Authentic Orange

Submitted by Angus Owan Jr.

One of the most complementary sayings that goes with almost every new encounters is, “Don’t worry, just be yourself”. Whether it be meeting a new friend, moving to someplace new, or shaking the president’s hand (maybe not the last one). However, within one moment of our lives we all have gone through encounters that make us nervous, terrified, and uncomfortable. The term authentic coincides with another common saying such as, “be yourself”. On literal terms authentic means not fake, verified, real, etc. So basically if a random person yells to you to “Be Orange,” in authentic terms they are implying that you should be who you truly are. Every time you do something, question yourself if this is truly what you would do. It could be what you wear, how you speak, or how you act. Anything related to yourself, question if (insert your name here) would do this. One of the most significant aspects I’ve learned about being here at Oregon State is that we are allowed to be authentic. We are allowed to be our own individual. We are allowed to truly express ourselves without any judgment or bias directed towards anyone.

When a phrase like, “Be Orange” is brought around to my concern I see it as being who you truly are, be authentic. Corvallis is a community where everyone matters whilst being welcoming to anyone and everyone’s individualism. However, there are obstacles in obtaining authenticity as many philosophers have different terms for this obstacle. Nietzsche calls it, “The Herd” which is basically the same as following what everyone is doing (Lecture 5/5/15). This can become an obstacle in being authentic due to the fact that “The Herd,” could be doing something completely opposite to what you would do. Yet, you will find yourself doing these things because you’re so caught up with “The Herd”. For example, you could be at a party finding yourself drinking and trying to blend in with everyone. However, in all actuality you could possibly hate beer and alcohol in general. Peer pressure adds to this obstacle as it makes us decide whether or not to be authentic. Another example of this obstacle is when Dan came in dressed in a suit (Lecture 5/28/15). I questioned myself as to why he would dress that way. He usually comes in with shorts and a shirt but on that day he came to prove a point. As he took off the suit he revealed that he had his normal clothes underneath them. He used the suit as a symbol to show how everyone (“The Herd”) expects people to come to work. Yet, Dan defies this obstacle everyday by dressing how he wants to because he is his own person, his own individual.

Being authentic is easy to say yet hard to do. Sometimes we become inauthentic in order to please other people. Perfect examples of this are college students. Some college students simply go to college to please others such as their friends or family. Rather than pursuing the future the student wants they could be doing a certain major just to satisfy their parents or others. Gregor in The Metamorphosis is an example of this (Kafka, The Metamorphosis, pg. 1). Gregor doesn’t enjoy his job at all yet he continues it everyday to support his family. In the case of Gregor, he is being inauthentic to himself. He is his own individual just like everyone else and should make his own decisions. Being inauthentic is also known as having bad faith (Lecture 5/26/15). The term “Bad Faith,” means that we deny our own transcendence and do actions just to blend in and feel accepted. Having bad faith in one-self is an obstacle that troubles basically everyone in their daily lives. It could be as complicated as playing a role in one’s job or as simple as procrastination. Overcoming these obstacles is key to becoming authentic here at Oregon State University.

How do we overcome these obstacles you ask? Be yourself. It’s as simple as that. Take risks or “leaps of faith” in order to reach your own state of authenticity (Lecture 4/23/15). No body has the answers except yourself. Do things you want to do and don’t let anyone influence your decisions. College is the perfect place to find out who you are because we have to come to the realization that we are adults now. If you want to party and have fun then so be it. If you want to study hard and get awesome grades than strive for it. You want to do both? Why not. As long as you make that decision with the confidence that you really want to pursue that path then you are being yourself, being authentic, being your own individual. Many paths open up once we become an adult yet no one is going to make the decision for us. You don’t need to follow the herd to be cool or accepted. “Being Orange” is all about being real to yourself here at OSU. Be your own individual. Existentialism is about finding who we truly are and who we want to be. So take this knowledge on being authentic and be YOU! (P.S. GO BEAVERS!)

