The
Crusader News Official Student Newspaper of St. Paul’s High School
Volume 77 Issue 3
At a glance... Arts & Culture ------------- pg. 2 Politics --------------------- pg. 4 Business -------------------- pg. 6 Science & Tech ------------- pg. 7 Sports --------------------- pg. 8 School Life ---------------- pg. 10 Diversions----------------- pg.12
AMDG
How a U of M Prof Became the Face of a Cryptocurrency Scam Rodmehr Filizadeh ’25 Business Editor
March 2024
Remembering Yash Varma ’24 One year on
On January 1, 2024, Netflix’s documentary Bitconned was released. It told the story of three men who took advantage of the cryptocurrency market to scam investors and take millions of dollars with a fake cryptocurrency debit card. Their elaborate scam consisted of a fake card that would supposedly make spending cryptocurrency seamless in daily life. In the middle of this ordeal: a University of Manitoba professor who was unknowingly the CEO of CentraTech, the fraudulent crypto debit card company. Continued on pg. 6.
Ramadan for Beginners
The Winter that Wasn’t
Adam Haleis ’25
Baljot Rai ’24 on why it’s so warm this winter on pg. 11.
Contributor
New Jersey Designs in the NHL Sports Editor Luke Perrett ’24 shares his strong opinions on what the NHL has cooked up on pg. 9. March 11, 2024 marks the day when Muslims across the world unite to participate in 30 days of the Ramadan, or Sawm, season. The word ‘Ramadan’ stems from the Arabic root word ar-ramad, meaning ‘scorching heat.’ It describes Ramadan as a month of abstinence and giving up the luxuries we often take for granted. Continued on pg. 10.
“May the divine light illuminate our intellect.”Those are the closing words of the Gayatri Mantra, a Hindu mantra which was recited and played at Yash’s funeral. To me, those Sanskrit words evoke the essence of Yash’s spirit – illumination and intellect. Through our many deep philosophical debates and discussion, his inner illumination always shined. Yash’s jubilant personality was complemented by a smile on his face and his passion for the multitude of initiatives he participated in. Be it leading positive change in our community through Youth in Philanthropy, entertaining all of us through his acting in drama, or simply through a conversation, Yash was a catalyst for happiness. Alongside being extremely academically gifted, his wit was evident in everything that he did. One year on, there’s rarely a moment when his presence isn’t missed. Walking through the hallways, sitting in the newsroom, or in conversations, I often wonder, “wouldn’t it have been much better if Yash was here with us?” Today, he would’ve been The Crusader News’ website editor, my co-leader in Youth in Philanthropy, and spreading jubilance wherever he went. Though he is in a much better place now, he’s also at the heart of the class of 2024. Yash, we remember you and we miss you. You truly are unforgettable. Baljot Rai ’24 Chief Editor