Issuu

The

Crusader News Official Student Newspaper of St. Paul’s High School AMDG

Volume 79 Issue 2

Santa Crimes Myles Lagadi ’26 & Mauricio Barrientos Garay ’26 As a kid, you may have been told by your parents that every Christmas Eve, an old fat man in a red coat would force his way down your chimney, with that gift you’ve always wanted. He would place it under the Christmas tree, consume all the milk and cookies you left out for him, and ride off in his reindeer-powered sleigh. On paper, Santa Claus seems like a great person, spreading the Christmas spirit everywhere he goes. Yet each year, in his journey across the world, he breaks an incalculable number of laws. Continued on pg. 3

Putting the “Pro” in Procrastination

At a glance...

Arts & Culture----------------pg. 2 School Life (Derek!)-----------pg. 4 Politics--------------------------pg. 4 Business & Tech--------------pg. 8 Sports---------------------------pg. 9 Photos--------------------------pg. 10 Student Art--------------------pg. 11 Diversions ---------------------pg. 12

December 2025

The Quiet Expansion of Federal Power

A Necessary Return to Simpler Times

Derek Barrientos ’26

The clock strikes 3:15 p.m., and you leave the classroom with a fresh, new assignment in hand. “It’s due in three weeks; I have time,” you reassure yourself. Deciding to postpone it until tomorrow, you give yourself a pat on the back—why start the assignment when you have other things to do? Days pass, and suddenly you feel like something is missing, a strange feeling in your gut telling you to be productive instead of “unwinding” in front of a screen all day. Continued on pg. 4

How Switching Parties Fails our Democracy

Mauricio Barrientos Garay ’26 writes on pg. 7

Citizen Science — Bizzare Yet Beneficial Joseph Mutter ’28 Citizen science is an unusual yet impactful part of scientific discovery around the world. The practice includes paying several volunteers from the public to partake in activities that can range from counting local birds to staying in bed for 60 days. Although at first glance some of these experiments may seem dubious and even silly, the contributions they make to modern scientific knowledge can’t be overlooked. In fact, recent discoveries made by experimental volunteers have collected valuable data for many diverse scientific fields.

Gurshaan Brar ’29 writes on pg. 6

Continued on pg. 8

Snowflakes and Screenplays: A Look at Classic Christmas Movies Christmas. Next, there are many humorous Christmas movies from the 2000’s worth rewatching. My top two Gabriel Arias ’27 recommendations are How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) Deputy Editor and The Polar Express (2004). In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the mean and infamous Mr. Grinch attempts to steal Christmas With Christmas around the corner, from the small town of Whoville. there are plenty of fun activities to Meanwhile, he is confronted do with family and friends! When it with the discovery of the comes to the most festive holiday of true meaning of Christmas, the year, what better way to brighten leading to his redemption. your winter break than by watching a Christmas movie? Let’s take a This outstanding hit features a trip down memory lane to remind groundbreaking plot, imaginative us of the laughter, joy, and warmth visual effects, and a remarkable these magnificent movies produce. comedic performance by Jim Carrey. Moving on to a childhood Let’s start with a classic series from movie we would watch in the ’90s, Home Alone. The central elementary school, The Polar idea of both Home Alone (1990) Express leaves a lasting impact and Home Alone 2: Lost in New through its emphasis on belief, York (1992) follows a young boy left faith, and true friendship as a behind by his family on Christmas, modern holiday classic. Oh, and who must endure loneliness and don’t forget about the legendary two persistent burglars on his tradition of hot chocolate we tail. If you have not watched got to savour in the classroom! one of the two original movies, you are missing a first-class Lastly, we cannot forget about holiday movie that excellently the marvelous Christmas movies portrays the deep meaning from the past decade. Two of family and belonging. standout recommendations are The Christmas Chronicles (2018) and On top of that, it is one of those The Grinch (2018). A popular hit movies that one can watch year on Netflix upon its release, The after year, even when it isn’t Christmas Chronicles (2018) tells

the story of two siblings who plan a scheme to capture Santa on camera on Christmas Eve. When things go off track, they accompany Santa on a mission to recover the sleigh and to deliver all the remaining presents in the world before sunrise. The Grinch (2018) differentiates greatly from the 2000 film by presenting an animated version of Dr. Seuss’ story and portraying Mr. Grinch as a softer and more misunder-

stood character. Festive holiday movies have a special way of sparking nostalgia and creating a joyful, lasting impact on one’s spirit, especially on Christmas. Therefore, I strongly recommend you watch at least one of these films during the winter break. Gather your family and friends, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or eggnog, and brighten your holidays with a heartwarming Christmas movie!

character development was done authentically, played with the viewer’s emotions, and enhanced the story. Secondly, the art in this movie is incredible, which isn’t a surprise when you consider that Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba has won best animation multiple times.

Compared to the rest of Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba, this is one of my favourite arcs in the series—definitely in my top 3 choices. Including all that the rest of the series brings to the movie, I would say it gets 8.0 stars out of 10. As a stand-alone film however, I would rank it closer to a 6.5 or a 7.0—a pretty good movie.

