Film Screening: Sita Sings the Blues

The Secular Student Alliance at Sacramento State is hosting a film screening of the indie animated film, Sita Sings the Blues.  This is the first in a series of events on exploring ancient mythology’s intersection with modern art. The event is FREE and open to the public.

The Film

Sita Sings the Blues intersperses events from the Ramayana, light-hearted but knowledgeable discussion of historical background by a trio of Indian shadow puppets, musical interludes voiced with tracks by Annette Hanshaw and scenes from the artist’s own life. The ancient mythological and modern biographical plots are parallel tales, sharing numerous themes.

The film does not carry a MPAA rating; however, if it did, it would probably be rated PG.

The Parking

Daily parking passes are available for $6 from the yellow dispenser in the parking structure (on the 3rd floor, west corner by the elevator), adjacent to the University Union and Bookstore. I strongly recommend parking in the parking structure, because it is close to the event and the other parking lots are reserved for staff.

Daily parking passes may also be purchased using the iPhone/Android app Pay-by-Phone. Enter Sac State’s code 5115 and enter in the license plate number. No pass needs to be displayed once parked.

The Venue

The event is in the Redwood Room on the First Floor of the University Union. This map shows how to get to the venue from either entrance to campus: http://bit.ly/sacstatemap

The Trailer

ASI DOC Funding Workshop

What is DOC Funding?

The purpose of ASI Dollars for Organizations and Clubs (DOC) grant funding is to support Sac State students in their endeavors to increase the quality of campus life and learning. ASI DOC funding is a grant to clubs and organizations which reimburses clubs and organizations for money spent on events, food, promotion, conferences and much more. DOC funding is a reimbursement grant for money spent on events which occur after you have been awarded.

— Associated Students Inc.

Background

DOC funding gives each Sac State club access for up to $3,000 of free reimbursement money for many different types of expenses (details in the video below).  Every semester, dozens of clubs apply for DOC funding, and many learn just how complicated the process can be.  Several of them have their applications rejected for a variety of reasons.  This can range from legitimate violations of DOC policies to almost trivial technicalities.  This article was created to help all Sac State clubs succeed in navigating the system.

The DOC Funding Workshop

Every semester, ASI presents a DOC funding workshop at the Sac State Diversity Leadership Conference (once in January and once in August).  The workshop outlines the core process – as well as finer nuances – of how to successfully apply for DOC funding.  This is the only time in which ASI comprehensively demonstrates to clubs exactly how to go through the process so as to remove any ambiguity.  Simply put, every single club should attend this workshop, and out of nearly 300 clubs, only about 20 ever see it.  To my knowledge, ASI does not hold any other public workshops on the topic, and it does not release the presentation slides to clubs.

ASI does an excellent job and puts forth a commendable effort year-round in helping clubs succeed in acquiring grant money.  I feel that this workshop video only adds to and compliments that

We do not represent Sacramento State or ASI, and we do not own any information that is in the video.

I posted this video, because I firmly believe that all clubs at Sacramento State should have access to this information.

**All information in this video is subject to change, so please contact the ASI VP of Finance at asivpfinance@csus.edu for the most current details.**

The video skips at 20:50, 41:32, and 45:49. These are gaps are only 2-3 seconds long.

Links

Official ASI DOC Funding Page

Download video here

Bill Nye vs Ken Ham Debate: Live!

To kick off the new semester, the Secular Student Alliance will be streaming live the Bill Nye/Ken Ham debate on the question ‘Is creation a viable model of origins?’.  This is a FREE event open to all Sac State faculty and students.

The Ham

Ken Ham is the president/CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis – U.S. and the Creation Museum. Ken Ham is one of the most in-demand Christian speakers in North America.

The Science Guy

Bill Nye the Science Guy is a science educator, comedian, television host, actor, writer, and scientist who began his career as a mechanical engineer at Boeing. He is best known as the host of the Disney/PBS children’s science show “Bill Nye the Science Guy” and for his many subsequent appearances in popular media as a science educator.

The event is at 4pm on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 in the Capital Room on the Third Floor of the University Union.

Plan on arriving early to find a spot.

The Neurobiology of Love

The Neurobiology of Love

with

Dr. Sarah Strand

Tuesday, February 11, 2014   6pm

Sacramento State University, Orchard Suite, 2nd Floor Union

The Secular Student Alliance is hosting a FREE event featuring Dr. Sarah Strand on the neurobiology of love.

The Science

Love is a universal experience found in all human cultures, but why do we choose the people that we do? Across the entirety of human culture, our single greatest commonality is the brain.  What happens in the brains of people in love? In this talk, Dr. Strand discusses the three basic types of love (Lust, Romantic Attraction, and Attachment) and their unique brain pathways and neurochemistries.  She also shows how love is highly effective at reducing stress and enhancing overall health and survival.  And finally, she will apply these concepts in a closing discussion about the differences between the brains of men and women in love and how being in love may result in neurogenesis, or the birth of new neurons.

The Strand

Dr. Sarah Strand is a Behavioral Neuroscientist, a psychology professor, a lecturer on neurotheology, a triathlete, and a Minnesota-native living in California by way of Iowa and Massachusetts.

She is currently an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Sacramento State University and a Research Supervisor at the UC Davis Primate Center.

The Parking

Daily parking passes are available for $6 from the yellow dispenser in the parking structure (on the 3rd floor, west corner by the elevator), adjacent to the University Union and Bookstore. I strongly recommend parking in the parking structure, because it is close to the event and the other parking lots are for staff parking. Plan on arriving early to find a spot.

