UC Berkeley, Santa Rosa Junior College, and select residents in MidPen Housing will be given the

Clipper BayPass.

“Public transportation is still a large factor in my life as I take it to Riordan every day. I have to plan my commute around Muni and BART every day. I think it’s important that in larger cities with people of various economic status to have access to affordable

transportation,” added Andreatta.

According to BART, “[the] MTC will provide funds to transit agencies to offset the revenue impacts of the Clipper BayPass pilot.”

This program will last over 18 months in hopes to create a friendly customer environment.

March 2023

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Local and State News 7

Students, parents contend SFUSD’s math program does not add up

By Miranda Hernandez ’24

On Feb. 6, Judge Carrie Zepeda said that Palo Alto is in violation of the Math Placement Act. According to the writ mandate, “Math placement policy must give parents and students a process for appealing their placements, and the district has to collect data on how the policy is working.”

Every parent’s dream is for their children to succeed and to have the opportunity to excel in their academics.

According to the San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Unified School District presents placement tests that limit student advancement, especially those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

Math instructor Ray Trounday said, “I don’t agree with the premise that placement tests limit students from reaching their math goals. On the contrary, placement tests provide valuable insight into the student’s math skills.”

He added, “There are a number of paths that students may take to reach their math goals and placement tests offer teachers and administration data points to support their growth

and ultimately their math goals.”

On March 21, according to the San Francisco Examiner, “San Francisco Unified School District’s controversial math placement and sequencing is now being challenged in court.”

The report continued, “Families for San Francisco, a parent advocacy group, released a lengthy report asking for a full, peer-reviewed assessment of the policy’s successes after submitting numerous public records requests.”

At the crux of the issue is the district’s move to delay Algebra 1 in eighth grade and discontinue accelerated math class options in middle and high schools, which “are widening the equity achievement gap rather than narrowing it.”

Conversely, school officials claimed there was “increased enrollment in higher-level math courses and higher math proficiency throughout the district.”

San Francisco’s math proficiency in public schools was at its lowest last year, decreasing from 51 percent to 46 percent this past year.

Students are moving forward without knowing the basic concepts of math and are forced to take classes to reach the level they are supposed to.

Math Department Chair Karina Mathisen stated, “The thing with math is it’s like a layered cake, you need the foundational layer: Algebra followed by geometry, then Algebra II, and trig.

“If some of those foundational layers are not solid then it doesn’t matter how good the teacher is for the next level.

We’re always trying to address getting those foundational courses really solid.”

- Karina Mathisen, Math Department Chair

This issue leads to parent concerns on where to send their children, despite every school having the potential to have a good curriculum to set their students up for success.

Rebecca Takabayashi ’24, a student from Leadership, stated,

Illustration by Naomi Lin ’24 The state Math Placement Act addresses how students are placed in math courses to help them succeed.

“I think where you go to school affects the education you’re getting, but it matters more what you do with your classes.”

She added, “As long as you are putting a good amount of effort into your classes, I think everyone is at relatively the same point in terms of curriculum.”

SF Supervisors reverse decision on lethal robots

By Sophie Bücker ’24

In a whirlwind turn of events, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on Dec. 6, 2022, to ban the use of lethal force by the city’s fleet of remotecontrolled robots.

This was a stunning twist of the board’s decision merely a week prior to authorize the deployment of robots armed with explosive devices to engage with suspects deemed a threat to the lives of officers.

Initially, the policy passed nearly unanimously, with eight votes in favor, and three against.

However, the decision was met with harsh criticism from the city’s residents.

According to Xochitl Churchill ’24, a lifelong San Francisco resident, “It’s a horrible idea. The police have enough guns and weapons, and using remotecontrolled robots could increase violence. I think the city should focus on peaceful solutions.”

Nearly 50 local organizations signed a coalition letter calling for the city to reverse this decision. Protesters rallied at City Hall, carrying banners with slogans such as, “We’ve all s e e n that movie … No killer robots.”

Illustration by Kai Murguz ’25 After first voting in favor of lethal force by robots, the SF Board of Supervisors reversed their decision.

But some see a use for remotecontrolled robots in the police force. As Frank Torrano, the Engineering instructor put it, autonomous robots could “keep human law enforcement out of the picture, and potentially save lives in the process.”

However, after the outpour of public outrage, the board quickly backtracked its decision. In a vote one week after, the board voted to temporarily reverse this policy.

Though the board voted to ban police robots from using lethal force, it also sent the original

proposal back to the Rules Committee for further review.

Whether the city chooses to uphold this policy in the future remains to be seen. But for now, it remains clear – San Francisco’s police force robots will not be allowed to use lethal force.

8 Features

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

March 2023

Riordan teachers got talent

By Caitlin Dowd ’25

Riordan is full of talented teachers. Some are very well known such as Bob Harrington’s paintings. But who knew we had so many talented teachers?

English teacher Kevin Estrada was part of a band for 14 years.

Riordan alumnus Phil Radiotes, Estrada, and a few of their friends started a band upon moving to New York.

Estrada shared how his band started out in their living room, but expanded to something big.

He stated, “When we moved to New York, I didn’t even have drums. The first show we played together, I literally banged on pots and pans. At first, we practiced in our apartment (as long as we stopped playing by 8pm) before we had our own practice space.”

It quickly took off and they played at music festivals and were openers for some popular artists.

Math teacher Mary Ann Datoc is a whiz on the piano. She started when she was young after first hearing her mom play piano. She fell in love with the instrument after noticing the rate at which she was improving. Playing the piano has taught her important lessons.

She stated, “Piano has taught me patience that I could not learn how to play just by one try. It taught me discipline to practice so I can get better each day. I learn to appreciate music and feel my reaction to the music when I play or just listen in general.”

Band teachers Kyle Hildebrant and Lance Ohnmeiss both developed their love of music in the 4th grade, and it grew from there as the people around them provided inspiration to pursue

English and Social Science teacher Bob Harrington displays his artwork.

realize this is something they can do for the rest of their lives. When things get hard, they can still play music.”

