Non-religious students find camaraderie

The Boise State Secular Student Alliance is a new student organization at Boise State University. The purpose of the BSSSA is to establish a home for secular students and to promote free thinking on belief systems and philosophies.
Lloyd Lowe, president of BSSSA, put the organization together last month.

Lowe began his studies at Boise State during the summer semester. Being an atheist himself, and knowing that there were no groups on campus that supported his world-view, Lowe decided to make the BSSSA.

Lowe posted flyers around campus and found agnostic and atheist Boise State students on Facebook two weeks before the fall semester started. The BSSSA attended the Student Organizations Extravaganza Aug. 24 and held a booth on the first day of school with a sign that asked “Outgrown Your Imaginary Friend?”

This was not meant to be controversial, but to gain attention and acknowledge the presence of non-religious students on campus. More than 50 students showed interest during these campaigns.

Contemporary society can often look down on non-religious people. However, under the First Amendment, all Americans have the right to freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. This incorporates that there can be no limitation toward any practice, including being non-religious, and that any group may peaceably assemble.

The BSSSA intends to present a positive view toward atheism, agnosticism, rationalism, secularism, humanism, skepticism and all non-religious world-views to the community. The BSSSA also intends to promote the awareness of such views and help people understand that ethics and morality are common practices to non-religious Boise State students, as well as Boise citizens.

The BSSSA plans to continually educate themselves about different belief systems and philosophies so others may understand their arguments and speak from a position of knowledge. Further, the BSSSA anticipates offering debates, educational workshops, guest speakers, movie showings, open discussions with students of all worldviews and holding social gatherings for all Boise State students and the Boise community. The BSSSA does not intend to sway people from their religion, but to offer a different understanding of the university’s and humanity’s existence.

“Our group’s main goals are to bring together secular students of all types in order to support each other and present a positive view of non-belief to the community. We intend to promote and practice the open, rational and scientific examination of the universe and our place in it, while offering plenty of social gatherings for BSU students and the community,” Lowe said.

The BSSSA wrote their own constitution, compared it with the National Student Secular Alliance and is currently waiting for acceptance as an official organization through Boise State. The BSSSA will hold a meeting Wednesday Sept. 10, from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. in the Boyington Room in the Student Union Building. All Boise State students are invited to this event.

For more information about the BSSSA, e-mail
boisestate@secularstudents.org, or visit secularstudents.org/boisestate. The Website provides link to the BSSSA Facebook page, which has further information.

MAT LA RUE Lead Culture Journalist

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