Campus News, Pages 4-7 Arts & Entertainment, Pages 10-11 Riordan at 70, Pages 14-15 Sports, Pages 16-19 FREE VOLUME LXX ISSUE ii ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN December 2019 HIGH SCHOOL SERVING RIORDAN SINCE 1949 THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY Mayer Family Field ushers in new era for Riordan By Steven Rissotto ’20 “If we’re gonna start something, we’re gonna start it the right said with a smile, “The band way.” makes everything better.” The words of first-year Crusader On Nov. 9, the celebration football coach Mark Modeste and dedication was held shortly echoed off the neighboring houses before the 1:15 game against and through the new, bright Sacred Heart Cathedral with the yellow field goal posts. Modeste’s blessing coming courtesy of Fr. way of “starting something” was John Jimenez. Currier thanked having his players take a lap the many donors who helped fund before the first practice on the the facility, and Board Chairman brand-new turf at Mayer Family Steven Herrera ’76 did the same. Field. Dean of Student Affairs Brian Photo by Steven Rissotto ’20 After decades of discussion Kelly said, “This shows that we and donations, the multi-sport Members of the football team raise the Stanfel Trophy after winning. can do anything the other schools complex on Riordan’s campus is There is still work to be done, can do. There’s a sense of calmness finished and ready for business. but the completion tag still stands. Weeks earlier, board of trustees now that makes everything move The new complex includes a newly According to Facilities Director member Philip Cazahous ’70 easier.” designed press box, refurbished and baseball coach Brandon was staring blankly at the On senior day, Riordan flirted bleachers and stands, updated Ramsey, batting cages and dugout construction site. A former track around with destiny, beating the baseball facilities, and state of the rails are still to be installed. star at Riordan, he knew the Irish 44-7, winning the Stanfel art artificial turf. Before, Modeste would have significance and impact that the Cup. In front of hundreds of The first football game was to bus his team to Gellert Park in area will have on current and people, the Crusaders won their planned for Nov. 2, a date that Daly City every day for practice. future students. first league game since 2017. was a fixture on the calendars Now, he’s the leader pioneering “It’s been 50 years,” Cazahous Memories were made and the of many teachers, students and the first group into prestigious reflected, “And it’s finally frowned faces seen for the last alumni for months. The deadline territory. happening.” two years were quickly lifted into was questionable, especially “We’re just the first ones After nearly four years without unfiltered happiness and joy. since the turf was starting to be up,” Modeste said during the football on campus, the Crusaders The field of dreams is now an rolled out on the week of Oct. 12. first practice. “Baseball, soccer, held the first game in front of a epic reality, and football player It was bound to be tight, but the lacrosse, too. Administration did lively home crowd against Saint Gabe Martin ’20 put it best, as construction team bolted into an amazing job. I always tell our Francis on Nov. 2. The band he was seen hollering through action to secure the completion players that this is the group that made its own debut, adding to the the locker room and onto the field on Nov. 1, in time for the first will remember it when it wasn’t electric atmosphere. chanting, “It’s finally happened! practice on the new turf. here.” President Dr. Andrew Currier We have a field!” First phase of classroom remodeling begins with Math Department By Steven Rissotto ’20 itself is to do carpets, paint, A new decade will bring new blinds, whiteboards, furniture, and improvements to the student life at storage.” Archbishop Riordan High School, as Each classroom will take remodeling in the math classrooms approximately $30,000 to improve. will begin during winter break. Around 100 classrooms would This marks the first major venture equal the amount of money raised following the field project. for the field project. The school’s maintenance team Students may have noticed the plans to do a complete overhaul of new lights installed in some classes the classrooms, as they return to downstairs, which replaced the work from the multi-purpose facility older, hanging ones. This, however, field. is a completely separate project. The new task will start with four Ramsey expects that, if it passes, classrooms in the Russi hallway and every room will have certified LED has the opportunity to carry over to lights down the road. more and more rooms in the near Mahkai Hunt ’23 said, “In the future. Director of Maintenance classroom, the lights are brighter, Brandon Ramsey and new assistant which makes it easy for me to look Jeff Ramirez have been hard at work at my paper to do work. It’s better getting everything situated. than the other lights, which are Photo by Michael Ortega-Portillo ’21 Ramsey said, “The remodel dim.” The remodeling of the math classrooms began with new lighting. 