The event is in the Orchard Suite on the Second Floor of the University Union. This map shows how to get to the venue from any campus entrance.  (Permanent link:http://bit.ly/sacstatemap)

This month the Secular Student Alliance is hosting a FREE event featuring David Fitzgerald, Kilt Kilpatrick, with Special Guest Hannah Jenks for a night of sexy violence and violent sex.

The Fitz

Is every sperm sacred? Was Paul gay? Where are my concubines?
A fun and twisted romp through the troubled evolution of Biblical morality.

The Kilt

Freelance Heretic/Erotica Writer Kilt Kilpatrick reads steamy excerpts from his sexy stories! Don’t miss it!

Rides/Campus Map/Parking

Need a ride? Get one here.

Daily parking passes are available for $6 from the yellow dispenser in the parking structure (on the 3rd floor, west corner by the elevator), adjacent to the University Union and Bookstore. I strongly recommend parking in the parking structure, because it is close to the event and the other parking lots are for staff parking. Plan on arriving early to find a spot.

The event is in the Hinde Auditorium on the First Floor of the University Union. This map shows how to get to the venue from any campus entrance.  (Permanent link: http://bit.ly/sacstatemap)

New Event, The Neurobiology of Religious Experience

The Neurobiology of Religious Experience

By

Dr. Sarah Strand

Tuesday, October 22, 2013   6pm

Sacramento State University, Orchard Suite, 2nd Floor Union

This month the Secular Student Alliance is hosting a FREE event featuring Dr. Sarah Strand on the neurobiology of religion and religious experiences.

The Science

Dr. Strand will talk about how to induce an out-of-body experience and why people tend to feel a sense of peace and connection when they have one.  To many people, this proves the existence of a spiritual world inhabited by god(s). Dr. Strand explains just how fallacious this argument is.

Evidence increasingly demonstrates that the feelings associated with religious experiences play a primary role in people being intensely religious.  Andy Thompson of the Richard Dawkins Foundation has written about the ways in which religion latches onto human characteristics developed during our evolutionary history.  Dr. Strand will focus on what cortices of the brain are associated with religion, and how religious experiences induce strong sensations of pleasure, providing an illusion of an invisible friend in a world beyond ours. She will tell you who William James, Olaf Blanke, and Michael Persinger are and what they have in common.

And if all that fails to convince you to attend, then come for a funny god cartoon and to see a woman wearing a football helmet who sees floating spiritual entities.  How can you resist that?

Reviews

When Dr. Strand last gave this talk in Sacramento at a large atheist gathering, it was highly rated.

Here are some members’ comments:

“A great, succinct presentation. Very well done!”

“What a great talk! Now I see how my sister could have really seen angels around her bed at the age of 5. This is her trump card proof of God to this day.”

“Great presentation, fun and informative. I understand a bit better now that it’s not all about indoctrination and tradition.”

Dr. Strand is a Professor of Psychology at Sacramento State University and Research Supervisor of Neurobiology at UC Davis.

Parking

Daily parking passes are available for $6 in lots adjacent to the University Union; however, we are currently securing a parking lot to provide free parking. Check back soon for details.

9-23-13 Meeting

Next Meeting: Monday, September 22 @ 6pm by the fountain in the quad.

Monday’s meeting will feature our first Socrates Cafe of the semester. Socrates Cafe is an exploration of questioning and inquiry into everyday ideas. Each discussion lasts for 15-20 minutes. In our Socrates Cafe meetings, we will ask questions such as ‘What determines good and evil?’, ‘What does marriage really mean?’, ‘What is the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter?’, ‘What is justice?’, and ‘Is it possible to be religious and not believe in god?’.

See you there!

The Great American River Clean Up

The first river cleanup with the Secular Student Alliance is here!

Participation in the Great American River Clean Up is a real contribution to the health of the Parkway and river.  Removing trash and debris prevents pollutants from entering the watershed, harming the wildlife, or creating hazards for recreational users.

Please wear long pants/shirts, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, and a hat.

The American River Parkway will provide bags, gloves, water, light snacks, and a give away item. You can help reduce waste by bringing your own reusable water bottle filled with a beverage and gardening gloves.

More info: http://arpf.org/garcu.shtml

Limited spots. If you are planning to participate, let us know by emailing csus@secularstudents.org.

We will meet at my apartment at 8am, and have coffee/breakfast as people arrive.  Then we will head over around 8:45 (clean up starts at 9am).

Contact us for location and directions.

See you there!

New Semester Announcements

We have SO MUCH happening this semester! Our regular meetings will be on Wednesdays 4-6pm in Brighton 113, beginning Sept. 11. Can’t make it? Let us know of a time that works better for you, because we are putting together a second weekly meeting.

Upcoming Events

• The Great American River Clean Up on Saturday Sept. 21 @ 8am at the Howe Ave river entrance

• Freethought Day on Satuday Oct. 12 @ 10am in William Land Park

• The Neurobiology of Religious Experience by Dr. Sarah Strand on Wednesday Oct. 23. @ 6pm in AMD 250

• Sexy Violence and Violent Sex: The Weird-Ass Morality of the Bible by David Fitzgerald on Wednesday Nov. 20 @ 6pm in AMD 250

 

Thanks and have a GREAT semester!

Officer Elections

The SSA will be holding officer elections later this summer. If you would like to run for the position of Vice-President, please let Dan, Gin, or Lara know. Or email us at csus@secularstudents.org.