Religious Campuses panel - SSA 2012 annual conference

I was invited to be one of the four panelists for the 'Religious Campuses' panel at the Secular Student Alliance's 2012 annual conference. I spoke about my experience as an atheist at King's College (the Catholic university I attended for undergraduate studies) and Marywood University (the Catholic university I am currently attending as a graduate student).


In addition to the expected informative nature of this unique panel discussion, many laughs were had by the audience. One of the funniest moments of the panel discussion, at least on my behalf, might have been my recounting an interesting experience [around the 28-minute mark] in which I -- a vegetarian -- objected to the 'hostage situation' concerning King's College dining services facilities locking meat products in coolers during Lent (forbidding employees from preparing and serving meat products apparently was not enough).


This panel was an interesting opportunity for me to speak about something quite different than what I usually address; instead of writing and/or talking about philosophy, church/state issues and activism, and the other 'usual stuff,' I spoke of my experience as an atheist on religious campuses and my attempts to start SSA groups. There isn't too much on this blog about my efforts to start an SSA group at King's College (I should have better documented this) and there are few posts relating to my efforts at Marywood University.

Here's the Youtube description of the panel/video:

SSA Board President [Evan Clark] moderates this panel on the challenges posed to SSA affiliated student groups at religious college campuses. Justin Vacula of Marywood University, Branden King, Harrison Hopkins of Presbyterian College, and Andrew Tripp of DePaul University offer up their own stories and some advice to other students in similar situations.

Questions from moderator and audience (paraphrased)
 (4:18) Why did you attend a religious university?
 (6:15) What inspired you to start a Secular Student Alliance group?
 (8:55) How did you start to form an SSA group? How did your school react?
(16:25) Who have been your biggest allies concerning the formation of your SSA groups?
(22:17) Once your groups were accepted or denied, what was the reaction?
(30:40) What advice do you have for students who want to start SSA groups?
(34:28) How do you find atheistic students to help you form groups?
(36:40) What were the responses of other student groups on campuses?
(40:52) What portion of what you do is currently focused on education and de-conversion? Ideally, what portion of efforts do you think should be focused on education and de-conversion?

Marywood Secular Student Alliance denied, school newspaper publishes article

Marywood University's student newspaper published an article detailing my efforts to start a Secular Student Alliance group at Marywood University.

Marywood denied my motion to start this club.

Click the above picture to read the article in a full-screen mode.

Here is the text of the article:

A new group that has been denied approval as an official club is stirring controversy on campus due to its nature.


The Marywood University Secular Student Alliance (MUSSA), led by Justin Vacula, a first-year mental health counseling graduate student, recently went before Student Activities and Campus Ministry seeking university approval and club status.


According to MUSSA’s Facebook group page, which was launched on January 29, the mission of the alliance is “to provide a community for secular individuals…foster discussion about topics relating to ethics, the separation of church and state, supernatural and paranormal beliefs; work with other local secular groups; and to present a positive and accurate view of secular individuals to the community at large.”


Vacula met with Carl Oliveri, director of student activities and leadership development, and Sr. Catherine Luxner, director of Campus Ministry, to discuss his proposed organization. Vacula said that Oliveri and Luxner denied MUSSA club status for various reasons, the most prominent being that it the club’s mission conflicts with “the Catholic identity of Marywood.”
According to the Student Activities web page, all clubs “must adhere to the Mission Statements of Marywood University… the Center for Student Activities and Leadership Development, [and] the Core Values of Marywood University.” In addition to one of Marywood’s Core Values being “Catholic Identity,” its Mission Statement states that it “challenges students to make decisions based on spiritual, ethical, and religious values.”


However, Vacula argued that the Mission Statement can be interpreted in a way that would support a student organization for atheists.  That part reads:  “Marywood offers…a welcoming and supportive community that encourages men and women of all backgrounds to shape their lives as leaders in service to others.”


He also cited the part of the Catholic Identity Statement, which he argues supports the mission of MUSSA: “The University welcomes people of all religious and humanistic traditions to participate in [open respectful dialogue] so as to arrive at truth.”


Despite the fact that not everyone who attends the university is Catholic or even a follower of any faith, Oliveri said he feels that its religious affiliation sets it apart.


“This is Marywood; it’s a private Catholic institution. It’s a lot different than a public institution or a community college,” said Oliveri.


