Post by AuntieSocial on Apr 30, 2004 18:55:32 GMT -5
Atheist group aims for affiliation
Click here to read the article on the original site
by Brent Kennedy
Publication: The Towerlight Online – “Baltimore’s #1 College Paper”
Publication Date: April 29, 2004
Towson University offers more than 15 religious groups for students. If sophomore deaf studies major Ben Carlton has his way, that list will expand early next fall with the addition of an atheist/agnostic association.
Carlton, who was recently elected secretary for the College Democrats, got serious about starting the club in late March when he became aware of an atheist organization at the University of Maryland.
“Seeing the group at College Park made me realize that there really aren’t enough outlets and resources for atheist students on Towson’s campus, and a group like this would at least start to address the problem,” Carlton said. “I, for one, have been frustrated that every denomination of every religion has their own club, while the atheist/agnostic student population doesn’t have any organized place for interaction with people of common beliefs.”
In order to gain recognition and respect on campus, Carlton has spent the last few weeks trying to meet Student Government Association guidelines so the club can gain affiliation.
With a few exceptions, the SGA isn’t traditionally involved with religious organizations, mostly because the groups choose to go through Campus Ministries instead.
However, SGA members realize the nature of an atheist group makes this situation different.
“I can tell you that this is going to definitely be a controversial issue that the senate is going to sit down and discuss next fall,” SGA Vice President-elect Darcy Accardi said.
Accardi compared the possible campus reaction to the recent publicity of the Queer Student Union’s name change. The controversy brought opposition from several religious groups to the forefront.
“Religious groups we aren’t supposed to fund because we aren’t a religious school, so the most we could do with such a group would be to affiliate them. Even then I can see this creating a stir, much like the Queer Student Union did,” Accardi said.
Alpha Nu Omega Beta Chapter President Tiffany Moore agreed an atheist group would likely elicit a similar response.
“When I think of an atheist group I think of more hatred than love and I don’t think that’s something the school should be associated with,” Moore said. “An association like this promotes more discord than unity, which goes against everything the religious organizations on campus have been striving for. Christians should use this as a great opportunity to preach who God is and what he can do for our community and for atheists.”
One of the atheist group’s prospective members, sophomore Liz Femiano, said it is because of that same kind of hostility that a group like this hasn’t started up in the past.
“I think it’s a natural tendency for people to be angered when you oppose their religious beliefs and atheism is pretty much the only religious belief that opposes every religion,” Femiano said. “I would just hope that they would treat us like any other religious group and although they disagree with our views, still respect us.”
Carlton said he hopes to get all his paperwork in before the end of the semester so the SGA can review his constitution and then vote on it during one of their first meetings in the fall.
“I have been acquiring the necessary paperwork, found a faculty adviser and received commitments from over a dozen students to participate if things get going,” Carlton said. “There is a lot more that goes into this than I originally thought, but I am prepared to do whatever it takes at this point because I think it’s a worthwhile club.”
For more information e-mail Carlton at TowsonAthiest@aol.com
Click here to read the article on the original site
by Brent Kennedy
Publication: The Towerlight Online – “Baltimore’s #1 College Paper”
Publication Date: April 29, 2004
Towson University offers more than 15 religious groups for students. If sophomore deaf studies major Ben Carlton has his way, that list will expand early next fall with the addition of an atheist/agnostic association.
Carlton, who was recently elected secretary for the College Democrats, got serious about starting the club in late March when he became aware of an atheist organization at the University of Maryland.
“Seeing the group at College Park made me realize that there really aren’t enough outlets and resources for atheist students on Towson’s campus, and a group like this would at least start to address the problem,” Carlton said. “I, for one, have been frustrated that every denomination of every religion has their own club, while the atheist/agnostic student population doesn’t have any organized place for interaction with people of common beliefs.”
In order to gain recognition and respect on campus, Carlton has spent the last few weeks trying to meet Student Government Association guidelines so the club can gain affiliation.
With a few exceptions, the SGA isn’t traditionally involved with religious organizations, mostly because the groups choose to go through Campus Ministries instead.
However, SGA members realize the nature of an atheist group makes this situation different.
“I can tell you that this is going to definitely be a controversial issue that the senate is going to sit down and discuss next fall,” SGA Vice President-elect Darcy Accardi said.
Accardi compared the possible campus reaction to the recent publicity of the Queer Student Union’s name change. The controversy brought opposition from several religious groups to the forefront.
“Religious groups we aren’t supposed to fund because we aren’t a religious school, so the most we could do with such a group would be to affiliate them. Even then I can see this creating a stir, much like the Queer Student Union did,” Accardi said.
Alpha Nu Omega Beta Chapter President Tiffany Moore agreed an atheist group would likely elicit a similar response.
“When I think of an atheist group I think of more hatred than love and I don’t think that’s something the school should be associated with,” Moore said. “An association like this promotes more discord than unity, which goes against everything the religious organizations on campus have been striving for. Christians should use this as a great opportunity to preach who God is and what he can do for our community and for atheists.”
One of the atheist group’s prospective members, sophomore Liz Femiano, said it is because of that same kind of hostility that a group like this hasn’t started up in the past.
“I think it’s a natural tendency for people to be angered when you oppose their religious beliefs and atheism is pretty much the only religious belief that opposes every religion,” Femiano said. “I would just hope that they would treat us like any other religious group and although they disagree with our views, still respect us.”
Carlton said he hopes to get all his paperwork in before the end of the semester so the SGA can review his constitution and then vote on it during one of their first meetings in the fall.
“I have been acquiring the necessary paperwork, found a faculty adviser and received commitments from over a dozen students to participate if things get going,” Carlton said. “There is a lot more that goes into this than I originally thought, but I am prepared to do whatever it takes at this point because I think it’s a worthwhile club.”
For more information e-mail Carlton at TowsonAthiest@aol.com