Authenticity is being true to one’s own self. Therefore in this instance let’s say that to “Be Orange” is to be authentic in the form of conversation as it relates to relationships. It is important to begin first with the idea that we are condemned to freedom, second we ought not to procrastinate in relationships, and third to recognize that human nature is represented in the universality of communication. The synthesis of these three parts points towards the necessity of authentic relationships in Oregon State University, in order to “Be Orange”.
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Submitted by Christian Nomi

Does being a student at Oregon State make you authentic? To truly dive into, and understand this question we must first define what it means to be authentic. Authenticity in my eyes, is a way for an individual to not be oppressed by societal views or opinions and to live freely to push towards ones goals and ambitions. In terms of “Being Orange,” it’s all about discovering who you are as a person as you push towards your goal of graduation. College is a new unexplored territory for most freshman who for the first time in their lives, feel free. But as we grow as human beings and individuals we are all threatened by outside forces and obstacles.

The pressures of peers in college is a serious obstacle and guide to finding one’s own self. In essence college is about finding oneself, but you can get trapped into what Nietzsche calls the herd instinct (Lecture, 5-5-15). This in turn removes the authenticity from oneself towards the following of others which is not freedom.  Listening and following others opinions, all though not always wrong, is not a strong way to live authentically because you are not making your own decisions in life. This also follows Kierkegaard’s Crowd theory which talks about how all dedication goes to a single individual (Lecture, 5-5-15).  Groups are made up of all kinds of individuals with their own goals yet to be realized in a decentralized pattern. Often times this weakens the responsibility of the individual and puts it on the group or leader. These theories often hold true in college environments where often time’s students feel lost and feel like they have nowhere to go. This leads individuals to join groups or organizations such as Fraternities, Sports teams, or clubs on campus. But in the end is it necessarily a bad thing in affects to authenticity?

In the end you make choices for a reason. Joining a group or organization doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t be authentic to yourself. In fact, you can grow from these groups and gain a lot of important experiences out of them. The key that you have to realize is who you are is a result of your actions and nobody else’s (Lecture, 5-21-15). Therefore joining groups or student organizations can show “Being Orange” and authentic to one’s self as long as the student has the awareness to understand not to sit idly by but to be active. And I don’t mean active in the physical way but rather in a humanistic way. You must be able to understand your values over those of social, economic, or political pressures for conformity (Lecture, 5-19-2015). By clearly defining your values and goals you can breakdown conformity while building yourself into a more authentic individual. In the words of Simone de Beauvoir “any man who has known real loves, real revolts, real desires, and real will knows quite well that he has no need of any outside guarantee to be sure of his goals; their certitude comes from his own drive.” (Beauvoir, The Ethics of Ambiguity).

Submitted by: Kiana Dussin

“Be Orange” they said. Be orange but don’t let the color define you. I heard these words at orientation and I knew I had found my new home. When I decided to become an Oregon state beaver, I was positive I made the right choice. This was so, because I knew I could be my authentic self at Oregon State. The words “Be Orange” meant so much more to me than just a color. The college was telling me to find what I love to study and do what makes me happy. But there always can be obstacles trying to be your authentic self and becoming an individual at Oregon State.

To be authentic means “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character” (Merriam Webster). Being my authentic self is something I’ve always tried to be my whole life. I believe it’s best to stay true to yourself and never conform with others. Nietzsche states “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). By this Nietzsche means that all people are drawn and want to be accepted by the herd (or a group of people), so we do things and act a certain way to be accepted.

At a large college like Oregon State, peer pressure can greatly impact one drifting from his/her authentic self. One usually has their own set of morals and values but when put in certain situations, he/she will go against them to fit in or seem “cool”. Going again who you are is “bad faith: I am both the liar and the deceived” (Lecture, 5/26/15). You are lying to people about who you truly are and are being deceived by the people that are lying as well to fit in like you. It can be a cycle that is hard to break. People fall into peer pressure because it’s a natural feeling to want to fit in and be liked by many people. Humans are on a “pursuit of identity and freedom”(Lecture, 5/7/15). But it’s most important to be yourself because if you are, you will eventually find people just like you. It just takes time and the right kind of people.

