Be Good. Be Orange.

 By: James Van Domelen

Be Kind. Be Orange.

            To some people, the word ‘Orange’ may simply refer to a favorite color or a citric fruit that provides vitamin C, but to me it means something much more profound. When I think about what it means to be Orange, my thoughts automatically turn to Oregon State University. More importantly, I think about the community of individuals that make up OSU as a whole. These individuals are more commonly known as the ‘Beaver Nation’. This nation of people is the backbone of the University and enables it to successfully function as a unit. Through their actions of kindness, generosity, and dedication, the true meaning of Orange emerges. As I work towards completing my education, I want these actions to be appropriately reflected in my degree. I want Orange to represent the values that the Beaver Nation displays on a daily basis, which are kindness and acquired knowledge.

Ultimately, the individuals within the Beaver Nation are responsible for the reputation of what it means to be orange. Being apart of this community simply means having an association with Oregon State University. This is the only prerequisite that is required to join the Beaver Nation. Therefore, we welcome people from all backgrounds in an inclusive manner. However, the actions of these individuals are not equally representative in what it means to be Orange. I see there being two distinct subgroups within the Beaver Nation: the primary group and the secondary group. The primary group consists of students, staff, and faculty that have a direct relationship with Oregon State University. On the other hand, I view the secondary group as being an extended family of the primary group. This group could consist of friends, family members, sports fans, future students, and other people that have an indirect relationship with Oregon State University. Therefore, the actions of the primary group have more influence on what it means to be orange due to their interconnectedness with Oregon State University.

As a student, I am constantly being exposed to these actions from both the primary and secondary groups within the Beaver Nation. Therefore, I’m in an optimal position to witness and reflect upon what it means to be orange. I most clearly associate these actions with the values I stated earlier, which are kindness and acquired intellect. To me these two values are important because they provide a foundation to succeed in the future. This applies not only to occupational excellence, but also in developing a sense of character. Having this type of community, one that cares for each other and works to achieve intellect, is something I highly respect. I want to stimulate my character growth and these values will help me reach my goal.

When defining kindness, I’m simply referring to an act that contains warm-heartedness, consideration, or sympathy towards someone or something. I have observed acts of kindness on the student level in the form of holding a door open for another colleague or simply just giving a smile. I’ve seen OSU football fans stay the entire game to show support and sympathy for their team even when they’re losing in a blowout. On an organizational level, Fraternities and Sororities are routinely holding fundraisers to benefit people suffering from debilitating diseases or other important issues. Lastly at the university level, I’ve witnessed them incorporate a no smoking policy on campus. This shows a respect for the environment and displays consideration toward people who don’t smoke. However the act of kindness by the Orange community doesn’t stop at the University level, it extends to the far reaches of the globe. For OSU Public Health graduate Lindsey Kato, she found her calling as a community-based suicide prevention services coordinator in Juneau, Alaska. She says, “To be able to create a safe, healthy environment for future generations and to give back to the community that literally helped me up when I was down, is just amazing,” (Turner). This is exactly what being Orange is all about; actively engaging in kindness, not only in your local community but also around the world. Through these actions, the Beaver Nation has provided evidence to support why kindness is a value that defines what it means to be Orange.

The value of kindness only contributes to half of what it means to be Orange, the other half comes in the form of acquired intellect. When defining acquired intellect, I’m referring to new information that contributes to your overall character development while at OSU. This includes newfound wisdom, skills, facts, experiences, friendships, and identity of self. In fact, the University supports this value through the Baccalaureate Core classes. They’re designed to give students the ability to explore and learn new information in multiple fields of study. This is one of the top goals that Oregon State University has supported and is actively influencing. However, acquired intellect can also be observed in the library as students study to prepare for exams. Through the guidance of professors at OSU, students are able to acquire new skills that will benefit them in the future. Acquired intellect can also be something as simple as taking a few minutes to relax. In this process of relaxation you’re able to care for your mind and body. This type of self-engagement is important and the University supports it through the Mind Spa. Located in Snell Hall, the Mind Spa offers student services that range from Full-Spectrum Light Therapy to self-meditation. The culmination of these actions help contribute to why acquired intellect is such a big component of character development and helping to define what it means to be orange.

Overall I think the Beaver Nation has been fairly successful in conveying the values of kindness and acquired intellect when it comes to defining what it means to be Orange. However, I would like to see OSU make some changes to strengthen these keystone values. First, I want to suggest a new way in which the University could improve obtaining acquired intellect. Professors should be required to incorporate ‘effort’ into their grading rubric when deciding a final grade. Effort should be accountable for at least 10% of each student’s overall performance. Effort can be graded on overall completion of assignments, attendance to lecture, participation, progress made over the term, or completing extra assignments. In adding effort into the grading scheme it will promote students to become more engaged in academics and stimulate a taste for knowledge. This means that failing a midterm will not completely destroy your chances at getting a desirable grade in the class. I believe incorporating this method of grading will enhance the motivation students have to learn, which will trickle down to improve the value of acquired intellect while at OSU.

