Life Through the Eyes of a Californian
CFL Rule Changes
The End of the World
Editors Note:
As the 100th year of the school approaches as well as the 80th issue of TheCrusaderNews, we find ourselves reflecting on the stories that brought us here. Articles from previous editions help to capture the voices and ideas that have shaped our community into what it is today. Each old piece is a reminder of where we have been and shows just how far we have come. They form a record linking beginnings to present and inspire writers yet to come. Articles on pg. 10.
Davis Cordiero ’27 interviews his friend from California on pg. 4
Myles Lagadi ’26 writes on page 2.
Ferris Yeung ’27 writes on page 9.
Joseph Mutter ’28 writes on page 9.
Maury Lavitt ’28 writes on page 6.
Aris Anguluan ’26 writes on page 3.
Pope Leo XIV: A Shepherd for the Modern World
Gabriel Arias ’27
Deputy Editor
On May 8th, 2025, the College of Cardinals sequestered at the Vatican for the fourth ballot of the papal conclave. Thousands of people gathered around Vatican Square.
Moments after, white smoke billowed out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti walked onto the Loggia to announce the name of the chosen Cardinal — Robert Francis Prevost. People from all over the world reacted with joy, while some were in shock because it was the first time an American had been elected pope.
Prevost, now formally known as Pope Leo XIV, has already guided the Catholic Church with tranquility. in a reserved manner, since the first day of his papacy. His calm approaches, quiet resolve, peaceful habits, and contemplative nature speak to a leader attempting to keep the Church moving forward in today’s
culture. According to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a close companion of Leo XIV during the conclave, he is a “quiet manager” who is not impulsive and does not make decisions by reaction, but rather by careful listening and the study of doctrine. As a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, Leo XIV’s missionary spirit, deep
unique character, Leo XIV is continuing the legacy of his predecessor, His Holiness Pope Francis.
Leo XIV has certainly tried to heal divisions in the world, specifically among religions. At the 8th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Kazakhstan, Leo XIV
humility, and desire for dialogue and inclusivity all aim for a grand change in the Catholic Church to become more welcoming rather than controversial. Even with his
The End of the World
Myles Lagadi ’26 Section Editor
To start, let one important distinction be made clear. The world is not in imminent peril, and it has not ended. This, however, did not stop Joshua Mhlakela, a South African preacher, from spreading a supposed prophecy. He claimed to have been told by God that the Rapture (the biblical end of the world as foretold in the Book of Revelation) would occur on September 23rd, 2025. While his vision did not come to fruition, it is important to understand how such a preposterous claim spread to the masses, and the impact that it had.
The Rapture prophecy first surfaced in a YouTube video released on June 17th, 2025, in which Mhlakela states when the Rapture will come and provides some detail as to what will happen. This
video was uploaded on the YouTube channel “CENTTWINZ TV”, a channel that primarily produces podcasts on various religious dreams, visions, and prophecies. This channel boasts 429,000 subscribers, a considerable number, but nowhere near worldwide influence. This raises the question: how did the prophecy reach so many people?
While there are many factors in play, the primary one is widespread naïvety. With the rise of MAGA in the U.S, many Christians have been conditioned to accept extreme messages, making a prophecy about the end times seem far more real than incredible. Especially with the world being in such a poor condition, the belief that everything may end soon may have even provided solace to some who had grown disgusted with what the world is becoming. This claim likely wouldn’t even be an issue had it not been for the extreme actions taken by those wholeheartedly preparing for the Rapture.
Though the Bible presents no specifics in preparation for the Rapture, except for maybe the basic
work together to bring healing to our fractured and wounded world.
Moreover, this connects to his desire for peace in the world. For instance, Leo XIV asked Catholics to pray the rosary daily during October for peace. His continuity with Francis’ legacy remains undeniable as he celebrated the first-ever ecologically inspired Mass in July, revealing his love and care for the environment. He plans for the Vatican to turn an open field north of Rome into a vast solar farm to generate sufficient electricity to turn Vatican City into the world’s first carbon-neutral state, while still meeting its material needs. Furthermore, Leo XIV celebrated the Mass with over one million youth from 150 countries at the Jubilee of Youth held at Tor Vergata in Rome. This demonstrates his passion for proclaiming the faith, even to young people.
noted that “every authentic religious impulse seeks to foster dialogue and cooperation.” He reminded the leaders that people of different beliefs must
In our troubled times, Leo XIV serves as a model of faith to all. His emphasis on peace, dialogue, and unity echo throughout the world as a message of hope and love. Therefore, people should be happily ready for what’s next, because it is just the beginning of a monumental journey with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
principles of faith and repentance, that didn’t stop those who believed it would happen from taking it to the extreme. Some sold their homes for staggeringly low prices, others their cars, all for the purpose of preparation. These actions can only be rationalized by the desire to not be tied down by worldly possessions, but even with that reasoning, these actions were extreme. To reiterate: the world has not
ended, nor is it in imminent peril.
However, the end of the world will inevitably come. Whether it be in this generation’s lifetime or in the future, it is important to ensure that lives are lived morally and righteously. If nothing else, this story serves as a warning that false prophets will remain in the world regardless and that their messages must not be heeded.
In the Back of My Mind...
Alec Minuk ’29
Contributor
The body of a 14-year-old girl was found on September 8th, 2025 in a car belonging to popular musician D4vd. David Anthony Burke, better known as D4vd, is a singer and songwriter known for his songs such as “Romantic Homicide,” “Feel It,” and “Here with Me”. The body was found in a Tesla that was registered to D4vd in an impound lot located in Los Angeles. The body was that of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a girl who has been missing since April of 2024 when she was 13.
The body was believed to be in the Tesla for at least a few weeks before it was found since it showed signs of decomposition. No cause of death has been released; however, toxicology and forensics reports are still being conducted. Celeste’s parents also claim that she was in a romantic relation-
ship with someone named David and both D4vd and Celeste have the same tattoo on their index finger. Some argue that it could be a different David, and that the tattoo is common, but that seems like an unlikely coincidence. Despite the evidence against D4vd, he still has not been taken into custody. However, his “Withered” world tour has been cancelled and he is cooperating with the police.
