Be Good. Be Orange.

Submitted by Molly Amo

So, we’re faced with this big question, what does it mean to be orange? My opinion of what I think orange is has definitely shifted from the beginning of the term until now, the last week of the term. Throughout the course, I’ve learned so much about the various philosophy terms and myself, a combination that provided me the ability to change my position on what I think it means to be orange.

Coming into this class as a senior, I was not accustomed to the great amount of disclosing and sharing of values with my fellow students. It was all rather a shock to me; though a pleasant shock. This entire term has molded my brain to know how to interpret situations and create well-developed opinions that were indeed morally right. Group and class discussions were very beneficial to me in regards to the values we spent time analyzing. Enrolling into this class, I think I was immature in a way that accepting another’s opinion was somewhat difficult if I saw it as morally incorrect. Morally wrong (according to Molly). One exercise we completed in particular that I really liked had us respond to an argument as if we favored the opposing side. This skill taught me to not only be more open-minded and understanding of situations, but I’ve improved my processing and am able to comprehend why one feels the way he or she does.

Oregon State University is a public, higher education institution that greatly emphasizes an effort in a sense of respect and veracity. The “Be Orange” Campaign means something different to each individual, but to me, being orange has a deep significance. “Be Orange” means be encompassed with integrity and be respectful. Oregon State is devoted to serving its students, staff, faculty, and alumni with full responsiveness. Under Oregon State’s “Office of the Dean of Student Life” webpage, student values are shared and defined. Specifically, I looked at Integrity and Respect, as to me, are the combination of values that define what orange is to a tee. These two values productively create an environment (mentally and physically), in which anyone affiliated with Oregon State is able to prosper and cultivate off one another.

The term “Be Orange” is not just a slogan. To many, it might be just that. But Oregon State did not create this motto for no reason at all. Being orange represents a wide variety of values, but mostly, it represents values of character. As I strive to achieve my life goals, when I receive my degree upon graduation from Oregon State, I want it to represent the hard work and energy I put in during my time here. A degree shouldn’t just exemplify the A’s, B’s, C’s (and maybe even some D’s) you received during your time as an undergraduate. To have a degree from Oregon State, means I’ve experienced many social engagements and have had experiences that people without a degree presumably have not encountered. My degree will symbolize the journey I went on where I learned what it means to be respectful and respected, as well as performing things with great integrity.

Some might think that just the students are expected to use these values of respect and integrity, but I feel everyone (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) are expected to and entitled to practice these values. We have learned that ethics are such a big part of our lives and exist in our day-to-day activities whether we are aware of it or not! Respect and Integrity go together hand in hand and are a part of an ethical relationship we learn to forego in our time here at OSU.  We learn from example but we learn mostly from experiencing things hands on. In our 4 (or 5) years year at this University, we grow and learn to treat ourselves as well as others with dignity and honor.

My value of integrity is important because having a strong set of moral values and living up to them will really take you far in life; whether it be in terms of your career, personal life, in a relationship, or family life. My value of respect is also extremely important because “treating every individual with dignity, honor and generosity while valuing their humanity” is going to better ourselves for the future.

This value requires actions of being true to yourself and doing what is best for your community (in this context: Oregon State University). The telos (goal or aim) of my value is to improve everyone and their outlook on life. After developing a firm belief of principles and ideas throughout this ethics course, I’m able to “spread the love” and continue being orange after I graduate. I will fulfill my mind with integrity and treat not only others, but also myself, with great amounts of respect.

But why? Why is integrity and respect so important? Why is it emphasized so greatly at this college? For one thing, if you have high integrity, you are trustworthy. Oregon State helps mold it’s students, staff, faculty, and alumni, in the way that it communicates the idea that if you can’t trust someone, why would you want to surround yourself with them? Having strong moral principles should be of the utmost importance for each and every individual. On a separate note, respect is important because without this value, we’d probably all be savages. You get what you give in life. Respect should be earned, not demanded! These values are so important to me and apply to big actions and moral decisions in our daily lives. Ethically speaking, these two values exclude no one. Respect and Integrity really applies to us all. Students are vastly affected by these values a bit more than others, because at our average 18-22 year old age, it is easier to instill these values into our young minds.

