Center for Inquiry Student Leadership Conference 2007
Seventy student group leaders from across North America came together at CFI Transnational in Amherst, New York, on June 15-17 for the third annual "Convocation of Centers and Communities for Inquiry," which also featured concurrent sessions on campus freethought activism. It was a busy weekend packed with workshops, presentations, lectures, and social and networking opportunities.
Over 50 institutions were represented at the conference, including students and faculty from Belmont University, Broward Community College, Capella University, Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University, DePaul University College of Law, Fanshawe College, Flagler College, Florida International University, Grand Valley State University, Indiana University/Purdue University - Indiana, James Madison University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Pellissippi State, Portland State University, Ryerson University, Santa Ana College, Southeast Missouri State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, State University of New York at Buffalo, Tennessee Tech, Truman State University, UCLA, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Guelph, University of Missouri - Columbia, University of Montreal, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, University of North Dakota, University of North Texas, University of Oklahoma, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Texas - Arlington, University of Texas - Austin, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Waterloo, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wilfrid Laurier University, and York University.
Attendees left the conference enthusiastic and excited to continue the forward momentum, with many volunteering to work directly with CFI to advance reason and freedom of inquiry at the national and international level. Read on for summaries from four of the conference attendees.
Tyler Handley
Laurier Freethought Alliance
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario
On Friday June 15th at around 4:00 pm, the Southern Ontario student leaders arrived at CFI Transnational Headquarters in Amherst, New York. The conference had started at 3:00 pm. Fortunately, CFI decided to delay starting the program until our large group had arrived. I was thankful for this, until Lauren Becker announced that the campus group leaders would have to brief the conference on their group’s activities. I completely blew mine! Luckily, my seemingly dumb, if not humorous, ideas were reinforced in the first speech of the conference by Colin Koproske [last year’s CFI student intern; now a Marshall scholar on his way to Oxford]. I was saved--not by an almighty god, mind you, but by the grace that is Colin.
During the rest of that evening I came to know the Canadian contingent quite well. We had an instant bond. During the first night we relaxed in the hotel, which I must say was a pleasant accommodation, and discussed everything that falls within the category of atheism. It turned out to be a hodgepodge Canadian campus freethinking mini-conference. I learned a lot that night, but the learning would be even more invigorating the next day.
Saturday morning the lobby of CFI was littered with groggy yet eager students and community leaders from across North America about to embark on a day of learning that I’m sure none of us will ever forget. I was amazed at how probing the questions were, how a remark was always phrased for clarity, how a term was never confused to the point of pointless debate, how others would interrupt to correct an illogical or irrational remark, how debate was to be embraced and not avoided, and how all of this was done with the utmost respect and kindness for one another. I’ve never seen so many people flash reciprocal smiles after a heated debate. To know that the future of the defense of reason, logic, free inquiry, rationality, and secular government rests largely within the hands of many of these bright people gives me great comfort.
The intelligent and surprisingly funny presenters also provided me with a sense of welcoming comfort. I was taken aback at how precisely and coherently they answered questions and how much wit they displayed. Never did I detect a specious comment from them, or from anyone at the conference for that matter.
After the day was done, filled with a surprisingly delicious and diverse array of foods, we traveled back to the hotel for another night of shenanigans. This time the Canadians were joined by dozens of Americans. In one room were people from California, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Ontario, Quebec, Maryland, North Dakota and other locations that I fail to remember vividly enough to note. I will never forget these people and the culture they brought with them. Although we were from very different backgrounds we were all very much the same and this became clear to us all. As atheists, scientific naturalists, humanists, skeptics, and rationalists, we know the virtue of accepting difference as something to be embraced. When the embracing is reciprocal the nights become filled with laughter, kindness, and intelligence. This is why it’s the people that made this conference great. Not just the participants, but the planners, the speakers, and everyone involved. For when the rain of irrationality falls down you can find us all standing under the same intellectual umbrella, working together to make sure those in need have one as well.
Elvia Nidia Gonzalez
Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA
Last semester I toyed with the idea of starting a freethinking club on my community college campus. I had no real way of knowing what the group would focus on or even how to be recognized by my campus so I just put this idea on the back burner for the fall. Late into the spring semester, I finally had the courage (and the support from my peers) to get the ball rolling on a freethinking group at Santa Ana College. The Center for Inquiry was supportive throughout the entire process.
Initially I had emailed them for information about starting a group on my campus. Lauren Becker responded to my email by letting me know about the student leadership conference and recommending I apply for a travel grant. I was approved and fortunate enough to spend a weekend with like-minded students from across the United States and Canada. I never imagined an environment as encouraging, receptive, accepting and fun as the atmosphere that weekend. Even before I arrived, everyone at the Center went out of their way to make sure my experience with them was nothing but positive.
Once at the conference, I was certain that I was not alone and that many other people from diverse backgrounds and age groups believe that there is nothing to believe! We spent the weekend hearing speakers on a variety of topics. Authors, attorneys, scientists, and even a magician spoke on behalf of rational thought and skepticism.
There were also several workshops aimed at helping college students get their clubs formed and plan activities. We discussed ideas for special events, fundraising, and promoting a positive image of non-believers.
Now, with the support of the Center for Inquiry I feel that I am a step closer to helping non-belief become acceptable not only in Santa Ana, but more importantly, within the hearts of my family. Thank you Point of Inquiry and CFI for everything you do to promote rational thought!
