Lauren Newcomb

Texas State University prides itself for having a campus filled with diversity. Its student population consists of those with a wide variety of backgrounds and philosophies. In this Bobcat Update, Lauren Newcomb takes a look at a new group that contributes to that diversity.

Secular Student Alliance, a nationwide organization founded for non-religious students, has found a home at Texas State University. The group has received support from other organizations.
SB-Brandon Barber (CRU MEMBER) "I think everybody deserves a place where they can worship, where they can express themselves. I'm personally a follower of Christ, I believe in that. They're atheist, they believe in that." (11 sec)
Barber says Christians don't embrace the group's philosophy, but...
SB-Brandon Barber "It would be
a complete fabrication of what we believe in if we're not accepting of them." (6 sec)
Jonathan Hay, anthropology junior and president of Secular Student Alliance at Texas State, is the student responsible for creating the Secular Student Alliance on campus. Hay says upon arriving at Texas State he had seen many student organizations being promoted in the Quad but none that agreed with his beliefs. So, he started his own where he and others of like mind could share their views freely.
SB-Jonathan Hay "I identify as atheist. I don't make a positive claim that I know there is no god but I could say there is no god the same way I could say there are no unicorns or anything else there is no evidence to support. (13 sec)
Junior Kim Jones says she believes the group is a great idea and will inform others who share atheist or agnostic views.
SB-Kim Jones "I believe they are facing a certain amount of animosity just because a lot of
people don't understand what an atheist is. Just because you don't believe in god doesn't make you a bad person and a lot of people kind of assume if you don't believe in god you have no morals. (16 sec)
The Secular Student Alliance recently elected a new executive board and is hoping to grow on the Texas State campus. For Bobcat Update, I'm Lauren Newcomb.