Be Good. Be Orange.

Oregon State University was a great choice for me to advance my studies after high school and begin my adult life. Along with the other privileged countries in the world, America shall be thanked for its easy access to education. Now whether or not this particular education is being used to its full potential is another topic. I would like to compare what this school has done for me as an active enrolled student to what it means to be a citizen in the United States of America. Oregon State is a miniature nation that bleeds orange and values the concept of a team.

Being a beaver has taught me what its like to be a young adult growing up in America. I first began in the dorms with plenty of time, money and excitement. Not knowing where and how to use these things was the only challenge I had to conquer. I make this comparison of being part of the student body to being part of the American constituency because we don’t become great students until the fourth or fifth year of college. In the same way we do not become good nationals until we are forty of fifty, when we’ve learned where to invest, when to save, when to work and when to celebrate.

In the simplest terms, to be a part of OSU all you have to do is pay a few dollars. To live in America all you have to do is pay a few taxes. In return the school will provide you with protection such as campus security just as America watches over us with the Navy, Army and Air Force. Now once we have paid our dues to become a citizen or student, it is up to us how we want to spend are time and enthusiasm. We are free to study what we want, when we want and we are free to work for whom we want, where we want. We are free to be involved in the schools council or support the school sports teams and we are free to be involved in America’s legislation or support America’s teams. With an antagonistic view to all this freedom, America and OSU both have their problems, restrictions and regulations that not everyone will agree with. These rules and guidelines set forth by both the Dean and President of the United States may be seen to hinder some groups of people but they are necessary in keeping a functioning academia and democracy.

From an ethical egoism perspective, “the right action is the theory that advances one’s own best interests” (78). As students and citizens we have a responsibility to ourselves and an obligation to promote positive good. “Pleasure, happiness, power, desire satisfaction, capital, self-actualization” are some of feelings we are accountable to pick on our own level of satisfaction. Everyone will and should have a different level of what a correct action should be and whether it expands their own comfort (78). I respect OSU just like I respect America. I understand now that being orange means being a team player. You have a mutual appreciation for your coach (Dean/President), the referees (Faculty/Governors) and your teammates (Students/Residents). If you do you role in the big play, your team will win. At OSU I can put in any amount of effort into my education as I choose. In return OSU will evaluate my effort and compensate me to level deemed fit. In this same way I can work a minimum wage job or I can exert myself to the extant I want my wealth to go. Many may argue that the cliché ‘you only get out what you put in’ does not apply to everyone but after my college experience I suggest this to be 100% true.

From my freshmen year to my senior year I was provided with the tools I needed to succeed. Whether it is in the form of a computer lab, a gymnasium or tutors, they were there at my expense and I was free to exhaust those resources to their maximum or minimum. It takes sacrifice to earn and prove citizenship in the United States yet we forget we obtain rights such as free speech, voting privileges and the right to start a business. The relationship between OSU and me is more important than my degree. The degree is a perk, just like the right to bear arms. Being orange means we are team players and we know what it takes to win. I know that I can be a bench player or a star and the choice is entirely up to me. From the person who washes the jerseys, to the team’s manager, to the people that build the court, it takes everyone playing their own role to reach victory.

One Family. One Orange.

By: Austin Newman

What does it mean to be orange? Everybody has a different idea and perspective about what Oregon States new motto really means. This idea of being orange has brought new inspiration into the lives of everyone who has been touched by Oregon State.  This motto has challenged me to reflect upon what it really means to be part of the Oregon State family. I believe one of the most important concepts of being orange is family. Family is one of my most important values and I think it can be applied to being orange in numerous ways. Oregon State has provided me with a close family for the past four years and I feel inclined to ensure that future students of OSU experience this same feeling. This university has also provided me with a future in more ways than one and I hope to be able to give back one day. Lastly, Oregon State has provided an environment in which I have had more fun than I have at any other time of my life.  To me, the philosophy of being orange encompasses three main overarching traits; family, future and fun.

Webster’s definition of family is, “a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head.” I think this is a horrible definition of family. I believe family can be defined as; a group of individuals with different temperaments, talents and convictions yet striving for one common goal and believing in similar ideal and morals. Being part of a family is a huge ethical obligation in itself. Multiple personal traits are required in order to be a valuable family member.  Responsibility, accountability and integrity are necessary traits when interacting in a family.  Responsibility is the ability to make correct moral decisions based on a set of personal codes and values.  Owning up to your own actions and accepting the consequences for them is an important characteristic of a functioning family. I also think being honest with oneself and with others is what integrity is all about. Family is a broad term and can be applied to many different organizations of people. I have been blessed with a fully functioning family and they are the most important people in my life. Both of my parents went to Oregon State, along with three aunts, two uncles, and five cousins. I have learned from all of them as they have learned from me. Oregon State has contributed to shaping all of their lives in a positive way and I have watched their success emulate through not only themselves but also in the lives of those they influence.  Family is so important to me I wanted to incorporate their thoughts into my reflection. I asked them all what they thought it meant to be orange and all of their responses were remarkably similar. Almost all of them touched on the lifelong friendships they have made here and the quality of life they now have. My cousin Kelsey had an excellent thought regarding being orange, “be true.” Meaning don’t try and be anything besides yourself; and don’t pretend you’re anything other than what you are. I think this is very important in any family atmosphere and I believe Oregon State encourages everyone to be their own person. My dad also had a great point, he said to be orange was to be “a do-er not a talker.” Implying that being orange is about doing something real and putting thoughts and words into action. Oregon State provides countless opportunities for students to apply what they have learned to real life situations. I believe it is essential for students to have these opportunities and experiences in order to be successful after college.

