No tiers, no tears

This week in my email I have gotten some notices from our department head about this program they do here called the Safe Space Program. I have seen signs for it all over campus, the city, and even in Salem. Apparently people, businesses, etc. can all participate in these workshops in order to get placards for their offices that say that they are friendly to people of non-traditional sexual affiliation. I know, I know, I'm definitely not of that persuasion myself. But I've had friends that were, and I've seen a lot of people semi-persecuted by traditional groups about their choices in this manner, and for some reason it's really very sickening to me. So I think it's very cool that our department head openly invites people to be a part of this program, and moreover, that many people responded to the need to participate.

Maybe I've still got too much residual southern-ness left in my mind, but it's really beautiful to see how non-judgmental people are out here. Wow, "judgmental" doesn't have an "e" in it? Strange. Anyway.

I was thinking for the past few moments about how I think this is one of my favorite things about OR, actually. One thing that impressed me a lot about the trip out here was that no one tried to show me a "good time" in the traditional sense. It was much more humble; stay at BRORB's place, with no heat, eating food from the garden and making 11 espresso shots in the morning, learning how to wash mushrooms "the right way" and hiking around campus in the rain with people I had never met, generally just a very "down to earth" kind of experience. I think it really characterizes the place, though-- it's just very down to earth. Also I have noticed that no one really "looks down" on grad students condescendingly. Sure, the professors are obviously smarter and more experienced, but they seem to be much more apt to take the role of friendly guidespeople. Which actually makes them seem much more wise than condescending professors...

OR has a lot to offer with it's awesome landscape and all, but I think that maybe it's biggest selling point is the attitude... maybe it's the rain or something.