Madelyn Miller

PHL 205

Be Orange. Be a contribution.

To me, being orange means being a contribution. Not just any contribution, but one that is positive and welcoming by nature. The act of contribution involves individuals, peers, communities and the world in general. With the act of contribution being so all encompassing, it is hard to see how our orange community could have an influence on the world through contribution; however, I argue that without the contributions bestowed upon us by the people around us we would be less successful. This is why it is important for an orange OSU student to be receptive to contributing to the world. In other words, I would hope that if you are going to be Orange, you are respectful to the fact that your success is not entirely your own doing. I think it is only when we can recognize how influential others have been on our lives that we begin to feel the importance in imparting the same type of contribution to others.  When I say others, I am not specifically referring to only one’s peers or fellow OSU affiliates. Instead, in order to be orange and to contribute, one should bestow this type of contribution onto everyone around them, both literally and figuratively. I hope that when someone is given a degree from Oregon State University, they understand the endless possibilities within their own agency to affect the people around them, and not just their ability to better themselves.

Unfortunately within our generation I have to admit that not all people come to universities with the hopes to contribute to their surroundings. It seems to me that a lot of students around the nation see higher education as a necessity in order to make money or be happy as individuals. This is unfortunate to me, because I know that our opportunity to have higher education is a privilege. I spent time in South America, where I realized the immense amount of people who would do almost anything to have the education that we are given in the United States. The realization that I am in a position that I should feel privileged to be in makes me understand my duty to contribute my knowledge and passions that I have gained in my time at Oregon State University to the best of my ability.

My passion is working within the health field. As a pre-medicine undergraduate, with a focus on public health and a minor in Spanish, I feel that my goals provide for a clear potential path. As my time as an undergrad student comes to a close, I am confident that I want to work with people who are unrepresented within the health field, such as the immigrant community. The university has given me so many amazing opportunities to explore my interests and begin to comprehend my passion. I hope this realization of incredible privilege also exists for my peers. I think that Oregon State University has a unique way of helping people find their passions. With the wide variety of required baccore courses, I would attest that majority of graduating four-year students have an idea of what they are passionate about; some may even have a concrete path towards the utilization of their passions. With this said, I would hope that someone who has graduated from our university seeks out ways to use their degree and passions in a beneficial and productive way. To be productive in your contribution, I believe that an Oregon State student, who wants to be Orange, needs to see their education as a significant privilege that gives them the ability to share what they have learned and accumulated form their experiences here to the world. If you are not using your knowledge and sharing it with the world, how significant can you argue that your time at Oregon State University really was?

As previously stated, I am aware that some people see higher education as something they are entitled to, and something they seek to only benefit themselves. What the university needs to instill in students is that our education is not entitlement to success. In order to have success and be Orange, one must be humble in his or her experiences here. Jumping to the conclusion that having a degree gives you superiority over others in the world gives an image of egocentric pride in one’s own knowledge. Once you see yourself as a part of a whole, vs. something that can stand alone, you start to see the profit behind contributing to others. This comes back to my Orange statement; when you make a positive contribution centered on your knowledge and experiences from OSU, you are Orange.

If Oregon State University’s community members choose to share their knowledge and make a positive contribution to the surroundings, they will in return create and become part of new communities. Once you seek a community or try to draw people into your ideas, there is soon a larger body of individuals who are gaining from your knowledge. When you are contributing on a community-based level, you are embodying the morals behind the purpose of contribution. Once this happens, there becomes a level of responsibility and accountability that you hold within your community. That duty of beneficence combined with accountability provides for a moral obligation to contribute to others.

