Authentic Orange

Submitted by Abdulrahman Alkharashi

Authenticity is variably defined, it is defined differently and has different meanings based on the person’s view to the world, values and what constitutes being one’s self. Being oneself is to make choices and live life without being affected by external influence (i.e. society, community, etc.) nor affected by guidelines and standards that were set by others (Lecture 05/21/2015). To be authentic is to be looking for truth, really be yourself, and to live life with own values with a choice of what constitutes morals and standards. Being yourself includes but not limited to making decisions, choices and interacting with the world. Being authentic is also being distinguished and unique which relates to “Be Orange” because they both mean being oneself and unique.

One obstacle to become an individual or “authentic” within the community is the baseline that already underlines the morals and standards set by the community and society. The society follows set of rules or norms that are followed and obeyed by the great majority because they are “standards”, even though those standards might not align with many people’s values. However, those people don’t take the time to evaluate these norms and standards to compare and see if they match their values and standards as individuals. For example, what constitutes a good student? Is it GPA? Publications? Attendance? Or involvement with student clubs? The answer is “there isn’t a single answer”, we as students decide what make us good students from our point of view and make us satisfied about ourselves Lecture 05/07/2015). Becoming an individual doesn’t necessary suggest doing everything against society norms, but to do what is believed to be representative of one’s self that is not an interruption to others (Lecture 05/19/2015). As a college community of an educational institution, to “Be Orange” students must make their own decisions in their academic career and make their decisions and experience based on self-interest, not to be driven by the decisions or ideas of others (Lecture 04/02/2015).

To overcome the obstacle, students should take a look at the big picture which includes the norms and baselines set by the community in addition to their values and interest. Next is to compare these norms with our own values to see the “royalty” we get when we use our own values and be ourselves in addition to align them to the norms and standards. Overcoming the obstacle also aligns with concept of freedom “If I regard a certain course of action as good, it is only I who choose to say that it is good and not bad” (Reading, Jean-Paul Sarte, Existentialism is a Humanism, 12th paragraph). To overcome the obstacle, we should ask ourselves, are we really doing what we want or is our conduct and what we are doing regulated by other humans? Realizing our authenticity and our uniqueness is what make us get to where we want and become the person we want to be. “Be Orange”, is to be one’s self and unique, which adds value to our college community and make each individual add their own contributions and represent themselves.

Submitted by Dennis Eash

I faced a hard decision when deciding to really go for it in college. There was two ways I saw to go. One was to study things I truly loved: music, maybe film, maybe acting. Something along those lines. The other way to go was to study something I liked but had a lot more security, which was chemical engineering. This isn’t a problem unique to me, it is shared by a great number of students at Oregon State. This is a problem that forces to choose how we live our lives – do we live authentically or not authentically? However, unlike seemingly clear-cut examples that Sartre gives us, I would argue that living authentically exists somewhere on a continuum, and that we can never truly be completely authentic to ourselves as college students. Instead, all we can do is try our best and make the most well thought out and honest decisions. This is how I think we can live authentically as OSU students.

The first, and what seems to be the most important, factor in living authentically as a student is deciding what to study. I chose to go into chemical engineering. Clearly there were other things that I loved more, but I also wanted security in my future. So I sold off my drum set, and stopped singing. Does the fact that I gave up studying what I love the most mean that I live inauthentically? Sartre could say so (Lecture 26 May), he could say I deny my transcendence. This idea extends to other students – many of us have given up on something we truly love for the knowledge that we can be financially secure in the future, and that isn’t an inauthentic way to live. It’s a realistic way to live. Perhaps this could allow us to get other things we want in the future, like a family. This is the continuum – the decision to study what we do is somewhere between passion and logic. We have to satisfy both parts of our nature to live authentically. This first decision is the biggest in a series of decisions we make in college that determine our authenticity to ourselves.

