The Plank - Opinions
Opinion: Sopranos, the psychology of a psychopath
Although the final episode of “The Sopranos” aired in 2007, well before many of the students at Jesuit High School Sacramento were born, the critically acclaimed HBO (Home Box Office) series remains relevant nearly two decades later.
“The Sopranos” follows Tony Soprano and his mafia family in the North Jersey sect, and all the murder, racketeering, extortion, fraud, and drama that surrounds them. The show’s characterization of Tony is what makes it a masterpiece.
Opinion: love, loss and loneliness in Chainsaw Man
Perhaps the best movie to come out in October of 2025 was “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc”. This movie, a continuation of the anime series “Chainsaw Man”, was an absolute masterpiece in terms of animation, story, and character development.
Although it took 3 years for the franchise to return after the conclusion of the anime, the wait paid off with 120 immaculate minutes of screen time in theatres. Staying true to its manga (a Japanese comic book), it presented the intricacies of the manga incredibly well.
Opinion: NFL in Sacramento?
For decades, the Central Valley has been underrepresented in the big four U.S. sports leagues. Sacramento has always been in the shadow of California’s major cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles. However, one of these leagues just had a major shake-up, when the Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas. Now that there is much less saturation in the California football market, could this be a golden opportunity for a Sacramento NFL expansion?
Opinion: Columbia University mixes a prime location with superb education
Columbia University is located in the Upperside Heights neighborhood on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, in New York City. Columbia University is an Ivy League school and consistently ranks among America’s top colleges.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to stay for two weeks at Columbia, on campus, in the dorms. The program that allowed me to live on campus to study business and economics was the National Student Leadership Conference. They created a schedule personalized for me, and allowed 48 of other students across the country to study the same program with me.
Opinion: Unsung Supercell games
When most people think of Supercell, three games come to mind: Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars. The “big three” have dominated the mobile gaming industry for nearly a decade, keeping teens all over the world addicted to their phones and inspiring memes, tournaments, and communities. However, behind the popular mainstream games lie a collection of underrated gems that never received the attention they deserve.
Aftershock: A Must Attend Event
Aftershock is an annual hard rock and heavy metal music festival based in Sacramento, California. This year, the event ran from Oct. 2 to Oct. 5, and marked its 13th year in operation. This festival is a haven for all hard rock enthusiasts who love to let loose, party, and have fun with blaring music.
The Aftershock lineup this year included Blink-182, Deftones, Lamb of God, Korn, Bad Omens, and Three Days Grace. The four-day concert is a constant flow of music from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., packed full with merch stands and eager fans, including myself.
CW: Turning awareness into action at the Chicago Darst Center
By Emmett Gustorf '26 and Luca McGlynn '26
Over the summer, we had the privilege to visit the Br. Darst Center in Chicago. The organization seeks to raise awareness for social issues through spiritual retreats. When we visited, our group was exposed firsthand to the many societal injustices that plague the area.
One of these issues is food insecurity–essentially when people in an area cannot access healthy foods. Whilst working at the Saint James Food Pantry, we saw how many people were unable to feed themselves and their families.
CW: Listening, witnessing, and understanding at the border
By Jayden Schultz '26
When choosing an immersion trip, the Kino immersion stood out to me in particular since immigration is a complex topic in America, and I did not know much about it. I am extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to work and learn with the Kino Border Initiative. The trip was not just about community service, it was about listening, witnessing, and understanding.
CW: Service grounded in gratitude in Del Norte County
By Brody Bisbiglia '26
This summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Del Norte, California, to work with the Sierra Service Project, an organization that provides home repair and building services for underserved communities. This immersion trip was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had during my time at Jesuit. Throughout the trip, I worked on a variety of service projects that directly impacted the local community and environment.
CW: Building courts and community in Panama
By Nick Ryan '26 and Noah Espinoza '26
This summer, we had the opportunity to go on an immersion trip to Panama. During this immersion, we joined a small community and helped them build a multi use sports court through a program called Courts for Kids. Our time in Panama taught and challenged us in many ways. The time we spent there opened our eyes to a new culture, and it gave us a chance to contribute to a long-lasting cause.
CW: Fully present at L’Arche Tahoma Hope
By Colin Lee '26 and Jace Bassett '26
This summer, we spent time volunteering at L’Arche Tahoma Hope in Tacoma, Washington, a community where people with disabilities live and work together. This experience changed the way we view language, learning that sometimes, facial expressions, posture, and body language say more than any words spoken.
CW: Spiritual flourishing at J-Farm
By Isaac Abbott '26 and Teddy Rios '26
Before arriving at Jerusalem Farm, we had some questions. How would we handle not eating meat for a week? What would the other school serving alongside us be like? How would we handle the humid working conditions? What is the community like? Will I survive without my phone?
In the moment before boarding our plane to Kansas City, Missouri, those questions weighed heavily on our minds. The immersion seemed like a daunting task. We were already counting down the days to return home.
Opinion: University of Utah is a must-see college
The University of Utah is a public college located in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the past year or so, I’ve been fortunate enough to tour many campuses on the West Coast, and this was one of my favorites. With its beautiful campus, great city environment, and great academics, the university is a great choice for Jesuit students applying.
Fantasy Football enhances the NFL watching experience
The National Football League (NFL) is already a fantastic sport to watch. With 32 different teams to root for, and an 18 week long season not including the playoffs, there is a whole lot of fun that comes with being a fan of a team. But what if there was a way to be a fan of two different teams? Well, one can do so when participating in Fantasy Football.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein: a worthy adaptation?
As you may have heard or seen, the newest rendition of the classic gothic horror story “Frankenstein” has hit Netflix, directed by none other than Guillermo Del Toro. The verdict? It’s fine.
To be fair, it’s a fun watch and especially easy to become engrossed in. But artistically? It lacked depth in its attempt to recreate Shelley’s masterpiece. Del Toro did a good job with what he knows. The stunning costumes, look of the creature, and consistency with the narrative devices of the book were all done quite well. The incredible performances from the actors stood out. But put it next to the book, and it looks like a comic strip.
Opinion: Is Hollow Knight: Silksong worth the wait?
Released on Sept. 4, Hollow Knight: Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved indie game Hollow Knight. The game has been in development by Team Cherry for approximately seven years, and was one of the most anticipated games of 2025, crashing Steam’s servers on its release.
Has tipping gone too far?
Since when has ordering food become so out of control?
Before COVID-19, tipping was a luxury afforded to waiters in order to supplement their wages. I never had to worry about staring a cashier dead in the eyes as I selected “no tip” and feeling bad afterwards for not giving 20% more to the price I was already being gouged. Yet it seems that in the aftermath of COVID, having a tablet flipped around is the norm for every financial encounter.
Opinion: The Revival of Clash Royale
You can’t walk around campus without seeing it. It’s everywhere. From the lunch tables to the classroom, students are glued to their screens, battling it out in Clash Royale. With the goofy animated characters and fast-paced, tower-destroying gameplay, this game has taken over Jesuit High School Sacramento once again.
Opinion: Political violence in America
by the Editorial Board of The Plank
The recent murder of Charlie Kirk, the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, and the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump have formed a sad trend in contemporary America: politically-motivated killings.
Opinion: Gami Burger: A Disappointing Start
Willie’s Burgers had everything a Jesuit High School Sacramento student could ask for – good food, plenty of spaces to hang with friends, proximity to campus, and a student discount. However, in 2023, the owner of Willie’s, Stephanie Taylor, sold the location to chefs Scott Ostrander and Paul DiPerro, who transformed it into the restaurant that stands there today: Gami Burger.