In conclusion, I think that someone is Orange when they see it as a moral obligation to contribute positively to their community and surroundings. An Orange person is someone who can be successful in his or her academia, yet understands his or her role in society as a privilege. They would be accountable to use their knowledge and experiences from their time at Oregon Sate University in a way that benefits a larger pool of knowledge and would be receptive to being a part of the whole vs. seeking individual success. Someone who is Orange contributes to not only their peers but also to people who are underrepresented, or different from them, because they understand that their success relies on the collective knowledge and success of others who may or may not be similar to them. I am Orange; I do my best to contribute with passion and conviction for the benefit of all the people within my reach.

Be Respectful. Be Orange.

By: Terrence Gleason

            Respect is something that everybody should be familiar with just from everyday life. We experience respect and disrespect everyday some of us more than others, but most people have not experienced the respect of what it means to be Orange. The typical definition of respect includes definitions such as these: to show regard or consideration, to relate or have reference to, or to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with. (dictionary.com) These are all valid definitions, but when you are a student at Oregon State respect takes a whole new meaning.

This respect is felt once you become a seasoned Oregon State University Student. When I say seasoned OSU student I define that as anyone who is pursuing a higher education at Oregon State and has been for here for more than one year. It is after the first year in higher education and then continuing their education at OSU that the individual then becomes Orange. Not only did they make it through their first year of college, but they also decided to continue, for transfer students, or resume their education at Oregon State.  The best way to think of this is like the life cycle of the caterpillar. The first year the freshman spend the year crawling around, sometime literally, living the tasteless life of terrible dorm food, quiet hours, dorm living, learning life lessons, and taking responsibility for themselves. After the year is over they go back home, the cocoon stage, to reflect on what the year meant to them and if they will be returning to OSU or if they will pursue their education somewhere else. The students that chose to return to Oregon State for their second year will be in the early butterfly stages. Their wings will be relatively plain and simple, but year after year they will continue to become more complex with the experiences and knowledge that they are continuously gaining from being an OSU Beaver. With that being said there are some exceptions to the rule such as transfer students. These students usually become “seasoned” faster than freshman because they already have been through a year of college and developed their own seasoning not found at Oregon State. So once they get to Oregon state they must take their previous experiences and combine them with the ones that they have at OSU to find the perfect blend of seasoning.

Now that the seasoned OSU student has been defined lets evaluate respect, but not as defined by society but rather as defined by Oregon State.

To be respectful and be Orange you must treat fellow students and the campus as you would like to be treated. This includes but is not limited to no destruction of property or harm to individuals, not judging an individual based solely upon looks, showing compassion for and accepting each other’s flaws, helping those in need even when nothing is directly gained in return, and finally it is the loyalty of the individual to our school, ourselves, and each other.

The respect that is seen and felt at Oregon State is truly one of a kind and once it has been experienced you will not forget the feeling or Orange respect.  It goes far above and beyond what respect is defined as. It really cannot be put into words so the best and really only way to know what Orange Respect means is to personally experience it firsthand so you fully grasp the true greatness of it. People can tell you what respect is or isn’t and give you endless examples using techniques such as ethics spotting or show and tell, but this will not be able to give an outsider the full Orange experience he/she is seeking.

As students leave Oregon State the Orangeness they gained from their time here does not merely fade away, but rather it goes with them. Once a student has gained their Orangeness it goes with them where they go and will be easily be recognizable by any other seasoned OSU student. For individuals who are not Orange it is a particularly hard quality to put your finger on specifically because it is such a unique group to be a part of. These Orange students are confident in all situations and will go through life always finding a way to complete any task they are given simply by the drive OSU has given them. Will on the diverse travels that Oregon State students will endure all of us will have a home here in Corvallis even if we no longer officially live here and on our travel we will never be alone because all of our fellow alumni will be in the world with us as we spread the word about becoming Orange.

With all that being said it is very difficult to put a definition on being Orange, especially to those who have not experienced it directly. The dedication, work ethic, compassion, and confidence can be seen in daily actions, but the biggest give away of an Oregon State student is the Orange Respect that they give to all those who are not Orange. So the best way to define being Orange and what it means is to not define it at all, but to live it. Live it so you can feel what it truly means and know how it feels to give and get this unique type of respect so you can define for yourself what it means and find your own Orangeness.