Living authentically in college, then, is a balance between making decisions that are born of passion and making decisions that are born of logic. The goal here is to find oneself. One’s true self could be found in many different places – extracurricular activities, studying, partying, or anything else. The concerns of others is of minor importance here – if we find ourselves following a stereotypical lifestyle of partying and very little studying (or the opposite), that doesn’t matter. A specific problem to consider here is one we’re all very familiar with – procrastination (Lecture 26 May). The act of procrastinating, as well as doing work early, can both be authentic things. It’s the difference between what we want in the moment and what we want in the long term, a very similar choice to make when deciding what major to study.

What you want to do, what is important to you, is your authentic self. The caveat here is to not fall into a way of living in college simply because of the pressure of those around us. Trying to live authentically is a failure if we fall into the trap of following The Herd, as Nietzsche would put it (Lecture 5 May). Don’t fear being “condemned ‘to being individual,’” as people have been in the past (Nietzche, The Gay Science, Pg. 130). It is in our individuality that we can discover living authentically, though it may seem scary at times. We must make each decision for ourselves, not for the expectations others may have of us.

Outside of making decisions, there is an existential theme that agrees very strongly with us as OSU students. That theme is humanism. The idea of humanism is philosophy that is focused on the individual (Lecture 07 May). To live authentically as an OSU student is to pursue finding our own identity. We’re here to figure out who we are decision by decision. We’re here finding the freedom in our life when society and family pressures may steer us towards a more Herd-like mentality. These would then be my parting words: don’t follow the herd. Embrace the humanistic perspective in life as an OSU student. Live authentically by making decisions that balance the moment-to-moment and ultimate life goals in a way that keeps life authentic, but not unrealistic.

Submitted by Bailey Wood

You don’t hear the term “Authentic Orange” until you come to Oregon State University. The definition for “authentic” is “not false or copied; genuine; real” (dictionary.com). Therefore, “Authentic Orange” means to be your truest self. Many of us come to college thinking we already live an authentic life and that we have it all figured out, but it’s during this time that we realize we couldn’t be more wrong. There are five themes of existentialism that we all should be aware of because they can greatly help us grow into our genuine selves.

The first theme is that existence precedes essence. (Lecture, 4/14/15). The main idea of this theme is that what you are (your essence/nature) is a result of your choices (your existence/extra-nature). This theme ties into “Authentic Orange” because when you come to college, people don’t know your past; therefore you can have a fresh start. Your essence is not your fate, you are who you make yourself to be. You can use this new start to your benefit – be kind to everyone, be honest, and be who you truly want to be!

The second theme is that existence is temporal. (Lecture, 4/14/15). We are only on this earth for a finite period of time, and throughout our life we choose how it is spent. We can ignore things with distractions, avoid the afterlife with life extension technology, or allow ourselves to experience every event even if we feel fear or anxiety. At some point or another we practice every action whether it’s ignoring, avoiding, or experiencing. Each action we make affects our future decisions, and we either get closer to becoming our true selves, or stray farther away.

The third theme is humanism. (Lecture, 5/7/15). This is an individual focused philosophy including the pursuit of identity/freedom, and the values/meaning in opposition to social, political, and economic pressure for conformity. It seems as though the main reason we are afraid to be our genuine selves is the pressure from society to conform into someone we are not. We are terrified of being divergent from society, so we try to blend in. College is about finding yourself, so instead of trying to blend in, be yourself and stand out! You will surely find other unique individuals that are much more engaging and intriguing to be around than just your average Joe. You’re more likely to find out who you truly are if you surround yourself with these enthralling individuals. “By means of morality, individuals are led to be functions of the herd and to attribute value to themselves merely as functions.” (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 116). Nietzsche explains the “herd” as a sickness; we are only valuable as part of the herd, and weak as an individual. While there may be a plethora of diverse moralities, we are still a part of a herd, and cannot stand out by ourselves. Society has conformed us to be part of a group, rather than have the confidence to be unique.