I believe that building a successful future can start at Oregon State. Being orange can teach someone the traits and ideals that serve as a foundation to a successful future. I don’t measure success on a scale of money or based on positions or titles. I measure success based on personal happiness and by the achievement of personal goals. By my definition it is possible for anyone to be successful, but it is difficult to measure happiness or to set goals without a firm basis of ideals and principles. I believe that Oregon States motto strives to instill a basic foundation of values that its graduates can use to build a successful future on. My family members have confirmed this by using the values they have learned at Oregon State in their everyday lives. To me being orange guarantees a basic foundation on which one can build a successful future on. I believe that when people think of the motto, be orange, they can easily relate it to not only a successful person but also the beginnings of a successful future.

Oregon State provides an atmosphere in which anyone can find a way to enjoy themselves and have the time of their life. The idea of being orange and being part of the orange family ensures opportunities for enjoyment will be provided. All it takes is the color orange to bring a smile to my face and countless memories to my mind. All of my family would say the same thing. Singlehandedly, Oregon State has brought new meaning to the color orange and has provided a source of memories containing innumerable experiences. Being orange represents an atmosphere of excitement and happiness. I believe that anyone who has experienced the orange family can say they have had the opportunity to enjoy unparalleled experiences.

Being orange symbolizes a fun family with a promising future. I believe that everyone who has been touched by the orange family can easily say they have had opportunities that not everyone has the chance to have. Those who have not had the chance to be orange can look at those who have and instantly know that it is a fun family to be part of. All of the alumni of Oregon State who exemplify responsibility, integrity and accountability are promoting a strong and successful future for everyone following them. We are all blessed to be part of this family and I believe we should all do our part in keeping this family functioning for many years to come.

By: Logan Hardt

What is being orange, why is it important, and to be honest, who really cares? Everyone who can associate themselves with Oregon State University either as a student, employee, faculty member, or athlete is told they are orange, they represent orange, and they are powered by orange. And for the most part, we are all proud to call ourselves orange. However, do we all know what it is to be orange?

Oregon State University has defined orange many ways and through many different mediums. For example, in OSU’s strategic plan orange is described as progression, sustainability, and success. Additionally, banners also hang from almost every light pole in the MU quad that suggests that orange is to be diversified and compassion.

For me orange is a way of life. When you attend Oregon State University, visit here, research here, you buy into a life style. More specifically, you are buying the orange product. Oregon State University is the Burger King of colleges, because you can truly “have it your way”.

By a product, I mean an object or idea that a person finds relevant to their lives or current needs and elects to buy it.  Because a product can hold many different dynamic views, ideas, and uses, they sometimes can contradict themselves.  For this reason, the Be Orange campaign is going to have some contradicting ideas and thoughts. To say orange is a product is not to say it’s a bad thing. Naturally, it would be impossible to create a campaign that encompasses all the students, beliefs, and religions represented at Oregon State University without conflicting values .

In order to understand how orange is a product, compare Oregon State University to a bag of Skittles. When you buy a bag of Skittles you know that you are going to get a variety of flavors, lime, grape, lemon, orange, and strawberry. That’s the novelty and fun with the product.  There are flavor options, and you may find that there are some you like and others you don’t care for. We know, for example, that Skittles is a brand and a company that ultimately wants to make money and this happens by growth. This growth comes from evolution of a product. There isn’t just one type of Skittles, there are the original flavors, sour Skittle, tropical Skittles, and others. The goal is to capture as much of the market as possible, through adding variety to their product.

Similarly, there are different values and ideals within the Be Orange product that you buy through OSU.  At OSU you are buying a product, the Be Orange product, this product, like Skittle comes in many different type. There are sour Skittle, Tropical Skittles, the list goes on. The same hold true for OSU, you can choose the engineering type, science type, this list also goes on. With in these types there are going to be flavors you don’t like. Inevitably, like a bag of Skittles, you will pick the values you associate yourself with and throw the others away. There is that saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the same can be said for being orange. Being Orange is what you make it.

Product variety is an ethically neutral decision that has no positive or negative effect on anyone. Skittles, for example, offers variety rather than diversity.  Choosing to only eat the red Skittles violates no ethical principle; it don’t hurt or benefit anyone to do this.  There is a lot of variety offered at OSU.  For example, you have your choice of different career paths, majors, and programs.  The variety of the Be Orange product has spurred tremendous growth for Oregon State University. This growth is very tangible as well; new dorms and education halls are being constructed to keep up with the growing population. It’s a proven business plan: variety equals growth. But is Oregon State University diversifying in a moral way? Be Orange is selling this flavors of diversity, but does it actually believe in its product?

To answer this question, we must distinguish diversity from variety. Diversity is the ability to except differences of value and experience that may not reflect your own beliefs. Oregon State University values diversity as a moral good, which means it is a normative, selective diversity.  There are rewards for supporting and consequences for violating OSU’s core values. While we are diverse with the students that we enroll, there are beliefs we don’t support, murder, pedophilia, and rape.  Moreover, we don’t allow murders, rapists, or other harmful people to establish themselves within OSU’s community. The “Orange” community is defined by the collective thoughts, ideas, and point of views of the Oregon State University population.