When Social Science and English teacher Bob Harrington was just 8 years old, he drew a humpback whale surrounded by a dynamic sea for his Cub Scouts group. He won the art award for his group.

Harrington stated, “Being a teacher inspired me to become an artist. I realized a long time ago that students respond well to art-based assignments. Deep down, students know that art is difficult and timeconsuming; and, deep down, they respect people who work hard. Due to these realizations, I have chosen to keep creating artwork and keep sharing that artwork with my students.”

Art teacher Irman Arcibal

re-purposed paper is a connection to Mother Earth as well,” he said.

Science teacher Colleen O’Rourke shared how she has been able to growl since she was a kid. She discovered this because as a child, she would run around pretending to be a dinosaur and discovered her talent for such a sound.

This talent is more of a party trick. She shared how, “One time on a family vacation to Oregon I was visiting an underground lava tube with my dad and while we were walking through the dark, I tried growling behind him. The sound echoed off the walls and really freaked him out.

In a wholesome way, of course.”

Similarly, Social Science Department Chair Cory Nelson can create a horn noise out of his Photo by Edward Ramos ’23 mouth. As a naturally loud child, one day at a baseball game, he

Photo provided by Irman Arcibal Art teacher Irman Arcibal works on a process based drawing for his show.

I got into the Master of Fine Arts program at UC Davis, which I completed in 2008,” he confided.

Currently, Arcibal creates “process based drawings.”

“The pieces in my most recent work are drawn on packaging paper crumpled by whomever put it into a shipping box—an unconscious collaboration. The title, “Shipped,” refers to the practical, previous use of the paper, but also the migration of peoples, around the world. This

was looking for ways to distract the opposing team, and he found he could “do air horn noises for a baseball distraction.” He has never found anyone else who can replicate it.

For students, Arcibal said, “Try a million different things and then try more. You never know where your art will take you, or what kind of art you will be making. Do not put limits on yourself. Let the art take you where it takes you.”

Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 Social Science Department Chair Cory Nelson and biology teacher Colleen O’Rourke can make unusual sounds. Scan the QR Code to watch the videos.

music.

Hildebrant said, “My grandma was a musical person. She played piano and organ when I was growing up. Even though she passed away, having that when I was 5 and 6 made a lasting impact on me.”

Ohnmeiss said, “Kids need to

discovered his talent at an early age. He said, “In preschool I drew the Superman logo every time we were asked to paint. In high school I would draw my own shoe designs and alternate versions of NBA jerseys.”

However, “As an adult I felt fully ‘realized’ as an artist when

Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 Band teachers Lance Ohnmeiss and Kyle Hildebrant are talented musicians.

March 2023

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Features 9

Family ties deeply rooted in Crusader community

By Mario Perez de Leon ’24

Family is everything. It’s important to keep them close.

That’s a lesson members of Riordan’s community have embraced to the fullest, as they constantly engage with each other thanks to their roles at the school.

Prominent among the Riordan community are the Harringtons, and prominent among the Harringtons are the deep rooted values of love and perseverance.

Stemming all the way from the days of black and white film, the Harrington-Riordan connection started with “Rapid Robert” Harrington.

“He stayed dedicated to his beliefs throughout his life, went to Riordan, and was an educator,” stated Bob Harrington, his son.

Today, he’s pictured in the gym and the Marianist Room, having set impressive track records. Now, his two sons are teachers at Riordan, with Bob Harrington teaching Social Science and English, and Ken

Photo by Areeshah Farooq ’23 The Curtins: Coach Joey Curtin ’01, Dean and Coach Jennifer Curtin, and VP of Enrollment Danny Curtin ’08.

“My whole family has always been about others and community. Seeing them here, it makes it enjoyable to come to work every day.”

-Danny Curtin ’08, Vice President of Enrollment and Strategy

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23 The Harringtons: English teacher Bob and Math teacher Ken Harrington.

“My best memories come from their games, the band playing, kids cheering, knowing how much work my brothers put in, and seeing it all play out.”

That cherishing of community stems all the way from childhood, recalls Danny, “They’ve always preached good morals, how I interact with others, how, at the core of everything, to be a good person.”

Equally as morally driven and just as prominent are the Datocs.

Math teacher Mary Ann Datoc proves to be a brilliant teacher, helping students grow exponentially in math and beyond. The pride she feels for her students is the same pride she feels for her family.

“Seeing Jameson [Datoc ’23] conduct at the latest band event, that’s a proud mom moment.

Seeing Mr. [Alex] Datoc speak in front of the student body, I always feel pride.”

Our greatest memories, values,

Prominent among the Riordan community are the Harringtons, and prominent among the Harringtons are the deep rooted values of love and perseverance. teaching math. Both have massive respect for each other, and both have immense resilience, having recently done a long distance row down the Sacramento River together.

“The perseverance to never give up, to row a boat every morning, just the mental toughness Bobby has, a kind person, smart,” Ken exclaimed.

“Camping out along the river, summertime, that’s a fond memory,” recollected Bob. Three Curtins are Crusaders, and each has really different roles. Jennifer Curtin is a Dean of Students and Head Girls Varsity volleyball coach, Joey Curtin ’01 is the Boys Varsity basketball coach, and Danny Curtin ’08 is the Vice President of Enrollment and Strategy. Danny entered the school seven years after Joey.

However, by the time Danny was

a senior, Joey was already an assistant coach. Their connection to Riordan lasted through adulthood, with Joey and Danny eventually assuming their present roles. Just this year though, their sister, Jennifer Curtin, started work here as a dean and volleyball coach.

“My brothers have always told me how much they loved the Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23 kids they worked with here. With the addition of girls and having The Datocs: Math teacher Mary Ann and Campus Ministry Director Alex Datoc ’87. known Mr. [Tim] Reardon, it felt like the perfect time to join,” she [The Datocs] deepen the school’s Marianist roots, always said. positively impacting the community through Masses and Together, they’re truly able lessons that extend beyond the given material. to enrich and enjoy what drives their family: community.