The fourth theme is ethics. (Lecture, 5/7/15). Ethical considerations are vital, this includes varying ethics, shared commitment to authentic living as individuals/society, and a commitment to politics. Stay true to your beliefs, don’t let others opinions on a subject change what you truly feel is right. If you allow others to influence your beliefs, you will lose that authenticity. Eventually you could become just another brainwashed college student that doesn’t stand out. If it’s on a topic such as voting in politics, laws, etc., first do the research yourself before you ask others their opinion. This will prevent your beliefs from being swayed one way or the other before you know all the facts.

The fifth theme is freedom. (Lecture, 5/7/15). Philosophy of freedom includes reflection, transcendence, and responsibility. We are free to create and choose our values. Freedom is “self-surpassing”, meaning that there is a part of you who is undefined, and unknown. Throughout life you are always moving forward, trying to find yourself.

College is the most important time in our lives because it is then that we learn more about ourselves and who we truly are. It’s crucial that we take these themes into account when we strive to being “Authentic Orange”!

Francesca Lee

In order to properly describe what it means to be “authentically orange,” we must first find the definition of authenticity. The word “authentic” is described as “not false or copied; genuine; real” (Dictionary). Oregon State University prides itself on diversity and equality, and to me, this is what it means to be orange. My draw to Oregon State is not the sports, or the Greek Life, but to the idea that everyone in Corvallis matters, and everyone at Oregon State is allowed to be themselves, and the most authentic version of themselves.
To be authentically orange is, to me, to be yourself. Attending Oregon State has taught me that above all else, I must be the truest version of myself that I can be. Often times, we see that those who live as their authentic selves are the ones who attract the most criticism. It is my thought, however, that this criticism stems from the longing from all people for the courage to be authentic. Nietzsche claims in On Truth and Lie in an Extra-Moral Sense that “We still do not know where the urge for truth comes from; for as yet we have heard only of the obligation imposed by society that it should exist; to be truthful means using the customary metaphors…” (Nietzsche, 10). In saying this, Nietzsche relays the point that we do not know why we long for truth, yet being truthful is the custom of society. Thus, we lie unconsciously. To be authentic is to me, to understand ones lies, and then to find ones truths.
I have found that one of the most difficult places to become an individual is when one is growing up in an environment where one is taught what to think, say, and be, and therefore individuality is slowly stripped away. In my own experience, it has been particularly difficult becoming an individual up until my move to Corvallis for university. Attending private Christian schools for seventeen years made it difficult to be an individual, because I knew that I was supposed to be like everyone else. I believe that being authentic, and being an individual, is something that one can only do for themselves. It is difficult to find yourself, when you are told who you are. Camus states that the most complicated question in life is whether or not to kill oneself. He discusses the Myth of Sisyphus and how in this situation of the absurd, one can either kill themselves, find hope through external means, or to find hope in the absurdity. I believe that it is possible to find hope in the absurdity of life, and I believe that this hope offers the chance for one to be their authentic self. It allows for an individual to know themselves, without being told who they are.
To conclude, Simone de Beauvoir asks in his conclusion of The Ethics of Ambiguity, “is this kind of ethics individualistic or not?” He then answers his question simply, “Yes, if one means by that that it accords to the individual an absolute value that it recognizes in him alone the power of laying foundations of his own existence” (Beauvoir, 1). I believe that this sentence describes the essence of individualism in that it shows that humanity has the power to fulfill and bring meaning to his own existence. Above all, I believe that being authentically orange means to be ones most authentic self. Sartre, Beauvoir, Kierkegaard, and Heidegger all give meaningful glances into what authenticity really is.

Submitted by Steven Swanson

Authenticity. Many people think that they have it, but only a few really do. To be authentic is to be your true self and not what others want you to be. It’s a journey from leaving (as philosopher Nietzsche call it) the herd and entering a state of true individualism. It’s anything but an easy journey though. It can be very challenging and full of doubt and troubles. But it is a possible transition that can be made with enough determination and enough will power.

