Secular Student Alliance: Atheists, Humanists, Agnostics & Others -

Secular Student Alliance eMpirical No. 43: Many Meetings

8-March-2010

March 10, 2010

In this issue:

Help! Our Flyers Keep Getting Torn Down!

4-March-2010

A vandalized flyer at the University of Chicago, shredded by a key. Others were torn down altogether, had crosses drawn on them, and derogatory comments written in.

I hear from a number of affiliates each semester that the flyers they post for meetings or events are being torn down or vandalized. This is an unfortunate and all-too-common problem, and it's a shame that some people can be so threatened by the mere presence of our groups that they feel the need to prevent interested students from participating.

Frustrations aside, we've put together some strategies that your group can try to alleviate or overcome this problem. Some might work better than others, depending on your campus environment and policies, and we're always happy to hear what happens when you try these ideas.

The Secular Student Alliance Interviewed on The Young Turks

28-February-2010

Secular Student Alliance's Communications Director, Jesse Galef, was recently interviewed on the popular and influential talk/internet show The Young Turks. The 7-minute interview covered the controversy sparked by the Secular Coalition for America's policy briefing with the Obama administration and other news of the day.

Watch the interview on The Young Turks' Channel.

Release: Controversy Ignited by Atheist Students and Leaders’ Participation in White House Briefing

28-February-2010

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jesse Galef (614) 441-9588 - Jesse [at] secularstudents [dot] org

March, 1 2010

Columbus, Ohio - In the first meeting of its kind, representatives from the Secular Student Alliance and atheist leaders from around the country met in Washington, DC for the Secular Coalition for America's Briefing with the Obama Administration. Over 60 people, sent as delegates of national and local nontheistic organizations from around the country, congregated in the nation’s capital to engage with administration officials on issues concerning the nontheistic community.

IFYC Accepting Applications for The Fellows Alliance

28-February-2010

The Fellows Alliance is a year-long paid fellowship program by Interfaith Youth Core. It is open to current undergraduates who are committed to organizing interfaith activities and making interfaith cooperation a social norm on their campus. IFYC provides mentorship, a stipend, skill-based trainings, a network of peer colleagues, an alumni network, access to a national network of interfaith organizers and partner organizations, and professional development opportunities.

This Week: Spring 2010 Affiliation Renewal

27-February-2010

This Week:
Spring Affiliation Renewal

Renew Your Group's Affiliation with the Secular Student Alliance

New Leader?
No Longer a Leader?
Let us Know!

Support the SSA

It's time for the Secular Student Alliance's Spring 2010 Affiliation Renewal! This is the semiannual survey which we administer to all our student groups in order to make sure you're still alive, see what you've been up to, and find out how we have (or haven't) been able to help.

Every SSA affiliate group is required to complete the Affiliation Renewal in order to remain affiliated with the SSA. (Even if you just affiliated last week!) If I do not receive a renewal form from your group, I will be contacting you to find out what happened! But you can save us both the game of phone tag if you just take the time this week to complete the form.

Review: SSA's 2010 Northern California Leadership Summit

27-February-2010

Jason Cooperrider, president of SHIFT at the University of Utah

by Jason Cooperrider

This past February, I had the pleasure of attending the Secular Student Alliance's Northern California Leadership Summit at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. It was my honor to represent SHIFT (Secular Humanism, Inquiry and Freethought), the secular student group at the University of Utah, as its president and co-founder.

Openings for the SSA Board of Directors

21-February-2010

The Secular Student Alliance is looking for dedicated leaders who would like to run for positions on the SSA's Board of Directors! The SSA is a democratic organization and all SSA members are eligible to run for a position on the Board of Directors. Elections take place this May, and board terms are two years long.

Board members are responsible for setting goals and policy for the organization, fundraising, reviewing progress, and promoting SSA. All Board members are expected to participate in fundraising. We are happy to train you to do this, but you must be willing.

This Week: Get Ready to Renew!

13-February-2010

	This Week: Get Ready to Renew!
Affiliation Renewal Preview

Atheist Students and Leaders Participate in White House Briefing

8-February-2010

This story originally appeared on Unreasonable Faith on March 1, 2010. Used here with permission.

By Jesse Galef

The atheist movement made a big step last Friday when the Secular Coalition for America arranged a policy briefing with White House officials. A delegation of about 60 nontheists convened in the nation's capital to engage with the administration. I can't repeat what the administration said – these meetings are held off the record – but I can say that I've never felt more proud and optimistic about the political status of atheists.

Secular Student Alliance New England Leadership Summit

1-February-2010

The Secular Student Alliance is proud to announce its New England Leadership Summit, to be held April 16-18, 2010. The summit will be hosted at Harvard University in Boston, MA. This weekend session is a great opportunity for student leaders to fine-tune their group-running skills, meet other leaders from the area, network with local off-campus organizations, and have a great time!

We're excited to be holding this event in conjunction with the Harvard Humanist Chaplaincy's award ceremony for the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism, being presented this year to the MythBusters. Join us for the award ceremony at a special discounted rate of only $8 when you register through the New England Leadership Summit.

Get Information On:
          Registration
          Housing
          Travel Grants
          Program & Schedule
          MythBusters on Humanism
          Advertising

Registration

Secular Student Alliance offers student registration & travel grants for 2010 American Atheists' convention

30-January-2010

UPDATE: The deadline for travel grants has passed.

The Secular Student Alliance is proud to be partnering with American Atheists by providing student registration for their 2010 convention in Newark, New Jersey April 2-4th, 2010.

Student registration is $75 for full-time students who are members of the Secular Student Alliance ($10/year). Join now! This is different from being a member of a Secular Student Alliance affiliate group. Register now!

Secular Student Alliance Announces New England Leadership Summit

27-January-2010

The Secular Student Alliance is excited to announce the dates and location for the 2010 New England Leadership Summit! We'll be gathering for this three-day event at Harvard University from April 16-18, 2010!

The SSA Leadership Summits are a gathering of student leaders, active volunteers, and off-campus supporters from an entire region. Events include inspiring keynote presentations, training sessions from leaders of the freethought movement, how-to presentations from your fellow student leaders, and hands-on best practices from SSA staff. It's a great opportunity to network with student leaders in your area and get some face time with the SSA staff.

Debate on God Attracts Hundreds of Students

26-January-2010

This story originally appeared in The Gateway, the official student newspaper at the University of Alberta, on 2/2/2010, and is used by permission. Article by Dan McKechnie.

CALL TO RATIONALITY Pigliucci argues on the Horowitz stage last Thursday. Photo by Dan McKechnie

The Myer Horowitz Theatre was host to a centuries-old debate on January 28, as "Does God Exist II" was presented by the University of Alberta Atheist and Agnostic Society and the U of A chapter of Campus for Christ.

Nearly 600 students packed the theatre, eager to hear the discussion about the nature of morality. The debate asked if morality needed to originate from a god, or some other outside organizing force.

On the “no” side was Massimo Pigliucci, the chair of philosophy at Lehman College, part of the City University of New York. He was contracted through the Student Secular Alliance. Pigluicci has published a number of books discussing creationism, rationalism, and evolution.

Arguing for “yes,” Michael Horner is an anthropologist who tours Canadian campuses to “promote and defend Christianity,” according to his website. He is affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ, Campus for Christ's governing body. Horner is the author of a number of articles relating to Christian philosophy.

Secular Student Alliance eMpirical No. 42: Don't Panic! The SSA Breaks 200 Affiliates!

26-January-2010

February 2, 2010

In this issue:

Save yourself some clicking and read the all-on-one-page version of this month's eMpirical.