This Week's Issue 

Grey Matters Learn Benefits of Journaling and Meeting New People

By: Haley Ruser

At Orion’s Gray Matters meeting on October 1, 2025, the group started by introducing journaling and later had an activity similar to speed dating. There was also a great turnout in attendance, and everyone enjoyed the breakfast provided! 

Each member received their own journal to respond to prompts as well as to write down thoughts and feelings, beginning a new tradition for the chapter. Here are the prompts that were used during the meeting:

• What do you do in your free time?

• What does mental health mean to you?

• What do you do to improve your mental health?

Journaling is especially crucial to maintain self-awareness as well as to recognize the responsibilities that are in your life. As a student, having to keep track of school, work, sports, and other responsibilities can become overwhelming quickly, so writing down things can make it easier for you to understand what is stressing you out. Then, you can make a plan to tackle the responsibilities, ensuring to prioritize the stressors that you can control.

In regards to the unique activity, members were paired up and spent a few minutes learning about a person they may have never met before. Then, partners were switched until everyone had a chance to talk with each person in the room, granting opportunities to build new friendships.

Ultimately, everyone had a great time at this meeting, and the chapter highly encourages participants to continue to recruit new members in order to make the group flourish!

Hunger Drive officially underway

By: Allyssa Peterson

The Hunger Drive may feel like something so small, but has the biggest impact. Last year the Orion School District got 2nd place in division B, with18, 387 lbs of donated food. The student council's goal is to earn first place this year, and there are ways you can help the school achieve this goal. 

1. Bake sales: Student Council plans to sell food for $1. 

2. Hat day:On designated days, students can pay $1 to wear a hat all day

3. Phones in SH: On designated days, students can pay $1 to be able to use your phone in study hall. 

4. Change drive: Student Council will place a baggie on your car that you can empty your change in and then after school they will be out there collecting the baggies.

5. Trick or Treating: Student Council members plan to trick or treat for canned goods instead of candy.

6. Door-to-Door Donations: 5th Hour classes can walk designated blocks to knock on doors and collect donations.

NEW THIS YEAR: WEEKLY WINNER 

• During October 13-17, there will be a box for your 5th hour and in that box you will only put Condiments in it. Whatever class has the most condiments in the box they win as the weekly winner. They will receive a prize. 

• During October 20- 24, there will be a box for your 5th hour and in that box you will only put Juices in it. Whichever class has the most juices in the box will win as the weekly winner. 

5th period Competition: 

If you get 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place you will receive: 

1st place: meal of choice FULL MEAL snack dessert and drinks

2nd place: dessert snacks drinks

3rd places: snack and drink

Trump Deploys Federal Forces to Quell Protests

By: Andan Nguyen

Donald Trump has ordered federal troops be sent to Portland, Chicago, and Memphis. The reason for the troops deployments is to contain and hold back mass protests and riots in the three cities. It started when protestors gathered outside or around the ICE headquarters in Chicago, Portland, and Memphis. 

The people have been protesting the ICE and Trump administration's mass deportations since the summer. Over the summer protests were very frequent and large such as the LA riots, the march in Chicago, and the Washington D.C. protests. Federal enforcers cracked down on those cities, because of that the demonstrations have since died down until a major increase over September. 

On September 27th, Donald Trump posted on Twitter that he would be deploying troops to Chicago, Portland, and Memphis and told the Department of Defense to “deploy all necessary troops to protect war ravaged Portland.” The defense secretary approved the deployment of 200 troops to Portland for 60 days. They also completed crowd control training and were also given the power of federal authority. The government expects over 3.8 Million dollars will be spent on the garrison deployed to Portland alone.

In response the State of Oregon attempted to block the deployment and then entered a legal case where they are attempting to sue the Trump administration. They claim that it is unlawful to federalize the national guard as it is mostly a state controlled program. They also claim that Trump is breaking the 10th amendment which states that certain powers are in the power of the state or the people, not the federal government.

In Chicago 100 troops will be deployed to quell the protests. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker was not happy about the deployment. The Chicago protests have already reached violent levels as federal agents have clashed with rioters and pepper balls have been fired into the crowds.

In Memphis the protests have also reached such extremes. They say backup is still needed in order to protect the agents in the area. As of now the only backup they will be receiving soon is By October 7th they expect more DEA agents and ICE agents to arrive. The governor of Tennessee does expect troops to be deployed though. He says he “expects no more than 150.”

We are living in uncertain times. As chaos from the protests and the government shutdown erupts, we know that it will only continue to get worse. Look out for your friends and family. Millions will be without pay and thousands are already receiving injustice. Keep the people affected by the shutdown and deployments in your thoughts.