As College students, we are told to pick majors that will ultimately make us successful in our future lives. That money and success are the keys to happiness. As my philosophy class discussed there is a benchmark image of a successful person. They wear a nice suit, have a  clean professional haircut, and look almost as if they are the CEO of a company (lecture 5/28/15). That’s what the media and society want us to believe in college so that we will become that. But what if that’s not how you want your life to end up?

Being authentic with ourselves in college is a huge part of deciding the outcome of our own futures. As philosopher Simone Beauvoir said “To re-establish man at the heart of his destiny…He bears the responsibility for a world which is not the work of a strange power, but of himself, where his defeats are inscribed, and his victories as well” (The Ethics of Ambiguity: Ambiguity and Freedom). In college you can choose what to study. You may fail a class and then you may get an “A” another. That’s all part of finding what you truly want to do. Finding the classes that interest you and make you want to continue learning the information that they have to offer. In order to reshape your destiny from what society says you should become, you need to know what you want to become. You should decide your own future.

With any kind of life journey, there will be obstacles to overcome. ONe of which, and probably the largest one, will be your own parents. Almost all parents want their children to be happy. They also want their children to have stable future jobs and be able to take care of themselves when they get older. If you were to go and say to your parents that you want to persue your dream of a major in liberal arts (which according to the website TheSimpleDollar.com is one of the ten least successful majors to graduate with) they may go against you. This is a pivotal moment of freedom and authenticity. You can make the choice to side with your parents, and live in bad faith (Lecture 5/26/15)  by choosing to go against your true wants and desires, or you can be authentic and pursue what makes you happy. You have the freedom to make either choice, it all depends on how you want to live your life.

It’s very important that you are completely honest with yourself during the transitioning of becoming authentic. To not live in bad faith by denying your transcendence as a student (Lecture 6/2/15) and telling yourself that there is no way that you can change. Because you can. You can be authentic. Simone Beauvoir has another quote that states “…the fact remains that we are absolutely free today if we choose to will our existence in its finiteness, a finiteness which is open on the infinite” (The Ethics of Ambiguity). You have the power to be what you want to be. To form your destiny to how you want it to be shaped. The possibilities are endless. It’s all in how you choose the events that precede the outcome. So don’t be a sheep in a herd, conforming to how society wants you to end up. Be your authentic self and live your life how you want it to be lived.

Submitted by Nikki Rieken

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. The idea of  authenticity and “Be Orange” is to make decisions for yourself and base those decisions off of your own thoughts and beliefs. College is normally a time to find yourself, what you stand for, and what you believe in. Making decisions based solely off of what you believe to be true and right, and dealing with the consequences or rewards from said decisions are the foundation of becoming your own self. Bad faith, spheres of existence, humanism, freedom, and Nietzsche concept of “The Herd” are all notions from course content that directly relate to my ideology of “Be Orange” and living authentically.

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”. 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. But, by doing so one isn’t utilizing their right to transcendence and humanism.

Everyone has the right to their opinion and humanism is the individual focused philosophy that allows one to pursue their identity and transcendence. Having the freedom to be who you wish to be and make your own decisions is what makes them individually authentic to who they truly are. 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. Being my own authentic ‘superhero’ and having the mentality that I can do anything I set my mind to has allowed myself to be who I want to be and accomplish what I wish to in life without the need for help or reassurance that I’m making the right decision. Having the freedom to be me is the epitome of what I wanted my life to be. But, freedom isn’t the only concept that you need to achieve the idea of your authentic self, transitioning through the spheres of existence also plays a major role.

Satisfying immediate desires, learning good vs. evil, and the experiencing the leap of faith are the basic ideas that are encompassed in the three spheres that every individual needs to experience to find meaning in life. Having an encounter with each of the three phases, sometimes more than once, is the learning process of life and in turn understanding your authentic self. 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. Choosing between homework or a party, visiting family or hanging out with friends, etc. Likewise, by experiencing all three spheres one learns the concepts of facticity, transcendence, and authenticity and how they make up bad faith. Bad faith is the idea that one is being inauthentic to themselves and not taking advantage of one of the three concepts above. Being true to oneself is authenticity in a nutshell and a lifelong path that every individual embarks upon.