Katie Kish
University of Guelph Secular Group
University of Guelph & University of Victoria, Canada
Religious intolerance lost me my job this summer. After my camp received an anonymous email from an outraged parent about my religious views, I was forced to resign. So as I enter the final half of my studies I have become increasingly aware of the religious groups on my campus and in my community and the impact they can have. Between the Campus Crusade for Christ and the Interfaith Chapel it became painfully obvious to me that there was no alternative for those of us who were questioning the rationality, beliefs and thought flow of these groups. Then I heard of the Center for Inquiry’s Student Leadership Conference in Amherst, New York and quickly reserved a spot.
There, dozens of like-minded questioning students gathered from across North America. I went expecting to network with other campus leaders and learn how to create a successful group on my campus. I was not disappointed in the least bit. The resources and environment produced by the Center for Inquiry were ideal. We came together and our minds began to flourish and fill with ideas to take back to our secular campus groups.
There was virtually an automatic sense of friendship and trust with each person I met throughout the weekend, as we knew we already understood each other’s motives for being there. This was refreshing after coming from too many communities where we are rarely understood. Here was a group of people who understood the true meaning of a University: a place where people are encouraged to question and to think rather than to simply defend their predetermined sense of knowledge. There was a plethora of names from “atheists” to “brights” or “secular humanists” but the purpose of our groups was similar: to create a louder voice of activism for our cause of rationality and freethought, hanging onto the idea that maybe one day religious intolerance won’t cost us our job.
The first day of the conference was spent getting to know people, relaxing after traveling and getting settled in. Saturday was filled with a smooth stream of engaging speakers directing us on how to generate and uphold functioning groups on campus. These talks were extremely useful, covering topics from using the web for outreach and running meetings to attracting media attention.
In the afternoon Barbara Forrest spoke about the Kitzmiller-Dover trial, giving us a well-presented rundown of the events. That was followed that evening by constitutional lawyer Eddie Tabash, who scared us all with frightening, yet true, words about the fundamentalist religious right in America. It was an eye-opener for everyone on just how much work there really is to do, and how significant our goals are for freethought in all happenings of life.
Saturday night ended with some exceptionally entertaining deception by world-renowned skeptic and illusionist Jamy Ian Swiss. The skeptical frolics all ended on Sunday afternoon after we participated in a round table discussion where we all threw ideas back and forth, then heard from one last speaker, Nica Lalli.
It was hard to come home. On the one hand, I have come back with a brain overflowing with ideas, ambition, and inspiration to implement into my own campus setting. On the other hand, I left a serene setting with a group swarming with insurmountable intelligence and vigor. Being with these people really created a sense that we have already accomplished something great. We have established a meaningful and powerful secular group of leaders that will have overwhelming successes in the continued struggle for freedom of thought, life and reason.
Jack Rivall
CFI-On Campus
University of North Dakota
Perhaps I’ve been a natural skeptic since early on. Though I’ve had what many have dubbed an “over-active imagination,” I could never shake the ability to doubt. The years passed, but the passion for humanism and the ideals of free inquiry only grew exponentially as I gathered an appreciation for freethought, nontheism, and of course, science. I routinely checked the Center for Inquiry’s website during my freshman and sophomore years at the University of North Dakota. In the summer of 2006, I was invited to attend the leadership conference in Amherst, NY that I’d longed to undertake. How could I have known what an indelible experience was in store for me that year?
This was my second year of attending the summer conference at CFI. I never thought that I could top the experience of the previous year's exposition of perspicacity, but this year was equally hair-raising! Students came from numerous institutions across North America and from across many disciplines of study. Many already had campus groups of their own! I enjoyed meeting with the high-spirited community leaders as well. Some of the sessions were joint sessions involving both student and community leaders, while other sessions were split. It was alluring to hear about what worked, and consequently, what didn’t.
Friday night, we were engaged by a talk by Taner Edis, physics professor and author of the new book An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam. On Saturday afternoon we gave attention to Barbara Forrest, philosophy professor and a key witness from the Dover/Kitzmiller Intelligent Design trial, who presented an astonishing arrangement about the recent exploits of the Discovery Institute. Near the end of the afternoon, we heard from Eddie Tabash, constitutional lawyer and chair of the Council for Secular Humanism's First Amendment Task Force. He discussed "The Threat of the Religious Right to Our Modern Freedoms." Afterwards, as CFI field organizer Lauren Becker had promised, our hair was on fire!
That night there was a real treat: Jamy Ian Swiss, renowned magician and sleight of hand master, performed a special program for conference attendees – "The Illusion of Psychic Powers." He had me bamboozled and hornswoggled, I’ll tell you what! We then retreated to the hotels to further socialize. The level of intellectualism exhibited by fellow students was staggering (but extremely welcomed). I’ve never felt more on the same “wavelength” with an aggregation before. The conference has elicited friendships and contacts that will last for the rest of my life. There were many new faces this year, each with a most excellent mind behind the visage. The brouhaha of excited emotions from being around accordant and amiable persons was an echo of last year’s conference. Without a doubt, MasterCard moments were made.
Author and artist Nica Lalli joined us the following morning for a discussion about her new book Nothing: Something to Believe In. She carried thought-provoking abstractions about approaching the zany world of believers with freethought and skepticism.
I’m still fascinated by the amount of effort and sacrifice that has been done on the part of the Center for Inquiry and its affiliate programs. Upon leaving new friends and old, I think more than ever that we recognize the need to persevere against the harsh allegations aimed towards what is currently the most hated group in America: us, the nontheists. I only hope I can contribute in more dynamic ways in the future! I eventually mustered up the fortitude to return to North Dakota, where I write to you now among a torrent of misapprehensions and dissensions. Perhaps you’ve heard of the movie Jesus Camp? It was filmed just a hop and a skip from this campus.