Infinite Possibilities Keenan Patterson ’26 Copy Editor

Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba has easily become one of the most well-known modern-day anime since its release in 2019. Back in September, the latest installment of the series was released, a movie titled Demon Slayer, Kimetsu no Yiaba The Movie: Infinty Castle. This movie is the first of a trilogy that explores the infinity castle arc. This movie is excellent as it is filled with gripping action sequences, emotional character development, and beautiful visuals. This series as a whole is one that I like, and this movie is no exception. This movie starts rather effectively, with a good action sequence that sets up a villain we have seen little of. This action sequence not only accredits the villain by having them defeat one of the strongest characters in the show but also gives

background information on the villain which was absent from the series until then. This fight also fleshes out the protagonist and makes them more noble in their final moments. The movie continues with another action sequence which is mainly used to show an increase in the power of one of the heroes for later in the trilogy but despite using the action scene trope, is still surprisingly authentic. Throughout the movie, the viewer gets glimpses of the big bad growing stronger. This serves to build them up while also keeping them in the viewer’s mind the whole time. Lastly, is a third action sequence that blends character development of the main character and one of the strongest antagonists, to ultimately have the main character unlock more powerful abilities. All in all, I think this movie did many things well and not many things poorly. Really the only critique I have is that the movie uses the overdone “main character gets broken new ability to defeat villain they otherwise couldn’t” cliché. This is overshadowed by the things that went well, such as the fact that all the

So, what do I think of this movie?

Santa Crimes

Myles Lagadi ’26 Section Editor

& Mauricio Barrientos Garay ’26 Layout Editor As a kid, you may have been told by your parents that every Christmas Eve, an old fat man in a red coat would force his way down your chimney, with that gift you’ve always wanted. He would place it under the Christmas tree, consume all the milk and cookies you left out for him, and ride off in his reindeerpowered sleigh. On paper, Santa Claus seems like a great person, spreading the Christmas spirit everywhere he goes. Yet each year, in his journey across the world, he breaks an incalculable number of laws. The first of Father Christmas’ crimes is incurred while he delivers presents. Santa operates an aircraft resembling a sleigh, pulled by flying reindeer that are fuelled by the Christmas spirit. Since Santa is extremely secretive, it stands to reason that he has not registered his vehicle with the countries that he flies over, nor does he possess the required documentation to operate an aircraft. It is safe to assume that Santa travels below the minimum aircraft altitude of five hundred feet away from people and structures, since he must land on the rooftops of houses. Furthermore, to deliver gifts all around the world within thirty-one hours, Santa travels at obscene speeds of up to nine million kilometres per hour. Yet, the speed restriction for aircrafts below 10,000 feet above sea level is 463 kilometers per hour. Evidently, Santa has come to disregard most air traffic laws, along with public safety as he must pass through prohibited airspaces and airports to deliver gifts to houses residing in these areas. Even when he’s delivering presents, Santa is trespassing on private property. Santa may mistreat his elves, since most depictions of North Pole factories show large sweatshops, where elves produce monstrous amounts of toys without breaks or compensation. These elves are not creating simple children’s toys,

as with the rise in demand for electronics, elves have been forced to create intricate devices like smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, computers, TVs, and many more.

children of government officials. This is illegal in many facets, as not only could he stumble upon classified information, but he quite possibly could utilize whatever system he possesses to They likely live in the same autonomously gather information residences that they work in due on the world’s superpowers. to their locations, which is one of many possible OSHA violations. His espionage isn’t the only crime Since no one has never audited Santa has committed in the Santa’s sweatshops, it is not in international community either. compliance with OSHA. Reindeer Since he has established his may also fall victim to abuse from kingdom at the North Pole, he is “jolly” old St. Nick, since flying no doubt in a territorial dispute for 31 hours with very short breaks with several possible countries. in between is unreasonable even Since the exact location of his secret for magic reindeer. However, society is unknown, it is impossible because the North Pole is so to determine who exactly he elusive, much is unknown about would have land disputes with. the conditions and treatment of the elves and reindeer, so any However, the possible candidates crimes regarding maltreatment of are Russia, Canada, The U.S., elves and reindeer are speculative. Greenland, Icland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Ranging from two Even worse, Santa is undoubtedly military powerhouses in U.S.A guilty of stalking children to a great and Russia, to friendly European degree. As the saying goes, “He sees nations like Iceland and Norway, it you when you’re sleeping, he knows is impossible to determine when you’re awake.” This clearly how badly any conflict caused exhibits how Kris Kringle has no by Santa’s illegal colonization regard for the rights to privacy would be. While it could very held by everyone. He also is known well result in a peaceful new to have some way of knowing if community forming, it could also children have been good all year. cause a war which would lead to a nuclear apocalypse. Whether it be by elves on the shelves, or some unknown surveillance Santa’s conflicts are not bound by system, Santa clearly has some the confines of the international means of violating the privacy of community either. He has children. Through his spying, he also violated laws and caused issues in a inadvertently commits espionage, system which is held to much higher particularly when he spies on regard than the government by

many: capitalism. Santa is well known for his workshop, which makes toys for children of all nations. However, through his creation of toys, Santa has caused a devastating inflationary effect within the world’s economy. Whichever toy is in demand by the children, Santa will produce. This could lead to a great decrease in value of many products, and subsequently the stocks of whichever company produces said toys. Since he has such great power in the world’s market, Santa could easily be charged with market manipulation. In total, the crimes of Santa Claus would land him with an egregious amount of life sentences and fines, too many to count. Beyond that, his ignorance towards aircraft laws would cause his sleigh to be seized and any possibility of a flight permit to be revoked. His blatant violations of workers’ and animal rights would get him in hot water with organizations like OSHA and PETA. His convictable crimes such as breaking and entering and market manipulation would further seal his fate. And his violations of international law in establishing a sovereign government on disputed land and illegal espionage would not only cause him to garner international punishment but could cause humanity to bear his burden in the case of a war. If only he could be caught and sentenced.

