Students encouraged to mark “No Religion”
// July 18th, 2011 // No Comments » // Media Release
The Freethought University Alliance will be working together with the Atheist Foundation of Australia and the Rationalist Society of Australia to encourage University students to mark “No Religion” on the 2011 Census, if they are not religious.
For many young people, the next Census will be their first, and thus it is crucial to provide useful information as to how to correctly complete the census, and also inform about how the data is used, particularly the optional question on religion.
The Freethought University Alliance will be coordinating efforts across its 23 affiliated campus groups, providing literature, posters and stickers to be dispensed during mid-year orientation carnivals and festivals over the next few weeks.
The campaign’s focus will include:
- that marking the religion of your parents or that of the school you attended when you are not actually religious can lead to inflated figures for religion.
- that conservative religious lobby groups use census data to hold an uneven influence over political parties, and have contributed to the lack of progress on some social issues including gay marriage, euthanasia and abortion, as well as the funding of education.
More information can be found at http://censusnoreligion.org
Join the 15,000+ strong “Mark No Religion” Facebook event
To get a free “Mark No Religion” Census pack sent to your campus group, please email jasonball@freethoughtalliance.org.au
For media contact: 0407781406.
Student Spotlight: OJ Lesslar
// May 14th, 2011 // No Comments » // Student Spotlight
My journey began in late 2009. In first-year medical school I became friends with Ingrid, an exchange student from Norway, and it wasn’t long before we discovered a similar passion; a passion for Dawkins.
I had previously sealed the deal on my journey to atheism with The God Delusion. The process from hardcore Catholic to Sunday Christian to agnostic to atheist had taken a good ten years. It had been a part-time job but I collected my pay in full at the end, and I was free of the shackles of guilt, superstition and ignorance. I had to forge my own path now, after all, if bad things happened to me, I had to step up to the plate, take ownership and orchestrate my own salvation/escape plan!
I’d always been a general big-mouth – public speaking champion, debating captain, school politician, even stand-up comic… so it was a win for the side of reason when I jumped fence, if I do say so myself. Ingrid is from secular Norway and hadn’t grown up with any religious influences, so was surprised that atheism was a “movement” and not the norm. She is a reddit fan and cheeky hoarder of irreverent internet posters that satire religion and the status quo, and she has also amassed a winning collection of ‘fail’ cartoons! Ingrid’s undergraduate degree is in biomed and she is a rare breed of scientist, skeptic and hot babe – the devil likes p-values!
Continue Reading
There’s more than one Kylie touring the country…
// May 10th, 2011 // 4 Comments » // Events
click to enlarge
Kylie Sturgess is an award-winning blogger and independent podcast host of The Token Skeptic Podcast. A Philosophy and Religious Education teacher with over ten years experience in education, Kylie has lectured on teaching critical thinking, feminism, new media and anomalistic beliefs worldwide. She is a Member of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Education Advisory Panel and regularly writes editorial for numerous publications, and has spoken at The Amazing Meeting Las Vegas, Dragon*Con (US), QED Con (UK) and was the MC for the 2010 Global Atheist Convention.
The Freethought University Alliance are proud to be coordinating Kylie’s Victorian Tour. You’ll find her on campuses across Melbourne as well at the new Melbourne Skeptics in the Pub. Check out the listings below to find your nearest free event. Each talk has it’s own Facebook event, so make sure your RSVP and invite your friends to come along too:
Thursday 12th May: University of Melbourne Secular Society
“Fleeced – The Rise And Fall of a Aries’ Belief In Astrology”
1:00pm Harold White Lecture Theatre – Arts Centre, University of Melbourne
Facebook RSVP
Friday 13th May: Rationalist Association of Monash
“Very Superstitious – From Crossing Fingers To Friday The Thirteenth”
6:30pm, R1 Rotunda, Monash University
Facebook RSVP
Monday 16th May: RMIT Secular Society
“Feminine Intuition, Pseudoscience And How To Be More ‘Skep-chic’”
2:30pm, University Function Room, Building 8 Level 2, RMIT
Facebook RSVP
Monday 16th May: Melbourne Skeptics in the Pub
“Skeptical Books With Embiggen – feat. Warren Bonnett & Kylie Sturgess”
6:30pm, Mt View Hotel, 70 Bridge Rd, Richmond
Facebook RSVP
New freethought clubs formed on Australian campuses
// October 29th, 2010 // No Comments » // Announcement
The Freethought University Alliance is pleased to welcome and affiliate a number of new clubs that have formed on campuses around Australia over the past few months.