But, Vacula argued that regardless of its Catholic identity, Marywood is still an institution of higher learning which should be promoting diversity.  “[The administration] should be accepting of a group like this because higher education is about considering ‘big questions,’ encountering foreign ideas, and challenging one’s own beliefs. Being a Catholic campus is all the more reason for a club like this to exist on campus,” said Vacula.


Other clubs, like the Ally Club, an organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning students, have been recognized and funded, though it is well-known that the Catholic church condemns homosexuality.  Vacula cited this club as another reason MUSSA should be granted approval.


Vacula said Oliveri and Luxner also argued that there aren’t many students who would be interested in MUSSA. However, Vacula said that he knows of many secular students on campus. The MUSSA Facebook group had 12 student members at press time, though Vacula said he suspects many more exist but withhold their identity for fear of alienation.


“Negative stereotypes and general misunderstanding exists surrounding secular individuals, so this club would be a good opportunity to correct those stereotypes and misunderstandings. We want to present an accurate depiction of what non-theists are like. Atheists don’t think people who are religious are stupid or misinformed,” Vacula said.


Even though MUSSA has not been approved as of press time, Vacula said he is currently working on tweaking various aspects of the club in order to make it more acceptable to administration and will continue to meet with them.


According to Oliveri, there is still an open and active dialogue between Vacula, student activities and Campus Ministry.  “I’ll always listen to students, but sometimes you have to make decisions that [they] don’t want to hear and that’s just the way it is,” said Oliveri.
Vacula’s plans for MUSSA include holding two-hour bi-weekly meetings with an open discussion. He also plans to invite guest speakers and hold special events such as “Ask an Atheist.” Vacula said that while the group would be primarily for like-minded people, it is open to everyone. “[This group] shouldn’t be seen as a threat, but should be something to embrace.”


Sr. Catherine Luxner declined to comment, citing confidentiality issues.

If you'd like to support my efforts to form a club for secular students, please share this blog post and join the group's Facebook page whether you are a Marywood student or not!

Marywood University Secular Student Alliance

I promised to work to start a secular student group at Marywood University (the school I am now attending for graduate studies). As many of you may or may not know, Marywood University is a Catholic university, so this will be a special challenge of sorts. I have created a Facebook group which all are welcome to join whether they be students or not. Please share the page (and/or this post) in order to garner support and raise awareness of this effort.

From the group's Facebook page:

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Marywood University Secular Student Alliance (MUSSA) is to provide a community for secular individuals* (atheists, agnostics, skeptics, humanists, freethinkers, etc); foster discussion about topics relating to ethics, the separation of church and state, supernatural and paranormal beliefs; work with other local secular groups; and to present a positive and accurate view of secular individuals to the community at large.

Secular individuals are those who do not believe that any supernatural entities exist, but rather are separate from religion and religious belief. In terms of politics/government, those identifying as secularists maintain that governments be neutral in regards to religion; governments should not respect an establishment of religion or be anti-religious.

Why should a group like this exist?:

Marywood University students and staff may be skeptical about a group like this and wonder why secular individuals would want a group at a Catholic university and why a Catholic university should allow such a group to exist. Marywood, according to its mission statement, “roots itself in […] a belief that education empowers people,” “offers students a welcoming and supportive community that encourages men and women of all backgrounds to shape their lives as leaders in service to others,” “challenges students to broaden their understanding of global issues,” “live responsibly in a diverse and interdependent world,” and “respect[s] the value of each human being, for diversity in the context of vibrant community.” Further, its Catholic identity statement notes, “The University welcomes people of all religious and humanistic traditions […] so to as to arrive at truth.”

Secular individuals -- even in a university setting -- are often marginalized, rendered invisible, and stigmatized because of their worldviews. Unfair and damaging stereotypes about secular persons are often perpetuated such as secular persons hate religious people, have no respect for traditions in society, want to ban religion from public life, are immoral and/or completely self-interested, have terrible and lonely lives, do not believe in any gods because of trauma in life, etc. A group like this will provide an outlet for secular individuals and help combat these stereotypes.

What's to come/disclaimer:

This group is not official yet, but documentation will be submitted so that this club can be considered to be official in the next semester.

Flyers, upon approval, will be placed throughout campus to promote this club and find individuals who may be interested in joining.

This group is intended to be an affiliate of the Secular Student Alliance. More information about the Secular Student Alliance can be found at www.secularstudents.org.

- Justin Vacula