Secondly, I think the value of kindness is being misrepresented through our University’s new logo. The new beaver sends signals of being fierce, tough, and focused. These traits are great when speaking about the athletic programs, but not when they’re applied to the university as a whole. The logo is an important accessory because it’s usually the first thing that people associate OSU with. Therefore, our new logo is not appropriately displaying what it means to be Orange. I want a new logo that dulls down the aggressiveness and focuses on being welcoming. As a result this will give people outside the Beaver Nation a better understanding of what it really means to be Orange.

Throughout this essay I have identified two key values that contribute to what it means to be Orange, which are kindness and acquiring intellect. These values are the direct result of what I’ve witnessed occur through the actions of the Beaver Nation. I believe that individual actions determine what being Orange is all about. No matter the size of the action, big or small, each one is important in describing Oregon State University. Kindness and acquired intellect are two values that I want to be associated with my degree when I graduate. In efforts to amplify these values, I have suggested a few ideas that the University could integrate into the Orange community. Whether or not they get accepted, I know the Beaver Nation will continue to reflect the values of what it means to be Orange through their actions.

Works Cited

Turner, Heather. “Public Health Grad’s Lifelong Struggles Inspire Need To Help

Others.” Synergies 20 Feb. 2013: 1. Print.

Tags: Acquired Intellect, Beaver Nation, Kindness
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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.

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Being Happy
Nathan Morales

Happiness can be described in many different ways. It could be the feeling of elation, or a warm glow from an event in one’s life. The majority of people want to be happy and chase it all of their life. What if there was a way to create your own happiness? To be able to have the ability to manufacture your own happiness without having to chase it your whole life. According to Dan Gilbert, “happiness can be synthesized”(Gilbert).

What is happiness? Happiness is split into two different types, according to Gilbert. There is natural happiness which is obtaining things that we want. Then there is synthetic happiness, which is accepting what we have and reaching a sense of elation due to that acceptance. Both are necessary in today’s world. Without natural happiness economics would fail. The reason that economics will fail, is that people would not have the same ambition or drive to obtain goods since they would be happy with what they have. Though without synthetic happiness, suicide rates would go up when people loose their jobs, or do not get what they want, since they cannot accept what has happened to them.

What does synthesized mean? In Dan Gilbert’s ted talk The Surprising Science of Happiness you can create your own happiness or have synthesized happiness.. The way you can do this is by looking at the bright side of every single event that happens to you. For example, if a writer were to be in a car accident, and broke their writing hand they could react to the situation in different ways. They could be furious about the situation and blame someone or a higher being. The other option is that the person could be happy that they have a break from career, or understand that they can focus on other things. Dan Gilbert would advise the second option. because which is synthesized happiness, allows you to manufacture your own happiness, and take the best out of the worst situation.

Lastly natural happiness requires ethics. The reason it does, is that without ethics many goals would be unjust and create unhappiness amongst people. For example, if I really want a jacket, and I steal it from a store without getting caught I hurt the person who is selling the jacket. They will then be unable to reach their goal of making a certain amount of money, making them less happy. With ethics I would be able to have the moral imagination to discern whether or not I should steal the jacket. I could then understand it would be morally unethical to do so since stealing is wrong according to my moral code. I then can accept that if I want the jacket I can raise money to get it or synthesize happiness and understand that my jacket will suffice.

Happiness can be synthesized. To a certain point I  understand this. One specific piece of  evidence that Gilbert used was “A year after losing the use of their legs, and a year after winning the lottery, lottery winners and paraplegics are equally happy with their lives”. (Guilbert)  I cannot agree with this since there are different levels of happiness and not all people can be “equally happy”. Even though I do not agree with this evidence, and still skeptical of the true worth of synthesized happiness, I do not have enough experience or wisdom to truly be able to go farther with this topic and I know there is a certain limit to explaining this and or disproving it. For all I know happiness is achievable with a flip of a switch. To be able to recognize that anything that happens can be turned into a positive.

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By Jonathan Jenkins

Within a college community a new incoming student is introduced to many thoughts and cultural themes relating to the college itself. At Oregon State University one of the themes is, “Being Orange.” What does it mean to “Being Orange?” In this paper I hope to present my understanding of what “Being Orange” is, what I hope to take away from my experience, and what the University thinks of, “Being Orange.”

