TheCrusaderWinter2021

Campus News, Pages 3 - 4

FREE

VOLUME 72 ISSUE 2

SERVING RIORDAN SINCE 1949

Local News, Page 5

Arts & Entertainment, Pages 8 - 9

ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL

Sports, Pages 14 - 15

Winter 2021 THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY

Boarding Program marks decade of international education

By Hana Wadlow ’25

“This is a community that

everyone can be involved in,” Boarding Program Director David Lin ’99 told the group of students at their first dorm meeting, on the first day back at school.

Recently, Archbishop Riordan High School went coed and invited female students onto what once was an all male campus.

The change also applied to the Boarding Program, celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

Each year, the program serves approximately 30 students from countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, Montenegro, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Senegal, Cameroon, Turkey, France, Taiwan, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Mexico, and Sudan, which means about 300 students from around the globe have attended Riordan through the boarding program.

Since Riordan went coed, there have been a total of 17 girls in the boarding program, with two last year, and 15 this year.

The Boarding Program staff prioritizes making Riordan feel like a second home for international students and students from within the country.

Boarding student Nick Li ’25

said, “I officially felt part of the Riordan community when I created my own club, the Anime Club. I get to be one of the presidents out of all 34 clubs Riordan has. I can also hang out with people that have the same interests and share our thoughts in the club.”

The boarding program has created many friendships.

Whether they are friends from class or ones they met in the dorms. Through the program, students have the opportunity to achieve what they have worked for their entire life. Many went on to amazing top colleges, such as NYU, UC Berkeley, UCLA, where they get to focus on what they love most.

There are many more opportunities that one can receive by attending Riordan’s boarding program. For anyone, the thought of living somewhere new with new customs and cultures, and new people can seem overwhelming.

The boarding program helps bring out the best in people, in an environment where they get

to meet new people from all over the world as well as expand skills in academics, sports, and clubs.

“We are excited in this new era for Riordan as a school and a boarding program, and it’s not too often a school has the opportunity to start fresh and create something new. In this past year of having coed dormitories, we’ve had to adapt and be creative in building the community in a way it has never experienced,” Lin said.

He added, “We are happy to say

When the all-clear was given to resume in-person activities, Band Camp was held during the first week of August to familiarize both new and returning band members on marching and playing techniques.

“Coming out of COVID and a year of not playing instruments and not having a color guard, band camp was extremely important to bring not only camaraderie back but getting everyone playing again and together,” stated Hildebrant.

As the school year began, the band gathered regularly on Wednesday nights to reinforce playing and marching skills learned in class, but also to have a dress rehearsal for the Saturday band reviews and football games.

The Riordan Marching Band performed in the Italian Heritage Parade in October after more than a year of missing performances and parades.

Photo by Kelsey Cottrell Members of Riordan’s Boarding Program visited Stanford University earlier this year.

that the spirit of the community has been strong and we the students are thriving. We had our first female varsity athlete from boarding win an award from golf this past season as the Most Improved Athlete.”

“It’s exciting for us to see because there were moments, especially during the pandemic, where we weren’t sure how the program was going to move forward,” Lin confided.

“However, our admissions department with Mr. Curtin and Mr. Kopp, and our Residential Staff who worked hard to support dorm living during a difficult time has proven that hard work, care, love, and a heart to serve others is essential to building relationships and creating community.”

Lin said, “Throughout the past 10 years of the boarding program being open Riordan got to see many excellent students, amazing, longlasting friendships, creativity, and many more things blossom in the Boarding Program.”

“Six percent of Riordan’s students are part of the boarding program, and 90 percent of them are international boarding students, which creates a rich environment of diversity and many different people, cultures, and stories to tell.”

Band re-tunes after year of silence

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

With the tunes of “Louie Louie” and “Comin’ Alive,” the Riordan Marching Band returned from the two-year COVID-19 slumber stronger than ever. Band Director Kyle Hildebrant stated, “We are super happy to be back!”

Last school-year was particularly challenging for the band program because of the shelter in place restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistant Band Director Lance Ohnmeiss said, “Working on Zoom was particularly interesting as I don’t know about technology.” He added, “It was hard but I am happy to be back at Riordan.”

Photo provided by Joseph Zuloaga ’23 Please see “Band re-tunes” on page 4

2 Opinion

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2021

Elevator music would lift wounded bodies and spirits

By Julien Untalan ’24

Riordan has a big problem: Its elevators have a distinct lack of music! The elevators here are so much more than just an alternative method of transportation for students, they act as the chariots in which injured students “ride to battle” against their injuries.

The elevators metaphorically teach them to “rise” above their injuries and are truly essential support structures in which many Riordan students rely upon on a day-to-day basis. If we truly want to cater to this second function of figurative upliftment, which we should because the happiness of our students is our number one priority after all, the obvious choice is to put some kind of music in to pump up the spirits.

For months, I had to suffer through the torture of complete silence in the elevators. This silence was deafening in a way, completely erasing my motivation

to continue the ceaseless and valiant fight against my knee injury. I had to wait in silence for two whole minutes, practically an eternity! I call upon this great school to look at my story with great pity and to install music in the elevators so that no other student will have to suffer in silence daily for two agonizing and excruciating minutes like I did.

Traditionally, music was played in elevators to eliminate fears about the new invention.

However, there has been a recent trend in removing music from elevators, eliminating the charm and comfort that music brought.

There’s even a music genre named after it, “elevator music.”

Students have come up with suggestions for such music: any cover of a song by Mr. Zumbado, “Gonna Fly Now” (theme from the Rocky movies) by Bill Conti, and “Push it to the Limit” (from Scarface) by Paul Engemann.

Photo by Noah David ’22

The school elevator is in serious need of music to uplift spirits.

Riordan is a school known Do this not to calm fears, but for its many great traditions rather to inspire the injured in such as the Victory Bell and the their ceaseless fight to recover.

Frosh Olympics. As a champion In the words of the Matrix, the of tradition, I am calling upon time to make a choice has come, this school to put music in its Riordan. The choice is yours, elevators. make the right one.

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.

Arts & Entertainment Editor Santino Woo ’22 Environment Editor Delaney Mulqueen ’22 Religion Editor Edward Ramos ’23

175 Frida Kahlo Way San Francisco, CA 94112 RCrusaderNews.com RCrusaderNews@riordanhs.org Editor-in-Chief Grayson Salomon ’22

Health Editor Elijah Calip ’22 Science Editor Sean DiNicola ’22 Technology Editor Andrei Lynch ’22

Managing Editor John McQuaid ’22

Features Editor Angelina Ning ’23

Opinion Editor Addison Hwang ’24

Food Review Editor Nathan Loeffler Malatesta ’23

News Editors Christian Ramirez Cortes ’22 William Lenoyr Ortiz ’22 Joseph Zuloaga ’23

Exchange Editor Arianna Turner ’23

Boys Sports Editor Cameron Bevan-Abel ’22

Copy Editor Arianna Jaboneta ’23

Girls Sports Editor Sophia Carrasquilla ’22

Photo Editors Noah David ’22 Matthew Mendoza ’22 Edward Macdonald ’23

Sports Features Editor Andrea Abraham ’24

Graphic Artist Rizlin Jew ’22

Staff Reporters Jesus Aguilar ’22 Normay Arriola ’24 Jake Beeman ’24 Ryder Bouck ’22 Sophie Bucker ’24 Talia Bumanglag ’24 Juan Carlos Campos ’22 Anthony Chan ’24 Giovanni Ruiz-Chable ’23 Charles Chu ’24 Angelo Coletti ’24 Jameson Datoc ’23 Logan Estrada ’22 Areeshah Farroq ’23 Jazmin Gamez ’24 Adrian Gonzales ’24 Joseph Grysiewicz ’22 Kevin Guinasso ’22 Marisa Hamilton ’22

Staff Reporters Finnbarr Harrington ’24 Mahkai Hunt ’23 Claire Ibalio ’22 Jonathan Kruger ’24 Katelyn Leong ’25 Naomi Lin ’24 Christopher Murray ’22 Nataly Neves ’23 Anderson Ortiz ’22 William Parker ’24 Nicolo Ricci ’24 Joziah Rizzo ’23 Brandon Saavedra ’24 Noah Tango ’22 Gabriella Tapia ’25 Julien Untalan ’24 Ethan Vargas ’23 Hana Wadlow ’25 Evan Wallis ’22 Bo Wyatt ’24 Adviser Susan Sutton, MJE

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

Winter 2021

Campus News

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

3

Rookie Chess Club makes its move

By Angelo Coletti ’24

Chess is a board game in which two players compete against each other using strategy and patience. After evolving from similar, much older Indian games, the modern form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century.

Chess is one of the most popular games in the world today, with millions of people playing it. At Archbishop Riordan High School, the Chess Club is run by president Jameson Datoc ’23, who started chess in kindergarten and was introduced to it by his grandfather.

Datoc described how he started playing, saying, “Because of the pandemic I grew distant from friends and one way to get together and talk is by playing chess.”

The Chess Club has 10 to 15 students attending their meeting every week, Wednesdays in room 203. They just got a donation of 20 brand new chess boards from the Archdiocese of San Francisco, with the possibility of more on

Photo by Marisa Hamilton ’22 Edward Macdonald ’23 makes his move as Eddie Ramos ’23 waits. the way, which would facilitate more members who can play at once.

Since the Chess Club is a brand new club at Riordan, they were limited to resources at the beginning. As the year continued, they started to get more and more funds and items for their club.

