Albert Samaha
The world's sad introduction to Oikos U.
For the vast majority of the news-consuming public, the first anyone heard of Oikos University is when
seven people were slaughtered there in a shooting rampage purportedly undertaken by a disgruntled ex-student.
This is not a good introduction to the world at large. Outside the Bay Area, the term "Oikos" is most prevalently associated with the
Dannon-produced Greek-style yogurt of the same name (which was
advertised, obnoxiously, during the Super Bowl). It remains to be seen how marketing types will deal with the word now conjuring up nightmarish images of a deranged and, likely, misogynistic gunman. (Our calls to Dannon have not been returned).
It also spurs another question: Why name a school -- or a yogurt, or a
sustainable construction site, or
an academic journal -- "Oikos" in the first place?