Humanism on the Move

The Secular Student Alliance has hired a high school campus organizer, J.T. Eberhard. Eberhard was responsible for the recent Skepticon conference and acted as captain of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster at Missouri State. The organizer position was made possible by a $50,000 grant from the Stiefel Freethought Foundation.

“If you are a high school student reading this and you would like to form a secularism group at your school, you may contact me in my official capacity starting Jan. 3, 2011,” read Eberhard’s weblog. “It will be my job to help you.”

 

STAFF REPORT

December 15, 2010

Secular Student Alliance Hires Campus Organizer

The Secular Student Alliance has hired a high school campus organizer, J.T. Eberhard. Eberhard was responsible for the recent Skepticon conference and acted as captain of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster at Missouri State. The organizer position was made possible by a $50,000 grant from the Stiefel Freethought Foundation.

“If you are a high school student reading this and you would like to form a secularism group at your school, you may contact me in my official capacity starting Jan. 3, 2011,” read Eberhard’s weblog. “It will be my job to help you.”

Creationist Middle School Teacher Case Reaches Settlement

The case of John Freshwater, a Mount Vernon, Ohio middle school teacher accused of burning a cross into a student’s arm and pushing a creationist agenda in the classroom, has reached a settlement agreement. The student and his family were awarded $450,000 for the mental and physical pain suffered at the hands of Freshwater.  The status of Freshwater’s job remains undetermined.

Americans United Pursue Cherokee County Dispute

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has threatened legal action against the Cherokee County School District for failing to relocate the yearly graduation ceremony from a local church. AU requested the change last year and was subsequently told the Cherokee County School District needed an additional year to find a new space. However, this new space has not been obtained.  

In a phone interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, AU Executive Director Barry W. Lynn said that if Cherokee County fails to change the ceremony’s location, “We would have to take that very seriously.” 

Secular Student Alliance to Hold 2011 Leadership Summit

The Secular Student Alliance will hold their 2011 Southern California Leadership Summit February 18-20. The event will be hosted by the Secular Student Alliance at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. 

“This weekend session is a great opportunity for student leaders to fine-tune their group-running skills,” read the Secular Student Alliance website, “meet other leaders from the area, network with local off-campus organizations, and have a great time!”

Register here.