This is how “Being Orange” differs from Skittles as a product.  As a community supporting shared values, we select the kinds of differences that we value in the name of diversity.  This means that certain values are supported, while others are left out.  OSU is a very exclusive club.  To be orange, you must either buy into our values or get out. We want sustainability, success, progressions, and passion.

Diversity is allowing thoughts, ideas, and customs that don’t reflect your own take a stance within your community. Your accepting that there is more the one way to think of an idea or solve a problem. Diversity is embracing this, not simply allowing in other ideas and thoughts and then neglecting them, that’s variety.  Having diversity within Oregon State University is crucial to the development of citizens that will impact society. We need to come out of college with a dynamic way of thinking and problem solving that utilizes as many viewpoints as possible, not just our own. This creates solutions that are unique and new, their innovative.

On paper OSU is superficially very diverse; there are many flavors offered within the Be Orange product. Unfortunately, in reality, we have variety, not meaningful diversity.  Much like Skittles, Oregon State University has been adding variety and not diversity.  For example, while we accept foreign exchange students, they are housed in a separate, secluded international building. Oregon State University also houses one of the most involved and charismatic Greek systems in the West Coast. This community is responsible for donating thousands of hours of community service and money to charities like Habitat for Humanity. OSU offers Greek life, but doesn’t want students to be evolved with it. This is evident through the freshmen year experience initiative. Which bands freshmen from living in Greek housing there freshmen year.

A vast majority of OSU’s population is here for higher education, including me. We are here to ultimately earn that piece of paper that will be the ticket to a happy and prosperous life. Yet, how do we define happy and prosperous? OSU teaches us different values and beliefs that we might not have previously considered. We do become more diverse citizens while we walk these academic halls. We come here to grow intellectually and this can only happen if we are able to broaden our views of the world, to become diverse citizens.

Oregon State University, last year, relived a professor of his teaching obligation because he had as strong stance against global warming. This is why we need to be more diverse, to allow for many ideas and thoughts to be instilled into the students that attend here. Instead of trying to eliminate these ideas that go against Oregon State Universities ideas, lets nurture them. There is a lot to be learned when you study the opposition. Learning about global warming could have became more in depth and intuitive if two sides of the argument to be voiced.

In ethics class we did an assignment that was titled “get pissed”. Where we had to find an argument that we where very passionate about, then we had to watch an argument that was for the opposition and write a paper on why we agreed with the opposition. It was infuriating, gut wrenching to watch and agree with. However, I learned about my stance from the opposing argument, I didn’t agree with the opposition, but I learned from it. I learned from diversity.

While here at OSU the amount I have learned is immeasurable, I’m becoming well versed in my major and am making crucial connection that will benefit my career down the road. Some of the best lessons I have learned have come from the different people I have met and listening to their life story. That’s the beast lesson you can learn, how to view the world from another person’s eyes. This is also the hardest concept to grasp. Naturally we are all very set in our ways, with our thoughts of how things ought to be.

Moving into my fraternity has been one of the best decisions in college thus far. I say this because of how different all of the brothers are. Brothers are all the members of the house. We all come from different places, background, political views, we all hold similar and different values. This is the best learning tool. We are a house of diverse thinking and problem solving.

Again back to this Skittle idea, when I buy a bag and then tear it open I always go for the strawberry flavor first. Much like when I bought a four-year supply of Be Orange I reached for the diversity flavor. For me to be orange is to be diverse. We are here to gain a broader view of the world, so that we may benefit humanity once we have benefited from Oregon State University. We are the future, it is in our hands. Be Diverse. Be Orange.

By Tim Moss

What does it mean to be part of the OSU community? What does it mean to be ORANGE? That is the question that students get asked every time they see a “Be orange” flag or ask themselves every time they look at the new logo or walk into Dixon, or Kelley Engineering Center, or even Loco Boyz. All around campus, signs ask you what being orange means to you, and other signs tell you what it means. Being orange means holding a baby koala, or planting a garden, or riding your electric solar powered moped.  Being orange means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. A football player may think that to be orange means to win at all costs! An engineer may think that being orange means to design an innovative machine and sell it to a non-profit organization. A business professor may think that being orange means helping the leaders of tomorrow, their students, gain a firm footing in today’s economic struggle. Our PHL 205 class alone thinks that being orange, among other things, means being hard working, successful, sustainable, honest, responsible, compassionate, having pride, being different both in culture and ideas, and basically infinitely more things. Maybe a Beaver fan thinks that being orange means to support the beavers when they play the ducks. Even though the odds are against us; never give up, never surrender! I think that right there means that being orange is being diverse and free to express your opinions in appropriate ways and with compassion. Being able to understand another’s point of view when it doesn’t match your own is an acquired skill. It is a fluid skill, a skill that promotes constant change and evolution. To me, to be orange, is to be fluid. To always be flowing and striving towards my goal. When a mountain blocks my way, I go around it, I go under it, I go through it. I collect tools along my journey and help others progress towards their goal. I accept help when I need it and I give help when I can. This is much like a river carries animals, boats, sand, dirt and all sorts of things from one destination to another. Some of these things progress the river and some of these things the river progresses.

I am spending these valuable years of my life at OSU in hopes to gain tools and skills to help me progress along the path to success. To me success means graduating with good grades and going on to work in my career, make money, change the world (even on a small scale),  and start a family.  Am I gambling that OSU can provide me with this success? Yes, I am. I don’t believe that anything in life is certain until it happens. Even then it can be difficult to prove. Most things, past, future, and present are all based on the different perspectives and moral understanding of many individuals. However, I have lessened the chances of failure by choosing a school that I think can give me what I want and more with the least amount of suffering and loss.

