Issue 4

Gray Matters Asks: What's on Your Plate?

By: Haley Ruser

At the Gray Matters meeting on September 18, students wrote down all of their responsibilities as a part of an activity called "What's On Your Plate?" Then, they got into a group and shared their lists of responsibilities, revealing some similarities regarding stressors in their lives. 

Especially during the week of homecoming, people are busy with not only the parade and pep rallies, but they also have to keep up with relationships, school, and work. Although these responsibilities may not be major, they can pile up quickly, so it’s important to cope with these stressors by recognizing their impact on your life.

Here are some useful strategies for coping with stress:

Mental

• Journaling 

• Meditating 

• Problem-solving (are any stressors in your control?)

• Making a plan (what stressors can you tackle first?)

Physical

• Exercising 

• Focusing on your breathing

• Healthy sleep schedule

• Healthy diet 

Social

• Communicate your feelings to friends and family

• Letting yourself laugh

• Surrounding yourself with people who uplift you

Creative

• Listening to music

• Making art

• Reading books

• Starting a new hobby (thrifting, playing an instrument, singing, dancing)

Ultimately, either saying your stressors out loud or writing them down, such as what was done in the “What’s on Your Plate” activity, can help you recognize a stressor that you didn’t even know you had. Also, instead of a bunch of worries floating around in your mind, a list organizes your thoughts to make the stressors less overwhelming. Remember, if a stressor is out of your control, then there’s no point in worrying about it.

Charlie Kirk: A Murder that Struck the Nation 

By: Haylee Downing

Last week on September 10, political activist Charlie Kirk was murdered at Utah Valley University. Kirk’s organization, Turning Point, was holding “The American Comeback Tour,” according to CNN author Eric Levenson, and Utah Valley was the first destination. The purpose of this tour was to travel around to different schools to debate and help students explore political and social ideas.

Kirk, sitting under a big tent that said “PROVE ME WRONG,” was only 20 minutes into the debate when the tragedy struck. An audience member was debating with Kirk over the statistics of transgender shooters. The man asked, “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” Kirk then replied, “Counting or not counting gang violence?”

Thousands of Americans were left stunned when a loud pop echoed and Kirk began to jerk and fall to his side, blood pouring from his neck. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed by a shooter on the campus. 

Kirk was rushed to seek medical attention, and all of the students on campus began screaming and running for their lives, desperate to survive. A viral video surfing the internet shows officers attempting to urge people to stay back as Kirk’s body was rushed to a private vehicle. In the video, you can see many students running and yelling, unbothered by the officers’ attempts to keep them calm. 

The events following the murder have America torn in empathy vs. beliefs. Charlie Kirk was a controversial public figure; he was a loud and proud conservative who wasn’t afraid to debate with people. He was religious and also had strong opinions over abortion, gun rights, and gender identity. He grew popularity within the past few years over his controversial opinions surrounding women and their right to have abortions. He often would have debates with “woke” college students, and the most popular video was hosted by the YouTube channel “Jubilee.” Despite a small portion of Americans celebrating his death, a large amount has spoken up about the tragedy and given their condolences to Kirk’s family. President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, country singer Gavin Adcock, and a popular opponent of Kirk, Dean Withers, have all come out in support for Kirk and his family during difficult times. Dean Withers, famously known online for his democratic views and values, actually sobbed on his live stream following Kirk’s death, believing that no one deserves to die over this. 

As of right now, there is a suspect being charged for Kirk’s murder. According to NBC News, Tyler Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and other charges. NBC has also stated that, “Prosecutors announced they will seek the death penalty.”

May Charlie Kirk rest in peace, and many condolences go out to his wife, Erika, his two young children, and the rest of his family during this tragic time.