Be Good. Be Orange.

Be Ameliorated, Be Orange

By: Nathan Morales

At Oregon State University there is one unified slogan that is shared throughout the school and it is “Be Orange”. What does this mean though? It is talked about throughout the school, and is told to incoming students that it is important. According to the sustainability affairs group in Oregon State University, ”What does it mean to be powered by orange? Well If we see something broken we fix it. If we see that there is a problem, we solve it. The bigger the challenge we face, the greater the opportunity to meet them, that is who we are and who’ve we always been.” Even though this is true, I believe there is more to “being orange.” I believe that to “be orange”is to be ameliorated.

Before discussing what ameliorated means, who am I to talk about what “Be orange” means. I am a freshman student who came to Oregon State University last fall from California. I am a new to the rivalry of the Beavers and the Ducks, and have never seen so many trees in one place. Before coming to Oregon State, I had no idea what it meant to be here, or what I would be representing by being part of this community. In the two terms that I have spent here, I feel that I can give an accurate perspective on what it means to be orange. Even though I am only be a freshman but I feel that I can accurately evaluate what it means to be orange.

To “be orange” means to be part of the Oregon State community, whether you are a student, faculty or alumni. Since orange is the school’s color, it also stands for the community. It is a symbol universally shared by anyone who works at Oregon State or is going to school at Oregon state University. It also means that you represent Oregon State University whether you like it or not. Since you are a part of the community, you show the world what a student, staff member, or an alumni is of the school.

In the community of Oregon State University, I believe to “be orange”is to be ameliorated. To be ameliorated is to be better than you were before, or to have improvement. I came to Oregon State University to be a better person, professionally and have a stronger character. This means when you leave Oregon State University, you should be a better person of character and a better person in the professional world. This is universal throughout the community, whether you are a custodian, a professor, student, or even the president of the school.

The reason you should be a better person professionally is because you are paying for a higher education, or are being payed for your service to the school. As a student, you pay for a certificate stating you are more educated, and more skilled in your field than those that have not gone to college. Skilled means that you are more knowledgeable, and know what to do in certain situations in your field. Your field is your major, and your soon profession, or career. As a payed staff member, you learn more about the school system and more about your trade. As the president, you learn more executive decisions and how to run a business. As a professor, you learn more about people, students, and more information about your field from colleagues or students. As staff, you learn more about your trade from colleagues or perfect your trade.

The reason that you should be a better person of character is because you are in an institution that allows you to have different experiences that shape who you are. As a member of the community of Oregon State University you are faced with different challenges that determine who you are as a person. It can be as little as completing an assignment to show your work ethic, or devotion to your education, to deciding whether or not to return a lost debit card. There are also rallies and petition signings that can help define who you are as a person in society. As a member of the community, your little battles throughout the day can make you wiser and can give you the knowledge on how to handle certain situations in the workplace, or in public. There are even more situations in this university that can be enlightening.

Though by this definition does it mean that someone can be ameliorated by going to a different university? The answer is no, since not all experiences are the same. Every university specializes in something different. Some specialize in a certain field of study, while others do it for the environment. Every college experience is different due to the environment that shapes you. Someone will turn out differently depending if they go to a small college or a large college. Someone’s knowledge may change if they major in art, and go to a school for chemistry. Also a professor teaching psychology at a big school may be different than teaching at a small school, or in an environment they do not prefer. There are many factors that will affect someone’s experience at a university whether they are the professor or the student.

“Be Ameliorated, Be Orange”. By discussing what my values of “being orange” on this blog, I hope to show others what “being orange” is. I can show others what “being orange” is by handling my situations in a matter a Oregon State student would. This means that I will show those outside the community that I am a person of character who is bettering himself educationally, and as a person in the world.  As a freshman here I have experienced only a little bit of what it means to be in college. With this experience I want the ultimate affect to be better in my field and to have a stronger sense of character. I also hope that with my actions, and my words that others will consider my version of what “being orange” is.