I think that the new logo supports my idea of a fluid education striving towards self-defined goals along the many waterways, estuaries, rivers, lakes, and oceans that life may take us. The new logo is sleek and determined. It is stretching towards what it wants and isn’t going to let anything stand in its way. Even though it may take a long time, water is extremely powerful and can shape and mold the earth as it sees fit. This new beaver logo has that amount of determination. It tells onlookers that at OSU we will never give up. However just the fact that we have changed our logo tells people in the community that we may not give up but we might change the way we look at things. We are certainly not stuck in our ways. New innovative processes and ideas are welcomed here.

According to the mission statement to be orange means belonging to the Oregon state university community. It means to be sustainable, to be ever advancing human development, and economic growth and social progress. Their mission is to mold future leaders tomorrow. The leadership team that wrote the goals at OSU doesn’t just target OSU students, faculty and staff, it targets the world.  Their OSU community starts with a small group; maybe a philosophy class or the school of engineering, and then those people have an effect on the entire university, who then change the entire city, state, country, and the world. Their mission is to mold the future leaders of tomorrow.

I think that to be considered a part of the OSU community, you don’t have to be a student, teacher, faculty member or even work or go to school at OSU at all. I think parents and friends of OSU students and staff can be orange. The only requirement in my book that one needs to consider themselves orange is to do just that; they need to “consider themselves” a part of the community. I think that it is entirely a personal choice and only requires the right mindset. One’s whole life doesn’t have to be spent on campus or donate a million dollars to be considered orange. A person simply caring enough to say they support us, to me, makes them a part of the OSU community.

Be ORANGE: Be FLUID! This is what being orange means to me. To be fluid and to be orange means to be motivated, accepting of others, and willing to learn.  Fluids can change and adapt with the lay of the land. They always are moving towards their goal, but can have some fun along the way. To be fluid is to let nothing stand in your way. Over time even the strongest barriers can be worn away.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 By: James Van Domelen

Be Kind. Be Orange.

            To some people, the word ‘Orange’ may simply refer to a favorite color or a citric fruit that provides vitamin C, but to me it means something much more profound. When I think about what it means to be Orange, my thoughts automatically turn to Oregon State University. More importantly, I think about the community of individuals that make up OSU as a whole. These individuals are more commonly known as the ‘Beaver Nation’. This nation of people is the backbone of the University and enables it to successfully function as a unit. Through their actions of kindness, generosity, and dedication, the true meaning of Orange emerges. As I work towards completing my education, I want these actions to be appropriately reflected in my degree. I want Orange to represent the values that the Beaver Nation displays on a daily basis, which are kindness and acquired knowledge.

Ultimately, the individuals within the Beaver Nation are responsible for the reputation of what it means to be orange. Being apart of this community simply means having an association with Oregon State University. This is the only prerequisite that is required to join the Beaver Nation. Therefore, we welcome people from all backgrounds in an inclusive manner. However, the actions of these individuals are not equally representative in what it means to be Orange. I see there being two distinct subgroups within the Beaver Nation: the primary group and the secondary group. The primary group consists of students, staff, and faculty that have a direct relationship with Oregon State University. On the other hand, I view the secondary group as being an extended family of the primary group. This group could consist of friends, family members, sports fans, future students, and other people that have an indirect relationship with Oregon State University. Therefore, the actions of the primary group have more influence on what it means to be orange due to their interconnectedness with Oregon State University.

As a student, I am constantly being exposed to these actions from both the primary and secondary groups within the Beaver Nation. Therefore, I’m in an optimal position to witness and reflect upon what it means to be orange. I most clearly associate these actions with the values I stated earlier, which are kindness and acquired intellect. To me these two values are important because they provide a foundation to succeed in the future. This applies not only to occupational excellence, but also in developing a sense of character. Having this type of community, one that cares for each other and works to achieve intellect, is something I highly respect. I want to stimulate my character growth and these values will help me reach my goal.

When defining kindness, I’m simply referring to an act that contains warm-heartedness, consideration, or sympathy towards someone or something. I have observed acts of kindness on the student level in the form of holding a door open for another colleague or simply just giving a smile. I’ve seen OSU football fans stay the entire game to show support and sympathy for their team even when they’re losing in a blowout. On an organizational level, Fraternities and Sororities are routinely holding fundraisers to benefit people suffering from debilitating diseases or other important issues. Lastly at the university level, I’ve witnessed them incorporate a no smoking policy on campus. This shows a respect for the environment and displays consideration toward people who don’t smoke. However the act of kindness by the Orange community doesn’t stop at the University level, it extends to the far reaches of the globe. For OSU Public Health graduate Lindsey Kato, she found her calling as a community-based suicide prevention services coordinator in Juneau, Alaska. She says, “To be able to create a safe, healthy environment for future generations and to give back to the community that literally helped me up when I was down, is just amazing,” (Turner). This is exactly what being Orange is all about; actively engaging in kindness, not only in your local community but also around the world. Through these actions, the Beaver Nation has provided evidence to support why kindness is a value that defines what it means to be Orange.

