The Secular Student Alliance of Whitewater opened its doors on campus last November to empower and encourage students to discuss their views, beliefs and opinions.

SSA co-president and senior Nellie Meaney said the organization creates a welcoming, safe and non-discriminatory atmosphere for members to open up in.

“The mission of SSA is to organize, unite, educate and serve students in student communities that promote the ideas of scientific and critical inquiry, democracy, secularism and human-based ethics,” Meaney said.

SSA also focuses on promoting education, service, activism, tolerance and a sense of community through service projects and volunteering.

“We are planning on developing a strong philanthropic program for our club,” Meaney said. “Some of the ideas we have so far are to adopt a highway, volunteer in local elementary schools and host a food drive, ‘Hunger Strikes Not Only on Holidays.’”

On March 8, SSA will work with Students For a Fair Wisconsin to host undercover journalist, gay rights activist and motivation speaker, Ted Cox.

Cox will speak about his experiences as a journalist and from two years of participating in “gay-to-straight” camps. SSA hopes Cox will impact students on campus and promote acceptance and service.

“We stand behind the statement that ‘two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer,’” Meaney said.

Meetings are held every other Monday at 7 p.m. in Upham Hall Room 142. SSA welcomes open-minded students in search of a welcoming atmosphere.

“We have about a dozen active members and are building our membership,” co-president and junior Dustin Elsbury said. “We would like to defeat the prejudice that ‘people who don’t believe in superstition have no morals or purpose in life.’”

Students interested in joining SSA or who have questions should contact Dustin Elsbury at [email protected] or Nellie Meaney at [email protected] or visit www.secularstudents.org.