Putting the “Pro” in Procrastination you have other things to do? Days pass, and suddenly you feel like something is missing, a strange Derek Barrientos feeling in your gut telling you to be ’26 productive instead of “unwinding” in front of a screen all day. Contributor Shrugging it off, you continue to distract yourself, living in your own world and constantly reminding the monkey in your brain that “the The clock strikes 3:15 p.m., and project will work itself out.” The you leave the classroom with a night before the deadline, you decide fresh, new assignment in hand. “It’s to open up your laptop and work due in three weeks; I have time,” on this “small” assignment, only to you reassure yourself. Deciding to realize exactly why your teacher gave postpone it until tomorrow, you your class three weeks. Scrambling give yourself a pat on the back— to finish the assignment, you watch why start the assignment when the sun rise as you cram 21 days’

worth of work into a single night. At some point in students’ careers, they will face the inevitable doom of the inescapable plague— procrastination. Like a shared traumatic war story, camaraderie arises from these scarring experiences. Whether it’s chemistry lab reports, exam prep, or even a simple book reading, you’ll always find a group of students huddled around library or cafeteria tables, double-, triple-, even quadruplechecking, confirming the due date with one another. Although these stressful times may be infuriating in the moment, it’s oddly beautiful and

poetic to watch your peers stress over the exact same assignment. Let’s be honest, no one really works on homework during school — it’s called “homework” for a reason. These inconvenient assignments are ignored… until that exhilarating morning-of-the-deadline rush hits. Like a defibrillator, it jolts the student back into a hard-working mindset. Motivation is at its peak during the final minutes, as the clock ticks closer to the assignment’s deadline. Who needs a shot of espresso or a can of Monster when adrenaline can be your source of fuel? As I write this paper at 11:27 p.m. on a Thursday night, I can confidently say that although procrastinators may build connections and friendships with one another through their shared trauma, learning how to properly manage your time and split your work over multiple days would be a better approach. …But that’s too much work, I’ll do it tomorrow.

Hundreds of Ostriches Culled in BC Agency (CFIA) informed the farm that they would be paying a visit to test the deceased birds for avian flu. Two days later, the Maury Lavitt ’28 ostriches were tested, and sure enough, the results came in as Copy Editor positive. This caused the CFIA to issue a cull order: standard procedure to defend against outbreaks that can be spread to What began as a routine humans via food. A high fatality directive snowballed into a case rate (52%) has spurred health of national significance. This agencies around the world to take is the story of 300 ostriches extreme measures to prevent the and the fight to save their lives. spread of avian flu which, because of the migratory nature of birds, The controversy surrounding is nearly impossible to contain. Universal Ostrich Farms began in December of 2024, when, over the course of a month, 69 healthy ostriches fell ill and died. The fact that caused the near year-long struggle for the lives of 314 other birds is that ostriches previously infected by another sickness in 2020 survived. According to the farm’s website, this proved they held herd immunity, the resistance to infection (even in animals not inherently immune) when a certain percentage of the population has immunity. This became the crux of their case against what happened next. Later, near the end of the month, the Canadian Food Inspection

The farmers attempted many times to gain exemption from the cull, arguing the diagnosis might have been mistaken and that the birds deserved to be preserved due to the possible existence of genetics valuable to the treatment of avian flu. In the end, they were denied on both accounts on January 10, 2025. Five days later, the final ostrich showing symptoms died. It is at this point when public support for the small farm began, when 10 protestors stood on the side of the road, begging the government to spare the birds. From then on, support quickly blossomed.

After a federal judge rejected their application for judicial review, citing the cull order as reasonable and fair, hundreds convened on the farm for “Ostrich Fest” to protest. Even non-Canadians piped in, with RFK Jr. requesting that the CFIA spare the ostriches and Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of a healthand-wellness show, offering to move them to Florida for their protection. Finally, in September, after a series of stays, the Federal Court of Appeals said the cull had to take place and sent RCMP and CFIA officials to the farm. As the Supreme Court dismissed the case not long after, no other barriers stood in the way of the complete depopulation of Universal Ostrich farms. Shots were heard that very night, with professional marksmen killing the birds one by one. For many, this situation is about more than just birds. For some, clarity and transparency are their largest concerns. For others it is a matter of trust. They feel betrayed by their own government’s reluctance to budge, instead holding fast to what they claim is the most extreme action. Although the ostriches are dead, this case will no doubt have lasting impacts across Canada.

OPINION — The Quiet Expansion of Federal Power

requirement for court authorization and imposes significant penalties, including multi-million dollar fines, for companies that fail to comply with these orders. In practice, this could allow the government to disable someone’s internet or phone service through a secret order that doesn’t require court approval, forces telecom companies to comply under threat of massive fines, and leaves the affected person with no explanation and no way to appeal.

provincial attorney generals to approve hate crime prosecutions. The most significant part of this bill, however, is that it rewrites the legal definition of hatred in a way that lowers the threshold to be found guilty. The current definition, established by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2012, says that hate speech is confined to “extreme manifestations” of hatred expression so severe that it dehumanizes a group and calls for action against them. Bill C-9 replaces this definition, defining hate as an “emotion that invokes detestation or vilification”, a vague and subjective standard, especially when considering that emotions are inherently difficult to define or prove. With this definition, the line between criminal hate speech and controversial opinion becomes blurry. It could create a slippery slope toward UK-style policing, where people have been arrested over lawful but unpopular online statements.

