#ClemsonStrong, you're doing it wrong*

*Post title borrowed from Jessika, a friend from Tiger Band
I thought about posting on a different blog, but this one started as a project at Clemson for a course on evolution & creationism, so it's fitting.

A week ago, the Freedom From Religion Foundation released an open letter to Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program highlighting what they feel is an inappropriate entanglement with religion (in particular, evangelical Christianity) in athletics. FFRF isn't pursuing litigation, but rather is highlighting the questionable practices of maintaining a team chaplain, scheduling devotionals, and taking the team & coaches to church via privately funded buses. These and other intertwined proselytizing were described in a Chronicle of Higher Education article last fall.

Shortly after this, a firestorm of activity from fans blazed across social media. I noticed this on twitter- in particular the @HillWatch and @ClemsonTom accounts which are incredibly popular, spamming @FFRF with sentiments essentially saying to stay out of our business, we're believers, etc. etc. They in turn egged on fans, especially with the hashtag #ClemsonStrong. A facebook page called "I Support Dabo's Stand for Jesus" popped on facebook and as of this post, has nearly 30,000 members. While I didn't watch facebook too much, I did grab screenshots from twitter, not censoring any names because these are public accounts- I found them with a simple search, and by posting on a public medium they declare their opinions.

In some cases, there seemed to be a misunderstanding (the assumption that Clemson was getting sued). 

Or, a complete misunderstanding of what a public university is- that Clemson is a state school, publicly funded, and if a student desired a specifically religious education, they have numerous options less than 100 miles away. 

Personally, I'm more offended by my fellow Tigers than by Dabo's actions. He released a statement (essentially a nonstatement since he didn't address any of the specific concerns and just performed testimony as my Mormon neighbors back home would say) following Clemson University's own statement where they see no wrongdoing but will investigate claims. In repsonse to part of Dabo's statement where he says the program emphasizes good character & citizenship, FFRF replies that being a good citizen also involves following the Constitution. I think the original letter was a good way to start a dialog, but many have taken it to mean taking a knee jerk reaction and becoming God Warriors.

Dabo's a good ole' boy and isn't likely to change his personal beliefs, and in the South the two most important affiliations are who you root for on Saturday and where you worship on Sunday. However, as many of the posts above demonstrate there is a profound lack of awareness that the overwhelming presence of a majority doesn't nullify the minority. In fact, it's almost disturbing, especially since Clemson added a "Culturious" component to their freshmen orientation. I was the first class to experience it so I'm not sure if it's retained, but it was definitely something they took pride in, even garnering an award for promoting diversity & inclusion in its third year. Why does the FFRF exist, some people ask? Because sometimes communities such as ours need a reminder that the majority does not speak for all. Dr. Roger B. Rollin, emeritus professor of literature at Clemson, recently wrote a Letter to the Editor in the school newspaper, raising alarms that proselytizing may even be going on from professors to students, taking advantage of a powerful position. 

Some of my best memories are at Clemson (if anyone at this point is questioning devotion, I graduated from there and by virtue of Tiger Band for four years attended all home games in my time), and my favorite part is the Clemson family- the idea that all Tigers, no matter your stripe, are bonded by this school. Taking a step back it sounds hokey, but in person my experiences were overwhelmingly positive. When I read posts like the above, I honestly question the welcomeness I felt. Is the Clemson family only a veneer, that only certain members can be considered 'family'? I'd like to think not. #ClemsonStrong shouldn't be about pounding chests for the faith or starting another Crusade, but rather embracing our diversity as what MAKES Clemson a strong institution. 

For us, does it get better?

The Damon Fowler story in Louisiana irritates me infinitely, especially given that the school completely disregarded the first amendment.

If you need a refresher, it says

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Though I have seen a few supporters of the student who led the Lord's Prayer argue she was expressing her freedom of speech and exercise of a religion, they seemingly forget the forget the wall of separation between church and state implied by author Thomas Jefferson.

Also, Santa Fe School Dist. v. Doe as a precedent. Because even if the school didn't print it on the program and made it a 'Moment of Silence' instead, by not pulling the mike from Ms. Mattice implicitly endorsed her speech.

The internet support has been wonderful (See Hemant Mehta's posts linked above, r/atheism on reddit, etc.), but it really makes me wonder: why isn't there a nontheist equivalent to the "It Gets Better Project"?

There are some parallels between the homosexuality and nontheism movements: minority perspectives, distrusted by various segments of the population, and ostracization of 'out' individuals in homogenous populations. This last part troubles me in particular, as I've seen people I knew in high school only come out of the closet as a gay person after arriving at college, away from the dog-eat-dog world of high school. I also know people who've come to the conclusion they don't believe in a God on their own, but refuse to publicly admit it for fear of familial backlash.

There are differences between the movements, true, as I can't think of any specific legislation against not believing (in fact, as mentioned above it's protected as a right to believe or not), whereas both at the state and national level laws have been made denying GLBT individuals the right to marry, the right to serve, and in some states the right to adopt (or any single parent for that matter, which is silly considering the number of children that need homes).

Also, as a friend asked me the other day, does it really get better for nontheists? We may not be legislated against, but certainly receive flak for merely existing. And that's as adults, so not sure I could honestly say it gets better.

But what we could borrow from the LGBT movement is an equivalent to National Coming Out Day, so individuals don't have to feel like their hiding their true selves, as well as showing other people, "Hey, we're not alone, and we do exist!" Having a supportive framework would help towards this, which is why I applaud the increase in high school chapters of the Secular Student Alliance, as well as at college campuses (including our very own Clemson! Check us out). Especially in places like the Bible Belt, it really does help to know you're not alone. I almost wish we had an equivalent at my very Mormon high school, but then I remember I hung out with all the nontheists, Catholics and other religious minorities anyway.

There is the Out Campaign for individuals to come out (and encourages people to let others 'out' themselves when they feel ready), and I highly recommend it.

Taking my own advice and declaring myself (though subtly put on my facebook) as an agnostic atheist, meaning: I don't believe there's a God or gods, but I also don't know that it's true (see explanation for definitions here)