Authentic Orange

Submitted by Geoffrey Bishop

Congrats! You graduated High School and are now on your way to Oregon State University. I can assure you that you have made the right choice of schools in the State of Oregon! Before you get Corvallis, I’d like to give you a few pointers on how to “Be Orange!” We want you to be as authentic as you can and this intro to OSU will help you do that!

You might be asking yourself, “What does it mean to authentically Be Orange?” Authenticity, simply put, is truth. Truth has been said to be “A mobile army of metaphors, metonyms, and anthropomorphisms” (Nietszche, Truth and Lie in an Extra-Moral Sense). The act of being true to one’s own self defines an authentic person. So, the easiest way to be “authentic” is to be you. Oregon State is a great place to find out who you are by exploring the many options and experiences of this great University.

“Be Orange” is not a demand but a way of life. Here at Oregon State, we tell ourselves that we “Bleed Orange”. So, if we substitute the word “orange” with yourself, the term “Be Orange” becomes “Be Yourself”. Some tips are as follows:

Tip One: Do what you enjoy. This is your life and you have to make the shots! However, you may have to change and follow at times so you can live in society. For some of you, college may have been expected, while others, they might be the first in their family to attend Higher Education. Either way, as our society evolves, so do the standards of living, asking for more people to attend college.

Tip Two: Make new friends! Oregon State University is one of the friendliest places and everyone is just waiting to be your friend. While making new friends, try and find some that like you for you. Always remember that it’s ok for yourself and someone else to be independent. “Do what you must, come what may.” (The Ethics of Ambiguity, Simone de Beauvoir 1947.) It’s the idea of “You get what you put in”. If you want to hang out with 20 people at all times, that’s fine! And if you want to hang out by yourself, that’s perfect to! It’s all about doing what makes you happy.

Tip Three: This is your life, and you are the main character! Everything you do can have two sides or outlooks. Think about the Myth of Sisyphus. Sisyphus was required to roll a rock up a mountain only to have it roll back down, making him roll it back up again. However, Sisyphus believed he controlled the outcome because if he let go of the rock, it would roll back down and if he kept going; he would make it to the top one again. If you approach a task as a punishment, you’ll have a horrible time and it will be a punishment. But, if you approach it with the idea that you are in control of the outcome; you will be more proud of the finished product.

            As we look back as these few tips about being yourself, we see a trend. You are the driver of your own life. You have to be in control and allow yourself to be ok with the outcomes of life because they are the consequences of your own actions. I hope this will help you transition into a new school! Good Luck!

SUBMITTED BY: MEGAN MARCHAND

PHL 150

Authenticity to me means not being fake, but being true to one self as well as others when it comes actions upon one’s morals and beliefs. I along with being a strong “Beaver Believer” I am a strong causa sui to the second power believer. (Lecture 4-9-15) I believe that every experience we have is what shapes us into who we become.

I haven’t always been a Beaver Believer. In fact, up until my senior year of high school, I was a Duck fan. It wasn’t until I received a scholarship that would pay for my tuition at any Oregon university that I found myself considering OSU. It’s always been a dream of mine to become a teacher, to teach agriculture to younger generations and educate them on some of the most important subjects that pertain to continuing life on this earth.

Suddenly the stats and sporting games didn’t matter. I focused on the academics of schools all around Oregon and I found that OSU was known for its College of Agriculture and excelled academically in the eyes of the state. So I applied and a few months later I was accepted.

Sartre says we are “condemned to be free, because once thrown into the world [we] are responsible for everything [we] do.” (Sartre, Being and Nothingness, Pg. ) This is a fear that struck me when making my decision on what college to attend (afraid I wouldn’t choose the right one and be home by the end of my first term). However, my fear quickly disappeared as I enrolled and selected my first set of classes as a freshman at Oregon State University in the Fall of 2013, here’s how yours can too!

This is a guide to becoming AUTHENTICALLY Orange for all those CURRENT Duck fans!