“My whole family has always Currently three strong at Riordan, and bonds come from family. been about others and community. they deepen the school’s Marianist According to everyone interviewed, Seeing them here, it makes it roots and lessons, always positively “family” extends to Riordan.

“No doubt,” said Danny enjoyable to come to work every impacting the community through Masses and lessons that extend Curtin. “One hundred percent, day,” said Danny Curtin. beyond the given material. unequivocally.”

Jennifer built on this, saying,

10 National and World News

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

March 2023

Train derails in Ohio, releasing toxic fumes into communities

By Naomi Lin ’24 On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern freight train transporting hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, causing the spillage of approximately 115,580 gallons of vinyl chloride.

According to Chemistry instructor Dr. Caroline GochocoTsuyuki, “Vinyl chloride is the primary compound used to make the polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic commonly found in plumbing pipes and wire coatings.”

Although PVC on its own is mostly harmless, the monomer–a molecule that combines with other monomers to create a larger molecule known as a polymer– vinyl chloride, is harmful.

As a non-polar compound, it can enter one’s body through a transdermal process and is thus linked to an array of cancers.

To resolve the pressing predicament, Norfolk Southern conducted a controlled burn of these chemicals to both hasten its removal process and prevent a potential explosion.

However, unlike Chernobyl, the catastrophic nuclear event from 1986 in Ukraine that the derailment has been inaccurately compared to, the stress of the environmental damage can be alleviated.

Vinyl chloride is highly volatile, and “once a localized spill can be cleaned up and the compound allowed to evaporate, the risk associated with ingestion or respiration of vinyl chloride

Congress to improve working conditions and sanction paid sick leaves.

However, Congress struck their requests down, verifying that railroad workers were not adequately being taken care of.

A list of three components should be taken into consideration to decrease the number of annual derailments: “Number one is proper equipment maintenance.

“Number two is human maintenance, taking care of the people who are running this stuff.

“Number three any kind Photo by NTSB through Wikimedia Commons of preparedness for any kind of Toxic fumes spew from the derailed train, threatening the communities. disaster,” said Torrano. should be mitigated,” stated to rise to a dangerous level,” said In addition to the Gochoco-Tsuyuki.

Gochoco-Tsuyuki. insufficiently met standards, the Regarding the health “It has been proposed that Ohio derailment needed to be status of Ohio citizens, clinical an early temperature warning promptly addressed. professor of internal medicine system would have prevented the D r. G o c h o c o -T s u y u k i at Northeast Ohio Medical accident from happening.” compared it to the 1984 pesticide University Nicholas Proia told Engineering instructor incident in India that garnered NPR, “What we have heard, Frank Torrano suggested, “If you immediate worldwide attention mostly through the media, and a have the proper sensors, like this and mobilization. few patients will say, perhaps a is a bearing that overheated, if The stark contrast between rash or a foul smell. But really, they have proper sensors, then the response times to these two no overt shortness of breath that might not have happened; it events underscored the need for or respiratory failure has been could have stopped in time. an adequate response from the connected to this.”

“Or, if you have the sensors United States government.

Despite the seemingly and then you have a system Overall, the derailment relieving news, The Bureau of whereby the sensors could be read serves as a wake-up call to Transportation Statistics reports by a computer, then it would have the railroad industry and the a national yearly average of 1,704 stopped in time.” government derailments, indicating that Furthermore, “a lot of stuff It highlights the railroads desperately need an that happens usually happens importance of equipment increase in measures to prevent because of human error,” mainly maintenance, great concern for these catastrophes. due to the fact that, “people are its employees, and the need for “According to the National tired; they’re not getting taken disaster-readiness initiatives.

Transportation Safety Board, the care of,” said Torrano.

Currently, “a lot of things [Ohio] derailment was caused by For example, in 2022, 12 are [being] left to chance,” said an overheated wheel bearing that labor unions representing 115,000 Torrano, “and it’s sad that people caused temperatures in the car railroad workers demanded can die because of that.”

Russian-Ukrainian war marks one year

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

At 4 a.m. on Feb. 24, 2022, Russian air and land attacks changed lives of Ukrainians in a heartbeat. Now more than one year later, Ukraine has held its ground against the Russian invasion, showing resilience and bravery.

Social Science teacher Van Whipple stated, “While it wasn’t a surprise, I thought the attack was a strategic mistake that would have the opposite effect of what Russia wanted.”

In this past year, many Ukrainian cities like Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Bakhmut, and the capital Kyiv have felt the wrath of Vladimir Putin’s desire to conquer and unite Ukraine with Russia.

The greater conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, and it has continued ever since with this major escalation threatening peace in Eastern Europe and in

the world. Jadon Leung ’23 sees the move by Russia’s Vladimir Putin as him trying to bring back his dream of a new Soviet Union.

Through all of this, Ukrainians have remained determined and have slowly chipped away at Russia’s initial momentum at the brink of the war.

Whipple commented that he has the “utmost respect for the level of valor and bravery shown

by Ukrainians.”

Moon Lin ’25 added, “It’s still crazy how people are going through a war over territory in the 21st century.”

To commemorate the solemn occasion, President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 21. In March, the International Criminal Court issued war crimes charges on Russia for the kidnapping of thousands of Ukrainian children and issued a–largely symbolic– arrest warrant for Putin.

Photo by whitehouse.gov U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured St. Michael’s Cathedral in Kyiv last month to discuss the war.

With the war reaching the one year mark of a larger decadelong conflict, the sentiment for a peaceful end is shared across many countries. There’s also concerns that China might be seeking to involve itself in the war on Russia’s side, something the U.S. condemns, further souring US-China relations after the spy balloon incident in January.

“I think a resolution will be the only way to end it because neither side can militarily take/retake the land,” Whipple expressed.