There also seems to be many references to the murder in his songs. For instance, one of his biggest songs, “Romantic Homicide,” states “in the back of my mind I killed you. And I didn’t even regret it.” Some other songs such as “Rehab” describe an alter ego of his cutting off a girl’s arm. Supposedly, there was an unreleased song called “Celeste” (the very name of the girl who was killed) talking about her.
These songs appear to be confessions despite D4vd arguing the songs are metaphors for general heartbreak and not actual murders. Songs that include confessions have been common in the past.
One such song, “Murder on My Mind” by YNW Melly, was
used against him in his court proceeding regarding the murder of two other rappers.
While not confirmed that D4vd killed Celeste Rivaras, the odds are stacked against him. It seems that many of his songs, such as “Romantic Homicide,” might no longer be just metaphors. Many of his
songs were quite disturbing, and if he did kill Celeste, it would explain why the songs feel more powerful.
The truth is humans seem to be drawn to tragedy and D4vd has delivered. When the songs are told with conviction, people feel the meaning more than if it was told without that conviction.
Who Wants To Be A Millionare: The Office
Aristotle Anguluan ’29
Section Editor
LOS ANGELES - In a finale brimming with suspense and humour, The Office stars Kate Flannery and Oscar Nuñez clinched the $1 million top
prize on ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, becoming the fourth celebrity team in the U.S. version of the show to reach the milestone.
The longtime castmates, who portrayed Meredith Palmer and Oscar Martinez on the NBC sitcom, navigated an intense series of questions ranging from history to science. Their easy rapport and contrasting styles— Flannery’s quick instincts alongside Nuñez’s careful deliberation— kept the audience engaged as they
moved steadily up the prize ladder.
The defining moment arrived with the million-dollar question:
“The word ‘planet’ comes from an ancient Greek word that literally means what?” Presented with four options — powerful, immortal, stranger, and wanderer—the pair took their time. After a long discussion, they chose “wanderer.”
Host Jimmy Kimmel paused for dramatic effect before revealing the answer was correct. Confetti
rained down as Nuñez collapsed on the stage floor and Flannery, pacing in shock, exclaimed, “What is happening?”
The victory was a group effort. At one point, the duo used their Phone-a-Friend lifeline to call fellow The Office alum Brian Baumgartner, who played Kevin Malone. This added another layer of sitcom nostalgia to the broadcast. Both stars pledged to donate their winnings to charity. Flannery’s share will benefit Philabundance, a Philadelphia-based food bank, while Núñez’s portion will go to Planned Parenthood.
“It feels surreal,” Flannery told the audience. Nuñez, still visibly overwhelmed, added, “We’re so proud to be able to give back.”
The achievement not only adds their names to the short list of million-dollar winners but also delivers a moment of joy to fans of The Office, who flooded social media with celebratory posts.
For two actors known for making viewers laugh, their teamwork on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? proved they could also deliver history—and a little heart—under the brightest of spotlights.
Life Through the Eyes of a Californian - An Interview
Davis Cordeiro ’27
Copy Editor
I was scrolling through Instagram one day when I saw a post from California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom. This post had to do with actions that President Donald Trump had committed against the state of California
to BBC, is “when individuals, businesses, trade unions, groups, or charities try to get government to change its policies.” J spoke about how he believes that most lobbying is in favour of large companies and not the people. I then asked him, “If you had had the opportunity to, who would you have voted for in the 2024 election?” to which he answered that he would have voted for the Democratic party.
However, J expressed that he was not a huge fan of Kamala Harris and her policies and that he would have preferred
of land and made section 8 housing, giving the citizens running water and a place to sleep.” J believed that was the right thing to do and praised Newsom for that decision.
On the other hand, J had some not-so-great things to say about how Newsom handled the homeless situation in California and how it has affected his small city personally. “He made a lot of homeless people in big cities leave by removing large homeless encampments. Since I live in a smaller town near two big cities, a lot of homeless come here because
people are afraid of them and fear for their freedom because of this very corrupt law enforcement, maybe we shouldn’t have them,” J stated. “I’ve heard that they take people from schools. They haven’t come to my school. I don’t know if they will. I hope not.”
This fear is something no person should have to go through, and that proves that what is going on down there is truly disgusting and wrong. J said that he has seen ICE vehicles around his small city countless times and does not understand why. “Immigrants,
and how Governor Newsom was defending his people. In my mind, I thought, “What a great man, defending his citizens,” but when I looked in the comments, all I saw was hate and outrage against him. So, instead of listening only to what the people online were saying, I decided to call my Californian friend for an interview. In this interview, we went over some policies Newsom has in place, and what the people think of them.
The first question I asked was for my friend to identify himself. He chose to go by “J” to keep his privacy but allowed me to share that he is a teenager who has lived in the United States all his life and currently lives in Ocean Side, California. After this, I asked J which political party he felt he aligned with most, to which he answered, “I share more beliefs with the Democratic party than the Republican party, especially with the MAGA movement.” He then went on to speak about how he is anti-lobbying, which, according
another candidate to run. He did not specify exactly what he did not like but did express that he, “hates Trump’s anti-immigration policies” and recognizes that it was a large part of his election campaign. A reoccurring topic in the interview happened to be immigration.
Repeatedly, J spoke about his support for immigration in the United States and, because of that, Trump was not at all desirable. He was confused why in the modern day some governments are still so anti-human rights and said that he does not understand why hate for minorities is so celebrated.
I then asked him the big question: “What are your thoughts on Governor Gavin Newsom?” J responded with, “I do like Gavin Newsom. I like how he pushes back against MAGA.” He also spoke about how Governor Newsom handled the LA fires back in January. These fires left hundreds of people without anything and, according to J, Governor Newsom “bought a plot
there [are] not a lot of other places to go. A lot of them come down here because where I live the weather is extremely good.” J recited stories of his experiences with people who were unhoused and believes there are better ways to deal with the crisis.