2 Opinion The Crusader December 2019 Archbishop Riordan High School Riordan Rising: Teamwork makes the dream work The Crusader Staff Editorial It’s almost unbelievable. After Engineering Program, Kevin years of campaigning, waiting, Restani Court, and now, finally, Our new field symbolizes standing on the track. We truly and enormous effort, we did it. the Mayer Family Field. Both this change. With little doubt, we believe that this is a turning point The field was built. For the first the Development team and our can say that it is the nicest high for our school. We’ve waited so time in more than four years, administrators have helped to school field in San Francisco. Its long for this. Years of fundraising, there was a football game on our facilitate these changes, and clean look, colorful surroundings, of advertising, of waiting, of campus. For the first time in what we applaud their outstanding and large seating section make complaining from the students. seems like forever, we have a field efforts. Largely because of these it the best place to see a football Well, no one is complaining now. we can be proud of. tremendous efforts, we can say game in the city since Candlestick We did it. Riordan did it. It’s As the voice of Archbishop with enthusiasm that we love Park. With this new addition, we nothing but blue skies and open Riordan, we, the staff of The the direction in which Riordan are confident that the attendance roads from here on out. It seems as Crusader, echo these feelings is heading. The school seems at our games will rise. Just look though we are unstoppable. From of pride within our school. We upbeat. Sarcastic jokes about at the turnout for the last game the freshmen just starting their believe our school is now truly the quality of our facilities can of the season (a game in which time at Riordan to the seniors entering a new era of greatness. no longer be heard in our halls. we blew Sacred Heart Cathedral about to leave, we are excited to It seems that left and right, Every student now knows that out of the water, beating them see what heights Riordan will Riordan is developing new and he goes to a quality school, and 44-7). The stands were so packed reach next. And we are confident exciting additions such as the he is glad to be here. that many had to watch the game that they will be great. Pope Francis to journalists on World Communications Day: “I would like, then, to invite everyone to promote a journalism of peace . a journalism that is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines. A journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, especially those – and they are the majority in our world – who have no voice.” Editor’s Note The original art for the masthead of this issue of The Crusader was created by The Crusader staff in the 1980s. In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the newspaper, we are recreating some of the designs from previous decades. The new artwork was created by Miles Poon ’20. Mission Statement for the Archbishop Riordan High School Newspaper The mission of The Crusader is to inform, educate and Social Media, Online Editor entertain the readers—students, teachers, parents, Antonio Maffei ’20 members of the community—about issues that affect the students as well as citizens of San Francisco and the nation. Exchange Editor We hope to instill a sense of understanding, responsibility, Cole Anderson ’22 and curiosity in our readers that results in an eagerness to Copy Editor learn more about their peers and the world around them. Brandon Vargas ’20 Corrections and Clarifications Photo Editors The Crusader strives to maintain journalistic Michael Ortega-Portillo ’21 standards of accuracy and integrity at all times. 175 Frida Kahlo Way JJ Trujeque ’21 Please help us maintain this level of excellence San Francisco, CA 94112 by reporting anything inaccurate or unclear. RCrusaderNews.com Art Director [email protected] Miles Poon ’20 Editor-in-Chief Letters to the Editor Steven Rissotto ’20 Staff Reporters Henry Bensurto ’20 Letters to the editors will be accepted with the same deadlines Opinion Editor Dominic Borrego ’20 as ads. These letters may come from students, staff, parents, Michael Gray ’20 CJ Cabanero ’21 board members, or other members of the community.