“The end result will likely come at a table, and not the battlefield. However, the status of the war, and who controls what, has a big impact on what will happen at the negotiating table.”

March 2023

Arts & Entertainment 11

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

‘EEAAO’ wins everything everywhere all at once

By Talia Bumanglag ’24

The phenomenon of Everything Everywhere All At Once has found success around the world, and continues to do so through this awards season.

Though the film came out in early 2022, with the major awards happening within the last three months, it has gained even more popularity and made history within the entertainment industry.

The movie touches on the Asian American experience, and the relationships between mothers and daughters. Evelyn Wang, portrayed by Michelle Yeoh, is a laundromat owner trying to balance a rocky relationship with her daughter, and saving the universes from an evil entity that wants to destroy the universe; that entity being her daughter.

This multiversal comedydrama takes you on a ride through the endless possibilities of one’s life, and the regrets and blessings that come along the way.

Its existentialism and themes of the hardships between children and their immigrant parents warmed hearts around the world and was relatable for a vast majority of audiences.

Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Key Huy Quan’s portrayals of the Wang family have received worldwide praise for their range of performances throughout this movie alone.

Specifically Quan, who had not

received his first major role in decades, but has been congratulated for his outstanding performance, and has deeply displayed his gratitude along the way.

However, both Quan and Yeoh have expressed the difficulties with gaining opportunities in the film industry as an Asian. Yeoh explained these hardships in an interview with Variety Magazine explaining, “At that point, people in the industry couldn’t really tell the difference between whether I was Chinese or Japanese or Korean or if I even spoke English … I didn’t work for almost two years … simply because I could not agree with the stereotypical roles that were put forward to me.”

Counselor Melanie Aguas commented on Asian inclusivity within the film industry saying, “I think it is imperative for people to see themselves represented on screen. We need that film representation, to inspire the younger generations, and affirm that their stories are worth telling and watching.”

In the recent decades, more POC-led films have broadened the spectrum of new actors and stories being told. Audiences of all avenues seeing people that look and represent them is important for international growth and acceptance.

Gabriel Llaguna ’24 explained how seeing people that look like him on screen presents a

a sense of pride as well, stating, “My first thought is always ‘oh they’re Asian, I should support them because they’re Asian,’ as I know in the movie industry Asians are the lower level minority. So just seeing an Asian movie being recognized globally makes me feel proud to be Asian.”

During this awards season, Everything Everywhere All At Once, received a multitude of awards nominations, and made history. The film racked up a total of 264 awards across many different categories and ceremonies, including a recordbreaking four wins at the SAG awards, and seven Oscar wins: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

Along with the many awards it has won, most recently Yeoh has become the first Asian woman to win Best Actress in a leading role at the SAG awards, became the first Asian best actress nominee at the Oscars, and the first Asian best actress winner, making her only the second person of color to ever win that award.

Both Yeoh and Quan have broken barrier after barrier, making history as pioneer Asians that opened up opportunities for all. These wins are big within the Asian community and all around the globe have felt senses of pride for finally being recognized.

Photo By AGBO Films

Aguas commented, “I believe the popularity and critical acclaim of EEAAO will help put Asian and Asian-American experiences at the forefront in the movie industry. Some recent Asian-centered movies have helped put Asian stories and stars on the map...it has something that many people can relate to, regardless of ethnicity or nationality.”

The rise of Asian stories being told in the film industry has opened up the floodgates for more opportunities for other Asian actors in this historically exclusive environment. Even now, older actors like Quan and Yeoh are finally finding opportunities for themselves that showcase their talent for more than what they look like or where they come from.

The more people’s stories are told, the further society is able to progress and accept all of those who make up this nation.

‘The Last of Us’ gnaws at viewers’ hearts

By Mario Perez de Leon ’24

The driving force behind the thrilling HBO Max show The Last of Us is familial love.

This familial love, accentuated with disaster, drudgery, death, and doom, is nothing short of breathtaking.

At first glance, The Last of Us is just another zombie show.

Something takes over the world overnight, billions get infected, and the not-so are left to survive a world that’s not really worth saving. However, The Last of Us is practically a one to one remake of a video game released in 2013 by the same name.

When this came out, it was mind blowing. Millions fell in love with it, played it, and continue to praise it. Since its initial release almost 10 years ago, it’s gained a very over the top remake, a sequel, and now its own TV show. And it’s all because of the love and character unpacking that transpires amidst a doomed world.

This is not a zombie show, but a character study on a seemingly broody, rugged, deteriorating, angry man, and a sarcastic 14 year old girl who is

seemingly lax about the suffering around her. Both have lost everything and everyone.

Cordyceps – the parasitic, ravenous, terrible, and invasive fungus – is infamous for building its environmental dynasty through insect mind control. Spores latch onto ants, taking control over their motor functions to move them to an ideal location for maximum spread. Then, a white stalk bigger than the ant’s body pierces through its skull, releases spores, and the terror repeats.

That’s an oversimplification of the process and purpose, but what’s scary is that scientists speculate that, during the whole process, the ant is conscious. They see and feel themselves moving, but they

Photo by HBOMax

can do absolutely nothing.

The show ponders how this looks on humans. A loose, unrealistic, and yet eerily convincing theory of this situation is the opening scene to The Last of Us. It sure is far-fetched, but just the mere presence of real science already makes it 10 times more terrifying than some government experiment gone wrong.

Moving on, in the show a mutation of cordyceps makes its way into the food supply, mainly flour, which is present in cake, pancake mix, cookies and the like.

We see the initial outbreak in the pilot episode. Every moment is tense. Twitching, coughing, wary shopkeepers, and an ambiance of forced normality make up what

was supposed to be a good day.

Soon, everything erupts.

The end of the pilot disturbs and saddens, with a performance so raw that the moment, for better or for worse, never really escapes you as you’re watching the show.

“You can still see that there’s laughter and love in this world, but it can be taken away from you instantly,” said Cory Nelson, Social Science Department Chair.