“Create your own visual style… let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.” -Orson Welles

When you walk around Corvallis Oregon, whether it’s around downtown or around campus everywhere you look there are banners, flags, stickers, posters showing school spirit. I walked down Monroe Avenue yesterday and lost count at how many Oregon State University decals there were in shop and restaurant windows. Orange is all around us, even when we least expect it. Even when I have traveled outside of the state and country no less there were people who commented on my OSU sweatshirt or beaver gear.

To me Oregon State is a privilege. My parents would have preferred that I go to a community college before jumping into a 4 year university, however I refused. I wanted the experience of walking around a college town and seeing people on game day and making friends I never would have met had I not come to OSU. There are so many opportunities I never would of gotten the chance to participate in. By deciding to go Orange and coming to OSU I had the opportunity to experience dorm life, join a sorority, join the DAMchic magazine team, live on my own, and find a major that I love as opposed to just picking one that sounds interesting and go to Las Vegas for the MAGIC Fashion Trade Show.

Whether you are a future student, current student, faculty, alumni, fan, or just a Corvallis resident you are Orange. To be Orange means to have personal growth. In participating in anything OSU you are Orange. When I think of people who are ‘Orange’ I think of people who are unique, responsible, respectful, honest and hard working.

Being a part of the Oregon State community is both a privilege and an opportunity to “find yourself” and become a unique individual. Obtaining a degree, going to sports events, participating in campus activities somewhat define who you are as a person. It is known that no set of fingerprints are exactly alike, well the same goes for being Orange. What you participate in, major in, where you come from all make a unique person. Even if you find someone who participates in everything you do, does this mean you are not unique? Being unique is an important value to have because without it you cannot grow as a person. Anyone thinking of jumping on the “Orange” wagon and attending Oregon State is already making the choice to become Orange and unique.

I am in my junior year of college and have 3 years of class experience and still I find it’s hard to stand out when I go to interviews. At the moment I am having to find an internship for the summer and in order to stand out to the company representatives you have to shine. I have found that in order to shine you have to be unique and create a profile showing that you are different then other applicants and make your application and resume sparkle. By participating in a large range of activities and clubs, jobs and designing your own major you start to build a written picture of yourself that stands out.

By taking the action to be unique you have to step outside your comfort zone and explore new things in order to more forward in life. Introduce yourself to the people in your dorm, sit next to someone new in class, go to information meetings for a club your interested in. By leaving the comfort of your box you will be able to further your knowledge in not only your education but in your personal experiences. One of my favorite quotes is “Better to ask forgiveness then permission.” You don’t want to look back on your life and wonder “what if?”

Our experiences while being Orange may vary depending on the role in the Orange community, whether you’re a student, teacher or fan but even if the experiences are different you can still hold the value of uniqueness. I like the fact that there are no boundaries when it comes to being unique. You don’t have to meet certain standards to be unique and you can determine how much you want to stand out. In school we learn lots of things; mathematics, science, English, and history. What we are not taught we learn through life experiences; how to write checks, have proper table manners, and what is acceptable in social settings. What we are not forced to learn we can choose what we do want to learn.

Elementary, Middle and High school was just a stepping-stone for college. Grades K-12 gave us a box; this box is already 1/3 full with knowledge from school and little things we learned growing up. Now Oregon State helps us to fill the rest of the box. There are clubs, societies, events, jobs, and a whole community of diverse people just like you who came with their boxes ready to continue to fill up the boxes they came with. Choosing to be Orange brought us together, and now we venture out, ready to decide what we want to fill the box with. This box we will carry with us through life, sure something’s we may toss out in a few years or we may make room for new things in the box. But we will never forget what is in the box because the things in the box make us unique and help us shine.

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Happy Birthday, Mr Rogers!