Michael Cecil
PHL 205
3/17/2014
Assignment 5
Be You Be Orange
Be Orange is a saying that gets tossed around quiet a lot among the faculty and administration of Oregon State University, while at the same time it can often confuse a fellow student when asked what it means to Be Orange. It’s a statement that Oregon State University, or OSU, uses to define a set of core values that each OSU associate is expected to uphold. This set of morals makes a point that these core values are traits that benefit not just the individual, but it reflects a positive outlook to the community both locally, as well as any outside parties that are unfamiliar with the standards that the OSU community holds its self too.
To each student the definition of Be Orange can greatly range. Many roles play a part in how a single individual would define what it means to Be Orange. But overall many would agree that it could be defined as being yourself. Oregon State prides itself on the diversity and freedom allowed in the University, and all of that comes to show that Be Orange really means be who you want to be. Whether that’s being an athlete, a mathlete, a philosopher, an artist, an engineer, or anything else, OSU welcomes all with open arms. OSUs website constantly shows time and time again how encouraging they are of people in the OSU community, pursuing their goals.
How I define Be Orange comes from a background of experiences and observations throughout my years. My definition has also evolved over the years as my awareness and experiences grew. To me, Be Orange is a statement that defines the OSU community, and that Be Orange means be part of our community. And what makes someone part of this community is valuing the freedom of diversity in yourself, as well as others. OSU is very welcoming to all walks of life with a large portion of its student population being outside the country, which shows one of the ways as to how OSU values a diverse community. OSU shows diversity of the minds by providing a broad range of classes and majors to choose from. But this statement can also be turned around on certain parties and define them as not Being Orange, and therefore are not welcome in this family that OSU has created.
Making the world anything is a difficult task in itself because there will always be someone who disagrees with what you value or believe in. But that is the whole part of Being Orange is that freedom of choice and believing what you want. That diversity in beliefs ultimately creates the diversity in creativity that has shaped this great world we live in today. So in a way I’m arguing that the world is already Orange, they just don’t know it yet.
Tags: #begood