“I think that he should focus more on giving homeless people a place to live, but he does focus on homeless people’s mental health and drug abuse which is good.” It is clear J is supportive of the majority of the Governor’s policies but is not happy with all of them.
The next thing I asked J was: “ICE” [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is looked at as an evil across the globe. Do you believe what they are doing is right, or do you believe otherwise?”
This question was very important because just a few hours prior, Governor Newsom passed a law that banned ICE from hiding their identities during their arrests. “I just think that if the majority of
from the MAGA point of view, they’re looked at as violent criminals… The ones that I’ve met and interacted with oftentimes are extremely hard-working and they provide a lot to the economy.” It is clear J is not happy with the MAGA policies in place and hopes to see change in the future. My final question to J was: “Where do you see your country in the future?” To this he replied, “I see America kind of going down either a civil war or an anarchy thing. Maybe even authoritarian.” He talked about how, in modern times, it almost seems like the government is trying to divide the people, which is not a future he wants to live in.
I am very thankful to J for allowing me to do this interview. It really represents what the average American is going through right now. I learned a lot from him, and I hope you can as well. Remember to always be kind and treat everyone equally no matter their walk of life.
OPINION Canada’s Fiscal Crisis: When the Nation Can’t
Caelen Yung ’27
Contributor
“I think everybody should be concerned.” Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques used words like stupefying, shocking, and unsustainable to describe Canada’s finances last week. Our country faces a $68.5 billion deficit this year The debt-to-GDP ratio is rising for the first time in thirty years. Canadians pay over $1 billion every week just on debt interest charges. Yet Prime Minister Mark Carney sends hundreds of millions overseas while the nation drowns in debt. Canada’s leaders destroyour economic future through reckless spending abroad.
The numbers reveal catastrophe. “This is the first time in 30 years that I’ve seen a projection where that key metric rises over time,” Jacques told the parliamentary committee. The government announced “$115.1 billion in net new spending over five years” since December (BNN Bloomberg). Carney will borrow “$255 billion over four years” — double what Trudeau planned. Double. “Debt interest charges will cost taxpayers $55.3 billion this year” (Canadian Taxpayers Federation). Fifty-five billion dollars paid to creditors. Not to healthcare. Not to infrastructure. Just interest. The federal
government spends more on interest than it receives in GST. Every Canadian pays, “$1,937 and $3,432 depending on their province” in combined debt interest (Fraser Institute). Every Canadian family bears this burden.
Canadians struggle while spending accelerates. Inflation devastates budgets. Housing costs soared beyond reach. Young Canadians cannot afford homes. Healthcare wait times stretch months. Emergency rooms operate beyond capacity. Thousands wait years for family doctors. Court backlogs force judges to dismiss criminal cases. Yet the government finds hundreds of millions for foreign commitments. The Palestine commitment exemplifies fiscal irresponsibility. Canada pledged “over $400 million to the West Bank, Gaza” (Jerusalem Post). Four hundred million dollars. “$340 million in humanitarian aid” (Government of Canada) and “$47 million to fund judicial systems, government structures” (Jerusalem Post). The recognition of a Palestinian state itself served political purposes. Critics argue Carney manufactured “a diplomatic diversion” from failed trade negotiations (TroyMedia). President Trump warned the recognition “will make it very hard for us to make a trade deal” (Globe and Mail). Carney jeopardized relations with Canada’s largest trading partner for political theatre. Hamas celebrated. “Hamas called Oct. 7 a path to statehood. Carney just proved them right” (TroyMedia). The spending continues. “Prime
Russia Violates International Airspace
Alden Minuk ’26 Editor-in-Chief
While it is unknown why the drones were in Polish airspace, experts agree that Vladimir Putin is getting more aggressive. Since then, NATO has taken action to shoot them down, stating that any drones that are shot down and land in NATO territory are not their fault, regardless of intention. Estonia also reported shortly afterwards that three Russian jets had entered their airspace briefly, before being forced to withdraw, and a separate drone incursion in Romania was reported too. Countries all along the Russian border are now reasonably afraid that Russia is testing NATO’s commitment to defending their allies.
There are two main possibilities as to why these recent airspace violations occurred, the first being that the
Minister Carney announced $207 million in new international assistance” for global nutrition and climate change. “$60 million to support Haiti” were sent overseas (Government of Canada). Finance Minister FrançoisPhilippe Champagne called it “a generational investment” (BNN Bloomberg). The reality is generational debt: investment in foreign teritories while Canada’s fiscal foundation crumbles.
Every dollar sent overseas is stolen from Canadians. Healthcare wait times average months for critical surgeries. Emergency rooms turn away patients. Yet the government sends $400 million to Palestine and Haiti. Court backlogs force judges to dismiss cases. Criminals walk free. Yet the government finds $400 million for foreign governance. Tax burdens crush families. Inflation destroys savings. Housing remains unaffordable. Yet the government commits $207 million to global initiatives. The priorities are backwards. Canada needs tax cuts for struggling families. Canadians need healthcare investment. Communities need justice system funding. None of this
happens while billions flow overseas. The solution requires immediate action. Canada must prioritize domestic needs before foreign commitments. International spending must be eliminated until Canada’s fiscal house is in order. The Parliamentary Budget Officer warned clearly, “Everybody should be concerned.” The deficit balloons to $68.5 billion. Borrowing adds $255 billion over four years. These numbers represent future prosperity mortgaged for foreign aid. Failed leadership destroys national prosperity through misplaced generosity. Canadians lose their economic security while their government sends hundreds of millions overseas. Canada cannot afford to give money away. Time is running out.