My tips for living authentically as an OSU student are: To always be yourself, get involved in something you love and stand up/stop the peer pressure. If you are always your authentic self and are comfortable with that self, then the conformity of others won’t drag you in. Being confident in yourself can change your perspective and outlook on many things. If you involve yourself in things that you love, maybe you’ll have a better chance connecting with people that are similar to your authentic self. Having friends that have similar morals and values to you will make it easier to stick to your authentic self. Finally stopping the peer pressure and feeling no need to conform will be the biggest obstacle to overcome in becoming an individual at Oregon State. Kierkegaard states that there is dedication to “that single individual” (Lecture, 5/5/15). There is usually one individual that starts the peer pressure and is the head of the group. It’s important to stand up for yourself and stop the growth of conformity. In the end it’s only up to you, “you become who you make yourself to be”(Lecture, 5/21/15).

Oregon States large community with many different degrees paths and organizations to join makes it easier for one to be his/her authentic self. But never underestimate the pressure you may go under to conform. “What you are is a result of your choices”(Lecture, 5/21/15). This meaning that its your choice what path you take and who you follow and don’t follow. Truly knowing your authentic self and being comfortable with that authentic self, is the key to non-conformity.

Submitted by Christopher Pavlovich

To be authentic is to act in good faith. The best way to describe this is to explain what it is not. Acting in bad faith is worst when the person does not even realize they are doing so. They are lying in their behavior by denying part of who they are, and at the same time deceiving themselves so they do not even realize it (Lecture, 6/2/2015).
We talked about two big things that make up humans. We have our facticity and our transcendence. Facticity is the part of us that we were born with: physical properties, some parts of our living situation, family, etc. Transcendence consists more of decisions, this is what we chose to be, the part of our existence we make for ourselves. Not being authentic, or acting in bad faith, would be denying either one of these parts of who we are (Lecture, 5/26/15). This is something that really should strike home to students at OSU. Looking at what college I wanted to go to, it came down to where I felt most comfortable. OSU seemed to be the most diverse, laid back, and even bizarre school I toured. Everyone was different and it made me feel at home. To authentically “Be Orange” means people stay true to themselves as well as the people around them, and a huge part of that is overcoming peer pressure.
One thing I found helpful in class was looking at example cases. One of which took a waiter at a restaurant and said he could be living in bad faith if he is hiding his personality to be what he considers a good waiter. In this example, the waiter is denying his transcendence, he is only looking at the fact that he is a waiter. An existential theme we learned about is freedom. This is what makes transcendence possible, it lets us choose who we want to be (Lecture, 5/21/15). Gift or curse, it is real and something we should use to our advantage. In school we can do the same thing as the waiter being students. Sometimes when the work loads get thick, we become absorbed in homework and spend days on end with little to no communication outside our school projects. Yes we are just doing what we need to, but are we denying a part of who we are by shutting ourselves out?
Similarly, students can have the opposite problem. Especially people just coming into college, it can be easy to feel the freedom in full force being away from our parents and feel like the rules no longer apply. In fact, a lot of them no longer do, but the consequences are more real than a grounding or losing your car keys for a week. When students take to partying too much, taking too many nights off school work, skipping too many classes, they are the opposite of the waiter. In this case, students deny their facticity. They ignore that they are in a situation that requires work and put off some things that simply can not be put off. “By means of this unconsciousness and forgetfulness he arrives at his sense of truth.” (Nietzsche, On Truth and Lie in an Extra-Moral Sense, pg. 1). Through forgetting why we are here in college, as students we are coming to a sense of truth in bad faith as we are denying our situation.
In either of these cases, we are confronted with an obstacle. Whether our friends have perfect GPAs or do not do any of their homework, they are effecting us. Discussing the concept of “the crowd” in class we talked about how much responsibility is lost in our actions when it becomes something done as a group (Lecture, 5/5/15). This concept mixed with a college environment makes living in bad faith very easy. If it was one or two people partying, it would be uncommon. But because it becomes a norm in a group to blow off assignments, people feel much better about it because they are not alone in doing so. Not only do their peers direct their actions, but they lose the guilt that should be involved in doing the wrong thing. Authentically Being Orange is to stay clear of denying either our facticity in our situation or the transcendence through getting lost in the situation and denying who we are.