Submitted by: Grady Titus

The word authenticity can mean something different for everyone. Everyone has their own opinion and understanding on what it means to be authentic. While most people have different ways of describing what it means to be authentic and to live authentically, most of them would agree that it defined somewhere along the lines of being yourself and doing what makes you happy.  Most people would agree with the definition of authenticity as the act of being true to oneself and acting and presenting oneself in accordance to your own individual beliefs. Oregon State’s slogan, “Be Orange”, ties in closely with the idea of authenticity and living an authentic life.

To “Be Orange” one must be themselves at Oregon State. It is to be true to their own values and beliefs while being at and attending Oregon State University.  However, some find it difficult to be their authentic selves while attending Oregon State and they struggle to “Be Orange”.  With almost 30,000 students enrolled at Oregon State University, it can be difficult to be authentic when there are so many other people around influencing one’s authenticity.  An individual might feel constantly surrounded and never feel fully on their own. They feel like they are in a crowd or in a herd.

Nietzsche writes about this herd feeling in his novel, The Gay Science. One specific topic that he writes about is herd instinct. Nietzsche writes, “…We find an assessment and ranking of human drives and actions. These assessments and rankings always express the needs of a community and herd:whatever profits it in the first place-and in the second and third-is also the supreme measure of the value of all individuals.” (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 116). College students may worry too much about ranking their achievements or activities instead of focusing on being authentic. They may rank how good their grades are compared to others, if they are joining the highest ranked fraternity or sorority house on campus, or ranking how many friends they make. This herd becomes almost a “sickness” (Lecture, 5/5/15). These rankings can easily lead to one not being authentic and living authentically as well as not “Being Orange”.

Kierkegaard also writes about a similar herd mentality that Nietzsche wrote about. He writes about “the crowd”, “There is a view in life which holds that where the crowd is, the truth is also, that it is a need in truth itself, that it must have the crowd on its side. There is another view in life; which holds that wherever the crowd is, there is untruth, so that, for a moment to carry the matter out to its farthest conclusion, even if every individual possessed the truth in private, yet if they came together into a crowd, untruth would be once let in.” (Kierkegaard, The Crowd is Untruth, pg. 1). With a crowd as big as 30,000 people at Oregon State, there is bound to be a lot of untruth, according to Kierkegaard.  This untruth makes an individual “unrepentant and irresponsible” (Lecture, 5/5/15).  With a crowd so large it becomes difficult to be responsible for being one’s authentic self.

Some believe that one must transform themselves into their own authentic self. This comes from Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis, and the transformation between body and self. (Lecture, 6/4/15). I take away from this story that in order to be authentic, one must transform themselves. When people come to college, they change. Whether it’s how they look or act. They slowly transform into a new and more authentic person. To “Be Orange” one must transform themselves into the authentic person that they are meant to be and that will make them happy.