Editor’s Note: Do you have a different opinion on this issue and other similar political issues in Canada? The Crusader News is hoping to introduce a section for respectful discussion of political issues in Canada, and we seek contrasting views on these issues for constructive debates. Sound like you? Send me a team’s message before next issue. - Alden Minuk
Kremlin believes they can act with impunity due to the lack of resistance in Ukraine. This is the more likely of the two, given the recent track record of the Kremlin. They are possibly trying to spread fear and test how much they can get away with before they meet serious resistance. Granted, they do not want another world war and probably would back off if met with that counter-threat.
The current harsh response from NATO may keep them at bay or may encourage them as it could be interpreted as frailty and unpreparedness. The second and more concerning possibility is that the Kremlin does not have good control over their troops, and they are acting on their own. As mentioned, Russia wants to avoid a large-scale war, but their troops may not be so careful if they are acting on patriotism. The Kremlin has denied the Estonian
jet pilots’ claims as they believe there is not enough evidence, and while the Russians often mislead the Europeans about military activity, it is a concerning possibility that it was not an ordered incursion. If one troop decides to take disobeying orders too far, it could very well spark international conflict, even if that was not the intention. This situation puts NATO in a difficult situation as they need to ensure that they put forward adequate deterrence to prevent further conflict and honour their defence promises while avoiding escalating conflict. Regardless of whether the drone incursion was unplanned, caused by rogue soldiers or a deliberate threat-assessment mission, the willingness of Russia to escalate the already high tensions is cause for alarm. Hopefully NATO can put forward a sufficient but not aggravating deterrent to these recent breaches of international law.
On September 9th, 2025, Russian drones entered Polish airspace.
House of Commons Back in Session
Harry Shaw ’27
Contributor
The House of Commons has returned to session for the first time in the past three months after relative quiet in government. Its presence in 2025 was comparatively sparse after the recess of Parliament and the recent election, but now the Members of Parliament have returned for their fall sitting.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated his key focus at this time is Canada’s economy, with the biggest item on the autumn agenda being his first budget. Usually, these are saved for spring, but the election pushed it back. “We made a clear commitment to Canadians to bring a new fiscal discipline to the federal budget. These are tough times. We have to make tough choices for a better future,” Carney stated last week. Bills left over from the spring session, such as C-2 (an
act relating to the security of the US-Canadian border) and C-8 (a cybersecurity act) are still on the floor of the House of Commons. The government has doubled down on C-2, yet it has faced active pushback from immigration advocates, and NDPs and Conservatives have spoken out against it. C-2 is still only at its second reading, which could send tensions flaring as it rises closer to royal assent.
The Conservative Party has also outlined their autumn priorities, including the cost of living, crime, immigration, and jobs. They have also promised the “Canadian Sovereignty Act” with points such as repealing Bill C-69 (known as the “No More Pipelines Act”), killing the tax on industrial carbon, scrapping the ban on West Coast tankers, and unbanning single-use plastic, among others.
Speaking of the Conservatives, Pierre Poilievre has returned as the Leader of the Opposition after losing his seat in the general election in April. Despite receiving a warm welcome back from Prime Minister Carney and the Con-
servatives voting in favour of the Liberals’ major projects liberation and a tax cut, Poilievre has signaled that the Conservative party is taking a more critical look at the Liberal Party’s policies and records during caucus meetings. “We want for the country to succeed. And that’s why we need to take a very careful look at Mr. Carney’s many promises and compare them to the results. Do the words match the deeds?” said Poilievre, adding
that the Prime Minister is failing to address Canada’s affordability issues because he is not moving forward with resource projects fast enough.
The divide between the Liberal and Conservative Parties, while still significant, is showing some signs of narrowing in recent times. It bodes well for those closely following this fall sitting and charting what our government has planned for us next!
Bacterial Immune System Could Save Thousands of Lives
Maury Lavitt ’28
Copy Editor
It is not a new chip flavour, not a remarkable culinary appliance: it is CRISPR technology and it is making waves in the world of science. Through its use, moves are being made to cure previously untreatable diseases and eventually save thousands of lives.
First reported in 1993 by Spanish biologist Francisco Mojica, CRISPR stands for “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats”, an integral part of some bacteria’s immune systems. The process these bacteria use to defend against viruses that can infect and kill them employs a specific protein called “CAS9”. The CAS9 protein acts as molecular scissors which can cut and remove entire sections of DNA. In a bacterium, these proteins, along with others, cut out specific parts of viral DNA to store in the cell’s CRISPR region, the genetic catalogue of viruses that have previously infected the organism.
It is made up of short repeating sequences of genetic code that are regularly separated by viral DNA retrieved by CAS9 proteins. The next step in this defence mechanism is for a different CAS9 protein to acquire a copy of the DNA to seek out and destroy it if ever found, preventing subsequent infections. All this results in a method for bacteria to avoid getting re-infected by the same virus and a memory system able to be passed down from generation to generation.
For us humans, these defence mechanisms mean we have a highly
precise way to edit genes through methods similar to copying and pasting. By simply designing a “guide” strand of RNA (half of a piece of DNA), scientists can direct CAS9 proteins to cut out pieces of any DNA, viral or otherwise. By then giving DNA to the repair proteins encoded with the desired change, the modification is made on its own.
In the past, this now simple task was gruelling. Up until 2013, scientists used a process more like trial and error than anything definitive or simple. They had to test hundreds of different “edits” before the product was made.
Now, with CRISPR technology in the picture, this once timeconsuming task takes a matter of months as opposed to years. This means that remarkable treatments for incurable infections and genetic diseases will be able to be developed and approved much faster than in the past. This ease also improves the scope of what one can do with gene editing, allowing doctors to help people with otherwise untreatable diseases.
Now we are seeing the very first CRISPR treatments being tested. An infant named KJ was injected with three doses of the gene editing machinery to treat a rare genetic disease that caused ammonia buildup in his body. After only those administrations, he was able to defend against common infections without subsequent ammonia buildup. Other success stories are being documented regularly. For patients in situations like KJ’s, this new technology could mean faster, more effective, and safer treatments that end in life-changing results.