Since the Alliance’s Inaugural General Meeting earlier this year, elected conveners from each state have been busy working behind the scenes to recruit students and affiliate clubs on new campuses, to give a voice to young Australian atheists, skeptics and humanists who want to promote science, reason and secular values.
The Rationalist Association of Monash (RAM) in Victoria will be headed by President Aaron Henriques and Vice President Alastair Tait. “We grew to nearly 100 members within a week of our official launch. Though we are still a small club, we expect to grow a lot more next year, and stand up at Monash University as banner for atheists, humanists and skeptics to unite under” said Henriques.
In Western Australia, Matt Jacob was elected President of the newly formed University of WA Humanist Association. “We only have a number of members for the moment but we’re growing” said Matt. “We recently hosted Guy Curtis, lead WA Senate Candidate from the Secular Party of Australia, who spoke about the current state of secularism in Australian politics. It was a great event.”
In Queensland, a new sub-group that will break off from an existing Philosophy Club called BURST (Bond University Rationalists, Skeptics and Thinkers) will be led by Olivia Lesslar and Ingrid Skiaker. Also in Queensland, the hard work of Jayson Cooke has seen the Griffith University Skeptics and Freethinkers expand to two more campuses, Nathan and Mt Gravvatt in Brisbane as well as the Gold Coast campus.
To get in touch with any of these clubs, please visit the Groups & Societies listing on the Freethought University Alliance website.
Jason Ball
President – Freethought University Alliance
jasonball@freethoughtalliance.org.au | 0407781406
A call out for secular voters to enroll
// July 15th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE
The Freethought University Alliance, a coalition of over twenty University groups around Australia, is calling on youth atheists, skeptics and humanists to enroll to vote before it is too late.
Under the current rules, the electoral roll could close at 8pm on the same day that an election is called. This means that there may only be a couple of hours for unregistered voters to enroll once an election is called.
The AEC reports that 70 per cent of voters missing from the roll are aged 18-39. Further, a recent survey revealed that more than half of generation Y identify as atheist, agnostic or non-religious.
“There are a number of issues that the citizens of Australia who are motivated by reason will be focused on in this up-coming election” said Jason Ball, President of the Alliance.
“A secular education system, which caters for all students equally regardless of a religious belief, should be central to any education policy in our multicultural, multi-faith society” said Ball. “Reforming the National School Chaplaincy Program, and addressing the exclusion caused by scripture taught in public schools, will be paramount for secular voters”
The Alliance is also calling on all political parties to clearly outline their positions on other issues ranging from prayers in parliament, the tax-exempt status of religious organisations regarding their public benefit, gay marriage and reform for abortion and euthanasia laws.
“For too long, the Australian Christian Lobby has held a disproportionate influence on our major political parties” said Ball. “The time has come for the majority of Australians who believe in secularism, inclusiveness and tolerance to take a stand and make their vote count.”
Click here to enroll with the AEC.
TAM Australia
// June 19th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Announcement
The Amazing Meeting, or “TAM” is the biggest get-together in the skeptical universe, and in November 2010, TAM comes to Sydney, Australia!
The Freethought University Alliance is rounding up as many skeptical student leaders as possible to attend this fantastic event, with international speakers including James Randi, Simon Singh, Eugenie Scott, George Hrab, Brain Dunning and the entire cast of the Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast!
Early bird registration is now open, and will be available until July 4th – but hurry as these tickets are limited and are selling fast!
A number of great initiatives have been announced by TAM organisers, to help students attend the event, such as:
-$280 discount early bird price. Half can be paid at registration and the remainder must be paid by September 1st. To be eligible for an early bird ticket you must be a subscriber to the Australian Skeptic magazine ($44 hard copy or $22 digital) or be a member of the JREF (US$25).
- $150 reimbursement. Students who register for an early bird ticket can submit an application for $150 reimbursement. Submissions will be accepted soon via the TAM website, and will be judged on merit and special cases. Only x10 available.
- Accommodation Billeting. Come July, students will be able to register to be billeted up with a local TAM attendee, to help save on accommodation costs. All students based in Sydney, please consider registering as a host! Places are subject to availability.
So what are you waiting for? REGISTER NOW!
Freethought University Alliance featured in new look Australian Rationalist journal
// June 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Media Release
The Australian Rationalist, the journal of the Rationalist Society of Australia, has been publishing articles promoting rational thought for over 41 years. Editor Kevin Childs invited Jason Ball, President of the Freethought University Alliance, to be the guest editor for a revamped edition, which includes a new-look design, a cover story on the rise of Generation Y freethinkers and contributions from several younger writers.