Coming to Oregon State University I was introduced to the idea of being part of the Orange Community. At that time, “Being Orange” was being included in a club of some sort, meeting new friends in my classes, and understanding what the campus had to offer. Manly a event of feeling included. Since then I hadn’t given it much thought to what “Being Orange” actually meant to me. Looking at it now, it expresses the skills I have learned through my time here at Oregon State University. One of these includes accountability.

First off I would like to address what accountability is. The act of Being Accountable is a person, organization, or institute who is responsible for the actions or decisions made towards a person or thing and are held liable for the well being of that person or thing. For a individual to be accountable they must be disciplined, confident, and exercise moral imagination. Along with these traits it requires trust from other individuals. Collectively the group of trusting individuals have confidence in a person to make a sound decision in their absence. Qualities like these are what I want my experience at Oregon State University to give me.

The next question to ask is what distinguishes accountability say for someone who wasn’t, “Orange” to someone who is? It’s a simple answer, a individuals personal development within this skill. This means someone who does attend Oregon State University may have developed skills such as accountability more or less then someone who wasn’t, “Orange.” As stated earlier I think the idea of, “Being Orange” is centered around the act where a individual acquires specific skills during a experience. This takes the special element out of, “Being Orange” that the University promotes. The term, “Be Orange” to me is just a slogan, a motivational quote or a title of a experience. The real development lies with the individual and how they challenge themselves with the opportunities around them.

In class we were asked what we wanted our degrees to mean in terms of the Universities slogan, “Being Orange.” I started thinking about the idea and what it collectively should mean to a student. I then realized how odd of an idea it was to have a slogan or a institute define who you are and what your degree means. From an employers eyes, or for that matter anyone other then yourself, it doesn’t mean anything other then you had jumped through some hoops for a piece of paper. The morals, values and character traits that define your abilities are not defined by a slogan, but by you. You and how you have challenged yourself are what defines the degree outside of Oregon State University.

So do I think the Universities slogan of “Be _____. Be Orange” is beneficial to the individuals, both students and staff? No, because two and a half years since I came to the community it has not aided or simulated my personal development. Along side of that, what I think the slogan means does not only pertain to the, “OSU experience” but relies on the drive a person has to further themselves both on a professional and personal level. By that I mean a person has to be trying to get something out of their daily activities, searches for opportunities within the community, investing in others, and is open to hear others opinions about a matter. This is what I think, “Being Orange” means and is what will define your degree as you move away from the college years, pursuing a career. What defines your degree is who you are as a person.

All that being said, Oregon State University does have many opportunities on and around campus that can stimulate a students development. One that has helped me develop myself on a professional and personal level is my job at the Department of Rec Sport, otherwise known as Dixon. In the year and a half I have been there I have cultivated skills that have played a roll in my classes and will carry into my career. It has also taught me life skills I find valuable. In this ongoing experience, “Being Orange” does not mean anything to me. I can fit values and characteristics under it, but when I am summarizing my experience at Oregon State University, I am discussing how I grew through the opportunities around me. You could say this is, “Being Orange” but that’s just because the opportunities were at Oregon Stat University.

In my findings the University and me have different opinions about what, “Be _____. Be Orange” means for the community. In slogans like this I think it is important to look at what audience or community the slogans targeted for? In my definition of what, “Being Orange” means I target the students, staff, faculty, and surrounding community on a personal level who learn from each other. From the University’s stand point, I believe they are targeting potential incoming students and individuals who are involved with sporting events. One example of this would be the re-branding that happened a few weeks ago. In reading several articles I wanted to find out why they changed the logo and what audience they were attempting to please. According to John Rizzardini, the Associate Athletic Director, in a article titled, Oregon State and Nike: A Long-Lasting Relationship, Oregon State University changed its logo on this thought, “We had to ask ourselves, ‘What does Oregon State University need to advance the Athletic Brand? What will help us recruit prospective students and student athletes?” The focus was not the student body as a whole paying tuition, but individuals who are involved with sporting events, future students and the fans. Only once in the article is it stated that the focus of the change was to represent the University as a whole and provide something everyone could relate to. I guess that is why they only got input from athletes and athletic staff members for the changes. Changing the logo is something that effected everyone on campus. It is the image of the school and the school is made up of the students and staff. For a small portion of the population to make a decision that effects the group as a whole sounds strange to me. If in fact the goal was to bring unity within the community, I would have expected to see the individuals who were making the changes to seek input from the Oregon State University community as a whole.