• Visit and fall in love with our campus!
• See how welcoming, open minded and accepting our community is
• Apply and enroll at Oregon State University. You can visit the Admission’s Office page at http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/
• Buy and wear a bunch of Beaver gear. What’s up good lookin’?
• Take classes that you’re interested in and contact your professors
• Realize how much the instructors on this campus care about the success of each and every one of their students.
• Sit in the student’s section at any one of our sporting events and feel the energy of our fan base
• Play intermural sports through Dixon Rec
• Get involved in Greek Life whether you join the community or you just participate in their philanthropies
• Live fully and enjoy every moment at this beautiful school

Alright, so there are a few things I’ve learned from my Philosophy class this past term. One of the things I’ve learned is how to live in the moment. I’ve learned that reality is ontologically ambiguous and that facticity and transcendence both play an important part in living day-to-day. (Lecture 4-9-15). This class has taught me to question everything! I mean everything. Is freedom actually free? What does it mean to be alive? What does it take to become “nothing”? Is there an afterlife? Is there a god? Most importantly though, this past term I’ve learned the importance of being true to myself. The importance of authenticity. Without being authentic I can’t successfully live with meaning. We are all in an existential situation where we are striving for eternal and infinite meaning. (Lecture 4-16-15). Though I’ve learned all of this, I’ve also found that often times others can bring out the inauthenticity of ourselves as we group together sometimes we have the habit of losing our individuality and it is crucial to our existence that we are aware of this and surround ourselves with those who allow us to be ourselves, true and authentic. (Lecture 4-28-15).

There are three spheres to existence: Aesthetic, Ethical and Religious. (Lecture 4-23-15). People live that live in the Aesthetic sphere are thrill seeks. They seek to satisfy their desires immediately. In the Ethical sphere people constantly debate if situations and choices are good or bad. These people live with believing they have a universal moral duty to make responsible decisions that align with their idea of right. Lastly, in the Religious sphere these people live in Christian faith. They find meaning in both their church and their relationship with God.

Some people live in all three of these spheres actively. Some only one or two. However, typically one resonates most with them. Which do you live in?

Submitted by Nikki Rieken

The idea of  authenticity and “Be Orange” is to be true to yourself, don’t give into peer pressure, and find others who share your passion for life. The idea of Causa sui to the second power (Lecture 04/09/15) is having a variety of possibilities to choose what you will be and college is the time to utilize that freedom. Likewise, learning what you stand for and what makes you happy in life is the simple view of the Kierkegaard’s three stages of existence. The concept of authenticity is being genuine and true to oneself in both a philosophical standpoint and a way of approaching obstacles in life. Being authentic is simply being who you really are, which can be extremely difficult when it comes to trying not to conform to influential individuals in ones life. College is normally a time to find yourself, what you stand for, and what you believe in. It’s also a time to find individuals that share your same passion and make lasting friendships.

Step One: Be true to yourself; College is a time to learn what you believe in, what you stand up for, and experiencing Kierkegaard’s three stages of existence (Lecture 04/23/15). Not only do you learn the components of authenticity, transcendence, and freedom, also known as bad faith and what it is composed of (Lecture 05/28/15), through these stages but you also learn what the meaning of life means to you. There is no one meaning of life, it’s different for every individual and the lesson you take away from experiencing each phase is also different for everyone. Understanding your point of view on what your desires are, good vs. bad, and the concept of the leap of faith are all important stages to go through to learn who you are. Through each phase you learn, grow, and alter your behavior to build off of each layer obtaining experience that will help you find what life means to you and who you believe to be. I find myself in the ethical sphere; making decisions in regards to good and bad on a daily basis just like every college student out there. Especially since college is the first time many people leave home and have to learn how to make their own choices. I was a person that was very influenced by peers, parents, and family members when I was growing up and was never assertive when it came to what I wanted or believed in. Now, after deciding to pick up my life and transfer to Oregon State University I’ve learned to chase after what I want and stand up for what I believe in even if it’s not what my close friends, parents, or majority of individuals stand for.

Step Two: Don’t give in to peer pressure; The largest obstacle I face at OSU is constant peer pressure. But, having the mentality to step back and think about decisions I make prior to making them has allowed myself to avoid making a decision based off of social norms or peer pressure. It’s easy to decide to skip a class or homework to go out with friends, especially when they don’t have any responsibilities to attend to or are avoiding their work too. If I were to avoid my responsibilities I wouldn’t be abiding by my authentic self and in turn would be conforming to Nietzsche concept of “The Herd”. “But it is the crowd which has power, influence, reputation, and domination… which tyrannically overlooks the single individual as the weak and powerless one…” (Kierkegaard “That Crowd is Untruth” pg. 6) Being manipulated by the majority rule of the group would cause myself to not only be inauthentic but also conform to the idea of mindless and thoughtlessly following the group. Peer pressure is a very real concept that causes many individuals to be inauthentic to themselves because they don’t want to go against the grain of the group.