Years later, you’re put in a place far off from the one the viewer started at. Crime, both legal and not-so, form a common filth that plagues a major city. The nation as a whole is composed of people seeking to survive by any means necessary no matter how abhorrent. Amidst this filth, two people find one another.

It takes a while, but a spark is struck, and a familial love is born. A very Texan Texan and a very witty, aspiring astronaut go on an adventure. They take on loss, trauma, fear, and pain, but they endure. They confide in each other, bond, and laugh together.

Their familial love goes on to incinerate a number of cities and groups across the country, and in a way, the entire world.

12 Science

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

March 2023

Student discovers invasive insect: European Firebug

By Sophie Bücker ’24

For most iNaturalist users, uploading pictures to iNaturalist offers an easy way to identify local wildlife without flipping through dozens of zoology textbooks.

But for Amisha Shankar ’26, uploading a seemingly ordinary photo of an insect onto the network uncovered something far more revealing: the presence of an invasive species of beetle, Pyrrhocoris apterus, or better known as the European Firebug, in the continental United States.

It all began with an assignment for Colleen O’Rourke’s Pre-AP Biology class.

For this project, students take photos of flora and fauna around the Bay Area, and upload them to iNaturalist to help biologists doing research on local wildlife.

Shankar first discovered the beetle’s presence in her neighborhood. As she described it, “I was just walking my dog and took a picture of the insect for the project. I didn’t really think much about it at the time.”

But after posting her discovery on iNaturalist, Shankar was

Photo by Amisha Shankar ’26 Amisha Shankar ’26 took this photo for her Pre-AP Biology class and then uploaded it to the iNaturalist website where scientists later identified the insect as a European Firebug, which is not native to the United States.

“Amisha . . . just happened to notice an interesting bug, but that one little moment of wonder could result in an absolutely invaluable moment for science.”

-Colleen O’Rourke, AP Biology teacher messaged by multiple scientists, including from the California Academy of Sciences.

Shankar then asked O’Rourke for advice regarding the situation, who told her to contact the

United States Department of Agriculture to report her discovery.

According to O’Rourke, “In theory it could cause damage to local crops, especially those in the growing regions of coastal San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, or create dangerous competition with local insect species.”

Shankar later reflected, “I was shocked to find out that such a dangerous insect had made its way [to] right outside my house.”

This discovery also brings light to the importance of contributions made by amateurs.

O’Rourke said, “Unfortunately, the number of paid ecologists and etymologists in the state are limited, so they cannot be trolling across every patch of land and water in the state looking for invasive species.”

She concluded, “Amisha just happened to be on a walk with her dog in her neighborhood and just happened to notice an interesting bug, but that one little moment of wonder could result in an absolutely invaluable moment for science.”

Core research heats up Theory about Earth’s core has scientists spinning

By Ethan Ly ’26

The Earth’s core, formed over 3,200 miles below the Earth’s crust, has undergone a drastic change in motion as it stopped over the past years, according to a study by scientists at Peking University and acknowledged by their peers in the scientific community.

Recent studies from Yi Yang, an associate research scientist at Peking University, and Xiaodong Song, the Peking University chair professor, have surfaced that the Earth’s inner core, since 2009, has stopped rotating.

The rotation of the inner core is determined by the magnetic pull given off by the outer core and the magnetic balance of the inner core. These rotations give off seismic waves as it spins. These waves periodically change, and scientists are often able to notice a change in the periodic waves.

However, in recent years, there has been a change in the seismic waves’ records in which there has been little to no change.

Due to these factors, scientists, such as Yang, have determined

that the Earth’s core has stopped rotating and may begin a rotation on the axis in the opposite direction.

Scientists have determined that if the core has indeed “stopped,” or even slowed down, nothing cataclysmic will occur.

Furthermore, rotations of the core don’t “stop,” for the Earth is also rotating along with the core. The rotation of the Earth and the core has just synchronized and shows very little change.

Although the core is experiencing changes in its rotation, these factors must not be taken in a manner that is 100 percent fact.

According to an article on weather.com, “None of these findings should be a cause for alarm since they could very well be a part of the periodic changes in the Earth’s geological dynamics.”

Earth and Space teacher Stuart Kaler concurred, saying, “It is interesting if scientists can properly infer that the inner core is slowing down; however, I would not be too alarmed about this occurrence. While Earth’s core and its rotations give rise to our magnetic field, which protects life

Image from nasa.gov This NASA image shows the Earth’s layers, from the inner core to the crust.

from harmful solar winds, the north and south poles have ‘flipped’ every several thousands of years. This is borne out in the magnetic orientations in seabed rock formations. However, I am not aware that this normal cycle has given rise to extinction-level

events in Earth’s history.”

All in all, the core will not affect the daily lives of humans on the Earth’s crust, but it is still important to measure and record the data of the core’s rotation to further understand the planet we live on.

March 2023

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Environment 13

Dams scale back steelhead trout population as California cancels salmon season

By Cash Bolos ’23

Photo provided by Cash Bolos ’23 Cash Bolos ’23 displays a steelhead trout he caught in the Trinity River.

On March 16, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife canceled salmon season for all of 2023, citing the years of drought that affected the coveted fish’s ability to breed enough to populate the waters that wind through the Golden State.

The announcement sent waves through the fishing industry, with those who depend on the salmon season for their livelihood scrambling to find ways to support themselves. But while many are focused on salmon, others zero in on steelhead trout.

Steelhead trout are a magical fish that people chase all over the world. They are very similar to rainbow trout, but take on a different way of life by running out into the ocean to eat, and grow dramatically.

The major difference from rainbows is their size, being much bigger and more rounded, and

their hue is a lot more chrome and silver-colored. Fly fishermen in particular pursue them from Kamchatka, Russia, to the Olympic Peninsula, to Northern California.

The most popular way to catch them is using a spey rod and swinging flies at them. This is a tedious process of casting, swinging the fly, taking a step, and then repeating the process over and over again.