As the club grows with more members, they are able to

participate in events or trips.

Datoc said, “Some goals of the chess club are making it a larger club and create the impact on the Riordan community, to teach new players how to play both casual chess and tournament chess, study chess games, learn chess openings and strategies, teach sportsmanship which is a big part about playing chess, reach out to

local schools and teach grade school kids how to play chess.”

With 15 members, they are looking for more people who are interested and willing to learn and play chess. Edward Ramos ’23 said, “Some of my goals for the Chess Club are to develop my chess skills and also to help the younger generations and other kids develop their skills.”

To students of Riordan, chess is a fun, extra activity and hobby that they can do for free.

Datoc said all Crusaders who are interested in joining the chess club, should not hesitate to join.

“If you’re not into regular chess, there is speed chess, casual chess, and chess puzzles,” Datoc said, adding, “We are planning to go to different schools that are close to Riordan to teach grade students how to play chess.”

“Chess is not a game for ‘smart’ people, it’s for everyone,” Datoc said. “Chess should be a safe place because people don’t talk while playing chess. They think. They analyze. And they discuss with their fellow club members what they should do.”

Russi rocks medieval-themed Achieve program supports Frosh Olympics thrice student college endeavors

Photo by Grayson Salomon ’22 For the 50th annual Frosh Olympics, the House of Russi came out on top for the third time in a row. House provincials Chris Fern (Cana), Melissa Nagar (Pilar),and Leo Magnaye (Bolts) celebrated with Valerie O’Riordan (Russi) as she proudly holds the trophy.

Frosh Olympics story

Achieve college tour photo story

Photo by Martin Tran, SJND ’23 Every college provided the students with a campus tour and an information session led by a current student and an admissions representative. At Boston College (pictured above), the students listened to a current senior who gave them a presentation and a tour of the entire campus while the sun smiled down on them.

By Christian Ramirez Cortes ’22

Achieve is a four-year high school scholarship and academic enrichment program for underserved students from low-income families. Archbishop Riordan High School is one of Achieve’s four partner schools.

Every year, Achieve invites its junior classes from all schools on a college tour to the East Coast where students participate in campus tours and information sessions at various colleges.

This four-day trip consists of a busy daily schedule, so students have early mornings and late nights. This year, Achieve decided to invite its senior classes as they weren’t able to experience the college tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

4 Campus News

Winter 2021

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Students come face to face with finals

By Ryder Bouck ’22

As 2021 comes to an end, the ominous anxiety of finals grips Riordan’s campus.

Riordan is implementing a new standards based assessment grading system where students show their understanding of different class aspects in order to receive an A. This change was administered because “Most tests assess a students ability to memorize, and that really isn’t a skill we want student’s to prioritize,” said Dean of Academics Nate Simon ’99.

Many teachers at Archbishop Riordan are using projects in order to assess students’ understanding

of these standards. This year students are not required to complete long, sit down finals.

Instead, these standards based projects will take the place of traditional final exams.

Senior Aiden Geraldi said,

“This year’s finals allow seniors to manage work more efficiently in a time where finals coincide with many college admissions applications.”

English literature teacher Brian Kosewic ’16 said, “I think

it’s beneficial for English because the skills we are assessing are a student’s ability to produce writing on the subject and speak about it.”

He added, “So in my class students have been working on an in depth research essay over the last few weeks and they will use the class time during finals week to present their research and arguments which simulates the type of scholarly research they will be doing in college.”

Riordan students can rest assured that standards based finals will paint a more accurate picture of a student’s knowledge.

4x4 schedule to remain for foreseeable future

By Grayson Salomon ’22

Riordan has experienced many changes over the past four years: the Frosh Olympics format, from an all-boys school to coed, and the year-long closure of on-campus learning as COVID-19 took the world by storm.

Another aspect students and teachers definitely experienced since 2018 has been the change of schedules from the Block to the 4x4, and get ready, as a new one might be implemented as soon as the 2023-2024 school year.

Assistant Principal of Academics Nate Simon ’99 described why Riordan switched over to the 4x4 from the block schedule in the first place last year.

“We were ready to change to a schedule called the Rotating 8 right before the pandemic. Then when the pandemic hit, we decided to change to the 4x4 because it allowed us to have more face to face time with our students in a hybrid setting. Last year, when we were in hybrid, students were able to see each of their teachers two days a week, even though we didn’t have any in-person classes on Fridays.”

He added, “Most schools in the Bay Area were only able to have students see each of their teachers once a week or in some cases, less. The 4x4 was the reason we could do that. We decided to stick with it this year in case we had to revert back to hybrid at some point,” stated Simon.

But, as complaints against the new schedule rose, the school administration and a Schedule Committee started to look into possible new schedules.

The biggest criticisms were the gap that exists between consecutive courses such as AP classes that are offered in the fall semester. Students might have three months in between from when they took the class and when they take the AP test. Also, some special programs like the

band, RSP and Journalism that benefit from having class all year, have a hard time doing that in the 4x4. Finally, there is the fact that yearlong classes are rushed and cramped into one semester.

Marcella Fabre ’23, who is enrolled in AP English Language this semester, shared her concerns.

“I think this schedule is comfortable with most students, and the only main concern that I have is taking 1st semester AP classes, and their AP tests at the end of the year. To focus on one set of classes for a whole semester, and then change classes entirely, makes it especially difficult for those taking AP exams by the end of the year. It is challenging enough to learn AP material, but then be tested on it, after forgetting class content is daunting,” stated Fabre.

As for actual schedule changes, teachers on the Schedule Committee have visited other schools to observe how students do with their classes. Riordan is looking into several options including the Trimester and a rotating 8 period schedule. They are looking at ways to tweak the schedule to mitigate some of the issues that come up because of the gap in consecutive classes.

However, some students seem to enjoy the 4x4 schedule. Jacob Kleppin ’23, who has experienced both the block schedule and the 4x4, said, “I like the 4x4 schedule the most because it’s easier to manage the classes I have.”

Whether students like the 4x4 or not, they will be stuck with it for another year.

Simon said, “There won’t be a new schedule next year. We are reviewing our current schedule to ensure that we want to stay on it. If we make a change, it would be the following year because we would need the time to research, survey and build the schedule to best support our students and community.”

Graphic provided by Nate Simon ’99

The student survey on the 4x4 schedule revealed many see it as positively affecting their academic success.

“Band re-tunes,” continued from page 1

Ohnmeiss stated, “Band rehearsals are always effective as they are important to the success of the Band program.”

On Oct. 2, the band made its first appearance in nearly two years since the pandemic started at the varsity football game against Mitty. They also made appearances at the games against SI and Valley Christian. Classic tunes were played, but some new songs like “Blinding Lights” were introduced to the delight of the audience gathered.

In addition to playing at football games, the band travelled almost every Saturday to compete in band reviews in Elk Grove, Santa Cruz, Pleasanton, Merced, and Fairfield. The band took home 10 trophies combined in the 2021 marching season.

One of the three drum majors Allen Forte ’22 stated, “It was always a good time at the band reviews.”

A highlight during band reviews was always the Riordan Color Guard with their artistic routines accompanying the sounds of the band and the Fall Drumline providing rhythmic

beats.

“Throwing flags and spinning rifles in Color Guard was great,” stated Color Guard Captain Diane Lai ICA ’24. “There’s a lot of pressure being captain and it is very chaotic, but overall it is fun.”

In the busy first semester for the band, they also played at a San Francisco staple–the Italian Heritage Parade–on Oct. 10 and at Open House on Oct. 27.

Additionally, the band received a special visit from the 1st Division Marine Band from San Diego on Oct. 5.

“We are always trying to bring different ways to bring the community together not only here at Riordan but throughout the city of San Francisco,” stated Hildebrant. “We want others to see the joy and wonder that is the ARHS Crusader Marching Band.

With the conclusion of the marching season, the band is looking forward to what is next.

The Winter Concert on Dec. 5 allowed for holiday tunes to spread the Christmas cheer and the second semester is sure to bring with it revitalized spirit for the Band program.

Winter 2021

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Local News

5

Furious flood infiltrates famous Stern Grove

By Claire Ibalio ’22

700,000 gallons of water from a broken valve from a main pipe engulfed the eucalyptus trees and created a tributary of mud, turning the Stern Grove stage into waterfront entertainment.

Located in the heart of Parkside on Sloat Boulevard and 19th Avenue, stretching down to Wawona and 32nd, the beloved Sigmund Stern Grove faces massive erosion problems as walls of mud and capsized trees are left 150 feet below street level from the flooding on August 23.

San Francisco’s Public Utilities Commission, along with a team of geotechnical engineers, biologists, archeologists and arborists, have recently received approval from the district’s supervisor Gordon Mar for an estimated $4 million plan to remove the mud and trees from the stage area in Stern Grove as the 2022 summer concert season slowly approaches.

From the main valve break, the Stern Grove playground and Francis M. McAteer Tennis Courts have been temporarily closed until further notice; however, the dog

park remains open.

Residents in surrounding neighborhoods such as Parkside and Lakeshore have expressed concern about the city’s handling of the clean up of Stern Grove.

Nextdoor user Debbie said, “I think the city is working hard at restoring and rebuilding to make it safe. Although, I don’t know how much priority is being put on this restoration project, I do hope they continue without delays.

There are many impacted by this closure.”

One person who feels the impact is another Nextdoor user, Photo by Nick Kaulfers ’21 Judy Goddess, who said, “Before the pandemic, my husband and A broken valve caused 700,000 gallons of water to pour into Stern Grove.