Using natural CRISPR technology, the world of science is being reinvented. Soon, after pharmaceutical trials, the treatments will be used to help countless people. In the future, molecular “copy and paste” may save thousands of lives.
Scientists Just Made Atoms Talk to Each Other Inside Silicon Chips
Manit Sethi ’26
Section Editor
Scientists at the University of New South Wales have achieved an important milestone in quantum computing. Engineers discovered how to make atomic nuclei “talk” inside silicon chips, opening the door to scalable quantum computers.
Entanglement, in which particles become so extremely connected that they cease to act independently, is the element that gives quantum computers an edge over their classical equivalents that count only in bits. Entangled qubits store information collectively, so they can explore a vast number of possible solutions in parallel. The UNSW research made the “cleanest, most isolated quantum objects” communicate with one another at the silicon computer chip scale.
Lead author Dr. Holly Stemp informed us that this discovery paves the way to employ existing semiconductor fabrication to make future quantum microchips. The challenge with quantum computation has been to obtain a balance between control and noise protection. The phosphorus atoms’ nuclear spins, which exist within silicon, are extremely well-isolated and can hold information for over 30 seconds with below 1% error. However, their isolation prevents
scaling, with many of the nuclei not being able to run together aside from being close and being coupled to a single electron. The discovery came about through the novel application of electrons as “telephones” of far-off nuclei. The electrons can uniquely disperse through space, allowing simultaneous interactions with many nuclei. When two electrons, each attached to a nucleus, interconnect over a distance, they provide indirect communication between the nuclei.
AI: Modern Medicine’s New Best Friend
Solomon Khokhar ’28
Copy Editor
From climbing trees in the jungles thousands of years ago, to building modern-day concrete jungles of our own, humans have evolved, not just physically, but intellectually. This can never be truer than when talking about modern medicine. Modern medicine has gone
through a roller coaster of theories and beliefs to become what it is today: from humans historically believing sickness was caused by the supernatural, to present-day scientificallylifesaving technologies to help those in need. However, with AI becoming more advanced and prevalent in industries around the world, modern medicine may also have a new best friend.
AI is revolutionizing healthcare as we know it today. Companies like Johnson & Johnson understand how valuable AI is as a new innovative tool in healthcare and
professionals are capitalizing on it so that patients are better treated. One way AI is being used is by analyzing the operating room for efficiency and physician learning. In healthcare, the surgical video captured in the operating room during procedures provides medical professionals with opportunities or education, research subjects and quality-improvement strategies. AI can improve this for surgeons by essentially creating “a highlight reel of these videos,” in a span of just minutes. Without AI, this process of watching and learning from the surgical video could take hours or even days to complete,
Through this unique ability, the research team was able to entangle nuclei that were 20 nanometers apart, about a thousandth the thickness of human hair. Applied to human proportions, this distance would be equivalent to that between Boston and Sydney. This gap is precisely the size of the modern silicon computer chip, and each has a billion 20-nanometer-sized transistors. The crucial breakthrough is getting the nuclear spins to communicate with one another at the same scale that devices communicate with each other today and thus making the trillion-dollar semi conductor industry’s approaches available to being transferred to quantum computers.
Dr. Andrea Morello said this technique is powerful. Even though they only used two electrons in this experiment, more could be added later, allowing for longer and better communication. Now that electrons can be switched and controlled more easily, the system can quickly change connections, which is important for building large, silicon-based quantum computers.
AI is also greatly beneficial in improving surgical procedures. For example, a software called the CARTO 3 System creates 3D maps inside the heart that can be used during procedures. Another software called the VirtuGuide analyses patients in need of treating bone deformities in the foot and ankle. The software suggests which instrument is needed to treat the patient and provides a correction plan if results are unfavourable. In this way, AI helps reduce a surgeon’s planning time from weeks to days.
AI can also be the key in enabling personalized healthcare for patients who are developing early signs of a dangerous disease. With AI being fed large amounts of clinical data from common diagnostic tests, such as MRIs, it can begin to provide more personalized treatment plans to those showing specific signs or symptoms. For example, bladder cancer — the tenth most common cancer worldwide — can be diagnosed and given treatment earlier on by recognizing a specific alteration in the FGFR gene.
Because of the many challenges, it is often overlooked, and the patient is negatively impacted in the long term. To address this, Johnson & Johnson is beginning to develop an AI -powered biomarker test that, when shown digitized images of biopsies, can detect whether a patient’s tumour is likely to have an alteration in the FGFR gene. This serves as a “second pair of eyes,” to help catch bladder cancer in the early stages before it becomes critical.
Ultimately, the impact that AI has had on modern medicine — and healthcare — in such a short amount of time is undeniable. AI, as the years go on, will become ever the more helpful for healthcare professionals and their goal in providing better care to all patients.
Now in Blue Rasberry!
Erik Charnyi ’28 Contributor
When was the last time you heard of a person your age using the same drugs our parents were offered in their youthful day?
Likely not since that one 90s movie with a nerdy protagonist and a jock antagonist your parents asked you to watch with them. Those movies come with terms mentioned in health class that are no longer often used by the youth, things such as cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, and the like. Their presence may not be gone, but they still lurk under a new identity.
Vaping, in recent years, has become more popular. One reason is vapes last longer than cigarettes. Moreover, many vape consumers do not see their harm. Some come for flavour, others to get away from cigarettes. These people often dismiss the fact that, regardless of what you breathe into your lungs, we all can acknowledge there are
dire consequences. Since 1956, humanity has known the dangers of cigarettes, with things such as heart disease, lung disease, and even cancer identified as side effects of inhaling chemicals. Yet, renaming these products as “vapes” seems to give them a lighter reputation. People take up the vape as an alternative to smoking, or just for pleasure, and only realize their lungs are deteriorating once it’s too late.
Drugs are not for everyone. Many people gave up smoking as a whole on their first try, despising the taste. This functioned as a gateway, meaning a substantial portion of people exposed to drugs would never try them again. But, with the domestication of drugs and even the introduction of flavours, they have never been more addicting.