Many people go months, and even years without catching any because everything must align in order to catch the steelhead. All of the conditions must come together perfectly. Most importantly, and probably the easiest part, is the fish needs to be in the river where your fly swings in front of its face to eat it–finally getting hooked.

Employees at Lost Coast Outfitters, a fly shop in downtown San Francisco, had some advice

about steelhead.

Jon said, “Since I first started fishing for them, I’ve caught more because I’ve become a better angler.”

He also said, “I’ve become better, but my favorite rivers are low, sometimes so low they close them to all fishing.”

“Also, when I tail that fish, I know for the most part it’s never been held in human hands before. That’s crazy. I’ve caught trout with flies in their mouths.

Steelhead are incredible.’’

He added, “If you want to catch one on the swing, you need to work. It doesn’t come easy. You can shorten the learning curve, but you can’t buy a steelhead. Not on the swing at least.”

Another coworker, Ariel, said, “The first and most impactful change I have noticed is the consistent decrease in returns of fish in the Pacific Northwest coastal and inland river systems that support a steelhead population.”

“What is intriguing to me about steelhead is mostly the amount of distance they cover to return to their spawning grounds within a year’s time,” Ariel said. “Also the fact that they are a tough and resilient salmonid species that survives miles and miles of migration through the salty ocean and of course fresh water as well. And their aggressive nature towards a well swung fly.”

William Wolcott ’23 acknowledged that like the salmon, “Population is going down, and what’s intriguing about them is the journey back to

their spawning waters.”

One of the most famous rivers in California, the Klamath River, has been greatly impacted by dams, being the biggest downfall for steelhead globally. It makes it way more difficult for them to run up the river and spawn, leading to decreases in wild populations.

Not only in the Klamath, but in many other rivers in the country people are working tirelessly to get the dams removed to try and return steelhead to their natural state. In 2023 the dams are supposed to be removed and wild populations are expected to begin to thrive again.

There are a few key aspects to fishing for steelhead. One, the low populations causing small run amounts and less fish spawning and running back out.

And second, the magic behind the fish and how enchanting it is to fish for them and hopefully finally catch and tail one.

As a collective for fishermen, people in the community, the ecosystem, and especially for the fish themselves, some believe governmental agencies need to act soon to try and protect this species before it is too late, and they continue down this road where they become extinct.

Supporters believe the first and most influential step would be to remove all dams so that the rivers are free flowing and the fish can run out into the ocean and up into rivers to spawn easier without dams and fish ladders in their way, making it much more difficult for them.

Climate change impacts Native American way of life

By Joshua Aguilar ’24

Climate change has been an issue for a while, but in recent years has been affecting everyone around the globe, including Native American tribes.

The United Nations states that climate change brings hotter temperatures, more severe storms, increased droughts, and higher sea levels, all of which cause the lack of food and the loss of land.

AP US History and Global Ethnic Studies teacher Cory Nelson said, “Climate change is real. We have been contributing to it for a long time and we need to make major changes for the longevity of our planet.”

Most tribal nations in America’s mainland, Alaska, and Hawaii lack the modern technologies needed to help with the dangers of climate change. Because of this, they face uncertainties on whether they

can continue on with their usual ways of life.

More than 8 percent of Native Americans around the Midwest, West Coast and Alaska have been extended beyond reservation lands due to climate change.

Nelson remarked, “Reservations and Indigenous people have been pushed to the side…If we haven’t created a culture of helping Native Americans then they’re going to fall in the category of poverty that’s going to be left behind.”

They rely on resources derived straight from the land they live on in order to survive and climate change puts that at risk.

The land that Native Americans live on are ecosystems which are super fragile. Any event could shatter the ecosystem and bring changes that the tribes might not be prepared for.

The U.S. Climate

Resilience Toolkit states that events that shatter ecosystems are droughts, floods, wildfires, and pest outbreaks related to climate change.

They have begun to face a lack of plants and animals, both marine and land, for food and have seen reduced water qualities, all of which are harmful to their health and well-being.

AP US History student Jaecee Cantiller ’24 said, “The fact that Native Americans are losing everyday needs is saddening.

These are basic human needs that we all have to have access to in order to live through everyday life. It’s heart-wrenching to hear that they don’t even have easy access to them.”

They use the materials in their area for almost everything they do in their daily life such as hunting, gathering, medicine making, clothes weaving, etc.

Some ways that they’ve tried to adapt are buying food.

Although it is easier to obtain, it is more expensive and unhealthy compared to their traditional ways of gathering food.

Nelson stated, “You’re forcing people to assimilate to a culture that’s not theirs … If they choose to assimilate, then we should be allocating funds that help them adapt to mainstream American culture or we should be helping their reservations.”

Erosion and thinning ice adds to the problem. Hunters are getting trapped from the ice while buildings and infrastructure are being destroyed by erosion.

AP US History student Jan David Ella ’24 said, “They live simple lives, and it isn’t fair for them to be affected by those who don’t care about the world. Soon, they’ll be forced to change their way of life.”

14 Health & Tech

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

March 2023

Discovery of lead in chocolate reveals dark truth

By Ishaan Gupta ’26 Chocolate is a treat enjoyed by many in their daily lives, satisfying a sweet tooth and acting as an energy and mood booster.

There are many types of chocolate and some choose dark chocolate because of its health benefits. However, there is another piece of this dark chocolate puzzle that has recently been discovered.

An investigation by Consumer Reports uncovered that dark chocolate bars from various brands have cadmium and lead, metals that can cause health problems in adults, children, and pregnant women.

Frequent exposure to lead in adults can lead to nervous system problems, hypertension, immune system suppression, kidney damage, and reproductive problems. For young children, it can affect development.

Miki Maloney ’26 said, “I think that dark chocolate is really good, and if I couldn’t have dark chocolate then I don’t know what I have left at this point.”