I - and on occasion, some of our impacted our quality of lives. We time for the summer concert friends - would play pickleball at are a bit older, and this community series.

Stern Grove (the tennis courts does not have many choices of Andrea Pujalor said, “I think converted to pickleball courts five places to play pickleball.” that we last went to Stern Grove mid-days a week).”

Debbie also attended concerts during the summer of 2020. We’ve Debbie also misses using there.

“That serves a large attended the Summer Concerts the park. She said, “I am part of community that can’t afford to there for many years. We got there a community of people (50-60) go to expensive live concerts early in order to save a good spot.” that play pickleball on the tennis and enjoy. It’s been many years She concluded, “So, we were courts at Stern grove. We play that this opportunity has been sad when we learned about the there daily for 3-4 hours per day. provided to SF folks,” she said. flood and the damage caused to The closure of the courts due to Now, people are worried the the grounds of that beautiful flooding behind the courts has work might not be completed in place.”

SFUSD faces flagging finances, board recall

By Edward Ramos ’23

The San Francisco Unified School District has made a plan for massive cuts in order to prevent a state takeover concerning their shortcoming of $125,000,000.

Declining enrollment is the root of this situation and working families and students may feel the extent of the reproach.

According to the SF Chronicle and KTVU, in the last two years $35,000,000 was lost in income with 3,500 students departing from the district.

This means SFUSD is losing approximately $10,000 per student, with plans outlining cuts to staffing in special education and multilingual programs, math class sizes, peer resources, and social emotional support.

Charles Chu ’24, former Lowell student, said, “There definitely were students who needed special attention and didn’t get it.”

If students are already lacking

in attention, textbooks, classroom size, and more, then what are conditions expected to look like after the cuts? Also, it is crucial to keep in mind that Lowell is a top rated public school.

Donald Hodges, who spoke with California Globe stated, “Cuts hurt. They always do. But they just got too big and didn’t think about retraction. They forgot to budget correctly. Now

they’re paying for it,” when speaking in regard to the district.

Companies and wealth leaving the city can also be attributed to the massive missing of the mark.

As taxes rose and the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many people started to leave.

Of course, the camaraderie and diversity of everyone is missed, but truly this school district will feel the loss of not being able to

retrieve their income and funds.

Chu later added, “Students weren’t valued as individuals as much, but rather more of an obligation. Teachers were a lot less likely to ask students about their daily life, they were overall less engaged with the students.”

Some parents agreed, saying that instead of being cared for as individuals, it seems students are valued as the $10,000 they bring into the school budget.

Upcoming on Feb. 15 of 2022, the school board will also be facing a recall election. Recall supporters are angry that schools were closed for almost a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the board was focusing on renaming schools instead of opening them.

SFUSD is in a deep hole, and one they will have a difficult time getting out of. Students, parents, and teachers hope for a positive change for the students, not just for financial support.

into down here,” stated SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin in regards to the frustrating delays, according to KTVU. “We did not know that we would hit an underground river that we would have to contend with. So we knew some things, but we didn’t know everything and that has resulted in about a 15 percent cost overrun.”

Tumlin highlights that because the new stations and rail lines are

among the deepest digs in San Francisco, and it led to unexpected problems, delays and cost overruns stemming from the $1.6 billion project.

One student, Caton DevalSantos ’22, will be one of the many SF citizens who would benefit from the Central Subway. “[It] would really help my commute to school.” He added, “As someone who lives downtown near Westfield Mall, the extension

of the MUNI Metro would help provide quicker access around the most densely populated areas of the city.”

“I can’t wait for the central subway to open!” said mathematics teacher Anne Freeman. “It will help me get around downtown faster.”

The SFMTA said the Central Subway will eventually be an important piece of the city’s transit system.

SFUSD.edu

Central Subway on track for completion

By Joseph Zuloaga ’23

After 11 years of tiring delays and budget issues, the sights and sounds of the bulldozers and heavy machinery on the streets of Downtown San Francisco have now ceased as construction on the MUNI Central Subway system has seemingly achieved “substantial completion” of around 98 percent.

“We did not know the kind of soil that we were going to run

6 National News

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2021

Studies show decline in college enrollment for males

By Sean DiNicola ’22

Originally thought to have been predominantly male, college has taken a different turn as of recently. Enrollment rates for men have been on a steady decline in the last decade and who would’ve thought?

In the 1970s, men made up about 58 percent of the student population while women made up 42 percent, but now the roles have been reversed. Women now make up more than 56 percent of enrollment on campuses nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Last year, U.S. colleges enrolled 1.5 million fewer students than five years ago and men comprised 70 percent of that number.

There are many unknowns, but “I just feel lost” is a common phrase many students have said. Other students, like James Sanchez ’22, commented on why he thinks college enrollment for males has been on a decline.

“A lot of them don’t know what they want later in life and they are pressured into doing college because of their parents.”

There are a few things we do know, at least in the last couple years or so.

The pandemic is one reason for the decline in enrollment for the 2020-21 school year. According to the Wall Street Journal report, almost 700,000 fewer students enrolled in colleges in Spring 2021, compared to 2019 and there were 78 percent fewer men.

Whether or not they will return to school after the pandemic isn’t clear. What is clear is college grads do better financially than those without a degree. According to the report, American college graduates earn more than a million dollars beyond those with only a high school diploma.

It’s interesting, though, that feedback from men interviewed across the U.S. is that they quit school or didn’t enroll because they didn’t see enough value for the time and expense involved.

With all this in mind, the most important question poses itself: how are administrators going to come back from this significant downfall in enrollment? College Counselor Melissa Nagar thinks

Photo by Noah David ’22

Counselor Melissa Nagar helps Sean DiNicola ’22 with his application. that tuition should be more accessible, saying, “College administrators need to look into the cost of higher education in the United States and how to make it more accessible. I also think it’s important for colleges to evaluate the kinds of programs that they are offering students,” she said.

“Offering more experiential hands-on programs might make

college programs more appealing to more kinds of students.”

Colleges have always seen a big gap with more men than women, so it is surprising to see the sides switching. It is unclear if male enrollment numbers will increase in the future, but perhaps after the pandemic ends the numbers will level out and will become more balanced.

Petito story shines light on unhealthy relationships

By Marisa Hamilton ’22

The recent murder of Gabby Petito has started conversations about relationship violence, and how cases of missing people are shared in the media.

Engaged couple Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie left New York on July 2, to begin their four month road trip across the country. One month and 10 days into the vacation, a police officer in Moab, Utah investigated the couple having a physical altercation in their vehicle. No charges were filed upon request of both individuals.

On August 17, Laundrie flew back to the couple’s home in North Port, Florida to get more belongings. He rejoined Petito in Salt Lake City six days after they separated. The next day, on August 24, Petito told her mother they were leaving Utah and going to the Wyoming Teton range, over FaceTime. This would be the last time the mother and daughter would speak on the phone.

Laundrie then hitchhiked to the Spread Creek campsite on August 29. Three days later, on Sept. 1, he returned home without Petito.

Concerned members of Petito’s family questioned where Gabby was and reported her missing to the Suffolk County police on Sept.

11.

Laundrie’s family had not seen

JoinOneLove.org The One Love organization helps people create healthy relationships. him since Sept. 13. As a result, the FBI began to search for both Laundrie and Petito on Sept. 17.

Human remains found in Teton County were confirmed to be Petito’s soon after Sept. 18. One month later on Oct. 21, remains discovered in the Florida Carlton Reserve matched with Laundrie’s DNA. Elizabeth Heuser, Riordan’s

Wellness Director, believes that “we have to rethink about how we participate as a society in letting these things happen.” She continued, “One thing that can be done is to try to find out if [abuse victims] need help. It’s hard to do but that’s what these training organizations are for, like One Love and RAINN.” Natalie Martinez ’22, One Love

student ambassador, added, “It all really depends on the circumstance of their situation and who their support system is, but making sure they connect with the hotlines or advocates who will help them implement a plan so they may leave the relationship safely.”

Petito’s case has also informed more people about “missing white woman syndrome,” a term that describes how missing young white women recieve more news coverage than missing people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Bay Area journalist Frank Sommerville criticized this disparity on KTVU and was suspended for calling attention to this issue, according to media reports.

Raquel Oliva-Gomez, Wellness Club moderator, shared her reaction.

“That is really upsetting to me because they are silencing him, and he has a platform to be able to raise this awareness...I think that part of it is that because it’s on social media or it’s on the news I feel that there is still some deep seated racism that happens.”

Spreading awareness about all missing people, and accessible resources are important elements of decreasing domestic violence.

With these tools, many believe cases like Gabby Petito’s can become preventable.

Winter 2021

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

State News

7

In-N-Out vaccine compliance called into question

By William Ortiz ’22

Despite receiving many warnings from San Francisco’s health department, one of California’s most well known burger chains, In-N-Out, had one of its restaurants shut down on Oct. 14 after failing multiple times to follow the city’s indoor vaccination mandate.

Located in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, this In-NOut location had reportedly not been checking the vaccination cards of customers who dined inside the restaurant.

Since August of this year, the city has required full proof of vaccination in order to enter public spaces, including bars, and restaurants.

City officials first visited the restaurant after receiving a nonemergency 311 complaint about the restaurant not following the mandate.

It has been reported that public health officials had warned the In-N-Out location several times about following the vaccination mandate, though the restaurant did not comply.