Slogans like, “Be _____. Be Orange” or “We Are Beaver Nation” are only motivational quotes geared towards individuals who are outside of the campus community and want to join so they can feel included in something bigger, or to individuals who come for the social sporting events. Instead slogans like these should be geared towards the personal development of the students who attend the University. They should carry meaning and purpose that will stay with a individual for the rest of their life. If mentoring was the focus of the quotes and campaigns, then the idea that a person who attends Oregon State University, through a domino effect, could change the world would be attainable. But for now with the way the University is geared towards business vs. personal development it is left in the individuals hands to wake up and realize how to seize opportunities around them. This will then stimulate them to develop skills such as accountability through the opportunities at Oregon State University.

Tags: accountability, Be Your Own Person, Seize Opportunities, You Are Your Degree
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By Andrea Bourgeois

Before this assignment, I didn’t understand what the “Be Orange” campaign meant because I assumed Being Orange had one specific meaning, and what that was I really wasn’t sure. You can imagine how this confusion frustrated me while I tried to brainstorm an approach to a thoughtful response. After a few failed attempts, I decided to grab my camera and take a walk around campus hoping that what I saw will spark some ideas. What I found was honestly more than what I thought I was looking for because what I found was my Orange moment. It’s hard to say in words what this is exactly because it completely defines the three years that I’ve been a student here. In a broad sense, however, I found a unique form of unity that describes who we are as Beavers which was portrayed in each photo I took that day. Each photo depicted a different kind of unity found at OSU and each kind of unity I found is explained below, along with its photo.

 It’s not the message in chalk itself that explains what being orange means, it’s the idea behind the message.  This picture emphasizes OSU’s broad community through the unity of meetings and informative lectures from different clubs and organizations on campus.  A club or an organization emphasizes unity through similar interests, which is an excellent way to bring people together who share these interests.  I took a picture of this in particular because of the meaning behind clubs on campus.  These extracurricular activities were put together by students who wish to share their common likes and interests with other students on campus.  This means that these clubs and groups were made for one sole purpose, to bring people together, meaning they value unity.  It’s not easy putting together a club or organization on campus; I’ve had my share of this in High School.  The fact that they put their time and effort into uniting other OSU members and the fact that other OSU members are passionate enough to give their time and participate shows a kind of care and connection OSU members have with one another.  These clubs can range anywhere from a sport to a love for a movie or book, but they all unite through this bond over what it means to be in a club.

Not only do clubs help student connect, they also give a sense of support.  We’re all experiencing the OSU life together and it’s important to have a community that reflects this.  A club can mean many things; to some it means their support system.  A club is indeed a mini community because they share a common space conceptually and literally.

Without looking at this picture, I’m sure that most of us know Oregon State has been around for quite a while now.  This seal only reinforces that statement.  It’s hard to believe that we’re not the only students, staff, and associates of OSU since it’s hard to picture Oregon State in any other time but the present.  This picture symbolizes Oregon States history and how the school has grown.  This is because of what a seal represents, a symbol that implies another idea or meaning.  To us then, this emblem represents the school overall, how we view Oregon State as a school today.  To the associates of the past and future however, their experiences were and are probably going to be a bit different than ours, so the seal is going to have a different meaning. Overall though, this seal brings all of us Beavers together since it represents one main idea, and in this case that’s Oregon State.  Even after we’re long gone and OSU is a memory of our past, this emblem will still unify the Beavers of the past, present and future because it represents this community as a whole.

Oregon State is known for it’s many advances towards public safety, this picture included.  It’s awesome that we’re striving to be a healthier campus since there are so many health issues in the world today.  This sidewalk sign however, may be a bit deceiving since OSU does promote healthy lifestyles, and biking is a big part of that. Before this sign was sketched onto the sidewalks leading into the MU quad, there was a huge safety issue concerning bikers and pedestrians both.  Since it is such a popular area to pass through during the passing periods, there just didn’t seem to be enough room for bikers and pedestrians to share the sidewalk safely, so OSU came up with this solution to keep everyone safe and essentially happy.  How does this unify OSU as a whole though?  Implementing these signs means that we’re trying to make OSU a safer campus, and in following this rule and all rules put in place, we’re respecting each other’s safety.  This in turn brings us together because it means that we care for one another and that each of us will go out of our way to make sure that we are being safe.

This photo is more directed towards the students of Oregon State seeing as we all came here for one reason, to get a degree.  The Valley Library represents academic success through its endless row of book and spacious tables for studying.  This can also be said for almost every building on campus.  These buildings and classrooms are here to help each one of us succeed in our academic endeavors because they provide an open learning environment.  This then unifies the students through success.  It’s upsetting to see a fellow student fail here at OSU because we’re all striving towards the same goal and we all have an equal opportunity to reach that goal.  To succeed as an individual means success as a whole and in this case as OSU.  It’s awesome that we have such a high success rate because it means we care about our future and this brings us together as students because we’re striving for the same thing(s).