The value of kindness only contributes to half of what it means to be Orange, the other half comes in the form of acquired intellect. When defining acquired intellect, I’m referring to new information that contributes to your overall character development while at OSU. This includes newfound wisdom, skills, facts, experiences, friendships, and identity of self. In fact, the University supports this value through the Baccalaureate Core classes. They’re designed to give students the ability to explore and learn new information in multiple fields of study. This is one of the top goals that Oregon State University has supported and is actively influencing. However, acquired intellect can also be observed in the library as students study to prepare for exams. Through the guidance of professors at OSU, students are able to acquire new skills that will benefit them in the future. Acquired intellect can also be something as simple as taking a few minutes to relax. In this process of relaxation you’re able to care for your mind and body. This type of self-engagement is important and the University supports it through the Mind Spa. Located in Snell Hall, the Mind Spa offers student services that range from Full-Spectrum Light Therapy to self-meditation. The culmination of these actions help contribute to why acquired intellect is such a big component of character development and helping to define what it means to be orange.

Overall I think the Beaver Nation has been fairly successful in conveying the values of kindness and acquired intellect when it comes to defining what it means to be Orange. However, I would like to see OSU make some changes to strengthen these keystone values. First, I want to suggest a new way in which the University could improve obtaining acquired intellect. Professors should be required to incorporate ‘effort’ into their grading rubric when deciding a final grade. Effort should be accountable for at least 10% of each student’s overall performance. Effort can be graded on overall completion of assignments, attendance to lecture, participation, progress made over the term, or completing extra assignments. In adding effort into the grading scheme it will promote students to become more engaged in academics and stimulate a taste for knowledge. This means that failing a midterm will not completely destroy your chances at getting a desirable grade in the class. I believe incorporating this method of grading will enhance the motivation students have to learn, which will trickle down to improve the value of acquired intellect while at OSU.

Secondly, I think the value of kindness is being misrepresented through our University’s new logo. The new beaver sends signals of being fierce, tough, and focused. These traits are great when speaking about the athletic programs, but not when they’re applied to the university as a whole. The logo is an important accessory because it’s usually the first thing that people associate OSU with. Therefore, our new logo is not appropriately displaying what it means to be Orange. I want a new logo that dulls down the aggressiveness and focuses on being welcoming. As a result this will give people outside the Beaver Nation a better understanding of what it really means to be Orange.

Throughout this essay I have identified two key values that contribute to what it means to be Orange, which are kindness and acquiring intellect. These values are the direct result of what I’ve witnessed occur through the actions of the Beaver Nation. I believe that individual actions determine what being Orange is all about. No matter the size of the action, big or small, each one is important in describing Oregon State University. Kindness and acquired intellect are two values that I want to be associated with my degree when I graduate. In efforts to amplify these values, I have suggested a few ideas that the University could integrate into the Orange community. Whether or not they get accepted, I know the Beaver Nation will continue to reflect the values of what it means to be Orange through their actions.

Works Cited

Turner, Heather. “Public Health Grad’s Lifelong Struggles Inspire Need To Help

Others.” Synergies 20 Feb. 2013: 1. Print.

Be Ameliorated, Be Orange

By: Nathan Morales

At Oregon State University there is one unified slogan that is shared throughout the school and it is “Be Orange”. What does this mean though? It is talked about throughout the school, and is told to incoming students that it is important. According to the sustainability affairs group in Oregon State University, ”What does it mean to be powered by orange? Well If we see something broken we fix it. If we see that there is a problem, we solve it. The bigger the challenge we face, the greater the opportunity to meet them, that is who we are and who’ve we always been.” Even though this is true, I believe there is more to “being orange.” I believe that to “be orange”is to be ameliorated.

Before discussing what ameliorated means, who am I to talk about what “Be orange” means. I am a freshman student who came to Oregon State University last fall from California. I am a new to the rivalry of the Beavers and the Ducks, and have never seen so many trees in one place. Before coming to Oregon State, I had no idea what it meant to be here, or what I would be representing by being part of this community. In the two terms that I have spent here, I feel that I can give an accurate perspective on what it means to be orange. Even though I am only be a freshman but I feel that I can accurately evaluate what it means to be orange.

To “be orange” means to be part of the Oregon State community, whether you are a student, faculty or alumni. Since orange is the school’s color, it also stands for the community. It is a symbol universally shared by anyone who works at Oregon State or is going to school at Oregon state University. It also means that you represent Oregon State University whether you like it or not. Since you are a part of the community, you show the world what a student, staff member, or an alumni is of the school.

In the community of Oregon State University, I believe to “be orange”is to be ameliorated. To be ameliorated is to be better than you were before, or to have improvement. I came to Oregon State University to be a better person, professionally and have a stronger character. This means when you leave Oregon State University, you should be a better person of character and a better person in the professional world. This is universal throughout the community, whether you are a custodian, a professor, student, or even the president of the school.

The reason you should be a better person professionally is because you are paying for a higher education, or are being payed for your service to the school. As a student, you pay for a certificate stating you are more educated, and more skilled in your field than those that have not gone to college. Skilled means that you are more knowledgeable, and know what to do in certain situations in your field. Your field is your major, and your soon profession, or career. As a payed staff member, you learn more about the school system and more about your trade. As the president, you learn more executive decisions and how to run a business. As a professor, you learn more about people, students, and more information about your field from colleagues or students. As staff, you learn more about your trade from colleagues or perfect your trade.