“It surprised me to hear that

Photo by William Ortiz ’22 In-N-Out was cited by the city health department for failing to comply with city guildines in regards to the indoor dining vaccination mandate.

In-N-Out was not checking community.” vaccine cards as it was a mandate,” This isn’t purely out of said Cole Anderson ’22, one of randomness, however. In-N-Out Riordan’s student body presidents has now had a history of going and current In-N-Out employee against health officials and laws at one of their Daly City locations. all across California in the past, “It is upsetting to hear that they such as in Contra Costa, and now closed down because it hurts the increasing the tension after this company but it protects the incident in their San Francisco

location.

Anderson added, “I think it is unsafe to be against something that is made to protect our community as a whole. I think that it could have been done, being that they always have someone posted in the dining room.”

In-N-Out’s Chief Legal and Business Officer, Arnie Wensinger, has spoken out about this incident and has stated that they “refuse to become the vaccination police for any government.”

The company argues that it is not fair for the government to ask private businesses to enforce the vaccine mandate, and how it is a form of government overreach.

Health officials have tried to assure restaurants and citizens that many businesses are following the mandate, and they want to emphasize the effectiveness of the regulations during the pandemic.

Anderson added, “I think InN-Out should be doing a better job since we pride ourselves on being the best and serving the best quality.”

California offers bilingual ballots to all voters

By Charles Chu ’24

During the 2020 election, mail-in ballots were the source of controversy with widespread accusations of voter fraud.

Despite these doubts, members of the Riordan community still believe in the effectiveness of mail in voting.

Zaheer Young ’24 said, “I plan on voting by mail in 2024, as I believe that it is a trustworthy method and the rumors are false.”

Lucca Chemla ’24 said, “Voting by mail seems to be a better option, since it is more convenient and still secure.”

Overall, mail-in ballots are proven to be a safe and effective method to vote. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) stated, “There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in

California voters will now receive mail-in ballots offered in a variety of different languages. any way compromised.”

Bilingual ballots are an option for voters who prefer to use another language. These ballots were not subject to as much controversy, and have proven to be an effective method of voting. Some may have concerns that these ballots can result in poor translation, however there have been no major issues

recorded.

In addition to mail-in voting, online voting is currently being speculated as a potential option for future elections.

Security concerns are the biggest issue with the possibility of online voting, as hacking and foreign interference are major threats. Supporters of online

Advertise with The Crusader

voting see it as a more convenient and efficient option if it can be completely secure, and it could potentially increase voting rates.

Despite some controversy, mail-in and bilingual ballots are both viable options to vote, and online voting has some potential in the future.

Become a Patron of The Crusader

8 Arts & Entertainment

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2021

Travis Scott’s Astroworld ends in tragedy

By Grayson Salomon ’22 “Eight dead, 300 injured in mass casualty event in Houston,” read several headlines all over media outlets after Travis Scott’s Third Annual “Astroworld Festival” that took place on Nov. 5, 2021.

What was meant to be the two-day epic closer to Travis Scott’s fundraising “Astro Week” in Houston ended in mayhem as many people were left with injuries and some were horrifically crushed and suffered cardiac arrest in the crowd.

The festival featured a star studded lineup, with several different artists of all genres.

From similar rappers like Roddy Ricch and Baby Keem to artists you wouldn’t expect like Bad Bunny, Tame Impala and even Earth Wind & Fire.

Unfortunately, fans didn’t get to see any of these artists perform after the tragedy and chaos that broke out during Travis’s headliner performance on day one.

At around 8:45 pm, when Travis was slated to perform, a mass surge of about 40-50 thousand people rushed the main stage to get close to the rail for an up close view of the Houston native. The surge caused thousands of people to get quite literally squished and left immobile the crowd.

Raiyan Hassan ’23, a show attendee from Bellflower, CA,

described what he saw.

“I realized people started pushing us at the front from the back as people were coming in from the last couple performances,” said Hassan.

“It really got hectic at that time,” he continued. “I didn’t know whether I should be excited or scared. I was seeing extremely happy faces with a mix of scared/ nervous ones. When there was 10 minutes left, I remember a person around my age yelling out ‘Let me out I can’t breathe! I can’t move please!’ I swear to God, when the timer hit 5 minutes, that was when I genuinely noticed this is NOT a normal concert,” recalled Hassan.

He continued, “After only 50 seconds of trying to stand and stay still, I ended up falling like a domino on top of others, eventually getting piled under.

My first instinct like any other person would be to get out, so I tried kicking the person off on top of me. The individual on top of me was pretty big, but from the pressure I felt another person on top of him falling.”

He added, “I remember the whole ground shaking, red lights, and from the tiny air gaps I was able to breathe through, Travis performing like crazy, and loud cries of help.”

After 10 minutes of being dog piled in the crowd, Hassan described being picked up by

another attendee in the festival and being crowd surfed all the way to the barricade in the back.

“The things I saw were really traumatizing.

I saw so many people just screaming, passed out and dead bodies on the ground getting stomped on,” Hassan remembered.

Travis Scott is known for his high energy, “rage-fueled” shows and encourages his fans, “ragers,” to get wild when in the crowd. He has a history of this, as he was arrested back in 2015 at Lollapalooza for “inciting a riot” when encouraging fans to hop the fence of the General Admission section.

He was also arrested in 2017 during his “Bird’s Eye View Tour” stop in Arkansas, for the same reason. Also worth noting is the fact that every year, fans storm and tear down the fence outside of the festival, hours prior to the festival gates opening, bypassing the security.

Scott usually takes care of his fans however, and will stop the show if he sees anyone in need of aid. He did stop the show multiple times to aid fans, however he claims he was “unaware” of the tragedy that was unfolding as he continued his hour and 45 minute performance. There is a video

Photo by Raiyan Hassan ’23 Astroworld ended in tragedy. circulating where Travis sees an EMT cart in the crowd, acknowledges it, and continues his performance, even bringing out superstar artist Drake towards the end of the show.

Although it might look like Travis holds most of the blame, people are also shifting the blame towards the crowd. In another video, one can see that fans hopped on top of an EMT cart, dancing as Scott performed.

For the complete story, please scan this code and read it on our website.

Outside Lands returns to outside venue with COVID precautions

By Talia Bumanglag ’24

After a year of waiting, Outside Lands is back and in full swing!

Outside Lands is an arts and music festival held yearly in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The first ever festival was in 2008, and ever since then, Outside Lands has gained popularity throughout the Bay Area.

In recent years, the festival has had to adapt to restrictions due to COVID-19, by delaying the festival in 2020 and later changing to an online experience. However, with vaccine and negative COVID test requirements, the public now has the opportunity to enjoy the festival in-person. I was able to see first hand how exciting and enthralling the festival was.

COVID restrictions limited many opportunities for live performances, and because of that, Outside Lands last year was streamed instead. This year however, we were back in person with the encouragement of masks. The air was buzzing with excitement from people being able to finally see their favorite artists after a year of quarantine.

The people working at the festival were very inviting, and

Photo by Talia Bumanglag ’24

Lizzo was one of many performers at this year’s Outside Lands. everyone was really enthusiastic and funny costumes all weekend, about being back. Tents full of and some had very well thoughtfood and drinks were lined up out group costumes as well. around the park, each having Huge crowds of people different varieties to choose from. surrounded almost every stage, The food itself was amazing, and and there were also some there were some tents with cool people who sat on blankets on drinks such as boba or alcoholic the hillsides, too. The setup of drinks for adults, that looked Outside Lands is similar to many delicious as well. other major music festivals, in In previous years, Outside which there are multiple stages Lands was held in the summer with different acts performing at during August, but this year it the same time. Because of this, was held on Halloween weekend. time collisions between artists A majority of the people were that you would like to see is dressed extravagantly in beautiful possible.

Depending on the stage’s lineup, securing a good spot early on was key to being able to see your favorite artist close up.

There were lots of underground artists, such as Boy Pablo, 070 Shake, and Post Animal, that played during the day, but the night was when the bigger and more popular artists performed.

The Strokes, 24kGoldn, Tyler, The Creator, Lizzo, ZHU, ARIZONA, J Balvin, Kehlani and Tame Impala were some of the most popular artists this year.

Every act was unique and captured everyone’s attention to the point where no one wanted their set to end. People danced and sang while music blared through the air; the environment was exhilarating.

If you’ve never been to a music festival, Outside Lands is the perfect place to start because of the overall good vibes coming from everywhere throughout the park.

It was a long weekend, packed with many new adventures and memories that were created. The environment, the food, the people, and especially the artists made the whole event very special and enjoyable.

Arts & Entertainment 9

Winter 2021

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

‘A Christmas Carol’ captures holiday spirit

By Anderson Ortiz ’22

In production since August, “A Christmas Carol” was a wellperformed play that introduced the Riordan community back into theater since it went on pause due to the pandemic.

Producing a play after almost two years of being separated from others is a task that surely takes time, readjusting, and a great deal of work.

That task was executed amazingly by Riordan’s cast and crew. Starting production in August and working long hours since then, a lot went into producing this play from everyone involved.

Arianna Jaboneta ’23, an actor in the play, said, “There is so much that goes into preparing a play. Ms P. rewrote the entire script herself, we had four hour rehearsals every day, the costumers have been finding costumes, and the sound and light people have been designing for months.”

