The SSA Conference is coming up fast! In less than two months we're going be at E Pluribus Unum: Reclaiming Humanist Values. This event will simultaneously be the 67th annual conference of the American Humanist Association, the 17th World Congress of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, and the 8th annual conference of the Secular Student Alliance.

The travel grant deadline has been extended to Monday.  So apply today!

Once more, high school senior Matthew LaClair, now beginning a term on the SSA board of directors, has attracted the attention of national media by challenging some aspect of his public school education. Last time, it was the blatant proselytizing by his history teacher. This time, he's challenging his standard-issue textbook.

By the way, Matthew will be speaking at the 2008 Secular Student Alliance conference.

Every year, American Atheists holds a scholarship competition. This year's top prize winner is none but our own board secretary Becky Robinson! Congratulations!

What happens when legislators persecute atheists? What happens when the persecuted atheist starts drawing overly broad parallels? It's pretty complicated in Illinois, but there's a lot to be learned as well. By Elizabeth R.A. Liddell

A bill for funding for the Atheist Student Alliance was passed after heavy debate during Tuesday's SG Senate meeting, after senators said the group was immoral and had requested too much money. By Candace Kaw, staff writer for The Oracle

Schempp was the main student involved in the 1963 Abington School District v. Schempp Supreme Court case which declared school-sanctioned Bible reading unconstitutional. He spoke Thursday in the University Center Red River Room to tell the University of Texas-Arlington community about his experience. Article by Jhericca Johnson, staff writer for The Shorthorn.

As we did last year, the Freethinkers of the University of Texas at Arlington planned an all-day Darwin Day event on February 12th, the 199th birthday of Charles Darwin. We hoped to spread awareness of science and education, mixed in with some political activism and good old celebration with birthday cake! By Becky Robinson

Phil Ferguson is one of the newest members of the Secular Student Alliance's Board of Directors. On March 11, he was able to take advantage of the chance to see Richard Dawkins speak in Madison, Wisconsin. By Phil Ferguson

In the last week of March, American Public Media's program Speaking of Faith featured Harvard University's Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein and humanism. The program is available online and was broadcast on public radio stations nationwide.

As an atheist, Cody Hashman, 21, found the newspaper ad dubious. And enticing. The open mic night promised philosophical discussion centered on a controversial topic: What's wrong with Christianity?
Hosted by a church.
At a bar.

Link leads directly to the WFC Courier.

Does your group’s website get zillions of hits a day? Have you raised $1,000 for children with cancer? Is your club simply superlative when it comes to lectures held, achievements, and fabulous secular fun? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you should submit a Best Award application. By Leslie Zukor

How much do you know about the SSA's Speakers Bureau? Each issue, we spotlight a speaker that the SSA can help bring to your campus. This month's feature is psychiatrist and evolutionary psychologist Andy Thomson.

Did we mention that the SSA is growing like crazy? We'd love to welcome all these newly affiliated member groups!

Kelly of the Rational Response Squad is writing a year-long series to address theist talking heads in the media. Kelly is a Psychology major, co-host of the RRS Radio show, and has been featured on ABC debating Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort. Here, we reprint select articles with permission.

Lori Lipman Brown is Director of the Secular Coalition for America, where she serves as the first Congressional lobbyist representing atheists. She is also a speaker on the SSA's Speaker's Bureau. She writes a weekly blog for The Humanist; we reprint select articles with permission.