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.

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 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 Nathan Harlan,

Being orange authentically is a goal for most of us attending Oregon State. This goal however means different things to different people, which is obvious or it wouldn’t be authenticity. This can present a special kind of struggle because we have to define authenticity for ourselves. I think that Kierkegaard does the best job at explaining this for me so I will look to his work to find an answer. Kierkegaard defined this as becoming aware of ones true self, there are two main parts that encompass what it means to be human for Kierkegaard, the finite and the infinite. The finite is the earthly, the body that is temporal. While the infinite is the spiritual, the eternal, it is forever. Kierkegaard was a Christian man who believed in life after this one, unlike some other philosophers, so to him it was obvious that the eternal plays a part in becoming authentic. Although having finite and infinite realities of life for every person, not everyone acknowledges both of them. Kierkegaard calls this despair, and he names three types of this “despair”(Lecture 4/21/15). The first is not to be conscious of having self, although he acknowledges that this is not truly despair because ignorance is bliss, this means that the individual is not aware of the struggle between the finite and the infinite. That is the worst kind. The second is not to will to be one’s self this is to be aware of the tension but to deny either the finite or the infinite, to deny either would be inauthentic. the third and final despair is to will to be one’s self, this is the acceptance of both the finite and the infinite, but it is to try and make the finite infinite by works done in this world. These are all ways to be inauthentic, but we have not yet defined what it means to be authentic. To be true to one’s self sounds good but we want to go deeper so we can aim to do it. After this point the definition of authenticity is different for everyone. Kierkegaard had three spheres of existence that authenticity can be partially found in the aesthetic sphere, the ethical sphere, or the religious sphere(Lecture 4/23/15 slides 1-11). The aesthetic sphere is living for self and seeking pleasure and adventure for self. The ethical sphere is doing what is “right” this could mean by the law or even by a religion if that is the law you follow. The religious sphere is different than the ethical sphere and can fit with it but also override it. To me, being authentic is trying to live in the religious sphere, because I am Christian and I choose to live that way, although many times I do not live up to that expectation of myself a lot of the time, but that is expected and forgiven in my religion. Religion is maybe not the best word for it though, because as Kierkegaard said, the religious sphere is a personal passionate relationship with the living God of the universe(Lecture 4/23/15 slides 12-15), to me it is not adequate to call it religion. Maintaining that relationship by choice of my own is what it means for me to be authentic.

Now that I have my definition of authenticity for me laid out and clear, I can look at how I plan on going about becoming authentic. There are some obstacles that I have already ran into and that I will continue to face while trying to authentically be orange and Christian. The challenges I face are similar to the ones that anyone trying to be authentic, no matter what that means,  would face. That obstacle is the temptation to conform to ” The Herd”. This herd instinct for Nietzsche, is the very thing that I want to towards being! Nietzsche says that Religion and morality creates a herd mentality of all of use thinking the same way, he thinks this because he did not believe in a god or in absolute truth(Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 130). I believe that there is such a thing as absolute truth, and that it comes from God. I want to work towards living out that truth in my own authentic way and if Nietzsche would call that the herd mentality then I would love to join the herd!  However, to me, the herd mentality to avoid is the mentality in the world. The partying and drinking that is basically expected from college students is the mentality of the crowed that Kierkegaard speaks of as untruth(Kierkegaard, The crowed is untruth, link 5/5/15). It is tempting to conform to fit in and have a good time, but this would not be authentic for me because I would be partying to hang out with others, to fit in, to join “The crowed” as I would define it.

This struggle to be authentic will continue for the rest of my life and the best way to deal with it will be to take it day by day and be true to the person I choose to be. After doing that, what more is there to do?

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!