From actors memorizing their lines and practicing their delivery as well as understanding their character’s personality and importance, to stage crew having to design the sets and practice switching between those sets to Drama Director Stefania Pierucci

Photo by Sophia Carrasquilla ’22 Gina Zevallos ’23, Abby Donovan ’22, Siobahn LaRocca ’23, Diane Lai ICA ’24 and Lancelot Givant ’23 performed in the winter play. re-writing the script on her own, a lot of hard work and dedication went into this play.

All that work shined through to the audience on Dec. 3, opening night, when an almost flawlessly executed rendition of the play was performed for many of Riordan’s families and students.

I went into the play with only moderate expectations, rationalizing that this was just a high school play and not only that, but the first live play since the

pandemic had started, but my expectations were met and far surpassed by the performance.

Firstly, I was impressed by the characters, especially Abby Donovan’s performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, Andrei Lynch’s rendition of Jacob Marley, and Gina Zevallos’ near perfect execution playing the Ghost of Christmas Present. The whole cast did amazing jobs in capturing their characters’ spirits but those three in particular stood out to me

as great casting choices that really fulfilled the role of their characters.

Their costumes, accents, and the dedication from the actors to really capture the personality of their characters was very well done. Secondly, the stage crew worked very effectively in transitioning from scene to scene and with the addition of the live band playing during these transitions, every switch between settings seemed almost seamless.

Not to mention the set designs looked very well made and fitting for the play.

Throughout the play the live band managed to really capture the tone of every scene through the music and the lighting added to this effect, really setting the serious or light hearted tones of the various scenes in the play.

Lastly, the pacing of the story was handled well. Despite the almost two hour performance, the show never felt slow or drawn out.

It was clear from the start that a lot of passion and dedication went into giving the audience a performance they are not likely to forget. For anyone that enjoys a well done theatrical performance, this is one I can confidently recommend.

Wonder Woman lassoes 80th year

By Katelyn Leong ’25

DC’s Wonder Woman has been a global icon, a role model, and a hero to millions of people for 80 years.

She has made a long lasting impact on society in a multitude of ways, inspiring children and adults alike of all ages and races all over the world.

“I adore the Wonder Woman character. As a girl growing up in the 80s, I was drawn to her physical strength, secret identity, and superhero status. She made girls feel as though they could do anything, and she still does! To me, this is why her character has been so popular for so long. Her backstory is fascinating, too,” said Diana Assereto, long-time avid Wonder Woman fan and one of Riordan’s English teachers.

She was created by William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton) and artist Harry G. Peter.

Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8, which was published on Oct. 21, 1941. The heroine’s first live action appearance was in 1975 on the television series Wonder Woman and was portrayed by Lynda Carter.

She continued to appear in comics, animated series, and animated movies, but it wasn’t until June 2, 2017 that this superhero finally got her very own movie in the critically acclaimed “Wonder Woman” blockbuster film, portrayed by Gal Gadot.

DCComics.com Wonder Woman is celebrating her 80th year.

To celebrate Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary, DC honored the Princess of Themyscira’s legacy with “Wonder Woman Day,” celebrating with all sorts of festivities. The Comic-Con Character Hall of Fame virtually inducted Wonder Woman on Oct. 21.

In honor of this admired heroine, DC and Warner Bros. also collaborated with the City of Burbank, to unveil a statue of the superhero in

Burbank, CA. The Wonder Woman statue, based on a DC Direct statue by acclaimed Wonder Woman cover artist Jenny Frison and digitally sculpted by John Gabriel Mathews, will be revealed in 2022 by Visit Burbank in partnership with DC. DC continued to celebrate the superhero’s 80th anniversary and her societal impact across comics, film, and television with a lineup of new publishing releases, partnerships with international designers and premier partners, and initiatives.

In addition, the global icon’s 80th anniversary was celebrated all over the world in places like the U.K., Italy, Spain, France, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. This shows just how impactful Wonder Woman has been to millions world-wide for 80 years.

Wonder Woman has remained a cultural phenomenon and role model to many people. Her character has blazed the trail for future heroines to come, continuing to inspire and remaining the beacon of hope to many, whether it be on a comic book page or on the silver screen.

Not only is it her character that makes Wonder Woman so iconic and beloved, but what she represents: truth, strength, compassion, and justice that inspires people and this is why so many fans of all genders, ages, and races join together in celebration to say, “Happy 80th Birthday, Wonder Woman!”

10 Science

Winter 2021

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Distorted dreams develop during COVID

By Naomi Lin ’24

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly triggered feelings of anxiety and stress for many around the globe.

Whether it is the fear of unknowingly being in close proximity to a person who carries the virus, or potentially contracting the virus and suffering the lethal consequences, the extent of fears regarding COVID-19 are endless.

The anxiety-inducing pandemic has created countless reports of nightmares and shockingly vivid dreams.

According to Wellness and Support Counselor, Elizabeth Heuser, there is a rise in nightmares. She said, “Doctors and psychologists reported an uptick in dreams about pandemicrelated fears: bug infestations, invisible monsters, contagious workplaces and schools, and getting sick in crowds. There

were also more vivid dreams with old memories resurfacing due to people living in lockdown isolation as well. Healthcare workers reported having war-zone level traumatic nightmares.”

Edward Ramos ’23 described his experiences with vivid dreams. He said, “The past few days I’ve been having very vivid dreams. It just started, so I’m not sure if it has to do with the pandemic but it could have to do with stress. Probably because of finals week and all the stress from that. COVID does play a role in how school works, so I guess it kind of connects.”

To explain why these abnormal dreams occur Heuser stated, “If things are more bizarre or stressful in real life, they will often be reflected in our subconscious mind and may surface when we sleep, possibly for our brains to work out how to prepare for scenarios we fear or feel unsettled

Pixabay via Creative Commons Many people have been experiencing anxiety-laced dreams, possibly because of the stress and fear related to COVID.

by.”

Heuser suggested in order to reduce the effects of stress and anxiety that permeates into our everyday lives, we must limit screen time.

“Get off screens one two hours before bed and read a book, journal, and turn down lights so it is time to wind down… and get your 8-10 hours a night!”

Discovery of oldest human footprints steps into past

By Nicolo Ricci ’24

A shocking new discovery has the world’s scientific community in awe. Record breaking fossilized footprints have recently been discovered in White Sands National Park in New Mexico. They were left as long as 23,000 years ago, just about 10,000 years older than the most recent discovery in the region.

These prints were found when researchers in New Mexico noticed signs of fossils that were partially revealed by erosion. They dug a trench through the park’s playa, or dried up lakes, to further investigate their findings.

Across multiple sediment layers, they found numerous footprints belonging to children ranging from 7 to 16 years old who were likely gathering food for their tribe, as suggested by researchers.

History teacher Chris Fern described how people from this era would have survived.

“Native peoples all over the world were hunter-foragers 20,000 years ago regardless of location as it was before the development of agriculture. People would have eaten local plants and animals in their area,” he explained.

Accompanying these prehistoric footprints were seeds that fossilized in the same way.

Using a method known as radiocarbon dating, scientists could calculate the age of the seeds, and thus calculate the age of the closeby footprints. The most recent of the seeds is approximately 21,130 years old and the oldest being approximately 22,860 years old.

The implications of such a finding are still being debated, but in any case, it surely shakes up the previous understanding of human history in North America.

NationalParkService.gov

Ancient footprints, found in New Mexico, are defying what scientists previously thought in regards to human occupation of North America.

Mars Rover makes puzzling revelation

By Anthony Chan ’24

On July 30, 2020, NASA dispatched a Rover onto the terrestrial planet of Mars. On Nov. 9, the robot unearthed a riveting detail in a rock that has provoked a torrent of equally captivating, if not overly comically, rumors and speculations.

The objective for the Rover, short for Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver, was to gather rock samples, suitable for examination on Earth, and find possible indications of ancient life on Mars.

The Rover, affectionately named “Perseverance” or “Percy” for short, has been on the rocky planet for more than 200 days.

However, it has now uncovered what’s beneath the surface of one of Mars’s vast wastelands of rocks.

Scanning the dusty surface, the Rover found a set of layered rocks, which are a key part of sedimentary formation For context, sediment is silk, mud, and goop, all affected by water sources. When this water supply is drained away, the sediment is left to crush down on itself, squeezing itself together until eventually, the water is completely dissolved and a sedimentary rock is formed.

These layers imply water or some form of liquid has come into contact with the rocks on Mars.

Upon closer inspection, the

Rover scraped away a part of the stones, revealing a cluster of concentrated minerals and sediments. The robot took several photos of the inside and published it to the public. Yet, upon a closer look, the photos appear to have two white dots that look like arrows mixed in with the consecration, which has led some people to believe it could be a sign of alien life.

On the official Twitter page of NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover, one person tweeted in response to the photo asking if the arrow has any significance. “I’m curious, is this small white arrow pointing at anything interesting? Or is it just a small white triangular speck in

the rock?” Another jokingly replied, “Definitely a tiny white alien.”

While NASA has not officially stated what is exactly in the photo, some have speculated that the Rover Scientists were annotating key features in the rock and forgot to remove the symbols before releasing it to the public.

If this is evidence that aliens are real or not, the layered rocks have given more supporting evidence that Mars contains water and could possibly have a sustainable environment like Earth. Maybe one day, it can be inhabitable and we can all call it a second home.

Winter 2021

Health 11

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Third shot helps boost immunity for vaccinated persons

By Andrei Lynch ’22

The third time’s a charm.

Booster shots are now available at nearby pharmacies for free.

They help prevent a patient from getting severe COVID symptoms and an added protection against the Omicron variant.