Flavoured vapes, gummy edibles and much more have pushed the drug struggle forward. Now, people get hooked more easily, until it is a permanent part of their medical history. If you are addicted to smoking, people may develop a negative outlook on you. Some will attempt to help you kick this addiction, to push you to a better life. And yet, it is often very difficult to address the problem
and seek this help. This can cause you to fall into a tough headspace. People will avoid you. Friends will sneak behind a corner. Silence will infiltrate your group chats. By that point, you will face a fundamental choice: withdraw, or continue to give in. If you choose the latter, you may never break the chain.
In conclusion, the wolves have clothed themselves in new sheepskins. Addiction has reset its
reputation and is actively coming for and targeting our youth. To prevent this, here is a call for a reformation of the health curriculum, something that some see as outdated. That curriculum describes the result of addiction, but not the luring cause. We hear about meth, alcohol, things that consumed youth in the past, but today, the wolves have re-cloaked themselves. Now, they come in Blue Raspberry scents.
Floods Cause Rampage in Punjab: Thousands Left Without Homes
Kulraj Dhiliwal ’28
Contributor
Over the last few months, the Punjab region has seen devastating floods that have affected millions of people. The disaster has washed away houses, ruined
crops, and left families homeless, forcing them to leave everything behind
The floods started towards the end of August 2025 and have continued throughout September.
In early September of 2025, Punjab witnessed one of its worst floods in decades. The monsoon rains began on August 28 and, after a few days, the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers’ levels rose dangerously high.
On September 2, the disaster unfolded further when India opened its
dams, pouring massive amounts of water downstream into Pakistan’s Punjab. Within 48-hours, over 300,000 individuals were forced from their homes, and villages were flooded with muddy water. Homes, roads, and bridges were lost, and fields full of crops turned into lakes. There were more than 40 human deaths confirmed by the authorities and thousands of animals swept away. Some families saw their belongings lost within hours.
The floods were caused by the torrential rain as well as other issues in the environment. Global warming is enhancing the severity of monsoon rains and their unpredictability, so when the storms did arrive, they were much more intense than normal. Water was released abruptly from the dams. This caused the river’s water level to increase. Since the flood walls and riverbanks were not well maintained, the water spread even faster.
Authorities consider Punjab to be more vulnerable as it is situated where many large rivers meet. This flood is a good example of how nature and human activities can work together to
cause tremendous destruction.
By mid-September 2025, the situation remained very difficult. Relief operations continued to move families to safer ground, setting up temporary camps in which people could be given food, clean water, and medical aid. Shelters were over-crowded due to more than 1.3 million people being displaced in Pakistan’s Punjab province alone. Farmers were hit hardest, as nearly all their crops were destroyed barely a week before the harvest period, precipitating tensions of food scarcity and subsequent poverty. Schools in the affected areas continued to close, causing thousands of children to miss school
Aid groups and governments are now vowing to bring seeds, rebuild homes, and repair damaged roads, but specialists comment that months or even years would have to pass before Punjab will be on its feet again. Meanwhile, individuals are holding on to the hope that the worst was finally over with the flood. The weather and climate are only about to get worse. Action needs to be taken to help preserve our infrastructures around the world.
CFL Rule Changes: Milestone or Mistake?
Joseph Mutter ’28
Copy Editor
For over a century, Canadian football has been a strong tradition on the national sporting scene. Canadians have flocked to stadiums and TV sets throughout the summer and fall to enjoy the homegrown 3-down version of the game. However, the CFL has increasingly gone from being seen as a beloved celebration of Canadian culture to a “minor league” compared to giants like the NFL and NBA. These larger, mostly American, leagues have sucked away attention from the local circuit, resulting in slumping game attendance. This challenge must be overcome if the CFL is to remain competitive and financially viable, and the newest rule changes are a daring attempt at that.
Recently, CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston announced six
UFC White House
Ferris
Yeung ’27
Copy Editor
Speaking of the White House, what do you think of it? Presidents having a tea with each other? Political debrief after an emergency event? Or maybe even the movie White House Down? There should probably be an absurd number of things that you can name until you stumble across an MMA event. During a July 4th celebration speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, President Trump delivered a surprise announcement: a White House UFC Card was in the making for the 250th Birthday of the United States.
After a declaration of this kind, rumours are bound to spread. The first person to speak about the event was, of course, Conor McGregor. McGregor is notorious as the person who “saved” UFC in 2017, and it feels it is only natural for him to headline an event of this magnitude. McGregor himself is optimistic and confident in his ability to headline the fight, stating, “That’s my event for sure.” However, questions soon emerged. McGregor’s status as a top-
rule changes that will drastically change the way the game is played. These new rule changes, according to the CFL commissioner, should make the game more exciting and yield more touchdowns. In 2026, the league will revise the rouge, modify the play clock, and standardize the location of the benches on the field. In 2027, the league will shorten the end zones by five yards, transfer the field goal posts from the front of the end zone to the back, and reduce the field length from 110 to 100 yards, removing the iconic 55yard line from Canadian stadiums.
Moving the field goal posts will also drastically reduce the number of exciting and potentially deadly missed field goal returns, a particularly sore point for many CFL enthusiasts. These are the most dramatic changes the CFL has made in decades, and, whether intentionally or not, move the CFL rules closer to their American counterpart, the NFL. This makes these changes rather ill-timed, considering the current anti-American sentiments within Canada.
