Introduction

Summer is a busy time! Not only is our conference coming up (you're coming, right?) but recent actions on and off campus have sparked controversy. From student activities drawing images of Muhammad to SSA representatives being invited to the White House - again! - there's always something happening.

Coming Soon: SSA's 2010 Annual Conference!

We're gearing up for our most exciting event of the year: The Secular Student Alliance's 2010 Annual Conference!

This is the largest and most exciting event held by the SSA, when secular students and group leaders from all over the U.S. join together for a weekend of networking, learning, problem-solving, and FUN. The conference is open to all SSA affiliate members and leaders, secular students unaffiliated with a campus group, students interested in starting a group at their campus, and off-campus supporters of the secular student movement.

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SSA Announces 2010 Best Awards Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009-10 Secular Student Alliance Best Awards!

Each year, the SSA gives out five awards to groups that have excelled in particular facets of activism and campus involvement. This year, we had a record number of applicants; we got nearly 30 excellent entries. The awards include a $300 cash prize for each group, and Affiliate of the Year merits $500. The money is to be spent on winning clubs' future events, and the award recipients get a sweet plaque. See who won!

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APSU Students Hold Peaceful Demonstration Against Westboro Baptist Church

On the cold evening of Wednesday, February 3, 2010, students and faculty of Austin Peay State University (APSU) lined up on in front of the campus, located in Clarksville, TN, to hold a demonstration against Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), the fanatical hate group known for its "God hates fags" and "Thank God for IEDs" campaigns. Local residents and students from other universities also joined�”some driving from as far as Nashville (about an hour south of Clarksville). There was no official count, but I estimate that over 200 people participated.
by Luis A. Morán Morales

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A Second Invitation to the White House

It's not every year that I get invited to two White House meetings because of my atheism, but 2010 is already that kind of a year. Last February, the Secular Coalition for America (and its ten member organizations, one of which is the Secular Student Alliance) got a historic invitation to the White House for a policy briefing. Well, on June 7th I was invited back to participate in a 125-person meeting organized through the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (WHOFBNP). The title of the meeting was "Advancing Interfaith and Community Service on College and University Campuses."
by August Brunsman, Executive Director of the Secular Student Alliance

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To Draw or Not to Draw? Why We Must Draw Muhammad

I was among the secular student leaders who organized Muhammad chalking campaigns on three college campuses. While it is true that having a legal right to exercise free speech, even if it offends some people, this legal right is not a sufficient moral justification to exercise so-called "offensive" speech. So, I will explain our motivations, highlight the importance of our actions and clear up some misconceptions about the campaign.

My organization, AHA (Atheists, Humanists, & Agnostics), and the other secular student groups who drew Muhammad caricatures did so for the following reasons:
by Chris Calvey

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To Draw or Not to Draw? Picture This: When We Draw Muhammad, We Draw a Line

Picture this: you're headed to the final exam of your least favorite class. If you're anything like me, you're stressed out and running late. You miraculously get there with a minute to spare and stop to catch your breath. You close your eyes and collect yourself. When you open your eyes you notice something scrawled in chalk at your feet. This isn't just another campus group trying to recruit members; this chalking is a direct affront on your identity and values. Suddenly a final exam doesn't seem like the worst thing in the world.
by Chris Stedman

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Why Be an Activist

I have served for two years as secretary in Students for Freethought (SFF) at Ohio State University, and am currently working as an intern for the Secular Student Alliance (SSA). I feel very strongly about the causes of humanism and secularism, and believe the only way that humanity can continue to advance is through these philosophies. I have decided to work for this cause as best I can and to try to inspire others to do so also.
by Nick Stancato

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2 Groups, 1 Campus

We're encountering a new situation here at the Secular Student Alliance: the situation of more than one SSA affiliate group on one campus. Over the past few years, we've seen a slowly growing contingent of campuses that sport two SSA-affiliated groups. And while there are certainly challenges inherent in having one campus with more than one group, there are also benefits to be had, and some special considerations to keep in mind.

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RSA Founder Reflects on Humanist Conference

Although I have been to American Humanist Association conferences in the past, each time I attend I have a better experience than the time before. That pattern held true as I attended this year's AHA conference in San Jose. After going to the Portland convention in 2007, I have been to three out of the past four AHA conferences. From meeting PZ Myers in Phoenix to bracing for Bill Nye's lecture in San Jose, the AHA's annual convention has allowed me to connect with the biggest names in secular humanism.
by Leslie A. Zukor

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Book Review: Life After Death

Dinesh D'Souza, author of the 2009 book Life After Death: The Evidence, is by no means a believer in the paranormal. He admits to being dubious about it, and chooses to exclude the paranormal from his book altogether. He even includes several sections to dismiss claims about mediums and reincarnation due to the absence of evidence, methodological flaws in specific studies, and the possibility of fraud. Unfortunately, D'Souza does not apply such reasoning to claims of a Christian god or the Christian notions of the afterlife.
by Ait Chapel

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AAI Teaching Opportunity in Kasese, Uganda

The Atheist Alliance International (AAI) is partnering with its affiliate, the Kasese United Humanist Association (KUHA), to provide the opportunity for between 4 and 6 volunteers to spend two to three months this fall, beginning September 1, 2010, in Uganda teaching children ages 6 to 12 years at the Kilembe Valley Humanist Nursery & Primary School. Candidates are not required to have a teaching certificate or degree in education to be considered for this opportunity.

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