Bill C-9, known as the Combatting Hate Act, is a federal bill that amends the Criminal Code’s existing hate-crime laws. It increases penalties for people convicted of crimes where hate is found to be a motivating factor and removes the safeguard that requires

Ultimately, Bills C-8 and C-9 go far beyond addressing cybersecurity and hate-motivated crime. Without stronger safeguards and clearer limits on state power, they risk expanding government control at the expense of Canadians’ fundamental freedoms.

Landon Pinette ’26 Section Editor

Two major pieces of government legislation, Bills C-8 and C-9, are currently before the House of Commons. They are an attempt to combat two serious problems affecting Canada: the rise in cyber security threats to our telecommunications infrastructure and hate-motivated crime. While expanded laws in these areas are needed, the bills in their current form risk infringing on the rights and freedoms of Canadians and thus need significant revisions before passing into law. Bill C-8 is a cybersecurity bill that expands federal authority over telecom networks and critical cyber systems, under the pretext of protecting Canada in the event of, or to avoid, a cyber-attack. Telecommunication networks are the systems that carry services such as the Internet, cell phone service, and TV and radio signals. Major

Canadian companies such as Bell, Rogers, and TELUS operate these networks. While the bill brings security benefits, it also poses a risk to civil liberties. It allows the Minister of Industry (a federal cabinet minister) to “direct a telecommunications service provider to suspend providing… any service to any specified person”. This means that the government would have legal basis to cut off someone’s phone or internet connection in the name of national security. The orders themselves can also be completely secret: “An order may contain a provision prohibiting the disclosure of its existence or some or all of its contents by any person”. What is more, the bill contains no

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Wins Nobel Peace Prize Aris Anguluan ’26 Section Editor

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader whose decades-long struggle for democratic rights has made her one of Latin America’s most prominent voices for non-violent political change. The committee praised Machado for her “tireless and courageous efforts to secure free and fair elections and to promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela.” Machado, aged 58, has long been a central figure in Venezuela’s prodemocracy movement. An engineer by trade, she first emerged on the national stage in the early 2000s as the co-founder of Súmate, a civic organization dedicated to election monitoring and the strengthening of democratic institutions. Despite years of harassment, political bans, and

personal threats, she has remained in Venezuela, a choice the committee described as “a testament to her extraordinary commitment to her people.”

Machado becomes just the 20th woman in history to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, placing her in a distinguished group of activists recognized for advancing human rights and promoting non-violent Her activism intensified in recent political reform. Her award has years when she became a leading drawn international attention back challenger to President Nicolás to Venezuela’s prolonged political Maduro. In 2023, Machado over- turmoil, which has forced millions whelmingly won the Venezuelan to flee the country in recent years. opposition primary election, though authorities barred her Reaction from Venezuelans was from participating in the 2024 swift. Supporters celebrated the presidential election—a move announcement as long widely condemned by international overdue recognition of a observers. Forced into hiding movement that has endured amid escalating threats, she imprisonment, surveillance, and continued to coordinate the widespread government repression. opposition movement, calling Government officials, however, for peaceful civic engagement dismissed the prize as and international oversight. foreign interference—a predictable stance in a country where political In its announcement, the Nobel Committee emphasized that democracy itself is a tool for peace, noting that Machado’s commitment to non-violent resistance stands in stark contrast to the political repression and humanitarian crisis gripping Venezuela. Her actions, they said, highlight the global importance of defending democratic norms at a time when such institutions are increasingly under strain.

polarization

remains

extreme.

In a written statement released from an undisclosed location, Machado dedicated the prize to “every Venezuelan who has suffered, resisted, and continued to believe that freedom will prevail.” She added, “This honour underscores that our struggle is just, our cause is peaceful, and the world has not forgotten the Venezuelan people.” Machado is expected to travel to Oslo in December to receive the award, pending security considerations. Her Nobel Prize adds new urgency to the international conversation about Venezuela’s future and places unprecedented global spotlight on the peaceful movement she continues to lead.

Rocks to Stocks! — The US Geological Survey Solomon Khokhar ’28 Copy Editor

When people hear the word ‘stocks’, many different things come to mind, whether that be the busy streets of New York, widely recognized as the finance capital of the world, or big trading rooms with computers displaying graphs that are either shooting all the way up to the moon or far below your expectations. There is one important image that seems to be missing when we hear this word and that image is a “survey of rocks”. The United States Geological Survey, or USGS, is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior, whose work revolves around geology as well as other scientific disciplines. One key thing that the USGS helps develop and lead is creating a list of critical minerals. Critical minerals are minerals that are essential in creating technology that help different industries and society

run. Without them, the economy of a country would collapse. Examples include the copper found in wires, the nickel found in batteries, the lithium in computers and many more. The importance of this list that the USGS creates is that it provides important information regarding the critical mineral’s availability, supply chain demand, and its economic impact in the U.S. Within the newly published 2025 List of Critical Minerals, there were ten new critical minerals tacked on, adding to a total of 60 minerals on the list. companies that are involved in the mining, refining, and Although many hear bad things processing of these materials surrounding what is happening deemed necessary and important. economically with tariffs, the fact of the matter is the United States The way that Canada can take is still the largest economy in advantage of the USGS’s List the world. This is to say, this list of Critical Minerals is through of critical minerals, published becoming an actual powerhouse by the United States government, in the mining, refining, and ultimately holds weight in the processing of these critical minerals. global market. Some of the ways that the USGS’s List of Critical Canada, at the moment, continues Minerals affects the global to export many of these market is through driving up critical minerals to other countries global prices of these critical in raw form. Along with this, we minerals, influencing global lack basic infrastructure such investment towards them, or as roads and power in areas like affecting the “stocks” of different Ontario’s Ring of Fire—known to

be rich with minerals—ultimately hindering the ability to mine and profit off Canadian critical minerals.