These rule changes have met mixed reactions. Renowned league members, including B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea, and Calgary Stampeders kicker Rene Paredes, have voiced strong opposition, with Rourke famously calling the rules “garbage” and “not Canadian football.” This was backed by myriad current CFL fans. Rourke and O’Shea also mentioned that no players or coaches were consulted about this decision. Rourke also pointed out failures in NFL i mitator leagues, like the XFL and USFL, as a warning not to change.
a pedestal” and make the changes. Another American quarterback, Bo Levi Mitchell of the Hamilton Tiger Cats, argued that the rules will “put a better product on the field, a product that people want to watch.” These views were echoed by many owners and managers.
end fighter is now in doubt. The last time McGregor fought was against Dustin Poirier back in 2021, and the fight ended with him suffering a broken foot. He then took three years to recover, originally scheduled to fight Michael Chandler in June 2024. That bout was later cancelled after McGregor suffered a broken toe. McGregor
Despite these denunciations, the rules have garnered support from other league members. Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle called the rule changes “refreshing” and praised the governors for deciding to “go out on
Whatever your views on these changes, the CFL isn’t the prominent league it was in the early days of the Grey Cup. Television and rival leagues have drawn much attention away from the Canadian league, changing it permanently. It remains up to debate whether the importance of trying to attract new followers is worth deterring many traditions, as well as longtime fans.
House along with 100 U.S. Golden Visas for my friends and family,” insisted McGregor. It will certainly be a hefty fee for the return of “The Notorious” to the octagon.
While McGregor is standing in the light of these rumours, Jon Jones is another name that has come up a lot since the news broke out.
has been out of the octagon for years, and it would be impossible to foresee his condition until he returns for a proper fight. Despite the doubts, both McGregor and Dana White are eager to make the fight happen. White respects McGregor a lot and believes that Conor is the man to make the card happen. However, his demands for the fight are rather concerning: “$100 million to fight at the White
Jones is widely regarded as the “Greatest Fighter of All Time”, constantly labelled so by no less than Dana White, CEO of UFC himself. However, the chance of that name being on the fight card is “a billion to one” for the White House event, according to White. Despite Jones’s status in the sport, his reputation had been tarnished by multiple controversies, including the previous positive testing of
Turniabol, an anabolic steroid, and the long-lasting drama with Tom Aspinall. Jones had originally agreed to fight Aspinall for the heavyweight title. The proposal had been agreed on for months. However, Jones changed his mind suddenly and decided to retire from the sport instead.
After all the questionable antics that Jones has pulled, it leaves doubt in his credibility to headline the White House event. However, multiple former UFC champions, including Daniel Cormier, have insisted on the importance of having an American take home a championship belt in the White House.
Jon Jones is likely the only man capable of doing so. With an event of this magnitude happening in the heart of American soil, the possibility of Jones fighting will never be zero. If Jones is ready to fight and help bring the piece of glory America would need in the White House, he will be called upon.
Whether you believe that hosting an MMA event in the glorified land of the White House is an absurd spectacle or a patriotic showcase, this is an opportunity for UFC to provide an experience that will linger in our memories—Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, or not. The world will be watching.
Gyros Defeated by the Thousand Nations of the Persian Army
Brian Hodge ’07
Published in 2007
Thermopylae, Greece 480 B.C. Three hundred Spartans lay in disorganized groups just inside the “Hot Gates” of Thermopylae. Their red cloaks are covered, with the sweat and blood of the day’s fighting. On the first day, they held back Xerxes’ Persian army but at the cost of all their strength. All in this narrow cliff lamented the inevitable rising of the sun which would bring with it another Persian attack and in their weakened state, inevitable defeat.
High above this state of melancholy, on the peak of the mountain, the great Spartan King Leonidas solemnly gazed down at the fresh battlefield before him. He knew his men would be lost if they could not be brought back into fighting condition. Leonidas stroked his beard searching vainly for an answer that, deep down he knew he could not find. Finally, in a wave of frustration, he fell to his knees, raised two arms to the heavens and let out an agonizing cry. Meanwhile at the top of Mount Olympus, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was just getting snug in her bed when from down on troublesome old Earth she heard quite a din.
Poking her head out of the clouds to investigate, she saw Leonidas writhing in anguish far below. At the sight, Athena was overcome by
pathos. She realized her interventions into human affairs had been skimpy as of late and one was long overdue. Briskly, she dawned her night coat (it was cold that night) and floated gracefully down to the Hot Gates. Appearing to Leonidas invisibly, she lightly tapped him on his forehead and a drop of her wisdom entered into him. Then as quickly as Athena had floated down, she rose back up to her bed and fell fast asleep, satisfied she had done her good deed for the Greeks.
Back in the mortal realm, Leonidas, still on his knees, suddenly felt the surge of divine inspiration. The Persians would be defeated not by the sword but by the spoon! With this, the great King leapt to his feet and quickly descended the mountain to the Spartan camp below. Navigating the sea of exhausted bodies, Leonidas found the cook, Tastus Deliciousus, sleeping by his pot and cookware. Waking Tastus, he told of what had been revealed to him and what they now must do. Without hesitation, the cook rose up and the two set to work. At day break, the Spartans awoke to a delicious smell wafting through the camp.
Soon three hundred cloaks congregated at its source, the cook’s hutch. At the hutch was a large pyramid of food, foreign to Spartan cuisine, placed on a soldier’s shield. Strangely, both the cook and king were absent and many wondered why they were not present. This was soon answered when both appeared from behind the group. At the King’s presence all immediately filed into formation and stood at
attention (even Tastus Deliciousus).
Leonidas moved to the front of the three hundred soldiers and stood beside the shield covered in the strange food. He picked one up and lifting it high in the air, shouted “This ... is ....Gyros!” Moving through the ranks of Spartans he continued. “The Gyros was divinely inspired! It is named as such because it is for those who are heroic! The Gyro gives the strength to achieve what must be achieved! Succulent roast lamb is combined with fried potato and tart sour cream! Diced tomatoes and onion are garnished on top! This solid combination of ingredients is mixed together between a thick piece of flat bread! Spartans! Today ... we ... dine on ... Gyros!”