 The library puts out a tub full of “Choose Civility” buttons every so often with different messages on them; “lower your music”, “assume the best”, “keep shared spaces clean” and so on.  These buttons represent a pledge taken by all OSU associates who wear one.  It means that they identify with a higher set of actions that set their OSU morals to a “good civilian” level.  This photo parallels the “Please Walk Bikes” photo in the sense that they both unify Oregon State through courteousness.  This is because of the respectful nature found within each saying on the buttons. I find that the buttons remind us that we’re not the only ones who use this space and they help keep our campus looking happy and beautiful through the messages they put out.  Those who choose to wear a button are unified through the underlying message they serve, again being courteous.  Civility is a trait that we all should encompass because it shows that we not only respect the environment (being OSU) but that we respect each other enough to perform those little actions that have us go out of our way to keep everyone that much happier.

 No matter what college campus you visit, you’re always going to find some form of unity through the athletics department.  These two photos not only represent football and basketball but every college sport, club sport, intramural team and everything in between.  It’s awesome that everyone who associates with Oregon State can find some common ground within these sports because finding a common ground within a big community like this is rare.  Yes, there is more of an emphasis on certain sports than others and yes, at times it does seem as if those certain sports are all that matter but most of us didn’t decided to be apart of this community because of those sports.  Most of us came here to either get an education or work to support our families and ourselves.  Sports just happen to be one aspect of Oregon State and it’s an aspect that was worth mentioning since it does bring so many people together.  Overall, I find that this is because a sports team is representing the greater population of fans during the game.  We get a sense of dignity from watching our team play against another team for the “winners” title. To some, it matters who wins and who loses, but to others the most important aspect is the fact that they’re out there in the first place, representing a greater whole.  Whatever the case may be, most of us identify with our sports teams because they bring us together and give us a sense of pride.

I’ve also included a picture of the volleyball courts outside of Dixon because when I say sports, I mean ALL sports and sport teams here at OSU.

These photos give a broad sense as to what it means to be apart of this unified community and what I found that day on campus. It’s amazing with how diverse this community is we all came here to be apart of OSU and this lifestyle for one reason or another. And beneath all of this, we decided to stay and be apart of this community because we found something within Oregon State that shed a positive light on us in some way. This light means something different to everyone, but in general it portrays the unification we share as a university. There’s a reason why we have only one mascot, one school fight song, one set of school colors. We define each of these symbols as meaningful aspects of OSU, which in turn defines us and who we are as a whole. The Be Orange campaign brought to light what I find valuable about being a Beaver and I’m confident in saying I know what it means to Be Orange.

Tags: Community, respect, unity
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Submitted by Chelsea Stilwell

Oregon State University promotes the campaign slogan “Be Orange” throughout the entire OSU campus. But what exactly does it mean to “Be Orange?” Many would say that the slogan is used in reference to OSU sporting events. When I first saw those words, for instance, I immediately pictured a stadium full of OSU students all wearing orange and cheering on our football team. Now I understand that the words “Be Orange” mean so much more. “Being Orange” is developing knowledge in several different areas of study.  This is revealed by the goals of the Baccalaureate Core here at Oregon State:

“Through the Baccalaureate Core at Oregon State University, students explore knowledge in many fields across the university and learn to think critically about significant issues–locally, nationally, and globally.  Students will learn how knowledge is made in fields from science and mathematics to the arts, geography and political science.  While courses in the major provide expertise in a specific field of study, courses in the Bacc Core offer students a broad sense of what it means to be an educated person and to be well equipped for the challenges of the workplace, citizenship, and constructing a life with meaning.”

This blog will explain the importance of the “Orange” value of knowledge and how it applies to the entire OSU community and gives special meaning to earning a degree from OSU.

All higher education institutions would support the value of knowledge; it is the ultimate reason for getting an education. Oregon State upholds a specific kind of knowledge, however, that many other universities do not. We value developing knowledge in multiple fields of study, or having a diverse intellect, rather than just focusing on the requirements of our majors. What kinds of knowledge? The kinds of knowledge the Bacc Core encourages are: foundational areas of education and writing clearly and convincingly, biological and physical sciences, literature and the arts, the social sciences, the humanities, addressing contemporary issues using a multi-disciplinary approach, and complexity of structures, systems, and ideologies that sustain discrimination and the unequal distribution of power. These are all clearly explained on the OSU Bacc Core Values website as well. These types of knowledge are important because in the process of learning different areas of study, we develop new perspectives and are able to consider other points of view. This is an extremely useful skill when it comes to developing ethical arguments. This critical skill allows one to consider and challenge possible opposing arguments before they are made, which will strengthen one’s argument. It is also important to acquire different perspectives so that you are able to better understand your own values and be able to coherently explain them to others.