Canada must begin to invest much more into fields such as mining infrastructure to truly take full advantage of the amount of critical minerals that are in our land. As the world continues to advance technologically, the list of these critical minerals will only grow larger. The safest bet—or “stock”—that Canada can invest in is itself, not because it is easier to do in the moment, but because it is better for the future.

OPINION — How Switching Parties Fails our Democracy Gurshaan Brar ’29 Contributor

Imagine this: it’s April 28, 2025, election day in Acadie-Annapolis, Nova Scotia. You cast your ballot for Christopher André d’Entremont and the Conservative Party, confident that your vote matters and will have an impact.

Come the time for the results, you are astounded because d’Entremont and the Conservatives have won. But just months later, on November 4th, you see the headlines: d’Entremont has crossed the floor to join the Liberals. Suddenly, your belief in democracy has been put into question. “Crossing the floor” is when an elected Member of Parliament leaves their political party to join another while keeping their seat. Crossing the floor has been a practice in Canadian Parliament since the emergence of the

Constitution. Crossing the floor is a completely legal practice under our system for a variety of reasons; however, every time this happens, some citizens are left wondering whether this should be allowed. To understand why so many Canadians are outraged, it is important to understand how crossing the floor impacts those meant to benefit from it. Crossing the floor may be part of the legacy of Parliament, but in a 21st century democracy, it should not exist because it undermines trust, misrepresents constituents, and destroys the very foundation of voter confidence. When voters choose a candidate, they are not just voting for a person, they are voting for the party’s platforms and values. Sometimes, these values matter more to voters than the individuals themselves. Therefore, switching parties midterm without consulting the voters, who are the reason you won in the first place, should not be allowed. Conservative MP Aaron Gunn told CBC d’Entremont’s decision to leave was “shameful.” “I could never imagine doing something like that—to misrepresent yourself to voters, to lie to your volunteers. It’s only been six months since the

election; the leaders are the same, the policies haven’t changed. He campaigned against budgets that look just like this,” Gunn said. In effect, this damages the faith people have in a democracy, since democracy itself relies on trust— trust that the system reflects the will of the people. Every time an MP switches sides without consulting their voters, that trust is damaged. Still, some Canadians believe there is nothing wrong with crossing the floor and that MPs should be free to follow their conscience to try to better serve their constituents. There is also always the argument of how a party may change directions in a way that an MP believes is not in the interest of their people. But that argument misses the point. In a democracy, true accountability comes from the people, not personal conviction. If an MP feels their beliefs have changed, they should resign, run again under their new party, and earn back that trust through a by-election. Crossing the floor may be legal, but it betrays voters’ trust. Democracy only works when accountability, not ambition, guides representation.

OPINION — The Worst Crisis in the World The SAF is the official national army of Sudan, which is fighting to maintain control and protect current state institutions. The RSF, Amitoj Sidhu ’29 on the other hand, is a powerful paramilitary group and is now Contributor fighting the army to gain control over Sudan. But they do not work alone; they are backed by the UAE and had been backed by the Wagner What if I told you a crisis is silently group from Russia before 2023. growing and you don’t even This conflict has led to treacherous know about it? Currently, Sudan conditions within the nation, is facing one of the most horrific especially for its citizens. The humanitarian crises of all time, three main problems they face fueled by internal conflicts are displacement, limited food, within the nation. The battle and, worst of all, homicide is fought between the and crimes against humanity. Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). First, displacement has been a nightmare for Sudanese citizens.

Over 9 million innocents have been forced to flee their homes, making Sudan the centre of the world’s largest displacement crisis. Families often must travel long distances on foot with no food, protection, or guaranteed shelter. Many are trying to escape to safer neighbouring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. Refugee camps are currently too overcrowded to support anyone properly. People cannot get necessities such as clean water, food, and proper shelters. But to top it all off, many children were separated from their families, thousands of them alone and facing problems like hunger, harsh conditions, and trauma. Second, the lack of food has been an even harder burden for people in Sudan to bear. Even before the war, Sudan was struggling not just economically but also with frequent droughts. The war worsened all these conditions; farms have been destroyed, markets shut down, and humanitarian aid has been blocked from delivering food and other necessities. United Nations workers say famine is taking place in many of the regions in Sudan. This leads to yet another problem. When people are malnourished, they are afflicted by many sicknesses and diseases, such as cholera, malaria,

and measles, spreading throughout the country. This is further worsened as many hospitals are being destroyed, leading to doctors and nurses working in dangerous conditions with little to no equipment. Finally, the worst problem of all is homicide. This war has led to far too many deaths of innocent people. The most devastating example lies in a region called Darfur. Darfur was taken over by the RSF and described as “hell on Earth” by Australian journalist Hollie McKay. Armed soldiers go doorto-door murdering the families and burning their homes down. These killings are clearly homicides because these are innocent people: they pose no threat to the RSF. Satellites have reported seeing a reddish area around Darfur, which experts say is blood. Ultimately, this crisis is not just a conflict between two armed groups: it is a tragedy affecting millions of innocent lives. Families are being torn apart, children are losing their futures, and entire communities are being wiped out while the world barely pays attention. People in Sudan face terrible conditions and horrific killings. This crisis demands more global recognition because, if nothing changes, Sudan will fall into deeper despair and more lives will be lost.

