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Diversity Series lecture addresses same-sex marriage |
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Written by Macey Matthews, Staff Writer
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“Gays are becoming less like demons and monsters and more like hippies and Mormons,” said Richard Mohr on Tuesday, Nov. 6, to a packed audience in the Vieve Gore Concert Hall.
Mohr, professor of philosophy and of the classics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, spoke as part of this year’s KeyBank Diversity Lecture Series. The theme for the 2007–08 series is “Questions, Conflicts and Tensions” — concepts that Mohr is familiar with.
His lecture, “A Gay and Straight Agenda,” focused on same-sex marriage, which is also the subject of his book “The Long Arc of Justice: Lesbian and Gay Marriage, Equality and Rights.” Mohr tracked the changes Americans have undergone in terms of gays and lesbians, gave an analysis and definition of marriage and suggested how he thought same-sex marriage could be addressed in the future.
According to Mohr, gays and lesbians are making great progress and being “part of the social landscape.” He gave examples of “Will and Grace,” “The L Word,” and the coming out of Ellen DeGeneres as ways that homosexuals are being integrated and accepted in the media. “Being gay isn’t an embarrassment, it’s news,” said Mohr.
Mohr quoted the official definition of marriage as “the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife.” To Mohr, marriage mixes necessity with intimacy. Ideally, he said, there would be no terms “husband” or “wife,” only “applicant one” and “applicant two.”
The lecture was followed by a question and answer session in which many audience members participated. The controversial topic brought questions about everything from future predictions for America and gay marriage to polygamy and homophobia.
“I was very happy with the question and answer session,” said Mohr following the lecture. “There was great participation.”
The reaction from the audience appeared similar. “I loved it,” said Westminster junior Quayle Chew. “We need more strong voices from the silent community. And the idea of an ‘applicant one, applicant two’ really gives me hope for the future.”
Sophomore Amanda Ruiz believed the lecture was valuable. “I liked the fact that it was a logical discussion,” she said. “A lot of times when you are discussing a topic like this, you see an appeal from emotion. He backed up his ideas very well.”
Jasmine Callister, another Westminster student, said she found the lecture both informative and amusing. “I liked how his definition of marriage was one that was broad and was able to include everyone.”
Mohr spent four days on the Westminster campus, and in addition to the lecture, also visited two of Associate Professor and Diversity Council member Bridget Newell’s philosophy classes. “Since they had read my book, they really pelted me with questions,” said Mohr. “I really enjoyed my time on campus.”
“The phrase ‘gay marriage’ has become much less shocking,” said Mohr. He recognizes the changes and the progress that has already been made, but believes there is still a long road ahead. The third part of the KeyBank Diversity Lecture series is titled “Protecting Our Borders” and will take place in the Gore Auditorium on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. |
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New science building requires additional funding |
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Written by Wesley Jarman, Staff Writer
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Between the old yellow and red brick buildings that are Foster Hall and Converse Hall will stand Westminster’s new science center, constructed with innovative materials and housing an entire floor devoted to research laboratories. But plans may be suspended if there isn’t enough money.
In an interview, Vice President of Finance and Administration Curtis Ryan stood at the side of his desk overlooking an illustrative plan of Westminster’s campus from 2000. The illustrations once acted as a guide to where the science center could conceivably be constructed. The illustration showed the science center being constructed over what is now the outdoor sports court and the parking lot located between the court and Payne Gymnasium. Then the spot-holder of the science center was just an idea, now the spot is secured. When built, the science center will be constructed directly over the sports court.
In January 2006, a press release issued through Westminster highlighting a $10 million donation from Ginger and John Giovale described the science center’s $30 million budget in brief detail. The donation was the largest gift in Westminster history.
During the same interview, Ryan explained that $8 million of the Giovale donation will be directed toward construction of the science center and the remaining $2 million will be directed toward an endowed chair for the sciences.
From the press release, Ginger Giovale was quoted as saying, “I have always believed that a good education cannot only have a positive influence in transforming an individual’s life, but also the country and, indeed, the world. This gift is only made possible by the creative work of W.L. Gore associates worldwide, many of whom have received just such an education.”
On Nov. 1, a group of men, including Westminster’s Managing Director of Plant and Facilities Richard Brockmyer, walked around the site and appeared to be measuring the area. It looked as though the men were initializing some of the first steps toward construction of the science center’s detailed plan. The construction and groundbreaking, though tentative, is set for “May or June of 2008,” said Ryan.
There are a few things that need to take place before groundbreaking begins. “Our ability to build the science building depends on coordination and funds. We have to plan the building with our fundraising for this project … we don’t want our documents to go stale,” said Ryan.
Even though there is still money left to be raised, Ryan is optimistic. “This is such a hot thing, money is being raised daily,” he said. The exact amount remaining could not be provided before press time.
Westminster junior and chemistry major Vanessa Romero didn’t know where exactly the science center would be built. “I thought it was going to be constructed over the [Payne] gymnasium,” she said. No matter where it will be constructed, Romero acknowledged a new science building is necessary. “Just look at what we have now. We [science majors] all know we need a new one.”
The current buildings, Malouf Hall and the Dick Science Building, are becoming too crowded for students. “Some things we have to share, like with our lab partners, but there are times when we also have to share equipment,” said Romero.
Another person who knows the importance of a new science building is Paul Hooker, associate professor of chemistry. In January 2005, The Forum reported Hooker as saying, “[The science building] is an innovative building which will service science students well into the future.”
Like Romero, many science majors will graduate and move on to new schools or careers before the science center will be completed. But Ryan said that there is still a possibility to use the facilities long after graduation. “Science classes can be audited just like other classes,” he said. |
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