The reason that you should be a better person of character is because you are in an institution that allows you to have different experiences that shape who you are. As a member of the community of Oregon State University you are faced with different challenges that determine who you are as a person. It can be as little as completing an assignment to show your work ethic, or devotion to your education, to deciding whether or not to return a lost debit card. There are also rallies and petition signings that can help define who you are as a person in society. As a member of the community, your little battles throughout the day can make you wiser and can give you the knowledge on how to handle certain situations in the workplace, or in public. There are even more situations in this university that can be enlightening.

Though by this definition does it mean that someone can be ameliorated by going to a different university? The answer is no, since not all experiences are the same. Every university specializes in something different. Some specialize in a certain field of study, while others do it for the environment. Every college experience is different due to the environment that shapes you. Someone will turn out differently depending if they go to a small college or a large college. Someone’s knowledge may change if they major in art, and go to a school for chemistry. Also a professor teaching psychology at a big school may be different than teaching at a small school, or in an environment they do not prefer. There are many factors that will affect someone’s experience at a university whether they are the professor or the student.

“Be Ameliorated, Be Orange”. By discussing what my values of “being orange” on this blog, I hope to show others what “being orange” is. I can show others what “being orange” is by handling my situations in a matter a Oregon State student would. This means that I will show those outside the community that I am a person of character who is bettering himself educationally, and as a person in the world.  As a freshman here I have experienced only a little bit of what it means to be in college. With this experience I want the ultimate affect to be better in my field and to have a stronger sense of character. I also hope that with my actions, and my words that others will consider my version of what “being orange” is.

Being Happy
Nathan Morales

Happiness can be described in many different ways. It could be the feeling of elation, or a warm glow from an event in one’s life. The majority of people want to be happy and chase it all of their life. What if there was a way to create your own happiness? To be able to have the ability to manufacture your own happiness without having to chase it your whole life. According to Dan Gilbert, “happiness can be synthesized”(Gilbert).

What is happiness? Happiness is split into two different types, according to Gilbert. There is natural happiness which is obtaining things that we want. Then there is synthetic happiness, which is accepting what we have and reaching a sense of elation due to that acceptance. Both are necessary in today’s world. Without natural happiness economics would fail. The reason that economics will fail, is that people would not have the same ambition or drive to obtain goods since they would be happy with what they have. Though without synthetic happiness, suicide rates would go up when people loose their jobs, or do not get what they want, since they cannot accept what has happened to them.

What does synthesized mean? In Dan Gilbert’s ted talk The Surprising Science of Happiness you can create your own happiness or have synthesized happiness.. The way you can do this is by looking at the bright side of every single event that happens to you. For example, if a writer were to be in a car accident, and broke their writing hand they could react to the situation in different ways. They could be furious about the situation and blame someone or a higher being. The other option is that the person could be happy that they have a break from career, or understand that they can focus on other things. Dan Gilbert would advise the second option. because which is synthesized happiness, allows you to manufacture your own happiness, and take the best out of the worst situation.

Lastly natural happiness requires ethics. The reason it does, is that without ethics many goals would be unjust and create unhappiness amongst people. For example, if I really want a jacket, and I steal it from a store without getting caught I hurt the person who is selling the jacket. They will then be unable to reach their goal of making a certain amount of money, making them less happy. With ethics I would be able to have the moral imagination to discern whether or not I should steal the jacket. I could then understand it would be morally unethical to do so since stealing is wrong according to my moral code. I then can accept that if I want the jacket I can raise money to get it or synthesize happiness and understand that my jacket will suffice.

Happiness can be synthesized. To a certain point I  understand this. One specific piece of  evidence that Gilbert used was “A year after losing the use of their legs, and a year after winning the lottery, lottery winners and paraplegics are equally happy with their lives”. (Guilbert)  I cannot agree with this since there are different levels of happiness and not all people can be “equally happy”. Even though I do not agree with this evidence, and still skeptical of the true worth of synthesized happiness, I do not have enough experience or wisdom to truly be able to go farther with this topic and I know there is a certain limit to explaining this and or disproving it. For all I know happiness is achievable with a flip of a switch. To be able to recognize that anything that happens can be turned into a positive.

By Jonathan Jenkins

Within a college community a new incoming student is introduced to many thoughts and cultural themes relating to the college itself. At Oregon State University one of the themes is, “Being Orange.” What does it mean to “Being Orange?” In this paper I hope to present my understanding of what “Being Orange” is, what I hope to take away from my experience, and what the University thinks of, “Being Orange.”

Coming to Oregon State University I was introduced to the idea of being part of the Orange Community. At that time, “Being Orange” was being included in a club of some sort, meeting new friends in my classes, and understanding what the campus had to offer. Manly a event of feeling included. Since then I hadn’t given it much thought to what “Being Orange” actually meant to me. Looking at it now, it expresses the skills I have learned through my time here at Oregon State University. One of these includes accountability.

First off I would like to address what accountability is. The act of Being Accountable is a person, organization, or institute who is responsible for the actions or decisions made towards a person or thing and are held liable for the well being of that person or thing. For a individual to be accountable they must be disciplined, confident, and exercise moral imagination. Along with these traits it requires trust from other individuals. Collectively the group of trusting individuals have confidence in a person to make a sound decision in their absence. Qualities like these are what I want my experience at Oregon State University to give me.