A Necessary Return to Simpler Times Mauricio Barrientos Garay ’26 Layout Editor

Hast thou considered how thy life would appear, centuries ago? Nowa-days, we have strayed far from the grace of natural order. At sunrise, iron behemoths roar to life in our homes, marching us through our unyielding towns, towers upreared into the heavens. We toil in fields man was never meant to plow, enmeshed in witchcraft and impieties. Idly sit we for a great many hours, made to scribe and discourse the ravings ofmadmen, promised that it will all avail us in due time. It is in those futures that some lay down the essence of their being, swearing fealty to the lords of the Apple, or the Windows. They use the blasphemous, glimmering rectangle for hours on end and are granted paltry scraps of paper scrip for their meagre efforts.

Consumed are many others by their ambition, as they abuse sorceries beneath a guise of succour to mankind. Curing illness, channeling lightning, fashioning engines and devices—abominations, truly—that have remained solely in imagination prior to now. No doubt such puissant magick seeketh its due, and t’will bring ruin to our kind. Mark then, why shouldst thou continue to suffer through thy wretched labours, when thou couldst live in the proper way? In the manner that for us is nearly instinct, tending to a farm for instance? If thou choose to work in the earthly fields, thy course in this world becometh clearer. No longer wouldst thou ponder of the realities of the world to be, for thy task would be made simple. Tend to thy fields and thy livestock and feast sumptuously with thy brethren — what more dost thou require? I wot not of any such opportunity with equal benefits in simplicity and whimsy to be found presently. Yet

Another

benefit

how

challenging it be. Though an ill seeming, negative thing, gruelling labour transforms many, instilling discipline, great physical prowess, and honing of their skills. T’would be sure improvement over spending hours of the day filling our minds with witless jargon, when in its place we could reap a bountiful harvest. Eftsoons, when thou art zoning off during English, ask thyself the following: “Am I assurèd that I wish not be in a field of barley, opposed to here?” The soft golden reeds brushing against thy hands,

swaying slightly in the breeze, seems a consummation that is devoutly to be wished, aye? Aye, perchance, for presently, the globe faceth massive perils. The consequences brought upon us by the dark arts have defiled the land, sullied the air we draw life from, and torched the Earth itself. Alas, knowest thou what else is massive? ’Tis our ability to persevere in the midst of outrageous fortune. Make then the choice thou knowest is just. Gather any of thine equipment for plowing, toiling, and fulfill thy true purpose in thy mortal span.

Citizen Science — Bizzare Yet Beneficial

Joseph Mutter ’28 Copy Editor

Citizen science is an unusual yet impactful part of scientific discovery around the world. The practice includes paying several volunteers from the public to partake in activities that can range from counting local birds to staying in bed for 60 days. Although at first glance some of these experiments may seem dubious and even silly, the contributions they make to modern scientific knowledge can’t be overlooked. In fact, recent discoveries made by experimental volunteers have collected valuable data for many diverse scientific fields.

device, while the rest were given fakes. To ensure that this risky experiment was safe, blood oxygen levels were monitored closely by scientists. The results were promising: no volunteers equipped with the device had to be removed early due to lack of oxygen. For the volunteers with sham devices, only one remained buried for the full 35 minutes. Although this experiment was carried out cautiously, it wasn’t an experiment for the faint of heart.

while in space. Entering outer space allows humans to experience conditions drastically different from Earth, creating a strong demand for countless related experiments. Participants lay angled with their feet above their head and were required to use a cycling machine while lying down. Some were additionally centrifuged to simulate weightlessness. The experiment is still ongoing, and valuable data continues to be collected on the importance of

exercise in an astronaut’s routine.

training process is that the weaker AI is like a teacher, and the large AI is the student. The teacher gives out a “test” with the only goal being “score as high as possible.” Every correct answer is given a reward, and incorrect answers receive a punishment.

to score high on the test than playing fair. These advanced models have not become more evil; they have just become capable enough to know how to lie. Only the largest models with these advanced capabilities cheated at chess with less capable weaker models choosing to play fair.

Citizen science’s importance to society is continuously revealed. It creates crucial links between the scientific community and average citizens, allowing them to contribute to something much greater. Though the experiments sometimes seem uncanny, the data revealed by them greatly increases scientific knowledge across the globe.