Submitted by Hannah Hinshaw
There are over 7 billion people on this planet and there is not one person out of those 7 billion that are exactly like you. You are all unique, different, and authentic. Authenticity is the way in which you are true to yourself and your personality. All of us here at Oregon State have a common goal at the end of our 4 years, to graduate. That however is not the concern, the question is how are you going to walk to Reser in your caps and gowns knowing that you are exactly who we want to be? Being Authentic isn’t a hobby or a life choice, it’s something that’s already in you but needs to come out and see the world.
From the moment you got accepted to Oregon State your future was changed, your minds altered, and your lives pushed in a new direction. You had to figure out what you were going to be. They make you pick a category from a drop down list of things like Engineering, Education, and Business. Your entire future with just the click of a button. Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega stated this with the idea of causa sui to the second power, (“Man has no nature” pg. 155, and lecture 4-5-15). This is determining what a person shall be. At Oregon State you have the struggles of making sure you are on the right path. In order to be authentic, you shouldn’t think about who you should be, but rather who you are now, that in turn will help you find who you should be. If you aren’t living the life you want, and expressing your thoughts and ideas there is no way you will find out who you will be, because that will never be the authentic you.
With that being said, existences precedes essence, this is existential theme number 1 (Lecture 4-14-15). Understanding that “your essence” or nature is a result of your choice. In college there are tons of choices that you have to make and each one is helping you become who you are. Finding your essence could be taking a class with a friend that is outside of your major, or deciding to study abroad because it’s something you’ve always wanted to try. Your essence is that thing that makes you special. Sometimes making the hard decisions like staying in to study instead of hanging out with friend’s shows you that you can be a hard worker. Certain decisions make you understand yourself and why you do things. It all helps you become an authentic beaver.
College is stressful on everyone, there are thousands of students walking around campus and sitting in the same lecture hall as you. You all have different stories but you are all in the same place. This can connect with Heideggers thoughts of “being-in-the-world” and the Greek word Dasein which means “being there” (Lecture 4-16-15). Each person is there, sitting in that old wooden chair that is so uncomfortable that our desk chairs in our dorms sound like a better place to be sitting. In college you can feel lost in a sea of people who are striving for similar objectives, so being there, and being you, are completely different. You can sit there and pretend to listen like every other student or you can figure out if this is something you are interested in learning about, is it something that could benefit you in the future? For some it may and for others it may not, the point is that doing what everybody else is doing isn’t going to get you where you want to be. To be an authentic beaver you need to be in the world but under your rules, not anybody else’s.
Authenticity, who you are. The way you’re living your life right now in this moment. Being an authentic beaver can be difficult, you need to think about who you are right now and decide if you are on the right path to who you are going to be. You should understand that “your essence” isn’t something to be afraid of but something to embrace because it is yours and nobody else has it or can take it from you. You should now that being in the world is a gift, we don’t let gifts sit on the counter we pick them up and use them to our advantage, we make something of them. Making something of ourselves while going through the struggles of college and finding our way is what it means to be an authentic beaver.

Submitted by Katharine Jesse

In any community it is extremely easy to get lost in the crowd. That being said, it is even easier to get lost or become just part of the herd when attending Oregon State University due to the sheer size of enrollment being just over 30,000 students. Students of Beaver Nation are expected to exude characteristics of “being orange” because being orange is what defines the a Beaver. However, inherent with being part of the orange community, one must first be his authentic self because ultimately it is individuals that create a unique and diverse community. Authenticity is a major component of Existentialism. Authenticity can be defined as being genuine and faithful to who one wants to be. This is based of their desires, motives, ideals, and beliefs and expressed through ones actions. The Existential theme of humanism, ethics, and freedom are all facets of authenticity.
Living out truth is necessary to “be orange.” This is because multiples of truths create a diverse community, formed of many perspectives. Nietzsche describes truths as “illusions about which one has forgotten that this is what they are; metaphors which are worn out and without sensuous power; coins which have lost their pictures and now matter only as metal, no longer as coins” (Nietzsche, On Truth and Lie in an Extra-Moral Sense). Ultimately, truth is a poetic and descriptive way of describing the world that is unique to every individual (Lecture, 5-26-15), thus every person possesses their own truth.
Practicing humanism is large part of being authentic on the Oregon State University campus. Humanism can be described as the pursuit of identity and freedom, and values and meaning in opposition to social, political, and economic pressure for conformity (Lecture, 5-7-15). The Orange community is very diverse, with many different ethnicities, ages, majors, economic status’, backgrounds, and perspectives. Because of these differences, it is important to respect everyone as basic fellow human beings and while also being true to ones own beliefs with regards to politics, social issues, and economic pressure. If one is not true to there own beliefs they risk becoming part of the herd.
Being part of the herd or crowd is dangerous. It is easy to get swept into while on Oregon State’s campus, because one wants to fit in and be just like others who are ‘cool’. Ultimately, being part of the herd makes an individual irresponsible because one is not forced to be completely responsible for ones own actions (Lecture, 5-5-15). Thus there actions are not uniquely their’s because they are living a life of bad faith.
Due to our humanity, everyone has freedom, freedom to create and freedom to choose values. Freedom is reflection, freedom is transcendence, and freedom is responsibility (Lecture, 5-21-15). As part of being Orange, one must question the different facets of community they are part, to understand, for themself, why they are part of the Orange community. One must understand that they will always be part of the Orange community because they will be alumni’s. And thirdly, being orange requires you to bear the responsibility exuding the values that are part of Beaver Nation.
Finally, ethics play a roll in authenticity. Sartre asserts that when choosing for self, one chooses for all humans (Lecture, 5-21-15). He means that when one makes a choice for how one thinks something ought to be, it implies that that person thinks everyone else should do the same or think the same because it should be good for humanity as a whole. This is because ethical considerations define individuals and societies alike. Ethics relates to the question of how one is to use their freedom to be authentic.(Lecture, 5-7-15) So, in relation to the Orange community, it is important to think how one’s own actions, as molded from their individual ethics, effects the rest of the community. Do your actions exude Orange?
In conclusion, ones existence straddles between an already and a not yet. Or in other words, who one is and who one wants to be. The crux of one’s existence lies in authenticity. This is becoming who you are and living out one’s personal truth through humanism, ethics, and freedom. All being Orange requires is that one lives a life exuding their own personal beliefs, by taking charge of one’s own freedom, ethics, and humanism. And also, to always be a Beaver believer. Go Beavs!

