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Semester in Review

Friday, November 27th, 2009

As we gear up for exams and the events of this semester wind down, we should take a look back at the previous semester and at what we’ve managed to accomplish so far this year:

UofT/York/Ryerson Barbecue

We started the year off with a welcome event hosted by the Centre for Inquiry (CFI) that brought together organizations like ours from UofT, York and Ryerson. We were able to discuss what we were planning for the year and get a feel for what type of organizations existed on other campuses.

Blasphemy Day

Bringing our message to the streets (or at least the patio of Sidney Smith), we hosted Blasphemy Day at the University of Toronto in conjunction with the CFI and the Freethought Association of Canada. Aside from a great turnout, we had a lot of fun encouraging people to speak their minds and celebrate our freedom of speech.

Michael Shermer: Why People Believe Weird Things

Along with the CFI, we hosted notable skeptic Michael Shermer, who gave his talk “Why People Believe Weird Things”. It was a huge success, with approximately 500 people in attendance at the talk, followed by a lively social at the CFI.

Dan Barker

Dan Barker

Finally, we hosted a talk by Dan Barker from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. He talked about his personal journey of discovery from preacher to atheist, and shared with us his insight on the state of atheism and religion in today’s world.

So far, it’s been a great year — but we have more planned for next semester. Also, stay tuned for information about our Christmas party!

The Atheist Camel Chronicles

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Occasionally we get emails asking us to promote books or publications. Most of the time they look kind of sketchy, but this one happened to look fun. I haven’t had a chance to read the book, but the description looks interesting:

The Atheist Camel Chronicles: Debate Themes & Arguments for the Non-Believer (and those who think they might be) (Amazon)

If anybody has read this book, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Also, don’t forget about the UTSA’s start of the year welcome party and barbecue this Friday, September 11 from 1pm to 5pm at the Centre for Inquiry (216 Beverley Street). Come out for the free food and drinks; stay to meet some interesting people.

Upcoming Events: Start of the School Year

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

As the 2009-2010 school year gets underway, look out for the following UTSA events:

  1. Clubs Fair Booth
  2. Welcome Event & Barbecue
  3. First Meeting
  4. Michael Shermer: Why People Believe Weird Things

Clubs Fair Booth

The UTSA will have a booth set up at the UTSU clubs fair. Come out and look for our booth, and sign up for our mailing list to be entered into a raffle to win a to-be-decided (but cool) prize at the upcoming Welcome Event & Barbecue.

The clubs fair will take place this Friday, September 4 from 12pm to 4pm around Kings College Circle and Hart House Circle. Executive members will be there if you have any questions about the club, our planned events and executive positions.

Welcome Event & Barbecue

On Friday, September 11, the Centre For Inquiry will be hosting a Welcome Event & Barbecue for the secular student groups from UofT, York and Ryerson. Food and beverages will be available.

This is an excellent opportunity to meet campus group leaders from across the Greater Toronto Area, as well as the Centre for Inquiry staff and volunteers.

More information can be found here. (Facebook Event)

First Meeting

On Thursday, September 17, we will hold our first meeting of the school year. The meeting will take place from 7pm to 8pm in the Meeting Room at Hart House (on the second floor — ask the porter if you need help finding it). We will be introducing the club’s executive members and outlining our plan for the year. Everybody is welcome and encouraged to attend. There will also be a social event afterward at a location to-be-decided.

Michael Shermer: Why People Believe Weird Things

The UTSA is collaborating with the Centre for Inquiry to bring you the following event:

Ever wonder why people believe in UFO abductions, mind-reading, reincarnation, urban legends, not to mention “scientific creationism” and the pernicious myth that the Holocaust never happened? Dr. Michael Shermer, the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, is a genuine ghost-buster, a relentless crusader against superstition and pseudoscience. Based on his bestselling book, Why People Believe Weird Things, Dr Shermer’s lecture will debunk junk science, bad science, voodoo science, pathological science, pseudoscience, and plain old nonsense. The event will be filled with humour, insight, and personal anecdotes – a highly entertaining wake-up call that has proved a hit on college campuses.

Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the Executive Director of the Skeptics Society, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, the host of the Skeptics Distinguished Science Lecture Series at Caltech, and Adjunct Professor of Economics at Claremont Graduate University.

ADMISSION/TICKETS ON SALE NOW:
$8 general, $5 students and CFI members.
A reception will be held with Dr. Shermer after the event exclusively for CFI members.

This event is FREE to NEW and RENEWING CFI members and one guest. Join/renew at www.cficanada.ca/support. After joining, email jtrottier@centerforinquiry.net to request 1 or 2 tickets. Provide full contact information. With Blasphemy Day, our major upcoming conference and our regular events, now is the ideal time to join!

Get full info on the event and buy your tickets now at http://tinyurl.com/ntssw7

You may alternatively pay in person at CFI at 216 Beverley St. (call ahead 416-971-5676 to confirm someone is in the Centre) or mail a cheque to 216 Beverley St., Toronto ON M5T 1Z3. You must place the cheque in the mail at least 1 week prior to the event.

You can also check out this event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129639171804

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