University of Melbourne Secular Society [UMSS]

Did anything weird happen to you last week? Were you handed a particular scientific and literary classic, with an odd and badly written introduction? Specifically, let’s say, on Tuesday? Near the tram stop?

If all this hinting sounds oddly cryptic to you, you missed out on a spectacle when a group of Creationists parked themselves at the corner of the Asia Centre to hand out 2,500 of copies of On The Origin of Species with a ’special’ introduction by Kiwi Creationist Ray Comfort. This mostly plagiarized introduction touches on such topics as the so-called ‘problems’ with evolutionary theory, Darwin’s supposed sexism and racism, as well as the links between evolution, Social Darwinism, the Holocaust, and atheism.

You can read about the incident over at Homologous Legs and Divisible By Pi, both blogs from members of the Secular Society who managed to talk with the Creationists.

The University of Melbourne Secular Society have managed to (at very late notice) organise a coordinated response to the Creationists, and we’d love if you could attend.

Details:
Dr James Bradley (History & Philosophy of Science)
“A history of Creationism”
1 PM Thursday 18th March
Threatre 4, Alan Gilbert Building

RSVP and invite friends via Facebook.

We know that a lot of you were as outraged as we were at this coordinated attack on science happening on our very own campus – this is our chance to strike back, not with political rhetoric, but by furthering understanding of the Creationist movement and letting facts be known. If you were angry at the idea of Creationists spreading falsehoods on campus, come along and invite as many of your friends as you can. We will have extra copies of the book to hand out to those who ‘missed out’.

What is church/state separation? What are the disagreements amongst secularists about what church/state separation entails? Do we have a church/state separation in Australia?

UMSS is delighted to announce that Russell Blackford (co-editor of 50 Voices of Disbelief) will be joining us for next week’s Q&A – the Secular Societies weekly group discussion event!

1:00-2:00PM
Monday 15th March
Chrisholm Theatrette, Level 3, Babel Building (note: change of venue)

RSVP and invite friends to attend via our Facebook event.

Students are invited to be as active or passive in the group discussion as they wish. Also feel free to bring your lunch along to the event.

Russell Blackford is an Australian writer and editor. His formal qualifications include first class honours degrees in both Arts (University of Newcastle) and Law (University of Melbourne), and separate Ph.Ds in English literature (University of Newcastle) and philosophy (Monash University). His publications include novels, short stories, academic monographs, and numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles on topics within his areas of expertise. His philosophical interests include bioethics, philosophy of law, and philosophy of religion. Russell is a Fellow of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Evolution and Technology. He is co-editor, with Udo Schuklenk, of 50 Voices of Disbelief: Why We Are Atheists (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009).

There are still some spots available for this free luncheon at the MCEC, see press release below:

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.

Places are strictly limited and are filling fast.

To “come dressed as your favourite deity or religious figure” was the task.

Mission accomplished!

What problems does school chaplaincy pose for our secular public education system?

Recently, Kevin Rudd announced a $42.8 million extension of the National School Chaplaincy program, which was controversially introduced by John Howard in 2007.

UMSS is delighted to announce that former Senator and former leader of the Australian Democrats, Lyn Allison, will be joining us for our first ever ‘Q&A’ – the Secular Society’s new weekly group discussion event!

1:00-2:00PM
Monday 8th March
Room 120 Sydney Myer Asia Centre

RSVP and invite friends to attend via our Facebook event.

Students are invited to be as active or passive in the group discussion as they wish. Also feel free to bring your lunch along to the event.

Lyn Allison currently serves on the committee of the Rationalist Society of Australia and Dying With Dignity Victoria. She will also be speaking on a women’s panel at the upcoming 2010 Global Atheist Convention.

… is available now to purchase from the University Bookstore.

Co-editor Russell Blackford is a local academic and a close friend of the Secular Society, appearing on campus to speak at many UMSS events. He is also the author of the popular blog Metamagician and the Hellfire Club.

We’re proud to be supporting the release of this fabulous collection of short essays, and would like to encourage all of our members to grab a copy from the University Bookstore today!

To find out more about the book, check out this fabulous interview Russell Blackford did with D.J Grothe on the Center for Inquiry’s Point of Inquiry.

Tickets on sale now.

As part of Welcome Back Week, UMSS is throwing a party for all new and returning members, and you must come dressed as your favourite deity or religious figure!

The “Flying Spaghetti Monster Mixer” will be held at the Queensberry Hotel, located in the back of the bar (Snug Room and Courtyard). Prizes will be awarded to the most historically accurate, best overall and some other arbitrary category! (People dressed as themselves are not eligible for prizes, even if you consider yourself as God).

Be as creative and blasphemous as you want; not everyone can be Jesus!

FSM Specials
$10 jugs Carlton
$5 basic spirits
$4 house wine/sparkling
$10 parma
$10 cheeseburgers

Event will be held on Wednesday 3rd March from 6:30pm-9:30pm

RSVP and invite friends to attend via Facebook.

With the Global Atheist Convention and TAM! Australia in the pipeline, 2010 is going to be the year for science, reason and secular values in Australia, and UMSS is going to be a part of it!

Thanks to sponsorship from the Humanist Society of Victoria, this year we have free showbags containing magazines, postcards, bookmarks, badges and more to give away for every new member during O-week (while stocks last).

Come and sign-up during the Clubs and Societies Expo located in North Court (outside Union House) on Thursday 25th or Friday 26th of February from 10am-4pm.

Membership prices for both new and returning members:
$1 for UMSU members
$2 regular staff/students
$4 for non-Melbourne Uni

UMSS T-shirts and Hoodies will be available to purchase for $25 and $40 each.

RSVP and invite friends to attend via Facebook.

The newly formed Australian Freethought University Alliance (actual website under construction) will be arranging couch surfing for interstate students attending the Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne this coming March.

This convention, which will feature the likes of Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers, is a tremendous opportunity for University students committed to advancing reason and science to get together for the first time, to discuss ways of unifying and strengthening our movement.

With the price of registration and travel combined, the cost to attend the convention is already a challenge for many students. However, a kind offer of free accommodation could make all the difference. Please assist us in our quest to get as many students from all over Australia as possible to attend this amazing event.

If you’re based in Melbourne and would be happy to host an atheist student, please join this Facebook group or send an email to anna@umss.org to express interest.

More details and registration options coming soon.