The three hundred Spartans, held captive by their kings speech,
broke into ferocious war cries upon its conclusion, banging their shields with their spears. King Leonidas then took the Gyro he had been holding in his had and liberally bit into it. The others quickly followed his lead and began to feast on the shield full of gyros. From then on, that small band of Gyros fueled Greeks crushed all that Xerxes threw at them. No matter the ferocity or length of the battle, their strength never waned. Even the treachery of the hunchback, Ephialtes, could not stop the Gyros-driven Greeks. The Spartan messenger, Dilios, escaped before Leonidas’ army was slaughtered and spread the recipe for the Gyros throughout Greece. The Greek people, strengthened and embolden by the Gyros, soundly defeated the thousand nations of the Persian army at Platea in 479 B.C.
A Dramatic Retelling of the 2005 St. Paul’s Flood
Published in 2005
I, Stefan Baluta, was on the scene when the biggest flash flood in our school’s history came crashing down on us. From first explosion at 2:45 until my late departure at 5:15, I was on the scene to discover exactly what went on so that I might relay the story to you. Let me take you back to that fateful day....
It was 2:45 on this Monday, the day designated for drama clean up. Since 8:35 this morning I had been cleaning up the remains of our play, the set, the props, and the rather large curtains. As I was loading up for my fifty-somethingth trip
to the wood room, I heard a loud scream followed by a stampede of individuals. The one in the lead yelled out “THE WOOD ROOM IS FLOODING GET OUT OF THE BASEMENT!” The ones following behind had a similar message.
Immediately the few of us on the stage dropped what we were doing and ran to investigate. At the bottom of the stairs an eerie sight accompanied the sound of water falling: the instant flood at already reached above one step.
With shrieks of terror from all directions, we ran to the costume room beneath Murray Hall. From there, we entered the temporarily dry “rat tunnel”. With garbage bags in hand, we began scooping up sand from the floors and walls to make sand bags. (There is literally dirt for walls. That’s why it is a rat tunnel!) But alas, we were too late to stop
the flow of now dirty green sludge. At this same moment, it hit me too late: the locker room was also flooding. With a mad dash, I rushed to the locker room only to find with despair that the water had already invaded. I was too late to stop my locker and its contents from being spared the wrath of the flood. With this sad realization, I was forced to return to French class.
As the minutes ticked slowly by, I found myself unable to concentrate on the freezing movie as I worried about the locker room. When the time finally came to go home, an announcement came on. We were not to leave our classrooms until further notice and the locker rooms were off notice indefinitely. By 3:30 I had made a call to my Dad at work who would come ASAP to pick me up. See, without jackets, they couldn’t let us get on the bus. With out access to the
lockers, we couldn’t get our jackets... To make matters worse, they had to cut the electricity before the water reached the sockets. By 4:30 the school had become little more than a cold dark prison without heat or light. 20 some odd students remained who had been forsaken by their parents.
Meanwhile, the water was finally stopped, resting at about 2 feet all around. Finally at 5:10 my Dad arrived and I was free, less my jacket and my cell phone, which were trapped in my locker. But after it was all over, a kind twist of fate was detected as I checked onto the schools website: There would be no classes the following day! At this, I was finally able to sit back and accept the events of the day, knowing that Tuesday morning I would remain in a peaceful slumber until the time of my choosing. Yep, life is good...
Stefan Baluta ’09
Student Art
Andre Barnabe ’26
Cole Wilson ’26
Ivan Salazar ’26
Matteo Caronte ’26
Tristan Whalen ’26
Diversions
ACROSS
3. The Homecoming defeated
6. Basketball position or mouth accessory
7. Winning answer for Office stars, according to Anguluan ’26
10. 1993 discoverer of CRISPR
11. Nickname of UFC saviour turned White House fight prospect
12. Country plagued with Russian airspace incursions
13. Not optimal, undesired
16. Common gas with atomic number of seven
18. Software Khokhar ’28 writes is used to treat pedal deformities
20. MLB team without World Series win since 1993 (or maybe not!)
23. Human sized atoms could entangle from this city to Boston, writes Sethi ’26 25. Carney’s main focus in the
fall session, according to Shaw ’28
26. “Bird Bath” bath and Naked Mass, for one 27. Only musical credit course full of hot air
29. To influence, commonly confused with its result 31. Multiplex street
DOWN
1. Not-so nice blooms of Lake Winnipeg
2. Flavour Charnyi ’28 excitedly declares is available for cancer causing chemicals
4. The Pontiff’s order
5. Pass Mr. Laping demands you obtain when you get a license
8. Liturgical hymn Davis Cordeiro ’29 flawlessly performed
9. Forget this on an essay, you might get a charge slip
10. Preacher informed of the End of the World last month
14. Very tall height (ft) and length of CFL endzone cut (yd)
15. Often borrowed caf snack
16. Prompter of J interview, Cordeiro ’27
17. Number of places you might set a PB at SPHS
19. What leaves have ceased to be
21. Stopped, but not quite parked
22. Similar, but not quite 23. Highest goal scorer in Jets history
24. Ad Maiorum Dei Gloriam 28. What does not dismiss you
30. Common article, even in uncommon articles
Solutions online at thecusadernews.ca Crossword by Maury Lavitt
Image Credits
Pope - Arias ’27: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
End of the World - Lagadi ‘26: Jean Cousin, The Younger: LastJudgement- Cristianity.com
D4VD - Minuk ’29: Shutterstock/Daniel DeSlover
Millionaire - Anguluan ’26: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? California - Cordiero ’27: CalMatters/Fred Greaves
AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
Fiscal Crisis - Yung ’27: The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Poland - Minuk ’26: The New Voice of Ukraine/ Nocna Jazda
Tomaszów Mazowiecki
House of Commons - Shaw ’27: Getty Images/Dave Chan
Crispr - Lavitt ‘28: Broadinstitute/Stephen Dixon
Synthego
Atoms Talking - Sethi ’26: Science Photo Library
AI Medicine - Khokar ’27: Adobe Stock/ Karunyapas
Blue Raspberry! - Charnyi ’28: Getty Images/Peter Dazeley
Punjabi Floods - Dhaliwal ’28: India Today/ AFP
CFL - Mutter ’28: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
3downnation/Neil Noonan
UFC - Yeung ’27: UFC
Gyros - Hodge : 300
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