Consumer Report tested out 28 brands for cadmium and lead levels and listed them into four categories: safer, high in cadmium, high in lead, and high in both lead and cadmium. Mast, Taza Chocolate, two Ghirardelli brands, and Valrhona were listed

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23 Research by Consumer Reports shows that some varieties of chocolate contain small amounts of lead and cadmium.

as safer choices.

Beyond Good, Equal Exchange, Lindt, Scharffen Berger, Alter Eco, Pascha, and Dove were high in cadmium. Brands high in lead were Tony’s, Lily’s, Godiva, Chocolove, Lindt, Endangered Species, Trader Joe’s, Hu, Chocolove, and Hershey’s. Brands high in both cadmium and lead were Theo, Trader Joe’s, Lily’s, and Green and Black’s.

Biology teacher Colleen O’Rourke said, “I think this just draws attention to the fact that we need to be more aware of where our chocolate is coming from and

how it’s being processed.”

She added, “The interesting thing is that the lead doesn’t seem to be coming from the chocolate itself, but rather environmental contamination from lead in the dirt and dust where the chocolate is grown and processed, likely as a result of years of lead-based gasolines.”

In addition, “It’s a really important reminder of the longterm effects of exploitative capitalism and globalization and how problems which we think are relegated to the exploited parts of the world are really affecting the

entire planet.”

Other research found that cacao plants take up cadmium from the soil, which accumulates as the cacao tree grows. However, lead gets through after cacao beans are harvested.

Consumers can still enjoy dark chocolate by choosing the brands with the lowest metals, eating chocolates with lower cacao amounts, and limiting dark chocolate consumption.

Despite all this, O’Rourke said,“I still prefer dark chocolate since it has way lower sugar content than milk.”

Clock ticks for TikTok as app institutes time limits

By Ceejae Minell de Lumen ’24 The app TikTok is one of the biggest social media platforms, with 649 million users growing each day.

The age group primarily on TikTok is 10-19, which is starting to concern parents.

Many lawsuits have been quickly forming about the consequences it has made on the mental health of children and the habit that influences the younger generation in a damaging way.

Psychology teacher Jackie Grealish said, “Social media can be a really great tool to stay connected to your friends and family but we really haven’t been using it that way.”

She added, “It shows young brains an unrealistic picture of others’ lives that make it hard to tell what is real and what is a filter when we’re inundated with content 24/7.”

TikTok has formulated a solution in which users will have a 60 minute screen time for those under the age of 18, but will provide the option of opting out to proceed.

One option is for parents

Photo by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 In response to concerns about the amount of time young people spend on TikTok, the company instituted a time limit, but teens can easily bypass it.

“It shows young brains an unrealistic picture of others’ lives that make it hard to tell what is real and what is a filter when we’re inundated with content 24/7.”

- Jackie Grealish, Psychology teacher who link their TikTok accounts to their children is to have control over certain aspects of how their kid uses the app and how frequently it can be opened.

Certain people have since

spoken out with this new policy.

The Tech Oversight Project, a Big Tech accountability group, was not impressed by TikTok’s announcement, calling it “a fake ploy to make parents feel safe

without actually making their product safe.”

Many entertainment groups such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok have their platform to get kids addicted to scrolling for hours on end.

Sophia Trapsi ’24 said, “It’s good for entertainment purposes but it is addicting for the younger generation.”

Being a 16 year old, it can be easy to get distracted scrolling on the app because there is so much to see with a full mind of curiosity.

Many can relate to how the parents feel about this app because it is not healthy for kids to be on TikTok for so long, which can lead to certain effects. This can influence children’s behavior with the way they act and form opinions of themselves and others.

There is much criticism about this new announcement due to the fact that the app is really not limiting the time for the kids.

Not too many have been happy about this change because they question whether this will truly change anything at all.

March 2023

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Sports Features

15

Bay Area hopes to score NWSL team for 2024

By Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas ’25 San Francisco is close to netting a team in the NWSL. The National Women’s Soccer League has bid to expand their team to the Bay Area, which is among two other finalists preparing for the league’s next round of expansion.

The three finalists are Boston, Utah, and the Bay Area. The NWSL currently has 12 teams, and with the additional three teams the league hopes to expand to 15 by 2024.

One of Riordan’s varsity soccer players, Josie EspinozaSchleiker ’25, said she’s “super excited.” She added, “I think it’s really cool seeing the expansion of women’s soccer and just seeing it grow over time.”

The proposal of adding a NWSL team to the Bay Area was imagined by four former professional soccer players, Danielle Slayton, Leslie Osborne, Aly Wagner, and Brandi Chastain.

Three of them grew up in San Jose and all played for Santa Clara University.

Captain of the varsity soccer team India Bowles ’23 agreed that the Bay Area is an

Photo illustration by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the areas the NWSL is considering for three new expansion teams for the 2024 season. There are now 12 teams.

important place to expand.

She stated, “The quality of competition here is really high and so having those higher levels in the professional leagues would be a good goal for a lot of girls in the Bay Area to reach.”

The founders have come together with sports innovators, tech, and media around the San Francisco Bay Area to push the reality of the expansion to the Bay by creating websites like “Nwsltothebay.com” and selling merchandise to gain support from the public.

Soccer coach and history teacher Nicole Morello stated she is “definitely pro women’s sports.”

“I think we’ve been underrepresented definitely in the Bay Area but in women’s soccer especially, because all we ever talk about is the MLS with men.”

The four professional players’ main goal is to unite the entire Bay Area to represent a recognized brand for women’s sports. They are determined to inspire women not only locally, but worldwide–on and off the field.

So long, ‘Murph’

Giants’ Clubhouse Manager retires after 65 years with team

By Aiden Pavon ’25

For 65 years, any new player walking into the San Francisco Giants clubhouse would be greeted by Mike Murphy, the Clubhouse Manager. Nowadays, entering the clubhouse is lonelier than it ever was.

After 65 years of being the Giants’ Clubhouse Manager, Mike Murphy has decided to step away from baseball and fully retire.