Step Three: Find people who share your passion for life; Everyone has the right to their opinion and humanism (Lecture 05/07/15) is the individual focused philosophy that allows one to pursue their identity and transcendence. Building relationships with individuals who have your same point of view, ideas, and thoughts represent the utilization of one’s freedom. Likewise, this is a representation of ones transcendence and not putting on a metaphorical ‘mask’ to fit into the crowd. When you be true to yourself and don’t give into peer pressure, the third step of finding others like yourself will ensue on it’s own. Living a life with a perspective of reaching optimal authenticity, with others who wish to do the same, is a simple but amazing way to do it. You’ll gain a support system like no other with individuals who wish to accomplish everything you do in life.

Submitted By: Hadi Rahal-Arabi

Authenticity has never been universally defined; the definition varies between contemporary philosophers. It is generally agreed upon that to be authentic, one must be representative of their true self (Lecture 5/26/15). However, what it means to represent the true self is up to the interpretation of an individual philosopher. This lack of clarity is not unique: Philosophy has no “correct” answers; several valid but contradictory conclusions exist within the study (Lecture, 4/2/15). For this reason, it is important to assert than any philosophical statement is tied to the philosopher that makes it. Given my interpretation of authenticity, I believe that the only trait required to be authentically Orange is to have a desire to learn.

Regardless of Philosophical opinions, authenticity is a representation of self. However, “Orange”, when used in the context of Oregon State University, refers to a subset of qualities that are indicative of being a student, a member of a group (Lecture, 5/26/15). While community ideals and authenticity are not mutually exclusive traits, group ideals have little bearing on an individual’s authenticity. This can be seen through Sartre’s famous waiter example. In the thought experiment, a waiter acts unauthentically because he is driven to act as a waiter in his daily life (Lecture, 5/26/15). The critical distinction was that the professions is not inherently unauthentic, but the waiter is, due to his prioritization of success over authenticity. If Sartre’s example is extended beyond the waiter and applied to the student body of OSU, it is easy to see that a student who embodies certain qualities exclusively for his student life cannot do so authentically. Sartre has a proposed definition of the self: ”[…]  man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world-and defines himself afterward” (Sartre, Existentialism is Humanism). If we accept this definition, and assume the self is inherent, then acting against the self to adhere to community values e.g. OSU’s, is acting against the self, and is thus unauthentic.

The common counterargument to this definition of authenticity is that the scope is exceptionally narrow. After all, if the definition is so strict, how could anybody ever be authentic? The method of maintaining authenticity while submitting yourself to community values and ideals is simple: community ideals must always be general. In the case of Oregon State University, the student body all maintain a single common ground: they are attending the university to learn. If we begin to apply restrictions to this definition, e.g. authentically orange students must care about their study, we immediately begin to alienate key demographics of the university. This alienation would counteract any positive benefits of the “authentically orange” label, because if it is accepted that to be authentically orange is to act within the bounds of community ideals, no part of the community can be arbitrarily ignored.

The bounds of authenticity within Oregon State must be low, otherwise the label will apply social pressures on the student body to act in ways that are unauthentic to the self. As a student, the limits of being “Authentically Orange” only require you to be a member of the community, and to be authentic to yourself.

Drew Bankston

Stephanie Jenkins, T/R

6/12/2015

Being Orange or Being Yourself?

Founded in 1868, Oregon State University has a motto that is to inspire and encourage students, “Be Beaver Bold”. With the alliteration of the “B” and the positive connotation coming from the diction, “Bold”, a daring tone is created. By doing so Oregon State University is challenging students to do their best in their studies. However, they also have another motto, “Be Orange”. What does it mean to, “Be Orange”? Does it mean to wear the color orange, to physically represent the school, or to uphold its values; as the school colors are orange and black? Naturally the first two are encouraged but the most common interpretation is the latter, leading to the question, how do I do that? With over 30,000 students attending Oregon State, there is a diverse and unique community that everyone will find their place in. In order to discover how one can find their place, they must live in an authentic fashion, as well as discover that one cannot just “Be Orange” by attending Oregon State.