Johns Hopkins Medical Center explained via their website, “A COVID booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine given after the protection provided by the original shot(s) has begun to decrease over time. The booster is designed to help people maintain their level of immunity for longer.”

CDC guidelines recommend booster shots for vaccinated individuals who got their second dose six months ago, are 65 or older, those with underlying conditions, and finally, teachers.

Those 18+ are also recommended to get their booster if they work in places with spreadable conditions.

If you got the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, the CDC recommends that everyone get a booster shot two months after their initial shot.

State governments have also told people to get booster shots to be considered fully vaccinated and require travelers to be.

The CDC recommends that

The COVID-19 vaccine is available at several locations in the Bay Area. teachers also get a booster. Many Riordan teachers have obtained their booster shot or are still in the process of getting theirs.

Julia Stricker-Balistreri, Science Department Chair, got hers right after it came out at Walgreens. Her reasoning for getting the booster is, “I am a big fan of being as protected as much

as possible against any sort of virus/disease/etc.”

Sabrina Andreatta, ASL teacher, will get her booster shot before Christmas, anywhere she can get one. “It couldn’t hurt to be extra cautious and safe, especially during the winter season where many people tend to catch a common cold or flu.”

SFFreeClinic.org

Armando Castillo, World Languages Chair, is excited to get his from Kaiser Permanente.

He wants the shot “not to be immunocompromised.”

There are bound to be side effects, including exhaustion, fever, and a sore arm, but those depend on the individual and may prove the vaccine is working.

Children ages 5 to 11 get their shot at COVID vaccine

By Evan Wallis ’22

On Nov. 2, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky officially endorsed the recommendation that children 5-11 are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19.

This means that as the fear of a winter surge of cases sweeps the nation, an extra 28 million people across the country will have the possibility of becoming fully vaccinated.

“Getting the shot is so important,” said Raymond Ponce ’22, who’s visiting younger cousins over break. “It makes me feel safer so I can be with my family over Christmas break.”

Some are hesitant to let their children get the vaccine, out of fear of adverse health effects.

Richard Sylvester ’01, an English teacher at Riordan, approached the issue methodically when it

Photo by Gloria Salomon Children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.

came to vaccinating his 6-year-old son.

“I talked to family members with kids to see what their plans were,” Sylvester said. “After that I was leaning towards it, but I did a little research on the internet about data, possible side effects, and effectiveness of the vaccine first before scheduling his appointment.

According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine has undergone the most “intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history,” and is promised to be safe and effective.

“My son was pretty nervous about getting vaccinated on the drive to Kaiser,” said Sylvester, “but when he saw all the other kids in line, he felt a lot better.”

At home in California, Marin County leads the state in 5-11 vaccination rates, with 51 percent

of eligible children having obtained one of the two doses.

Marin County Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis said rolling out the vaccines as soon as possible was “a really high priority for us,” according to an article in The Mercury News.

San Francisco is a relatively close second, with 32 percent of eligible 5-11 year olds receiving at least one shot.

The city credits its “robust, low-barrier vaccine distribution network,” according to the San Francisco Department of Health.

This new vaccine eligibility couldn’t come at a better time as the intimidating Omicron variant sweeps the globe.

“This new vaccine eligibility is important,” said Ponce. “I want everyone to have a safe and fun break.”

Pope Francis to journalists at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic: “During the current crisis, we need good, free journalism that serves all people, especially those who do not have a voice: journalism that is dedicated to the search for truth and which opens paths toward communion and peace.”

12 Features

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2021

Crusader sword dredged from depths of history

By Gabriella Tapia ’25

When Shlomi Katzin, a native of Atlit, Israel, went on a weekend diving trip in a cove located in Haifa, Israel, he did not expect to find a 900-year-old crusader sword among the sands of the Mediterranean Sea. On his diving trip, he found it in the sand and to try and save it from being washed away, he brought it ashore and turned it over to Israel’s Antiquities Authority.

The IAA discovered that the sword is completely made of iron and it’s clearly visible in pictures that it has been fully covered by different marine organisms such as shells, mollusks, and all sorts of things.

This sword was dated back to the era of the Crusades and it was said that it was owned by a crusader sailing to the Holy Land.

Experts suspect that it was found there after King Richard I lead a militia against the Muslim sultan Saladin after the sultan

retook Jerusalem back from the European nations in 1187 along the Israeli coast.

History teacher Mike Kennedy cited that there could have been several reasons for a crusader to be going to the Holy Land.

Such as “religious reasons passed an indulgence that if you fought some of your sins would be forgiven, and Europe was kind of a backwater and was involved in trade there, or exploring the Holy Land.”

But, archaeologist Rafi Lewis claims that swords like the one that was found didn’t come into existence until the time of the Vikings in the 14th century.

Shlomi Katzin / Israel Antiquities Authority The cove that it was found in is near a port city and archaeologists A diver found this 900-year-old sword that dates back to the Crusades. had already been studying and observing this area because it was used to house ships thousands of the cove. pottery. years ago so it could be home to Kennedy said that “What they These discoveries are truly many more discoveries just like find depends on how long it was amazing and soon anyone will this one. used.” be able to see them. The IAA And, along with interchanging As proof, Katzin didn’t just find plans to clean and study the ocean currents, it makes it more a sword. He also found a trove of sword and then put it on display likely for people to find things in treasures that held anchors and for the public to see.

Student sells shoes to satisfy soles

By Normay Arriola ’24

Ezekiel Natorilla ’24, also known as Zeke, is a sophomore at Riordan and repairs shoes to resell.

Zeke came up with the idea of repairing shoes by making a business to make his own money: “I just kept asking my parents for money and thought of making my own business, which is repairing and selling shoes, so I can stop asking and begging my parents for money. I started off selling one of my old pairs of shoes then went from there.”

Zeke’s passion is collecting shoes, particularly Kobes and Jordans. Because he has a large collection, he was inspired by other shoe collectors to sell new and refurbished shoes. The process of refurbishing shoes includes buying a pair of shoes for a reasonable price; restoring it by cleaning, repairing, or icing them; then selling them by posting on various platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Offerup, and Instagram.

Hector Castaneda ’24 said, “@ dripp.reportt on Instagram, also known as Zeke, is a very good shoe cleaner and reseller. I trust him with cleaning my shoes and hitting me with some steals that are 100 percent authentic shoes.

Zeke always has my shoes looking clean and icy with his new icing machine.”

He added, “I would 100 percent recommend him to anyone looking to get their shoes cleaned

Photo by Ezekiel Natorilla ’24 Ezekiel “Zeke” Natorilla ’24 refurbished these Jordan 11 Concords as part of his business to fix and resell shoes.

or to buy shoes.”

For him, repairing shoes is both a business and a hobby. Zeke not only has a shoe repair

business, but also a clothing business.

“My other business is called KlutchSF, my clothing brand,”

he said. I started off by making that to help my parents pay for my tuition. So far it’s going pretty well. It’s mainly based on basketball so making clothing based off of shorts and shirts.”

Since he plays basketball, he needs many basketball shorts, which inspired him to sell shorts and shirts since his friends like to buy them.

Samuel Sales III ’24 said, “The KlutchSF shorts I bought had amazing quality along with a great feel. The shorts have nicelooking designs to go along with the great feel. They are great for sports and great for casual and everyday wear. I recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable and comfortable pair of shorts.”

His friends have also been inspired to start selling shoes online, particularly on Instagram and other platforms.

Zeke has assisted them in learning how to source and refurbish shoes, as well as sharing some marketing strategies for selling shoes online.

He said, “It makes me happy that I am able to inspire and help my friends make money on their own.”

With KlutchSF, he’s starting small and hopes to grow the business in the future. To do so, he ensures that his Instagram interaction is active and engaging.

Zeke said, “It’s challenging at first to start an online business, but with determination and hard work, there is no way but up.”

Winter 2021

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Sports Features 13

Posey puts glove down after 12 seasons

By Santino Woo ’22

After 12 memorable seasons with the San Francisco Giants, 34-year-old Buster Posey announced his retirement from baseball on Nov. 4.

Posey’s announcement came as a bit of a surprise as he recorded one of his greatest seasons ever during the 2020-2021 season. He opted out of the 2019-2020 season due to COVID-19 and to have surgery for his hip. With that much-needed rest and the desire to prove he could still play at an elite level, Posey made his longawaited return and immediately made his presence felt.

After his worst season in 2019, Posey clearly proved the doubters wrong by hitting .304 and having an OPS of .889, the second-highest of his career, propelling him to win the 2021 NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Posey has definitely stamped his name as a legend in San Francisco, helping to bring three world championships to the city,

being named an MVP of the league, and winning Silver Slugger awards.

Posey’s greatness has brought so many memorable moments in San Francisco and long-time Giants fan and Archbishop Riordan student Brendan Passanisi-Boullet ’22 shared his thoughts about Posey’s retirement.

“Buster Posey was just the guy when I was growing up,” he said.

“Not only was he one of the best catchers in the league, but he was such a role model in how he handled himself. Not to mention, he was the cornerstone of our team when we won the three World Series in six years, which was the coolest thing ever. So, hearing about his retirement is really sad especially knowing that he definitely still has gas left in the tank but at the end of the day, he has his reasons and all we can do is appreciate the greatness he brought to our city.”

When he announced his

mlb.com Buster Posey retired after the 2021 baseball season after 12 years. retirement, Posey stated that he endured a lot of pain in his legs during his final season as a result of his catching for so many years.

During his life after baseball, he intends to move back to his home in Georgia and spend some quality time with his family.