Murphy started his career with the organization all the way back in 1958 as a bat boy. He was soon promoted to visiting clubhouse attendant in 1960 then became clubhouse manager in 1980.

Murphy – or ‘Murph’ for short – was an essential part of the Giants’ organization. He made connections with every player that walked through those clubhouse doors. He made them feel welcome and at home. He was there for legends like Willie Mays, Will Clark, Barry Bonds, Buster Posey, and even young stars such as Logan Webb.

He connected with both players and coaches.

One of these aforementioned coaches is longtime Giants’ bench coach Ron Wotus who looks very highly on Mike Murphy and his impact on the clubhouse.

In an interview with Riordan alumnus, Steven Rissotto ’20, Wotus expressed his thoughts on how he felt Murph impacted the clubhouse.

He stated, “When you have the clubhouse named after you – the Mike Murphy Clubhouse – I think that tells you an awful lot.

I don’t think there’ll be another clubhouse manager that spends as many years in the game as he has. There may be, it is possible.”

He continued, “Players love him, umpires, baseball people, the other coaches on the other side, the other clubhouse guys, the traveling secretary. I can’t tell you how many people come to our clubhouse to see Mike Murphy.”

Mike Murphy has left a lasting impact on the San Francisco Giants clubhouse and will be missed among fans, coaches, and players.

Photo by Jameson Datoc ’23 Mike Murphy, San Francisco Giants’ Clubhouse Manager, who wrote the book “From The ’Stick to The Cove,” retired this past season after 65 years.

“Players love him, umpires, baseball people, the other coaches on the other side, the other clubhouse guys . . . I can’t tell you how many people come to our clubhouse to see Mike Murphy.”

-Ron Wotus, former Giants’ bench coach

16 Food Reviews

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

March 2023

Discovering delicious dim sum delights Dumpling Time

If you’re in the mood for some dim sum delights, Dumpling Time in San Francisco is a mustvisit. From the moment you step inside, the inviting, warm atmosphere and the tantalizing aroma of fresh dumplings will make your mouth water.

My favorite dish was undoubtedly the BBQ pork bao.

With a filling so rich and flavorful that it could make your taste buds sing, and a perfectly seared texture that added a satisfying crunch, it was an absolute treat for the senses.

Biting into one of these is like heaven on Earth (for barbecue lovers). Fun fact: bao is a type of Chinese steamed bun that can be filled with anything from meat

Review and photo by Edward Ramos ’23

to vegetables to custard, but the BBQ pork filling in this bao is a must-try.

While not as bold in flavor as some of the other dishes, the Beijing noodles were still a tasty and filling option. To finish the feast we could not forget the sesame balls, which were an experience themselves. Served warm, the filling was perfectly sweet and moist while the outside held a solid texture surrounded by sesame seeds that was spot-on. It was hard to resist ordering more.

Overall, Dumpling Time is a great choice for those seeking a memorable and delicious dim sum experience. Don’t hesitate to pay them a visit – you won’t regret it!

Dumpling Time on Division Street in San Francisco serves delectable BBQ pork bao, Beijing noodles, soup dumplings, edamame, and sesame balls.

Sweet Delight

Items from Sweet Delight Bakery in the Excelsior District include a BBQ pork bun, sesame ball, wheat steam bun, and an egg custard.

Happy Bakery Head on down to Happy Bakery on Irving Street in the Sunset District of San Francisco!

As soon as you walk in, you are hit with the aroma of freshly steamed dumplings that tickles your senses like the wind.

The dim sum is presented behind a display of glass with a wide variety of options to choose from. What makes this place even better is the quick exchange. I got the steamed pork dumplings, har gow, siu mai, and as soon as I ordered, it was packed, and ready for me to dive in to. I got an order of three for each dish, and it cost me a mere $11.

As I took my first bite into the steamed pork dumplings, the rich and savory filling was perfectly complemented by the fluffy and delicate dumpling wrapper.

The small drizzle of soy sauce I added made the flavor pop like a firework. It was like a warm hug on a cold day, filling me up

Review and photo by Joziah Rizzo ’23

with both warmth and joy.

The har gow, its translucent and delicate wrapper like a silky veil, revealed a juicy and plump shrimp filling inside. It was like biting into a little cloud, with the shrimp exploding in your mouth like a burst of flavor fireworks.

The siu mai was like a perfectly crafted piece of art, with the soft and chewy texture of the wrapper squeezing the delicious pork and shrimp filling inside. Each bite was like a symphony in my mouth, with the savory flavors playing together in perfect harmony.

If you love good dim sum, go and give Happy Bakery a shot.

The multitude of flavors that await you inside is worth the tasty assortment of items to indulge in.

It’s a gem of a place that you would not want to miss, and it leaves you filled with happiness.

Happy Bakery on Irving Street in San Francisco has a variety of options including steamed pork dumplings, har gow, and siu mai.

Sweet Delight Bakery is a friendly Chinese restaurant in a place where you might not expect it. It sits on 4476 Mission Street, a neighborhood known for its Mexican cuisine.

While it might not be the first place to come to mind when craving dim sum, Sweet Delight is somewhat of a hidden gem.

I found myself at the door of the bakery just like I had many times before, after a day of school on a foggy afternoon. The Sweet Delight experience is quick and concise. You walk in, you order the food, you pay next to nothing, and you leave. It’s a good time.

The food is fresh, tasty, and easy on your wallet.

Review and photo by Nicolo Ricci ’24

I got myself a BBQ pork bun, a sesame ball, a wheat steam bun, an order of shrimp dumplings, and an egg custard bun. All of your favorite dim sum dumplings are made just the way you like them.

Of these, I think the most deserving of a highlight is the BBQ pork bun, as it has just the right balance of fluffy bun and sweet filling, and for only $1.50.

It’s a real time and money saver for the peckish person after school or work.

The same can be said about the rest of Sweet Delight’s excellent menu items, and I thoroughly recommend you give them a try.