The next question to ask is what distinguishes accountability say for someone who wasn’t, “Orange” to someone who is? It’s a simple answer, a individuals personal development within this skill. This means someone who does attend Oregon State University may have developed skills such as accountability more or less then someone who wasn’t, “Orange.” As stated earlier I think the idea of, “Being Orange” is centered around the act where a individual acquires specific skills during a experience. This takes the special element out of, “Being Orange” that the University promotes. The term, “Be Orange” to me is just a slogan, a motivational quote or a title of a experience. The real development lies with the individual and how they challenge themselves with the opportunities around them.

In class we were asked what we wanted our degrees to mean in terms of the Universities slogan, “Being Orange.” I started thinking about the idea and what it collectively should mean to a student. I then realized how odd of an idea it was to have a slogan or a institute define who you are and what your degree means. From an employers eyes, or for that matter anyone other then yourself, it doesn’t mean anything other then you had jumped through some hoops for a piece of paper. The morals, values and character traits that define your abilities are not defined by a slogan, but by you. You and how you have challenged yourself are what defines the degree outside of Oregon State University.

So do I think the Universities slogan of “Be _____. Be Orange” is beneficial to the individuals, both students and staff? No, because two and a half years since I came to the community it has not aided or simulated my personal development. Along side of that, what I think the slogan means does not only pertain to the, “OSU experience” but relies on the drive a person has to further themselves both on a professional and personal level. By that I mean a person has to be trying to get something out of their daily activities, searches for opportunities within the community, investing in others, and is open to hear others opinions about a matter. This is what I think, “Being Orange” means and is what will define your degree as you move away from the college years, pursuing a career. What defines your degree is who you are as a person.

All that being said, Oregon State University does have many opportunities on and around campus that can stimulate a students development. One that has helped me develop myself on a professional and personal level is my job at the Department of Rec Sport, otherwise known as Dixon. In the year and a half I have been there I have cultivated skills that have played a roll in my classes and will carry into my career. It has also taught me life skills I find valuable. In this ongoing experience, “Being Orange” does not mean anything to me. I can fit values and characteristics under it, but when I am summarizing my experience at Oregon State University, I am discussing how I grew through the opportunities around me. You could say this is, “Being Orange” but that’s just because the opportunities were at Oregon Stat University.

In my findings the University and me have different opinions about what, “Be _____. Be Orange” means for the community. In slogans like this I think it is important to look at what audience or community the slogans targeted for? In my definition of what, “Being Orange” means I target the students, staff, faculty, and surrounding community on a personal level who learn from each other. From the University’s stand point, I believe they are targeting potential incoming students and individuals who are involved with sporting events. One example of this would be the re-branding that happened a few weeks ago. In reading several articles I wanted to find out why they changed the logo and what audience they were attempting to please. According to John Rizzardini, the Associate Athletic Director, in a article titled, Oregon State and Nike: A Long-Lasting Relationship, Oregon State University changed its logo on this thought, “We had to ask ourselves, ‘What does Oregon State University need to advance the Athletic Brand? What will help us recruit prospective students and student athletes?” The focus was not the student body as a whole paying tuition, but individuals who are involved with sporting events, future students and the fans. Only once in the article is it stated that the focus of the change was to represent the University as a whole and provide something everyone could relate to. I guess that is why they only got input from athletes and athletic staff members for the changes. Changing the logo is something that effected everyone on campus. It is the image of the school and the school is made up of the students and staff. For a small portion of the population to make a decision that effects the group as a whole sounds strange to me. If in fact the goal was to bring unity within the community, I would have expected to see the individuals who were making the changes to seek input from the Oregon State University community as a whole.

Slogans like, “Be _____. Be Orange” or “We Are Beaver Nation” are only motivational quotes geared towards individuals who are outside of the campus community and want to join so they can feel included in something bigger, or to individuals who come for the social sporting events. Instead slogans like these should be geared towards the personal development of the students who attend the University. They should carry meaning and purpose that will stay with a individual for the rest of their life. If mentoring was the focus of the quotes and campaigns, then the idea that a person who attends Oregon State University, through a domino effect, could change the world would be attainable. But for now with the way the University is geared towards business vs. personal development it is left in the individuals hands to wake up and realize how to seize opportunities around them. This will then stimulate them to develop skills such as accountability through the opportunities at Oregon State University.

By Andrea Bourgeois

Before this assignment, I didn’t understand what the “Be Orange” campaign meant because I assumed Being Orange had one specific meaning, and what that was I really wasn’t sure. You can imagine how this confusion frustrated me while I tried to brainstorm an approach to a thoughtful response. After a few failed attempts, I decided to grab my camera and take a walk around campus hoping that what I saw will spark some ideas. What I found was honestly more than what I thought I was looking for because what I found was my Orange moment. It’s hard to say in words what this is exactly because it completely defines the three years that I’ve been a student here. In a broad sense, however, I found a unique form of unity that describes who we are as Beavers which was portrayed in each photo I took that day. Each photo depicted a different kind of unity found at OSU and each kind of unity I found is explained below, along with its photo.

 It’s not the message in chalk itself that explains what being orange means, it’s the idea behind the message.  This picture emphasizes OSU’s broad community through the unity of meetings and informative lectures from different clubs and organizations on campus.  A club or an organization emphasizes unity through similar interests, which is an excellent way to bring people together who share these interests.  I took a picture of this in particular because of the meaning behind clubs on campus.  These extracurricular activities were put together by students who wish to share their common likes and interests with other students on campus.  This means that these clubs and groups were made for one sole purpose, to bring people together, meaning they value unity.  It’s not easy putting together a club or organization on campus; I’ve had my share of this in High School.  The fact that they put their time and effort into uniting other OSU members and the fact that other OSU members are passionate enough to give their time and participate shows a kind of care and connection OSU members have with one another.  These clubs can range anywhere from a sport to a love for a movie or book, but they all unite through this bond over what it means to be in a club.

