Blog 2

 A Lighter Load

Chris Fotopoulos

Above: Head Professional Marc Claude stringing a tennis racquet.

            For the past decade the University of Oklahoma men and women’s tennis teams have relied on Westwood Tennis Center for their racquet stringing needs.  The Sooner’s have trusted Westwood with a heavy load of racquets over the years but that load might change with the addition of a stringing machine acquired for use at the men’s and women’s tennis practice facility on campus.

Marc Claude Head Professional of Westwood Tennis Center says that with the addition of the racquet stringer Westwood’s load of racquets for OU will lessen quite a bit but not diminish completely.  In addition to stringing racquets for OU, Westwood strings for the public as well.  In years past with many racquets to string for the sports teams Westwood implemented a two business days stringing policy for the public while the OU teams were given priority of being done the next day.  “I remember having thirty racquets to string for OU in one day, and we had 80 to string in three days when OU hosted NCAA’s two years ago, said Claude.  It’s tough on the fingers,” Claude added with a smile.  With fewer racquets to string for OU, Claude expects more business to open up to the public.

Westwood’s busiest days are before tennis tournaments, says Westwood Shop Attendant Ben Henwood.  Competitive tennis players like the men and women who play for OU, must be able to perform at a high level when called upon in tournament play.  Having racquets at the proper tension is an important step in preparation.  “We get most of our racquets from the tennis team’s before a tournament,” Henwood said.  Even though Westwood will be less involved with OU now than in previous years, Henwood believes that Westwood’s affiliation with OU does bring in business and will continue to in the future.  Westwood Tennis Staff Instructor Alex Sanchez agreed with Henwood and is happy that Westwood will continue a relationship with OU tennis.  The relationship with OU tennis is a neat deal and a good image for Westwood.  The people that know Westwood know Westwood’s a relaxed atmosphere, with good and hard working people,” said Sanchez. 

           

Blog 1

Chris Fotopoulos

Definitions of Marriage

Sept. 9, 2011 Lecture

Gay Activist Shares Contrasting Views on  

“The Definition of Marriage”

Story by: Chris Fotopoulos

     Gay rights activist, John Corvino shared some of society’s contrasting views on “The Definition of Marriage” during a campus lecture September 9 on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman.

     Corvino, a philosophy professor at Wayne State University, pointed out that at the core the debate for or against same sex marriage verses heterosexual marriage ultimately lies in what constitutes the definition of marriage. Corvino went on to explain that there are two definitions up for debate which stem from two views, the Definitional Objective and the New Natural Law (NNL).

     The Definitional Objective states that to use the term “marriage to refer to the same sex unions would in effect replace marriage with a different institution, one that lacks marriages’s essential character which is known as the Conjugal View.  According to Corvino, the conjugal view states that “marriage” is defined as a comprehensive union between a man and a women consummated by reproductive-type acts (coitus) which unites them biologically, and thus personally.

     The New Natural Law states that the definition of marriage shouldn’t

Place emphasis on the “reproductive-type” acts as being sufficient for reproduction. Corvino went on to state that this view is known as the revisionist view. He added that along with this view and the conjugal view are the two main conflicting views on marriage.

     Corvino’s lecture enlightened many on the subject of these two

views, which are at the heart of the same sex marriage debate. When asked

what was the most interesting part about professor’s Corvinos lecturel, sophomore political science major “Amy Slanchik, said “I think it was professor Corvino. He is a very interesting man, trying to make a positive difference in human society.”