Having a diverse intellect allows you to be competent in many disciples and provides more opportunities. A biology major, for example, may decide to take an ethics class simply to meet their Bacc Core requirement and realize that philosophy is much more interesting to them than biology. Any of the Bacc Core courses could also provide students with possible back-up plans if they do not get the job they wanted directly after college. I, for one, am a pre-medical student and know that chances of making it to medical school are slim thus, thanks to my Bacc Core classes, I have designed a variety of back-up plans B-Z that I would also enjoy, like becoming a scuba dive instructor in Hawai’i.

The Orange value of knowledge applies not only to OSU students, but also to anyone who directly contributes or contributed to the OSU learning experience. I included the term “directly” because, for example, I do not consider people who simply contribute funding to the school and have never even been to the campus as “Being Orange.” I don’t consider these people as “Orange” because they do not know/represent the values of Being Orange if they have never even been to the campus interacting with our community. The Orange community includes students, professors, graduate students, and alumni. In that case, do custodial staff members count as being Orange? The answer to this question depends on whether they actively support and demonstrate the values of Being Orange or not. Anyone who was “Orange” once will continue to be “Orange,” as long as they continue to live by the values of being orange; knowledge being a leading component.

To have a college degree means that you have demonstrated hard work, perseverance, and gained a profounder knowledge. To have a degree from OSU, however, means that you have elected to exceed the general requirements for your major and have broadened your knowledge through new, unfamiliar classes and experiences. When I go out into the world, I want potential employers to see my résumé and think, “Wow, OSU grad, she must really strive to expand her knowledge and develop new ideas about trying new things. She obviously goes above and beyond the call of duty; she would really improve our business!” I want an Oregon State degree to put me ahead of the curve; to make people recognize my comprehensive knowledge before they even meet me. Not only do I want my degree to put me ahead in my career, but also I want to continue my skills learned in the Bacc Core classes and continually improve them. These courses are so important to me because I never would have realized the deeper existence of ethical issues if I had not taken PHL 205. Now I am able to see ethical arguments in every single decision I make, as long as I really think about it. This skill will continually benefit myself-and others-as I bring it with me in the path to becoming an intellectually diversified ethical doctor.

Oregon State challenges and inspires its students to go above and beyond their original expectations by exploring knowledge in new subjects through personal experiences. Students are encouraged to find interests they never knew they had in subjects they knew nothing about, which creates new, previously unrealized opportunities. Being Orange is to develop a deeper knowledge in many disciplines in order to gain new perspectives, and therefore be able to better uncover and explain or argue ethics.

Bacc Core Goals & Values webpage: http://oregonstate.edu/main/baccalaureate-core/goals-and-values

Tags: Bacc Core, be orange, Knowledge
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Psychologist, Dan Gilbert does an impeccable job at explaining to an audience what happiness means exactly. What Gilbert presents about the word “happy”, is very insightful. After viewing this video, I’ve learned that happiness is not as clear-cut and dry as many believe. Ultimately, we all have different definitions of what it means to be happy.

Dan Gilbert makes and argument when he says, “we synthesize happiness but we think happiness is a thing to be found.” Gilbert expresses that we have a strong belief that synthetic happiness is what we make when we don’t get what we want. He goes on to say that society has a strong belief that synthetic happiness is of an inferior kind.

There is a strong bond between happiness and ethics. Ethics are decided upon, and if you “do good”, it brings about a moral, positive result, meaning that ethics contribute to our happiness as a whole. I feel that ethical people are more satisfied with life, especially after watching “The Surprising Science of Happiness”. I also think that the other way around; happiness leads to ethical behavior. If someone is not satisfied with their life, he or she is more likely to do unethical things out of spite or cynicism, merely wanting to get back or get even with someone who appears to be happier and more content with his or her life.

I believe that while there definitely is a relationship between ethics and happiness, we all have those different definitions of happiness and we all require a variety of levels of things in life to make us happy and satisfy us. Gilbert does such an insightful job at challenging the idea that society will be unhappy if we do not get what we want. He expresses that even when we do not get what we want and things do not go as planned, we still feel genuine happiness because of how our “psychological immune system” works.

To come to a close, I do think that happiness requires ethics. I actually consider the overall goal of ethics to be happiness. Happiness is a good moral character; it means complete, ample virtue.