First one must define what it means to be authentic. Discussed by many philosophers, authenticity is the act of being oneself and nothing other than oneself. Because we often try to be things that we are not, we are acting in bad faith (Satire, 5/26). For example, a waiter who tries to be the best waiter and only the best waiter is living in bad faith. He is trying to do his job well but is forcing his other aspects of life out. In doing so he is denying his transcendence as a human being and because of this, is living in bad faith. People are more than just one thing, we have both transcendence and facticity referring back to Ortega and the ontological centaur (Man has no Nature, 155). An example of denying facticity is a woman not knowing what she thinks of a man who is flirting with her. She neither addresses nor stops his advances due to her indecisiveness of her feelings. One can deny many of their feelings and can even convince themselves that they are doing the right thing in questionable situations; all of these situations mean that they are living in bad faith. In order to be authentic one must fully embrace one’s own life and ideals, only then will they be truly happy because they are living in and of themselves, free of many of the societal and other pressured constraints that lead to bad faith.

At Oregon State University, one must find their own place, because if they don’t, they can live in bad faith. Some join groups that are too consuming, like Greek life, which can lead to them being unhappy with the denial of transcendence. This is because they are putting almost all of their time into something that they are not fully committed to, rejecting the other aspects of their life, much like the waiter. In doing so, their project of existence (Satire, 4/9) is altered with bad faith, however, one cannot say that they are being molded into something negative because we are Causa Sui to the second power, we make decisions that will change us. But, is this done with the mindset of “presence-at-hand” (Heidegger, 4/16) meaning that they are actively observing the task of our life, or is this done with “readiness-at-hand”, are they just walking through the tasks of becoming a member in their organization, a part of the they, or the herd.

Many things must be observed before one can “Be Orange” and even once they have demonstrated the qualities of that, must constantly make decisions that are consistent with their own ideals and values in order to be happy. In order to “Be Orange”, one must find their own place in the unique community at Oregon State, and, in doing so, represent Oregon State as a whole by adhering to the qualities that are unique to one’s own true self.

Submitted by: Benjamin Herzog

“What does it mean to Be Orange?” is a relatively easy question to answer. Anybody who attends Oregon State University, works for OSU, or is involved with OSU in anyway shape or form can ‘Be Orange’. However, what does it mean to be authentically ‘Be Orange’? This is a harder question to answer, as it could mean one hundred different things to one hundred different people. According to Sartre, authenticity “isn’t just being honest to others about your feelings. It is being honest to yourself about your own desires and the reasons behind your actions” (Lecture, 5-26-15). But what does this have to with being orange? Sartre’s definition of authenticity is something we should expect from everybody, not just people that are orange. This also plays into Sartre’s viewpoint on ethics where he explains that when choosing for one’s self, one chooses for all humans (Lecture, 5-21-15). Being a part of the OSU community, it is important to follow this belief as, your own actions will have a profound effect on others around you.

Perhaps the most difficult task when trying to authentically be orange is standing out in a crowd. With over 24,000 active students it can be hard to be seen as an individual. This also brings up the issue of people actively trying to blend in with the crowd or becoming a part of the “herd”, as Nietzsche describes it. As Nietzsche describes, being a part of a large herd we are seen as a single person and lose our individuality (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 130). In doing so we give up our authenticity and adopt morals and traits that may not be our own (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 116-119). Avoiding this can be difficult for many people, as it is only natural to desire to be accepted by your peers. Sometimes for many people this is obtained easiest by becoming a part of their herd and adopting their morals, traits, like and dislikes. This ties into Sartre’s definition of authenticity where one must be true to oneself and to others; being a part of a herd breaks both of these rules.

Kierkegaard agrees with this point, stating that the crowd is “untruth, and makes the individual irresponsible” (Lecture, 5-5-15) When one is part of a herd it is easy to pass off one’s responsibilities onto somebody else, further diminishing their authenticity. Being a part of a herd also may make somebody do something they normally wouldn’t do. This can be a big deal when some of these actions are unethical. This also ties into Sartre’s definition of authenticity where in order for one to be authentic they must be honest with themselves and others. “since the individual is defined only by his relationship to the world and to other individuals; he exists only by transcending himself, and his freedom can be achieved only through the freedom of others” (Simone de Beauvoir, The Ethics of Ambiguity). Beauvoir believes that freedom can only be achieved through the freedom of others. If freedom is being authentic, and to be authentic one must be honest with oneself and others, then true freedom and authenticity can only be achieved when everybody is honest with others.