He even hinted at possibly coming back to the Giants organization for a front office or coaching position.

Buster Posey will always be loved in San Francisco and I think I speak for every San Franciscan when I say, “Thank you, Buster.”

however, because it’s a nonbinding vote, the relocation is still not confirmed.

The A’s have received numerous offers from companies in Las Vegas for land to build a new ballpark. One is on the site of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, and is a contender for the A’s location, though there is still a strong desire to remain in Oakland.

Fans received a survey recently about the A’s potential move to Las Vegas. The survey asked about interest in attending games in Las Vegas, design ideas for the stadium, opinions about moving, and overall thoughts regarding the team.

San Francisco graphic designer, Kyle Tellier, mocked up a uniform and logo of the “Las Vegas A’s,” which has recently attracted a lot of attention.

Tellier said, “They have the history with the ‘A’ insignia (and the elephant) always being part of their branding. Moving to Vegas, naturally we all think of gambling. I felt the dice was a nice compliment, bringing a new, modern feel to the team, but also keeping the A’s legacy.”

Nevertheless, Tellier isn’t too fond about the A’s moving to Las Vegas. He said, “The City of

Oakland and the MLB needs to work something out. Las Vegas is a city of visitors and tourists, not a baseball city. People aren’t rooted in the city and culture, like how they are in Oakland, New York, or cities like Chicago and St. Louis.”

A’s fan Brady Nemes ’24 was sad at the thought of the A’s potentially moving to Vegas.

He said, “I love the A’s, but it just wouldn’t be the same if they moved and were renamed The Las Vegas A’s. Oakland doesn’t deserve to lose another pro team, since they already lost the Raiders and Warriors. I hope they do stay in Oakland.”

For now, the A’s will continue to pursue the Oakland project and the Las Vegas alternative.

Next, the officials will negotiate terms and will vote on a final Term Sheet at the end of the year.

Varsity Basketball Player Marcellus Edwards ’22 predicted, “With the early success, I think the Warriors will finish as a top 3 seed in the Western Conference.”

With this burst of success, taking a look at this underdog group, there have been many key components to this unexpected start.

First, from a defensive standpoint, the Warriors have suffocated offenses, as seen with their defensive rating of 100.0 and average of 9.8 steals a game, accredited to spiritual heart of the team, Draymond Green, and key players, such as Andre Iguodala and Gary Payton II, with their

unmatched grit and grind.

On the flashier offensive side, we find Golden State with an average of 112.9 points and 29.3 assists per game, the most in the league, led by the consistent Andrew Wiggins, and a breakout season from Jordan Poole, both averaging 19.1 and 18.4 points per game, respectively. Most of all though, with continued wizardry and dominance, team captain Stephen Curry is on track for his third MVP award of his career, with averages of 28.4 points and 6.6 assists per game.

Warrior-faithful David Lin ’99 said, “Wiggins has always been a great offensive player, and the

Oakland A’s pitch plan to move to Las Vegas

By Ethan Vargas ’23

The Oakland Athletics’ RingCentral Coliseum has been home to the Oakland A’s Major League Baseball team since 1968.

The team’s current contract with the coliseum runs through 2024, and when that contract expires, they will likely relocate to Las Vegas, or stay in Oakland and create a new ballpark.

The A’s are still negotiating terms, with a final vote at the end of the year, but the two most apparent options for their destinations are a new spot in Oakland, and a ballpark in Vegas.

In October, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors tentatively approved a key part of the A’s financing plan for the new ballpark by the waterfront.

The yes vote was a step towards keeping the A’s in Oakland;

Graphic by Kyle Tellier

This graphic is an idea of what the A’s new logo might look like.

Warriors start new season with big splash

By Noah David ’22

After two disappointing seasons hindered by injuries and a lack of chemistry, and a heartbreaking end to a hopeful 2020-2021 season, analysts and fans speculated what the Golden State Warriors’ identity would truly be heading into this season.

While few were optimistic about the Dubs, many others projected the team to be mediocre, as they believed their best years were behind them. However, with their 15-2 start and finding them at the top of the NBA standings, many people are changing their minds about this group playing with a chip on their shoulder.

nba.com

Steph Curry makes his move. veterans Iguodala and Nemanja Bjelica are going to be good.

Curry will always be Curry. But my breakout players are Jordan Poole and Gary Payton II. We have some great pieces—it’s gonna be a scary sight.”

14 Sports

Winter 2021

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

CCS qualifiers represent Riordan with calming courage

By Finnbarr Harrington ’24

This semester the Archbishop Riordan Varsity Cross Country Team had a season to remember.

The team won the WCAL title, placed 3rd in CCS, and qualified for state for the first time since 2016.

The star studded team was led

by Collin Murtagh ’22 and Daphne Batmale ’25 with many resilient teammates who battled through injuries and other challenges.

The Cross Country Crusaders had a successful season indeed.

For the men, Murtagh led the way, putting up great times throughout the season and placed in the top 20 out of almost 100 runners in the CCS competition.

Murtagh even managed to shatter the old Crusader Cross Country record, with a time of 15:10 at the Lowell Invitational. He also showed great leadership for the Cross Country team.

For the women, Batmale showed poise and determination in her meets, with a great time of 20 min 34 seconds for the 5k meter (3.1 mi) distance for the CIF State competition. This time earned her 104th place out of 200 plus runners. It was a great finish for the first woman Crusader to compete in the CIF State Meet.

Coach Benny Willers ’08 said, “Daphne is smart, strong, and has the ability to run under extreme

pressure. This is so impressive being she’s only a freshman.

Collin is selfless, disciplined, and a true leader. Despite a two-week middle of the season injury, he stayed positive and led his team to CCS and State while not 100 percent.”

Willers added, “The rest of the team also made a lot of sacrifices. Sophomore Will Parker ran injured at the CCS meet and without his standout performance the team would not have qualified for State. Kudos to the rest of our team as well. I can’t wait to pick up from where we left off.”

Riordan Cross Country has a great history of alumni stepping up and giving back to the school by coaching. The current coach, Willers, is no stranger to having successful cross country and track teams.

In 2016, Coach Willers led his team through league competition and helped the team to earn a spot in the coveted CIF state competition.

Willers said, “First off, we made it to State! I think this is big time since it’s been five years since we’ve made it as a team. Second, our Varsity teams competed really well throughout the season although they had to battle a lot of diversity throughout the way.

Their ability to stay composed and optimistic was impressive.

Photo by Will Parker ’24

Collin Murtagh ’22 continues to set a pace for a historic season.

The amount of selfliness I witnessed this season was unbelievable! And lastly, we fielded a Varsity girls team for the first time ever at the CCS meet and had our first female runner ever qualify for the State meet!”

The Riordan Crusader Cross

Country team is likely to continue to put together a strong team going into next year’s competitions. With the support of many alumni, who are frequent supporters and spectators at the meets, there is no shortage of Crusader pride to root on student athletes.

First female footballer finds fame

By Mahkai Hunt ’23

History is in the making at the R. This past football season, Riordan had their first ever female football player to play for Varsity!

Ashanti Dias ’24, but most people at school know her as Nuni, is a sophomore and has a love for sports. She is also the starting point guard on the Varsity girls basketball team and has been on Varsity since she was a freshman.

Dias talked about her desire to play football and her journey through the process, saying, “What made me want to play football was watching my older brothers play Pop Warner. I used to be on the sideline wishing I could play but I was too young.”

She continued, “When I got old enough to play Pop Warner I tried out for the San Francisco Junior 49ers Tiny Mites, and everyone was impressed because I played harder than most of the boys.”

Coach Brian Davis said, “She practiced hard, never complained and did not ask for special treatment. She played in the Tam

Ashanti Dias ’24 has been playing football Photo by Rizlin Jew ’22 since she was a child. game and in five minutes of play opportunity and made the most of in the fourth quarter she had it.” four tackles and an interception, Donovan McClain ’23 at sealing the victory.”

Riordan said, “Ashanti is one of Coach Ed Beteta ’85, JV Head the most fun people that I have Coach and Special Teams coach for ever played with and she always Varsity, said her presence on the comes to practice and games with field was inspiring. “If you want a positive attitude.” something bad enough, go out Dias added, “What motivated and get it. Ashanti loves playing me to keep playing football was I football and all she wanted was a found out I was good at it, and it shot to play. She received that was good to show to people just

because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I’m not capable or that I’m weak, and I found football was actually fun.”

Dias plays a variety of sports besides football such as basketball and track. Her family’s encouragement is a factor in her success, she said.

“The support I got from family and friends was that everyone believed in me. They were excited for me, encouraged me to keep going even if it got hard, and to have fun.”

Being the only girl on a football team has its challenges, but Dias was not swayed by fear or stereotypes.

“I did not feel intimidated by the boys because I have brothers and cousins who I’m very physical with. The boys did not intimidate me because I knew that if I felt intimidated, I wouldn’t play good or do good.”

Teammates and opponents alike agree Dias is one of the most fierce and outgoing female athletes in high school and she is only a sophomore.

“I am not sure if other teams even knew I was a girl,” she said, “but I knew they would fear me.”

Winter 2021

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Sports 15

Magnificent Seven ready to take down competition

By Sophia Carrasquilla ’22

As Riordan continues to progress in becoming a fully incorporated coed high school, there are still certain sports that have yet to receive full female participation as some other athletics or clubs have.