–Molly Amo

Tags: gilbert, happiness, life
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By Kyle West

Being an orange student at Oregon State University is preparing me to be successful in my future career within the construction industry.  Success is defined as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose or the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.  Success is the value I chose because we all are aiming to be successful in life and our degree from OSU is our ticket to get there.  There is a reason why I attend this school because I know that success will follow after my time spent here at OSU.  As a student, I have gained knowledge, respect, and responsibility within the past two quarters that I’ve been attending our “be orange” institution.  Being orange not only defines us as students at OSU but also shows our strong values we have towards the university.  I believe that the education that I deserve and acquire here on campus is the stepping-stone in my lifetime that will set my future up for success.

Oregon State University is one of the top leading schools in the nation.  When we talk about success related to our school it could mean success in a few different ways.  Our university is successful because they have created an institution that thousands of young adults want to attend so they can leave here with a degree that means something to them and to the work force.  OSU also has some of the most successful and knowledgeable professors in the nation and as students we are lucky to be taught by such successful people.  OSU’s core values consist of accountability, diversity, integrity, respect, and social responsibility.  Our institution believes that apart of being orange relates to these five core values and I do agree with them, but success should be added to their list.  If I were an incoming student at OSU, success would be a core value that would catch my eye because every student wants to be successful within his or her time here at this university.  I want my degree to show that I am a hardworking individual and have accomplished something that many people don’t have the opportunity to do in their lives.  Without OSU I would not be orange and I believe that it would be much harder to become successful without graduating with a college degree.

Success not only means having a bright future but it also means being successful within my courses I take here at OSU.  From attending construction speaker meetings here at OSU, I’ve learned that top construction employers are looking for graduates from our school for promising careers and internships.  They believe that Oregon State University teaches the required courses that help develop our critical thinking skills in order to become successful within a certain company.  Many of the guest speakers at these meetings are OSU alumni and they have experienced within their company that OSU graduates are some of the top students they choose to become apart of their company.  Oregon State alumni also represent our university and their success reflects on our institution showing current students that your degree will set you up for a bright future.  Our degree shows that as students we have gained an amount of knowledge for us to be successful within a certain field.  Students take on a lot of responsibility towards earning their degrees and it shows that we are capable of difficult tasks and that we are efficient and dedicated learners.  With the knowledge that we have gained through courses here at OSU, employers know that we have put in hard work and dedication so that we will have a successful future.

Before this assignment I never considered what the “Be Orange” signs were about or the values that were behind being orange because I had never thought much about being orange.  I do see myself as a student here at Oregon State but I believe that our “be orange” campaign is to attract new students so that they feel like they will belong within our institution if they choose Oregon State.  I have set values that I do cherish here at OSU like success, responsibility, and knowledge, but I don’t believe that the institution is trying to attract current students to question these signs.  I do believe that I am orange because I belong to this university as a student but I don’t believe that the slogan “be orange” will ever have an effect on students after they graduate.  OSU Alumni would rather take pride in the color orange and remembering the memories they shared while here at OSU.  I don’t believe that graduating students are voicing their opinions to their friends and family letting them know about how to be orange and certain values they have towards being orange.  We are already orange in our own ways.  When we submitted our Advanced Tuition Deposit to confirm OSU as our school we became orange at that moment in time.  After that it doesn’t make sense for the institution to tell students to “be orange” since I believe we already are.  Once I graduate and become an Oregon State University Alumni, I will always see my self as orange, but I don’t understand why we have signs that say, “be orange” when every student attending and alumni have their own orange moments.   Each student has their own values that they share at Oregon State and I believe that success should be apart of each student.

Ultimately, being orange shows a sense of pride that each student should have whether you are a current student or alumni.  Being orange shows that you are successful, will be successful, or already are successful.  Our great university gives each student the tools and critical thinking skills that we will use after we graduate from OSU.  We are being taught to be successful within our majors and to always work hard towards are goals so that we can have bright futures.  Being orange is not only wearing your colors on game day, it’s taking pride in your school and in your education here at OSU.  To Oregon State students, orange isn’t just a color, it’s our life.  As an OSU student I am certain that the education that I am receiving here will give me the successful future that I have always dreamed for.

Tags: #begood, pride, success
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Happy Birthday, Mr Rogers!

Tags: cats, compassion
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Published by: Ariel Chadbourne

Here at Oregon State we have a very specific message to potential and current students: that the students here aim to “Be Orange”. There is no definition as to what it means to “Be Orange”, but as an Oregon State student I think that being “orange” is what you make it. To me, when I think of the term “Be Orange”, I think success, equality, and opportunity. It is amazing how two little words can give students something to strive for. What is more intriguing is that every person at Oregon State has a different vision of being “orange”, so this term can be inspirational to every individual here. But what is it about getting a degree at Oregon State that is so valuable? Ever since I was a little girl I knew that I was going to go to Oregon State when I grew up and it had absolutely nothing do with what classes Oregon State had to offer, it was more about the tradition. It wasn’t until later when I got closer to graduating from high school that I realized that I needed to pick a school that was going to benefit my future the most. After applying and getting accepted into 5 different universities, I picked Oregon State because I thought that it would give me the best opportunity to succeed. I want a degree that will open up doors for me that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. So Oregon State isn’t just a university, it is an opportunity. Be an Opportunity, Be Orange.