The Freethought University Alliance, together with the Rationalist Society of Australia, is proud to offer 10 free copies of the journal to each affiliated university club or society. We hope that students will be encouraged to get a copy of the journal for themselves, which is available at any of these locations, or consider joining the Rationalist Society of Australia, which costs only $25 (concession) and includes a one year subscription to the journal, which is published quarterly.
If you would like to request free copies of The Australian Rationalist for your club or society, please send your name, personal address and club/society name to scottsharrad@freethoughtalliance.org.au by Wednesday 9 June.
Launch event a success
// March 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE
The new Freethought University Alliance, a coalition of atheist, skeptic, humanist and secular campus groups in Australia, was successfully launched at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne last weekend.
Over 100 students attended the event from 20 different universities from around Australia.
Jason Ball, 22-year-old Arts undergraduate from the University of Melbourne, was elected as President and Victorian State Convener, while Scott Sharrad from Adelaide University was elected for the position of General Secretary and South Australian State Convener.
“It’s my hope that by forming this alliance we’ll be able to work together as a coherent student movement dedicated to promoting science, reason and secular values on our campuses and also in the wider community” said Ball.
Other State Conveners elected included Alex Holmes (ACT), Charo Serventy (NSW), Matt Jacob (WA), Jonothan Meddings (QLD) and Jeremy O’Wheel (TAS)
The Alliance will aim to foster networking between the leaders of the campus groups, allowing them to share ideas to increase their impact and membership base, and to assist students forming new groups.
The launch event was covered by The Age in ‘Atheist Convention’s first secular success‘ (13/03/10) written by religious editor Barney Zwartz.
PZ Myers (left) with some of the freethought student leaders at the launch event (left to right) Jason Ball (University of Melbourne), Emily Vicendese (La Trobe University), Alastair Tait (Monash University), Scott Sharrad (Adelaide University), Callum Tyler (RMIT), Brett Edman (University of Newcastle).
Freethought University Alliance to be launched at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention
// March 1st, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE
The Freethought University Alliance, a coalition of atheist, humanist, secular and skeptic campus groups from universities across Australia, will be launched at The Rise of Atheism, 2010 Global Atheist Convention.
The Alliance will connect student leaders and help them work together and grow as a collective student movement dedicated to furthering science, reason and secular values in Australian society. The Alliance will provide students with useful advice, resources and networking opportunities, and also support students planning to start new aligned groups on university campuses.
The 2010 Global Atheist Convention is pleased to be sponsoring the launch event of the Freethought University Alliance, to be held at 12:30PM on Friday 12 March 2010 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Special guest PZ Myers, famous atheist and science blogger, will be a guest speaker at the event, which is open exclusively to university students and includes a free lunch.
To register, send an email to jason@umss.org with your name, university and student number.
Places are strictly limited and are filling fast.
Dan Barker’s Australian tour
// March 1st, 2010 // 4 Comments » // Events
Dan Barker is co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and author of Godless: How An Evangelical Preacher Became One of America’s Leading Atheists (2008) and Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist (1992).
Dan became a teenage evangelist at age 15. At 16 he was choir librarian for faith-healer Kathryn Kuhlman’s Los Angeles appearances. He received a degree in Religion from Azusa Pacific University and was ordained to the ministry by the Standard Community Church, California, in 1975. He served as associate pastor at a Friend’s (Quaker) Church, an Assembly of God, and an independent Charismatic church. Dan was a Protestant missionary in Mexico for a total of two years.
See below for his complete Australian tour schedule:
THURSDAY 11th MARCH
10.30am – 12.30pm: Debate at Macquarie University
Cardinal George Pell vs Dan Barker: “Without God we are nothing”
7.30pm – 9.30pm: Dinner/Talk in Bundeena, NSW
“Godless: From evangelical preacher to atheist”
SUNDAY 14th MARCH
Lecture at Global Atheist Convention, Melbourne
“Godless: From evangelical preacher to atheist”
MONDAY 15th MARCH
12noon – 1pm: Lecture at Australian National University
“Should government and religion be strictly separate?”
5.30pm – 7.30pm: Debate at University of Wollongong
Dr Greg Clarke vs Dan Barker: “Is Christianity the one true faith?”
TUESDAY 16th MARCH
11.30am – 1.30pm: Debate at Macquarie University
Dr Greg Clarke vs Dan Barker: “Is the Bible an acceptable guide for morality?”
4.30pm – 6.30pm: Debate at Macquarie University
Dr Chris Forbes vs Dan Barker: “Jesus of Nazareth: messiah or myth/legend”