Not only do clubs help student connect, they also give a sense of support.  We’re all experiencing the OSU life together and it’s important to have a community that reflects this.  A club can mean many things; to some it means their support system.  A club is indeed a mini community because they share a common space conceptually and literally.

Without looking at this picture, I’m sure that most of us know Oregon State has been around for quite a while now.  This seal only reinforces that statement.  It’s hard to believe that we’re not the only students, staff, and associates of OSU since it’s hard to picture Oregon State in any other time but the present.  This picture symbolizes Oregon States history and how the school has grown.  This is because of what a seal represents, a symbol that implies another idea or meaning.  To us then, this emblem represents the school overall, how we view Oregon State as a school today.  To the associates of the past and future however, their experiences were and are probably going to be a bit different than ours, so the seal is going to have a different meaning. Overall though, this seal brings all of us Beavers together since it represents one main idea, and in this case that’s Oregon State.  Even after we’re long gone and OSU is a memory of our past, this emblem will still unify the Beavers of the past, present and future because it represents this community as a whole.

Oregon State is known for it’s many advances towards public safety, this picture included.  It’s awesome that we’re striving to be a healthier campus since there are so many health issues in the world today.  This sidewalk sign however, may be a bit deceiving since OSU does promote healthy lifestyles, and biking is a big part of that. Before this sign was sketched onto the sidewalks leading into the MU quad, there was a huge safety issue concerning bikers and pedestrians both.  Since it is such a popular area to pass through during the passing periods, there just didn’t seem to be enough room for bikers and pedestrians to share the sidewalk safely, so OSU came up with this solution to keep everyone safe and essentially happy.  How does this unify OSU as a whole though?  Implementing these signs means that we’re trying to make OSU a safer campus, and in following this rule and all rules put in place, we’re respecting each other’s safety.  This in turn brings us together because it means that we care for one another and that each of us will go out of our way to make sure that we are being safe.

This photo is more directed towards the students of Oregon State seeing as we all came here for one reason, to get a degree.  The Valley Library represents academic success through its endless row of book and spacious tables for studying.  This can also be said for almost every building on campus.  These buildings and classrooms are here to help each one of us succeed in our academic endeavors because they provide an open learning environment.  This then unifies the students through success.  It’s upsetting to see a fellow student fail here at OSU because we’re all striving towards the same goal and we all have an equal opportunity to reach that goal.  To succeed as an individual means success as a whole and in this case as OSU.  It’s awesome that we have such a high success rate because it means we care about our future and this brings us together as students because we’re striving for the same thing(s).

 The library puts out a tub full of “Choose Civility” buttons every so often with different messages on them; “lower your music”, “assume the best”, “keep shared spaces clean” and so on.  These buttons represent a pledge taken by all OSU associates who wear one.  It means that they identify with a higher set of actions that set their OSU morals to a “good civilian” level.  This photo parallels the “Please Walk Bikes” photo in the sense that they both unify Oregon State through courteousness.  This is because of the respectful nature found within each saying on the buttons. I find that the buttons remind us that we’re not the only ones who use this space and they help keep our campus looking happy and beautiful through the messages they put out.  Those who choose to wear a button are unified through the underlying message they serve, again being courteous.  Civility is a trait that we all should encompass because it shows that we not only respect the environment (being OSU) but that we respect each other enough to perform those little actions that have us go out of our way to keep everyone that much happier.

 No matter what college campus you visit, you’re always going to find some form of unity through the athletics department.  These two photos not only represent football and basketball but every college sport, club sport, intramural team and everything in between.  It’s awesome that everyone who associates with Oregon State can find some common ground within these sports because finding a common ground within a big community like this is rare.  Yes, there is more of an emphasis on certain sports than others and yes, at times it does seem as if those certain sports are all that matter but most of us didn’t decided to be apart of this community because of those sports.  Most of us came here to either get an education or work to support our families and ourselves.  Sports just happen to be one aspect of Oregon State and it’s an aspect that was worth mentioning since it does bring so many people together.  Overall, I find that this is because a sports team is representing the greater population of fans during the game.  We get a sense of dignity from watching our team play against another team for the “winners” title. To some, it matters who wins and who loses, but to others the most important aspect is the fact that they’re out there in the first place, representing a greater whole.  Whatever the case may be, most of us identify with our sports teams because they bring us together and give us a sense of pride.

I’ve also included a picture of the volleyball courts outside of Dixon because when I say sports, I mean ALL sports and sport teams here at OSU.

These photos give a broad sense as to what it means to be apart of this unified community and what I found that day on campus. It’s amazing with how diverse this community is we all came here to be apart of OSU and this lifestyle for one reason or another. And beneath all of this, we decided to stay and be apart of this community because we found something within Oregon State that shed a positive light on us in some way. This light means something different to everyone, but in general it portrays the unification we share as a university. There’s a reason why we have only one mascot, one school fight song, one set of school colors. We define each of these symbols as meaningful aspects of OSU, which in turn defines us and who we are as a whole. The Be Orange campaign brought to light what I find valuable about being a Beaver and I’m confident in saying I know what it means to Be Orange.