Secular Student Alliance: Not an atheist organization and a threat to atheists
When I first learned about the national organization Secular Student Alliance (SSA) around 2014, I automatically assumed its purpose was to provide a space specifically for atheists. Even now its own website notes it is “the only national organization dedicated to atheist, humanist, and other non-theist students.”
I thought that is a good idea. There are clubs for religious students so it makes sense that there is a club for atheist students.
I recently saw Secular Student Alliance make an announcement on Twitter that it is working with Americans United for Separation of Church and State on a case to target religious student clubs on the basis that they discriminate against students.
I asked on SSA’s Twitter isn’t that a threat to SSA since it is a club that discriminates against religious students? SSA responded that it is “inclusive” and actually allows theists to join as members and even has theists on its board, so it would not be penalized.
Then my entire perspective of SSA changed. All this time I thought it was a club for atheist students when it is actually a club for anyone. There are even religious members on its board, meaning its own board does not convey the views of atheists.
As of now there is no official organization for atheist students in the United States.
Further, SSA pursuing this case threatens atheist students from starting a campus club strictly for atheists because requiring members to identify as atheist would be “discriminatory”. Therefore in its effort to target religious clubs it is also targeting atheists.
Atheists should have the right to their own space on college campuses. This case is an absolute disaster and must be dropped.
On a final note, Secular Student Alliance is far from representing atheist students. After observing its social media for many years and attempting to communicate with its organizers, I have determined its purpose is to push left wing policy above all else. It would rather work with left wing theists than showcase the diversity of atheists with differing political views.
On a final note, in 2020, SSA’s executive director Kevin Bolling claimed SSA had invited me to participate in one of their webinars. However, I had never received an email from SSA and they had no proof of email with invitation on file. Even if there were issues with email, I was present on social media where they could have connected with me but didn’t. After noting I never received the email Kevin did not offer a follow up invite to participate.
The reason why I draw attention to Secular Student Alliance is because they are representing a block of people I have been interested in connecting with, atheist students. Now it is clear that SSA is not only disinterested in atheist students but is even working to limit atheist students from starting their own exclusive club.
More of our history with Secular Student Alliance..
March 4, 2019 – “Secular Student Alliance manager calls Republican Atheists ‘a mess’.” Link.