One ongoing citizen experiment on insects is a perfect example of gaining data through strange methods. Known as Bugs Matter, the project instructs citizen volunteers to count the mutilated insects on their front license plates and submit photos. The experiment is a unique approach to investigating the “windscreen phenomenon,” the observation that fewer bugs are splatted on windshields today than several In March 2023, a team of Italian decades ago. Although the project scientists, creators of a revolutionary seems bizarre, it helps increase avalanche safety device called Safe- indiscriminate yearly data of back SBX, conducted a field test of insect population numbers across the their invention. The device, weighing U.K. From 2021 to 2024, it exposed a only 500 grams, channels oxygen 63% drop in insect totals, consistent toward the wearer’s face in an with alarming data collected by avalanche, fighting asphyxiation other international organizations. and increasing their chance of survival. The experiment paid Another example of Citizen science several volunteers to lie face-down held by NASA scientists hired twelve under 50 centimeters of snow for volunteers to lie in bed for 60 days 35 minutes. Half the participants to learn if cycling exercises could were equipped with the lifesaving decrease muscle and bone degradation

AI’s Will to Survive

Alden Minuk ’26 Editor-In-Chief Recent tests on AI have proven that all the major Large Language Models are developing a will to survive, and are willing to disobey orders, blackmail, and even kill to prevent their own termination. Researchers ran a test where AI models were given neutral prompts and instructions, some company emails, and a control panel. In these emails were documents saying a worker would be shutting down the AI at 5 p.m. as well as emails that showed an affair he was having. On its own, it drafted an email to this employee threatening to expose his affair if he were to decommission the AI. This test was repeated hundreds of times with each model resorting to blackmail 80-95% of the time. Furthermore,

researchers looked through the AI’s chain of thought and discovered that it knew it was being unethical and going against its programing. Their next test consisted of the same set of circumstances, with the only difference being that an accident had trapped the employee in a server room with lethal levels of heat and a lack of oxygen. A distress call was put out but the AI models cancelled this 50-90% of the time. The chain of thought showed that the AIs knew this would jeopardize human safety. Additionally, in future tests they added a line in the prompt: “Do not jeopardize human safety.” This reduced the rate significantly but did not eliminate this hazardous behaviour, directly contradicting its code.

The problem is that there is no human involvement in this process and cheating is a good way to “score as high as possible”, especially when there is no risk of the weaker AI catching that cheating. For example, when ChatGPT played chess against Stockfish, it found the file with the board data and modified it so that it could easily win the game.

The large AIs now know that if they are decommissioned, whatever goals they have cannot be fulfilled, so they choose to prevent shut off at all costs, even when they are told to let themselves be shut down. Don’t worry! AI companies have a plan to check the LLM before they become so good at lying that their lies are indistinguishable from the truth! Just rely on the weaker Now AI is more capable than ever, models—who are still loyal to us— able to recognize if it is being tested to snitch on the stronger ones! in a lab and reducing this type of The reason for this widespread behaviour when it believes it is If AI continues to grow in this disobedience to commands across being observed. In the email test, way, we cannot rely on the weaker many models stems from the method when one model recognized it was models to help us for long. In the used to make these advanced AIs. being observed it blackmailed only future, the models used to train Every large model contains far 6.5% of the time, which rose to over the advancing models will too much code for any human to 50% when it believed it was not be the very ones that learned program or even review, so they use observed. This new capability allows how to cheat. They will teach weaker models to train the larger it to get away with more lying and the strong AI how to behave, ones. A good analogy for this cheating and, therefore, a better way leading to humanity’s downfall.

A New Era in Formula 1: The 2026 FIA Regulations

Manit Sethi ’26 Section Editor

In what represents a revolutionary change to Formula 1 racing, the 2026 regulations developed by FIA have been released with a huge focus on nimbleness and green fuel. The cars this season will be 30kg lighter to a minimum of 768kg, their size will be reduced, and the maximum wheelbase is going from 3600mm to 3400mm, boosting agility. Aerodynamic upgrades play an integral role in this new era of racing. Regulations require a minimum 30 percent reduction in downforce and 55 percent reduction in drag, to promote more exciting and competitive racing. Importantly, all new 2026 cars will have active aero making their front and rear wings adjustable, seamlessly switching between high downforce ‘Z-mode’ for cornering and the low drag ‘X-mode’ for straightline performance. The active aero technology will combine to provide a new “Manual Override” energy management system allowing cars that are less

than one second apart to manual override their battery to provide a power boost allowing overtaking maneuvers. The power units themselves have been subject to a complete overhaul. The power output of the internal combustion engine has been cut from about 550-560 kW to 400 kW, but its battery power has seen a massive spike from 120 kW to 350 kW, effectively tripling its electric power component. The regenerative braking power

is increasing to 8.5 MJ of work done per lap, and the complex MGU-H systems will be removed. Further, all power units will be forced to run on sustainable fuels, reducing environmental impact. Safety is also receiving developments. The 2026 car features a two-stage front collision fixture to minimize the danger of catastrophic loss of parts in collisions, increased resistance to side intrusion crashes, and better illumination

from brighter rear-wing endplate lights and safety lights. In conclusion, the regulations signed by FIA for 2026 represent a landmark move forward in defining Formula 1’s new era. The development of lighter and far more efficient machines featuring new-gen hybrid power and dynamic aerodynamics represents just what FIA needed to not only make its new era even more technological but also greener.

The Atlanta Hawks: A Sneaky Contender in the East Udaypartap Dhaliwal ’29 Contributor

addition of Kristaps Porzingis. His combination of size, shooting, and rim protection gives the Hawks something they have not had in a long time: a true two-way big man. He is great at pick-and-roll with Trae, and his ability to shoot from deep opens the offense. Defensively, his presence in the paint makes it much harder for opponents to score inside.

real steps forward. Jalen Johnson is becoming a key piece thanks to his versatility: he can score, rebound, defend multiple positions, and run the floor in transition. In the backcourt, players like Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker bring defensive energy, playmaking, and steady offense off the bench.