Obviously something like that probably isn’t going to happen anytime soon. However, in the time being we can still try to be authentic as possible. Treat others the way you want to be treated, be honest with yourself and to others and don’t get stuck in the crowd. Being a part of a group itself is fine, but don’t let the group change who you are or affect any decisions you make. You are a result of your actions so don’t let other people make decisions for you (Lecture, 5-12-15). All in all, being authentically orange is to be a beaver and everything being a beaver involves, but also being yourself, being an individual not defined by the people they associate themselves with and making their own decisions that aren’t influenced by others. Go Beavs!

Submitted by Ian Stidham

Born into a world already filled with ideas, it can be difficult appeal to the internal rather than the external for our beliefs, particularly about the self and our connection to – and transcendence of – the material world. This can lead one to feel as though they have been placed into existence free, yet bound by constraints they did not entirely choose. Essentially, this is the concept of Dasein as “thrown projection,” which Heidegger posits can lead us to lose ourselves in a pre-defined world filled with social roles and responsibilities (Lecture 04/16/2015). The environment, appearing to us as part of our reality, intrinsically contains others who become a part of this environment, and these faceless others form what Heidegger calls the “they” (Heidegger, Being and Time, 126). This contributes to the creation of the “they-self,” which finds its meaning within the context of the “they” and what “they” place value on (Heidegger, Being and Time, 127). Our participation in the world of the others leads us to become one of them, further supporting the domination of the “they.” We do as they do. The more we lose ourselves in societal roles and expectations, the more we forget we created them. We choose to give power to things by giving them a slice of our being, and in turn we are placed in a category. These categories take this power and then alter not only the perceptions others hold of us, but more importantly the perceptions we hold of ourselves. These categories limit us; I am not a political party, a job, a Vegan, or a musician. I am. We are.

Paramount to one’s adoption into Heidegger’s “they” is a phenomenon described by Nietzsche as “herd instinct,” wherein whatever benefits the many is morally right (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, 130). At a physical institution, such as a university, the pressure of the herd instinct can be especially strong. It can become a sort of sickness (Lecture 05/05/2015), a plight where the authentic self is suppressed by the expectations of others and the value an individual places on those expectations. Authenticity is the reflection of a person’s truest self, the point where the self is conscious of its coexistence with forces and influences external to it. People see the ideas and beliefs of other people and institutions and choose to give more authority to those things than their own thoughts. The external appeal to authority is more often a passive process than an active one. After enough repetition, one’s worldview develops so that this externalization of power is the ‘natural’ state of being, at which point the person no longer necessarily makes the distinction between their own beliefs and those of others whom they are repeating. We sublimate the natural compulsions we feel and experiences we seek into socially acceptable activities rather than what we think is right, or what is most in accordance with our authentic selves. By being inauthentic at a university, one might pursue a career field of study that does not align with their authentic character. They may do things or participate in clubs and organizations that are out of accordance with the self, and rather finds meaning through the paradigms constructed by the Other. Authentic living requires a person to access this environment of the Other in ways which compliment their being, not their doing. Being “Orange” authentically means engaging with the Oregon State community in ways that are representative of one’s authentic self; finding your trip within the herd, rather than with the herd.

submitted by Lorena Colcer

At Oregon State University, “Be Orange” means a lot more than what appears on the surface. “Being Orange” requires people to examine themselves and determine what “living authentically” means for them.

As defined by Merriam-Webster, “authentic” means “true to one’s personality, spirit, or character.” Here are some tips on how a student at OSU can strive to authentically “Be Orange.”

Tip #1: Choose your major authentically – but don’t sweat it

Ultimately, a college education is the reason people choose to be students at OSU. Therefore, it is important to be choose an undergraduate major authentically.

Sartre’s advice to students when choosing something is that, “When we say that man chooses himself, we do mean that every one of us must choose himself; but by that we also mean that in choosing for himself he chooses for all men. For in effect, of all the actions a man may take in order to create himself as he wills to be, there is not one which is not creative, at the same time, of an image of man such as he believes he ought to be” (Sartre, Existentialism is a Humanism, pg. 5). Essentially, when one chooses something, they should choose something which they believe everybody should do. People should form not only their own lives with their choices, but also “an image of man such as he believes he ought to be.” This ensures that people make the choice which aligns with their beliefs – the most authentic one.

However, your undergraduate major does not define you. It is included in the definition of you, but it does not make up the entirety of someone – especially since there are many cases where people have careers in fields that are completely unrelated to their undergraduate major.

