Be Loyal. Be Orange.

Submitted by Sam White

People from outside our university may associate Oregon State by our loud, conservative, obnoxious fans that wear orange and black, but from the inside we know we are much more than that. The Oregon State University Strategic Plan has the perfect “landscape” of how our university should be defined and demonstrated. Accountability, diversity, integrity, respect and social responsibility are all values that we should strive for while attending OSU. This is a bench mark for our values at OSU but being “orange” is most certainly subjective. Being “orange” is something to be earned and shared which is why the value of loyalty is so strong within our university. I have focused on this value because it is something that we all share and is often demonstrated. It is what brings us together intellectually, athletically and socially.

What it means to be “orange,” is to join together and to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself and to strive to make people around you better. We are a community filled with intelligent, good spirited, dedicated people, all of which who are willing to make a difference. Loyalty is often associated with the sports teams and how we will always root for them not matter what. But, it also extends to the classroom where we feel that our education is each others responsibilities. We can not learn on our own, which is why being “orange” is having the back of your counterparts no matter where you are on campus. This value seems to be underrated because it is something that is constantly happening around you. Discussion boards, study tables, cheering at sports events, tutoring session are all examples of how we know we are loyal to one another. It shows that we care about the well being of one another and that is something to be proud of.

When asking peers from our OSU community what it meant to be “orange,” the words that came up most often were hardworking and passionate. These are two values that I believe everyone can relate and agree with because they are both aspects of daily life that bring us together. Passion does not only bring us together during social and sports events but love for getting better in our community and our academics. With this, I believe hard work comes hand-in-hand. These are two simple, yet essential parts of being a part of the Oregon State University community. You can also associate this to achieving eudemonia, because these are very natural and distinctive parts of human life. It helps us be reasonable, functioning human beings. The other answers I received had to do with our sports programs, which correlates to what people outside the Oregon State community believe us to be. These seemed to be shallow and unethical answers because of the lack of depth and thought they had behind them. I believe this because we are much more than our sports teams make us out to be, a lot more.

With strong loyalty we have achieved so much in all aspects of our university. Being “orange” means that you are part of something special and larger than yourself. With that, means that you must care and protect people and things within the group. It is a value that is sacred and not something to be looked passed. Go Beavs.