How to Authentically “Be Orange”
Posted June 9th, 2015 by mcaleavm“Submitted by Madison McAleavey”
Authentic, of undisputed origin; genuine. Authenticity can be looked at from many different angles, and be given many different meanings depending on who you ask. “Beaver Nation” has a diverse population with people from all different places, upbringings, and ages. I was asked to discuss what it means to authentically “Be Orange”. With my new found education of existentialism and the guidance of many accredited philosophers, I have formed my own opinion concerning this topic. To authentically “Be Orange” is a difficult task due to the rank, social pressure, and lack of self focus. In order to authentically “Be Orange” one must focus on these topics and seek to take a different path.
At Oregon State there is, as Kierkegaard would say, a “rational ordering of society”. We have deans, professors, all the way down to the “bottom feeders”, in this case students. Kierkegaard talked about weakened responsibility (Lecture, 5/5/15), which is seen through these titles. Ideally college is a time to make your own decisions and live as you would want. This would not be the case. For many students attending the university decisions have been and are still being made for them. Kierkegaard referred to this as as the university giving us a “fraction of decision” (Kierkegaard, The Crowd is Untruth). Examples include, being forced to live in a dorm freshman year, requiring the completion of BACC core classes, and the constant encouragement to be more involved around campus. Although I think many of these things benefit students in their later endeavors, this hierarchy makes students college experiences lose its meaning, and “authenticity” (Lecture, 5/5/15). In order to authentically “Be Orange”, the students need to be in the drivers seats of their own college experience. Choose what classes they want to take and who, if anyone, they choose to live with. The rational ordering of society cannot be considered when one is living and making decisions, because it may sway them to be inauthentic.
Secondly, to be authentically orange means to stand out in the crowd. To be a unique individual in the midst of all the same type of people. In class we discussed the Ontological Proof, and discussed the example of looking through a key hole, which revealed societies addiction and interest in others lives (Lecture, 5/5/15). This is seen all over campus. When students watch one another,making assumptions and taking note of who they are and what they have in comparison to them. Students need to spend less time looking at others, and instead focus on themselves. This will lead to a much more authentic experience and would transform them into authentically “being orange”. Another thing that prevents students from authentically “being orange” is the idea of the herd instinct, brought to light by Nietzsche. He states “By means of morality, individuals are led to be functions of the herd and attribute value to themselves merely as functions” (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 130). To authentically “Be Orange” the herd instinct must be disposed of. One must practice functioning as an individual and finding value in that.
Lastly, and one of the most important characteristics that will allow someone to authentically “Be Orange” is making the decision to create an image for yourself. When at such a large university, we tend to refer to ourselves in terms of the general population. When discussing existentialism and ethics (Lecture, 5/21/15), Sartre was able to make some good points concerning freedom and image. He states that when we choose for ourselves we are also choosing for all humans. As students we are creating an “image” for Oregon State, and taking into consideration the mass when making those decisions. This could also be a considered denying transcendence, also talked about by Sartre. To authentically “Be Orange” one must ignore the pressure of outside sources and make decisions for themselves. Accept the freedom we as humans have, and take advantage of it. Create an image for yourself, that you are proud of and willing to stand up for.
To authentically “Be Orange” is not a simple task. It rarely occurs on our campus do to outside impacts. To overcome what seems to be the rational ordering of society will allow you to make authentic decisions. To focus on yourself and move beyond the herd will allow you to become an authentic individual. Lastly, to do things for yourself and your own desired image, will create a more authentic image for you. All of these steps will allow one to authentically “Be Orange”.