This is an example of denying one’s transcendence, similar to the example of a waiter trying to convince someone that they are only a waiter and nothing but a waiter (Lecture 5/26/15). This is just silly – people are more than just their jobs or their major. So, if you’re having trouble deciding what you want to major in, that’s okay. Do what feels right, and seek opportunities that sound exciting – that way, you’ll start to get experience in what interests you.

Tip #2: Choose your illicit activities authentically (and responsibly!)

Okay, I personally don’t prefer illicit activities, but the typical college student will engage in them from time to time.

First of all – be safe in your illicit activities. Don’t let people drive while intoxicated, don’t leave your drink unattended, and stand up for people if someone is taking advantage of them.

Be mindful of your long-term goals. A way to help this is to think about Kierkegaard’s three spheres of life: the aesthetic, seeking immediate desires, the ethical, adhering to universal moral duties, and the religious, an individual relationship with the Christian God and religion. (Lecture 4/23/15) I’m not advocating that one is better than the other (in fact, I’m not even religious), but that you should spend time pondering which one you fit in currently and whether or not you think it is best for you.

Tip #3: Choose your licit activities authentically (and responsibly!)

Make sure to prioritize what needs to be prioritized – avoid procrastination. Turn off your phone and use a browser extension that does not let you access social media websites while you’re studying. It will help you focus on what needs to be done, along with help you staying authentic to yourself.

You might be thinking – “but, everyone procrastinates at some point, so why should I bother?” That example is one full of bad faith, or the denial of the facticity/transcendence duality of human existence. This is specifically denying transcendence, because it is denying your freedom to branch out from your peer group and be different (and responsible!). (Lecture 6/2/15) Do what you need to do. Your life will be much less stressful if you avoid living near the end of the deadline.

Ultimately, as Ortega would say, causa sui^2: you are self-caused and self-defining (Lecture 4/9/15). You accumulate being, and it is your choice for who you want to be and how you want to “Be Orange.” Take this advice and use it to be as successful and authentic as you can be. Go Beavs!

Submitted by Geoffrey Bishop

Congrats! You graduated High School and are now on your way to Oregon State University. I can assure you that you have made the right choice of schools in the State of Oregon! Before you get Corvallis, I’d like to give you a few pointers on how to “Be Orange!” We want you to be as authentic as you can and this intro to OSU will help you do that!

You might be asking yourself, “What does it mean to authentically Be Orange?” In a recent publication from Stanford, “The term ‘authentic’ is used… in a weaker sense of being ‘faithful to an original’ or a ‘reliable, accurate representation’” (Varga, Somogy. “Authenticity.”). So, the easiest way to be “authentic” is to be you. Oregon State is a great place to find out who you are by exploring the many options and experiences of this great University.

While we want you to be yourself, we also want you to have school spirit and follow in our motto, “Be Orange!” A few steps on how to “Be Orange” is as follows:

Step One: Wear orange! If you don’t already have some of our awesome Beaver gear, head on over to the OSU Bookstore to pick some up.

Step Two: Cheer for the Beavers! Some of the best memories in college are from sporting events. Standing in the rain, wind blowing in your face, drunken guy falling into you, all while watching your Beavers fight for another win! That’s the dream!

If you haven’t been to a sporting event yet, then you haven’t heard our student section and their many cheers! Learning those makes anyone a sports lover.

Step Three: Make new friends! Oregon State University is one of the friendliest places and everyone is just waiting to be your friend.

Some of the best ways to make new friends is by joining some of our clubs. We have everything from farming, to business, to music, to sports! There is a club for everyone here.

Step Four: Enjoy yourself! You may only be her for a couple of years and after those 4 years… 5 years… 6 years… (I hope you’re in your masters by now), you’ll remember what it meant to you to “Be Orange”!

Step Five: Go to class! Although you’re supposed to enjoy yourself, you need to attend class to be able to relax.

If you start skipping, soon all those missed assignments or clicker points will add up and so will your stress. The expression, “Work Hard, Play Hard” actually comes in handy. If you set a goal for yourself to effectively work for 2-4 hours and get something done, then go out for dinner or hang with friends, I guarantee you will enjoy yourself a lot more.