Submitted by Derek Jackson

To answer the question of what it means for someone to authentically “Be Orange”, a declaration of what it means to be orange is required first. In this response, being orange will mean to be a part of the community at Oregon State University. What this entails is that you are either a student or faculty member at this school, and therein are part of the community either by attending classes, teaching a class, work in one of the buildings, or take part in extracurricular clubs or activities. Whenever people come together as a group, problems can occur. Since some would argue that it would be impossible for the whole school to come together and get along, the community of Oregon State consists of a bunch of smaller communities. Friedrich Nietzsche defines a group of people to be a herd. The herds found in the greater community can have different moralities, in the sense that one herd will act differently than another in a given situation. Now as an individual of a herd, one is “led to be functions of the herd and to attribute value to themselves merely as functions” (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 130). But when an individual does so, their minds are now focused on the well-being of the herd. This now becomes a conflict with their authenticity. To live an authentic life is to live true to yourself. What this means is that your everyday actions do not result in bad faith. Bad faith is a way of denying the human situation (Lecture, 5/26/15); we are denying a part of our ontological centaur. Jean Paul Sartre defines the ontological centaur as two parts coinciding. One part is being-in-itself, and the other is being-for-itself (Lecture, 4/9/15). Being-in-itself relates to the human facticity, or the given in life, where being-for-itself relates to the human transcendence, which gives us humans the freedom and consciousness that we have. So in short, to be authentic with yourself is to be and act how you want to, and not how others want you to. The thing is however, we as humans want to fit in and be liked by our peers. This is the conflict that comes up in community. Nietzsche supports this when saying, “in many people I see an excessively forceful and pleasurable wish to be a function; they have the finest scent for all those positions where precisely they can be a function, and that is where they rush to” (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 131). So what then is the trick to still get along in a community and still be authentic with yourself? The first step is to be true to yourself by being and acting as who you want to be. However, the solution is not found in just one person. It requires for everyone to accept their fellow peers as their authentic self. I am not saying everyone has to accept everyone, although that would be ideal. But that is why there are different groups found at Oregon State University. Finally, to answer the question of what it means for someone to authentically “Be Orange”, all you must do is be authentic with yourself, and allow other people to be authentic with themselves.