Firstly the delay in contacting us: Basically it was because Tyler Handley (the president of LFA) did not provide any contact information, mainly because there was no room on the campus club application form to actually put that in. Of course, that's not really an excuse seeing that Tyler spent more time than he can count trying to get in touch with the Campus Clubs department and inquire about the club status.
Secondly, our reply, to all those that are interested is as follows. It was written by me with Tyler's ideas, later revising, and in his name - a testament to diplomatic skill:
We both certainly hope that our idea goes through, it would be nerve racking to take more drastic steps.I too must apologize for not providing my contact information on the club application forms and having your decision be delayed so much. I further would like to apologize for my hasty, un-thoughtful completion of the club application form that has lead to a negative decision from the Campus Clubs department and ask for reconsideration.
When I set out to create a club with a vision of promoting of "a fulfilling life without religion and superstition," I did not mean it to be a club of hell-raising, intolerant, church-burners. I despise such people and would hate to see my club attract such individuals. Instead, I find the vision for my club the same as yours and that of the university – tolerance and respect for all. Everyone should have the right to speak their mind and believe as they wish without fear of violent persecution and beyond anything the Laurier Freethought Alliance would be for that.
However, and I doubt you’re aware of this, but when I first dreamed up of the idea for this club and what it could stand for, such was not the case on this campus. Laurier, as you may be aware, is home to a plethora of religious groups – members of the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh religions have multiple clubs where they can mingle among like-minded individuals and together strive to promote a truly multi-cultural campus atmosphere. Yet, if you look, there’s not a single club devoted to those of us who profess no religious affiliation or belief system while at the same time comprise sixteen percent of the Canadian population and have personal philosophies and insights that are no less inferior to the ones of our believing counterparts. Where is our outlet? Where is our club to mingle and enrich ourselves through contact with a diverse group of like-minded individuals? It does not exist and now the Campus Clubs department have turned down a wonderful opportunity for every non-religious member of the student body at Laurier. I’m sorry, but I find your actions to be intolerant and very much in opposition to this university’s commitment to a diverse and multi-cultural campus.
Perhaps you are right - our statement is badly worded because it is often tough defining one’s own religious views with a language whose development is so deeply set in religious belief. Yet, statements can always be re-written and a new more meaningful set of words can take its place – one that denotes tolerance not the fire-rousing shrieks of a tiny non-religious minority. A trip to one of our bi-weekly meetings that have been held unofficially for the past several months at the local William’s Coffee Pub can always set the record straight – no hate speech there, no intolerance, just a genuine conversation about science, politics, and personal life-experiences among people whose views have been shunned and shut out by the mainstream world. I doubt that you and the Campus Clubs department would want to go and visit one of our meetings since you must certainly be busy with other things, however, I ask that you give a second chance for this much-needed club to exist and allow me and my vice-president defend our idea for this club in front of your committee.
I hope you will be reasonable and agree to my suggestion.
This story is now over, if you're curious about the progression of this story, here's the chronological breakdown of entries:
First reaction
Our response
All the blogs that sent in their support
Ensuing havoc
Working to resolve the crisis and defining our position as a club
Media attention and further steps toward resolution
More media attention
Our acceptance as a club
16 comments:
I'm not sure if you've sent out the reply yet, but the phrase "have personal philosophies and insights that are no less inferior to the ones of our believing counterparts." seems to be a miscommunication. It sounds like you're claiming that your beliefs are at least equally as bad as your believing counterparts. Not what you meant to say, I'm sure.
I can see how the university wouldn't want to condone a group that could be perceived as promoting hate. Your reply clears that up. If your application is still rejected, you should be able to appeal to the Ontario Human Rights Commission if you wanted to push it.
I thought the Canadians were more tolerant than us Americans, but this is ridiculous.
man as a student at WLU myself, im disgusted that this is happening. i would love to give the person in charge of Campus Clubs a good scolding, but i guess that would be counterproductive! Good luck at getting the LFA established. anonymous#2 is right that this might even be a case for the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
I think it would be important to know that there is support for you. From the students, alumni, and the wider public. Please keep us informed at tell us who to nicely contact either now or when things hit a snag.
I will contact people at the university if you think it would help. Including the WLUSU.
Wow this is so absurd. Its pretty ridiculous that calling religion "superstition" is too hateful but religious clubs are free to promote the idea that the rest of us are going to hell. Frickin absurd!
I would definitely consider an HRC complaint.
Wow, when I first read about this on another website I wrongly assumed that the University must be in the States! As a Canadian I am ashamed. Since the university is publicly funded this may offend the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If the university has a School of Law you might want to talk to one of the profs there.
I am afraid this will not amount to much of anything. You should've consulted an experienced business writer before doing this. The letter reads weak and doesn't even require a response. Besides, you should've hinted at the possibility of legal action or at least of speaking to the press. No threats, just say "It would be unfortunate to give more ammunition to the school secularization debate in the press"... :) This sort of behavior on the part of the University must be punished!
There is no reasonable way your original application's wording can be seen to be intolerant or disrepectful. Your university has already allowed religious groups to organise, and their charters, by definition, are at least as "intolerant" and "disrepectful" as yours. Which is to say, NOT.
Don't change the wording. Get a lawyer (start with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association) and call the media.
This is a student union thing, right? Not the school admin?
Sounds like PoMo gone amok. Slap 'em with a fish.
(Laurentian alumni, myself. Student .gov can be idiots)
Found my way over here from Pharyngula... I emailed the student union and politely requested that they reconsider their denial and approve your group based on your original application. I used my school account, too, and showed that I'm a student in America. Let's get the word out!
I'd think a call to Nashifa Carter, Interim Harassment/Discrimination Co-ordinator, (226) 220-0689
would be in order.
This is in violation of WLU Rights policy and the Ontario Human Rights Commission http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/issues/religious_rights
I am appalled that this would happen in what I thought was an enlightened Canadian University.
Other commenters are right: don't reword. Protest the original dismissal, as it is patently unfair.
Damn, frightening to think that something like this could happen right in my own backyard. I go to U Waterloo myself right now, and we actually got our own atheistic club at the beginning of this year (which I keep meaning to attend...). Obviously there's no inherent contradiction in a secular school allowing such a club It's being done literally right down the street. Whoever made this decision needs to good whack with a 2x4 to open their eyes.
Good luck to you! I truly hope that this "secular" university will allow your secular group!
If all else fails, perhaps you should call yourselves believers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster instead :)
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