Looking back at the Five steps on “How to Be Orange”, you’ll notice they all circle around the idea of getting outside and meeting someone new at a sporting event or in class. Over the course of my time here, I learned that to “Be Orange” I just needed to be happy and smile on campus (For some others, “Be Orange” involves drinking. That’s their choice). One last piece of advice is to ask questions. Not only in class but also in life. School will teach you what you need to know for a career, but the people around you will teach you how to live and isn’t living what life is all about? Have Fun and Welcome to Beaver Nation!

Work Cited

Varga, Somogy. “Authenticity.” Stanford University. Stanford University, 11 Sept. 2014.

Submitted by Aaron Streblow

We live in rapidly changing culture. With the arrival of new technologies and ways to communicate information, human lives are becoming increasingly less and less private. As a result a new word has arisen out of the works and it plays a roll in the lives and decisions of countless people. This word is trendy. Being trendy, or in other words: up to date in the most popular styles and fads, is not intrinsically evil; however, when not taken lightly, this mode of being may become inauthentic. As aspiring OSU students in today’s culture, we find ourselves in the thick of all these pressures to keep up with what is trending, and anxieties to conform to predesigned molds. Our authenticity, that is, our complete embracement of our true and genuine selves, is on the line each and every moment of the day. Many, if not most, students would say that they wish to live their lives here at OSU authentically. The question is how? Here are a few guidelines derived from philosophers studied this year by students in PHL 150 that will assist all those striving to authentically “Be Orange”.

Some of the most important decisions a student will make over the course of college are what subject to study, and what activity(ies) to participate. At a school where about one fourth of the student body studies engineering according to the 2014 enrollment summary, and at a school where certain extracurricular activities such as Greek life are widely popular, it can be easy for students to follow the crowd and join what’s trendy. Friedrich Nietzsche would call this mode of action our herd instinct (Lecture, 5/5/15). We feel shame when we act out against what others value, whether that be our peers, or our parents, or our friends, and so we tend to act our lives according to those values and attempt to adopt them as our own. Similarly, Søren Kierkegaard explains that if individuals act according to the crowd, then individual passion and truth is lost because one gives up partial responsibility with their decisions. To yield to external pressures and not follow one’s own character is a problem that impedes one from living authentically. To truly become authentic, one must reflect deeply about one’s self and follow their own path for their studies and activities. To test whether one’s current mode of life is authentic, the Nietzsche’s universal morality test known as “Eternal Recurrence” can be applied (Lecture, 6/2/15). To pass the test and declare “Amor fati” and that one’s fate is a fate worth reliving forever confirms morality and authenticity. In the end, it is up to the individual to take the initiative towards a personally authentic path. However, this initiative can sometimes be an obstacle.

As a student striving to authentically “Be Orange” we are our own greatest hurdles towards authenticity. According to Jean-Paul Sartre, we are all “condemned to be free” (Sartre, Existentialism Is a Humanism). We are conscious beings; we are Being-For-itself; we are free to make our own choices but we are condemned to always bear the responsibility of the consequences of these choices. However, we do not always accept our freedom as truth and often times we lie to ourselves in order to escape the responsibilities of our freedom. Sartre calls this Bad Faith and it is what he considers inauthentic being (Lecture, 5/26/15). The most common way that we try to escape our responsibility, escape our freedom and deceive ourselves is through procrastination. Procrastination is about choice, and if we choose to procrastinate, then procrastination may begin to define our very being. This effort to escape immediate responsibilities is a futile attempt. No matter how small the task, procrastination leads to an inauthentic being. The key to solving procrastination is through taking responsibility for our lives and owning up to our choices. If we consciously choose to do one thing over another, it is not inherently good or bad. The key is to accept all consequences of the decision and not deceive one’s self about by continually putting duties off by lying about doing that thing later.

The last guideline to help OSU students authentically “Be Orange” is to live in the present moment and live it in relation to death. In order to truly live in the present moment, one must accept the duality of their being: nature and extra-nature. We must accept our own “throwness” into the world as well as the facticity of our past actions as things that are a part of who we are. We have to accept our essence just like how Sisyphus must accept his boulder; however, we must also accept our transcendence beyond it (Lecture, 4/9/15). We have the freedom to become whatever we choose. However, to be authentic with this freedom one must live in relationship to one’s own death. This means to embrace one’s own being-toward-death and accept responsibility for their lives.

To conclude, striving to authentically “Be Orange” comes with its own challenges. It requires us to take courage and allow ourselves to be vulnerable by acting upon our own values. We must accept who we are and what we want to be despite outside pressures to follow what’s trendy.