Opportunity as a value can be very broad. What kind of opportunity am I looking for? Just the word opportunity can mean so many things, but to me it means the chance to advance in not only my education but also in my business ventures and my ability to build relationships with people here on campus. Being able to expand my education has always been a priority in my life, and after changing my major once already I know that Oregon State really allows me to do that. Also, I am aspiring to be a business woman, and Oregon State has some great connections to internships which would give me the opportunity to gain some knowledge on starting my own business. Also, why does “Be opportunity, Be Orange” not really flow right? This is a value that is really important to me and I almost changed the value that I was using so that it would flow better.  I ended up going with “Be an Opportunity, Be Orange” which isn’t the normal format but I think that in order for the phrase to be versatile it should be able to include every value.

What does being “orange” have to do with opportunity? Well, other people that are “orange” all have the same opportunities as me when it comes to the classes they choose and the places they go around campus. When someone starts at Oregon State they start with a blank slate so they are an opportunity in themselves to grow as an Oregon State student and they could be an opportunity for Oregon State to add another doctor or lawyer or biologist into the world. Whatever route you decide to go as a student here it will open up an opportunity for you to succeed.

The great thing about opportunity as a value is that it is for everyone, and in this case it is for everyone at Oregon State, including the staff. This can apply to present and future instances. We decide on a major which opens up opportunities to take certain classes and gain knowledge in certain fields, then later down the road allows for us to get a job. The opportunities are almost endless with every decision you make while you are at Oregon State. This value is important because it gives students something to strive for and with every university being a little bit different the opportunity here is different than the opportunity that you would get anywhere else.

If an alien crashed from the sky I would probably first off tell him that his name is going to be Bob. Simply because I think it would be awesome to meet an alien named Bob. But from there I really believe that I could push the importance of opportunity on Bob by showing him that he could start with a blank state and have the same opportunity at Oregon State to learn as we do, as long as he could speak English. I would show him all the great things that people can learn here at Oregon State and make him want to have that opportunity. Could you imagine an alien being a sports caster or a therapist?

There are some requirements though in order to take advantage of opportunity including the want to move forward and having dreams or goals that you aim to reach. If somebody were to go out and start doing drugs and things that make them back-track in their goals then they probably won’t have the same opportunity as those who are focus specifically on school and succeeding. Also, depending on the roles of people at Oregon State the values vary minutely. For example, opportunities for students are focused more toward education and building relationships, but as a staff member the opportunity is the ability to spread your knowledge.

In the end, I really want Oregon State students to take this value and let it trigger the light bulb in their head that they have so many options while they are in school and that if they don’t like the path they are currently on then they have the opportunity to change their major and take a different path. That being said, I really would like to see people triggering their talents and go to school for that rather than going for a field they aren’t even interested in because it could give them the opportunity to have a bigger paycheck.

With all of that being said, in order to “Be Orange” you must be a student or staff member here at Oregon State. In order to be a member of Oregon State I really think it is crucial to accept the value of opportunity because it is a big part of moving forward in life and being successful at Oregon State because it means taking advantage of what the campus has to offer. Now this means that people who don’t go to college or want to grow as a person would not be “orange” and therefore would not have the same opportunity that I am referring to.

With all that being said, I whole-heartedly believe that the value of opportunity is crucial for everyone’s future. Opportunity can be anything from the food you choose to eat while you are here on campus or your decision to exercise or not all the way to big life decisions like your career. Every choice you make can come with a different opportunity whether it be big or small it is still significant.

I do think that my choice to reword the phrase in order to fit my value rather than fitting my value to the phrase was a good idea because I think that it is important that students really take advantage of all that Oregon State has to offer in order to get the whole experience. The value of opportunity is one that students should not take for granted and need to be opened up to. In order for students to really see what is out there I think that part of your BAC core should include joining a club for a term. Students get so stressed and think that they don’t have time to go out and join clubs or sororities and really miss out on many opportunities. You could be the next doctor, lawyer, or finder of a cure for cancer. It is up to you to take the opportunities given to you at Oregon State and, in-turn, be an opportunity yourself. Be an Opportunity, Be Orange.

Tags: Growth, Opportunity, Take advantage
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