Riordan wrestling has become a powerful program as the 2018 WCAL champion team. This year, the program has slowly attracted seven strong girls: Marcella Fabre ’23, Nha Thi Luong ’23, Luna Medina ’24, Jiyoon Park ’24, Victoria Martinez ’24, Nolina Eva Maltez ’25, and Andrea Aguilar ’24.

“It’s intense, hardcore, painful, sweaty and a little unsanitary, but it’s more rewarding than any other sport I’ve done, and the feeling of accomplishment after just one practice is enough to know that I love it,” said Fabre.

As the sport and school has been mainly advertised as boy’s, over the past two years, that has changed and inspired many young women to break that status quo.

“The biggest challenge when joining the Riordan Wrestling team was making the decision, and having the confidence to just

Photo by Sophia Carrasquilla ’22 New members of the wrestling team include Victoria Martinez ’24, Nolina Eva Maltez ’25, Andrea Aguilar ’24, Marcella Fabre ’23, Jiyoon Park ’24, Nha Thi Luong ’23 and Luna Medina ’24. go for it,” Fabre added. “It was out of my comfort zone and a completely new thing, especially because it is such a male dominated sport.”

The wrestling program was set to start practice on Nov. 1 and has been in pre-season with daily practices in the mat room. In

progress to create a more cohesive environment between the incoming freshmen and future female participants, the program has highlighted the accomplishments of all players.

“Every practice is hard, but it’s so much better because everyone is dying together. When someone

achieves something, or has a good practice, we commemorate them for that, and all push each other to succeed” Fabre was the first female to officially have her name on the roster amongst the 40 male student athletes.

“So far, my biggest accomplishment has been being a part of the first coed wrestling team at Riordan. I’m super proud of us ladies who will now forever be known as the first female wrestlers,” Fabre said. “It was a big step just joining the team and it’s so rewarding when I get to learn a new skill or feel stronger during practice.”

Overall, the program is looking forward to welcoming many more female athletes and creating a fully coed transitioned team.

“I know it’s challenging to try something different, but it is worse to regret something when you’re older. Trust me, it is so rewarding and I am so happy I joined,” Fabre said.

“We don’t have enough girls to have a Varsity and junior varsity team, so if you’re a girl and considering joining, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, and show them who’s boss!”

Riordan wrestlers return to mat after COVID interruption

By Ari Jaboneta ’23

The 2021-2022 wrestling season marks the two year anniversary of Riordan’s win at the WCAL tournament. Subsequently, COVID-19 hit the world and canceled the 2020-21 season.

Mark Balestier ’23, a junior at Riordan, was a freshman when the team won the state title.

He stated, “It felt so rewarding winning, like all the hard work and days of practice finally paid off,” he said about the team winning the WCAL Championship.

The wrestling team has a new head coach, Zac Contreras ’13. Coach Contreras has been assisting with the team for six years and is excited to start a new chapter with Archbishop Riordan Wrestling.

He said, “It feels great to be the new head coach, something I’ve been looking forward to for the past few years,” Coach Contreras said about his first season as head coach.

Coach Contreras is excited to start a new era at Archbishop Riordan. The wrestlers are also looking forward to the season with Contreras.

“I like him being the new head coach. He coaches us well and it was best that it was him over anyone else,” Chris Herrera ’23 said.

The JV Wrestling team will be competing at the Anastasio Invitational on Dec. 18 and Varsity will face Valley Christian on Jan. 5.

Photo by Nataly Neves ’23 Logan Scudmore ’22 faces off against an opponent at a recent wrestling meet.

16 Food Reviews

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Winter 2021

Chicken sandwiches: Nothing to squawk about Review and photo by Angelina Ning ’23

Chick-Fil-A is known for its fantastic chicken sandwiches, but how good are they really? To try Chick-Fil-A, most people in San Francisco would have to drive over an hour to Redwood City or San Jose to try it. But since the first Chick-Fil-A restaurant located in the San Francisco Bay Area recently opened on Nov. 18, they no longer have to drive hours to try Chick-Fil-A’s chicken sandwich. The new restaurant opened up in Daly City at the Serramonte Shopping Center, but currently only accepts orders through their drive-thru.

I ordered their original Chick-Fil-A chicken burger; a chicken breast burger served Review and photo by Grayson Salomon ’22 Located near the heart of the Outer Richmond on 26th Avneue and Clement Street is Hard Knox Cafe, a Southern homestyle cooking sit-down restaurant that serves any feelgood food you can think of. From Fried Chicken to oxtail and an extensive brunch menu, you can count on Hard Knox to satisfy

with pickle slices on a toasted butter bun. I excluded the pickles in my order because I believe that pickles do not belong on anything, especially sandwiches.

Although the burger overall seemed relatively small, I could tell that it would be filling enough when I took a bite into it.

The chicken was thickly cut and reminded me of a Japanese katsu sando, a sandwich with two fluffy pieces of milk bread with mayo and Tonkatsu sauce. The first bite of the Chick-Fil-A sandwich was a mix of sweet and savory. The chicken was tender and breaded with smaller bits of bread crumbs, but the sweet taste of the bun combined the savory goodness of the chicken.

Altogether, the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich was satisfying, and there was nothing wrong that stood out about it; as a result, this solid chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A receives a score of 4/5 stars.

Chick-Fil-A

The Chick-Fil-A signature, their Chicken Sandwich.

Hard Knox

Hard Knox’s Fried Chicken Sandwich, with cornbread and candied yams on the side.

your Southern cooking needs.

I’ve been to Hard Knox before and loved their pulled pork and their “Juicy Lucy” hamburger, but not their fried chicken sandwich, which is what I ordered today. The sandwich comes with your choice of side, including mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, candied yams, yam fries, regular French fries, and more.

I decided to go with the candied yams and two pieces of homemade cornbread muffins that were only a dollar. The restaurant offers indoor seating to vaccinated guests and also offers outdoor seating; however, I opted to get my order to go.

Opening the plain white takeout box, I was hit with the intense aroma of the chicken sandwich, which was dressed with a surprisingly small amount of house-made aioli sauce and an ungodly amount of coleslaw

Review and photo by Noah David ’22

In search of an outstanding chicken sandwich, I grazed the depths of the internet and came across The Bird, a simplistic establishment located on 115 Montgomery Street in San Francisco, serving hearty chicken dishes, along with unique sides.

Supported by high praise from media companies and food critics alike, I found myself flocking to the restaurant on Black Friday.

From their quality-overquantity menu, I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich paired with a side of Fully Loaded Tater Tots, priced at $10.25 and $4.75, respectively. Shortly after ordering, my number was called to retrieve the much-anticipated meal and was soon greeted by golden brown crispy chicken complemented by vibrant coleslaw

and pickles while being held together by red and white checkerboard paper.

With chewing away at the first bites of the sandwich, the textures and flavor consisted of complementary combinations, as the tender meat and crunchy cabbage upheld the soft brown bun. At the same time, the bold, seasoned breading and the chill vegetables and creamy mayonnaise ensured an equal experience.

The flavors were indeed one-of-a-kind. However, after it was half-devoured, the sandwich seemed to have lost its chemistry and headed downhill. While the mayo-lathered bun acted as a slip-n-slide for the coleslaw and chicken slab, it felt as if the breading got weaker and thinner,

The burger was good by itself and juicy enough without the sauce, but I chose to dip a bit into the famous Chick-Fil-A sauce. Their secret sauce created an interesting flavor combination and added an additional tangy taste and creamy texture to the already delicious burger.

beneath the fried chicken breast filet. Next to it were the candied yams, which looked to serve at least three people. Finally, the two cornbread muffins, which came wrapped in tin foil.

I first went for a forkful of the candied yams, and let me tell you, they were great. They were sweet and warm, although they felt more like a dessert the more and more I kept eating them. Next, I tried the cornbread muffins, and they were a hit. They were light, sweet, and crumbly, such a good deal for only a dollar.

Finally, it was time for the main meal, the fried chicken sandwich. Going in, I had high hopes as Hard Knox rarely disappoints, but this time, they did. Taking my first bite, I was hit with the seasoning of the chicken skin, which was really good and packed a nice punch.

Next, I tasted the slight kick in the household aioli, which was

really good and finally suppressed by the cool coleslaw underneath.

The flavors were all there.

However, my main gripe is how thin the chicken breast was.

It was like I was only eating the breading. The next gripe is how much coleslaw was on the sandwich. It really overpowered all the flavors that the chicken had to offer and drenched the bread, resulting in it falling apart.

I literally had one bite of straight coleslaw — no bueno.

My final verdict on the Fried Chicken from the Hard Knox Cafe is that the sandwich was pretty good, but not great.

The thin breast really made the sandwich underwhelming, and all the coleslaw made it feel like I was eating a salad. The highlight of the meal definitely was the sides, which is not what you want when eating a chicken sandwich.

I give the sandwich a saddening 3.5/5 stars.

The Bird

as the meat itself seemed to become overpoweringly flavorless and increasingly rubbery for my teeth to tear apart. Sadly, the sandwich did not end with a bang but instead with lonely scraps of coleslaw.

Despite my let-down experience, I am eager to try The Bird’s sandwich once again, as my meal may have just been a tiny hiccup in their thousands of sandwiches made on a weekly basis.

Furthermore, I would recommend this establishment to all chicken lovers, as their flavors and textures are among the best in the city. However, I do wish the same tastes remain consistent throughout the whole sandwich in the future. Altogether, The Bird receives 4/5 stars.

The Bird’s classic Fried Chicken Sandwich with a side of Fully Loaded Tater Tots.