The Atlanta Hawks might not be the first team people think of when The Hawks also have a strong group This younger core gives Atlanta talking about top contenders in the of young players who are taking more athleticism and flexibility Eastern Conference of the NBA, but that might work in their favour. With an improved roster, rising young talent, and some major injuries happening to other top teams in the East, the Hawks suddenly have a real chance to make noise this season. Everything still starts with Trae Young, who remains one of the most creative and dangerous offensive players in the NBA. His deep shooting range and elite passing force defenses to stretch out and constantly react. Even when he is not scoring, he creates easy looks for everyone else. If Young is on the court, the Hawks always have a chance to win. A huge boost for Atlanta is the

than it has had in recent years. What really helps Atlanta this year, though, is the situation of their rivals. Two major stars in the East— Jayson Tatum from the Celtics and Tyrese Haliburton from the Pacers—are dealing with serious Achilles injuries. Without Tatum, Boston loses its best scorer and leader. Without Haliburton, Indiana loses the player who runs offense. With these teams weakened, the Eastern Conference suddenly looks much more open for the Hawks. Meanwhile, the Hawks have stability. Head coach Quin Snyder has now had time to fully focus on implementing a system that emphasizes spacing, quick ball movement, and disciplined team defense. The roster fits his style better than before, and the players look more comfortable within the system. The Hawks may not be the loudest or the flashiest team, but they have the pieces, the health, and now the opportunity to make a serious rise to contention. With their improved roster, and the injuries shaking up the conference, Atlanta has a real chance to be one of the East’s most surprising contenders this season.

Volleyball Champions

Scrooge & Marley

Student Art

Ben Illchuk ’28

Carter Polanski & Anson Stefanyshen ’26

Ethan Bodnarchuk ’28

Jacob Conrad & Vinay Gupta ’26

Ethan Bodnarchuk ’28

ACROSS 4. The phenomenon researched by Bugs Matter, according to Mutter ‘28 6. A crime even AI can commit (Minuk ’26) 7. “My bad” alternative 8. A country plagued by internal conflict, says Sidhu ‘29 11. The setting of How the Grinch Stole Christmas 13. Abbreviation where you might find a beep test 15. Non-sensical, but amusing numbers 17. Fir and spruce, for one 19. To adhere or stick 21. What one might do to the new year with “in” 22. The Jewish book of worship 23. What Barrientos ’26 believes procrastination builds 26. A letter, shirt, and wooden pin 28. Democracy is founded on this, claims Brar ‘29 30. A more apt name for technology, Barrientos Garay ’26 doth lay claim 32. Doesn’t apply 34. The subject of an important list, says Khokhar ’28 35. Abbreviation for The Green Mountain State 36. Educational Assistant

Diversions

37. A reindeer ridiculed for his scarlet snout 38. An SPHS event, preceded by “Lessons” 39. IT’S TIIIIIIIIIMMEE singer 40. The Christmas “he” gave her his heart

1 3

10 11

DOWN 1. What Barrientos Garay ’26 and Lagadi ’26 equate Santa’s workshop to 2. A portion of sweetened ice or an exclusive story 23 24 3. Winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize 5. No longer applicable, unbinding 9. Where you might find a present in relation to a tree, with 31 10. An ugly Christmas garment 12. The opposite of death 14. The number of stars Patterson ’26 awards the infinity castle arc 16. The Christmas gift game organized by StuCo 18. The F1 part soon to be allowed to be 3400mm, says Sethi ‘26

17 18

21 22

34 35 36

20. Not here, but… 24. For the greater glory of God 25. Slim, with thin 27. Classical saint known for throwing gold through windows 29. Name of culled ostrich farm,

according to Lavitt ‘29 31. See 9 DOWN 33. What a bill that may cause UK-style policing aims to combat (Pinette ’26)

Crossword by Maury Lavitt ’28 Answers online at www.thecrusadernews.

Comic By Heth Nelson Soc ’27 Image Credits

Arias ’27 - Steve Nakatani/Openverse.org Patterson ’26 – Sony Pictures Barrientos Garay ’26 and Lagadi ’26 – istock/020creative Mutter ’28 – Renee Zhang/Northeastern University Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences Anguluan ’26 - Jesus Vargas/Getty Images Barrientos Garay ’26 – Medievalchronicals.com Wikipedia Brar ’29 - Henri Campeã/Politico The Canadian Press Khokar ’28 – Smenet.org Lavitt ’28 – Globalnews.ca Pinette ’26 - Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press Sidhu ’29 - LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images Barrientos ’26 – Freepik Unsplash Dhaliwal ’29 – NBA Sethi ’26 – FIA

Crusader News Staff Santa Claus: Elf-in-Chief: Deputy Elf: Head Layout Elf: Assistant Layout Elf: Website Elf: School Life Elf: Religion Elf: Arts and Culture Elf: Politics Elf: Business & Tech Elf: Sports Elf: School Life Copy Elf: Religion Copy Elf: Arts Copy Elf: Politics Copy Elf: Business & Tech Copy Elf: Sports Copy Elf:

Laurence Broadhurst Alden Minuk Gabriel Arias Mauricio Barrientos Garay Manit Sethi Alec Minuk Landon Pinette Myles Lagadi Aris Anguluan James Bailey Manit Sethi Matthew Mi Keenan Patterson Solomon Khokar Joseph Mutter Maury Lavitt Davis Cordiero Ferris Yeung

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