Complimentary Copy Join FFRF Now! Vo1. 30 No. 5 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. August 2013 Last Call to Photo: Andrew Seidel FFRF Convention Dan Savage Juan Mendez Hemant Mehta, math teacher, freethought activist and author of The Friendly Atheist blog, visited FFRF in July and treated the staff and summer interns to pizza. From left (back) are Andrew Seidel, Lisa Strand, Dan Barker, Josh Turn to back page for details. Glasgow, Ryan Dwyer, Katie Daniel, Dayna Long, (front) Scott Colson, Rebecca Markert, Hemant Mehta, Liz Cavell, Lauryn Seering, Sarah Eucalano, Annie Laurie Gaylor and Aaron Loudenslager. Not pictured: Bill Dunn, Patrick Elliott. FFRF, ACLU prevail, to settle with Ohio school Portrait of Jesus won’t resurrect in Jackson schools The Freedom From Religion Foun- lawsuit against the public school dis- district, which had previously removed dation, the American Civil Liberties trict in Jackson, Ohio, for displaying the portrait, has agreed to permanent Inside This Issue Union of Ohio and individual plain- a large portrait of Jesus above the en- removal. tiffs in mid-July agreed to settle their trance to Jackson Middle School. The Details of the global settlement of the issues will be released once they are approved by U.S. District Judge Al- genon Marbley and by a probate court. Two of the plaintiffs are minors. The parties must file their settlement agree- ment with the district court within 90 days. Defendants are the Jackson City Meet our interns Page 2 School District and Board of Educa- tion and Superintendent Phil Howard. Announcing FFRF and the Ohio ACLU first sued ‘Memorable on behalf of students and parents Moments in over a display in a middle school. The Monotheism’ district then moved the portrait to a by Edward prominent hallway at the high school. Sorel Although the district then removed Page 7 the portrait, it was mysteriously ex- humed for use at a Prayer at the Pole event on the National Day of Prayer. It also made a guest appearance in front of a prayer rally at City Hall. FFRF and the ACLU filed the fed- eral suit Feb. 6 in U.S. District Court Empowering Women through for the Southern District of Ohio, after Secularism Page 8 FFRF sent an initial letter of complaint Announcing Jan. 2 to Howard, who stated “it would winning high take a court order to remove the pic- school essayists And on the third day . ture.” This newspaper rack in Jackson, Ohio, was empty? Pages 11–15 Page 2 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin August 2013 Meet the Legal Interns Photo: Andrew Seidel Photo: Andrew Seidel Ryan Dwyer perches ’twixt two FFRF Emperor Has No Clothes awards. No fan of Justice Antonin Scalia Name: Ryan Dwyer. at FFRF, because they are working for Where and when I was born: Den- the rights of countless people. ver, Sept. 22, 1987. I also have great respect for attor- Family: Father (Dan), mother (Nan- neys at the American Civil Liberties cy), sister (Meghan). Union and Southern Poverty Law Cen- Education: Regis Jesuit High School, ter. Finally, I respect (most) public de- Aurora, Colo., graduated 2006; Uni- fenders for their commitment to due versity of Colorado-Boulder, 2006-08; process and their willingness to repre- Metropolitan State University of Den- sent people whom society would prefer ver, 2011 B.A. in history, minor in phi- not to think about. losophy; University of Wisconsin Law These three words sum me up: Ide- School, J.D. expected in May 2015. alistic, dedicated, compassionate. My religious upbringing was: Catho- Things I like: My interests vary, Aaron Loudenslager strikes a Fearn-like pose. The late Blanche Fearn, for lic. I spent 14 years in Catholic school, from things many 25-year-old males whom the reception room in Freethought Hall is named, was a major FFRF and my family is still very religious. enjoy to things someone 50 years my benefactor, officer and longtime supporter. Around seventh grade, I began to deal senior would enjoy. I love books more with a nagging suspicion that there than anything, and my collection is al- might be no God. A few years later, I ways expanding. I’ll read philosophy, Tackling new kind of foe shed religion altogether. history, science, politics, fiction or bi- How I came to work as an FFRF ographies. If I’m reading magazines, Name: Aaron J. Loudenslager. work: When I couldn’t figure out how legal intern: Through UW’s public in- they’re usually issues of Scientific Where and when I was born: Colum- to get the copier/printer to work after terest on-campus interview program. American, National Geographic, The bus, Wis., Nov. 6, 1989. it had a paper jam (all I had to do was I interviewed and fortunately received New Yorker, Harper’s, The Nation or Family: Father, Kimball Loud- move one part of the copier). an offer. The Economist. enslager, 59; mother, Marchelle Miller, My legal interests are: Constitutional What I do here: Respond to state/ I also spend too much time watch- 48; brother, Benjamin Loudenslager, law (Establishment Clause and Fourth church complaints by drafting and ing various sporting events, and I occa- 25; sister, Ashley Loudenslager, 21. Amendment jurisprudence) and law sending letters. I occasionally corre- sionally play Xbox for hours on end. I Education: Northern Michigan Uni- and economics, among many things. spond with complainants. I also per- have an unhealthy love of public radio versity, B.S. in economics and political My legal heroes are: I have many, but form research on various state/church and podcasts. Musically, I’m all over science, emphasis in prelaw; University some are Ralph Nader, Louis Brandeis, issues. the place, but the current rotation in- of Wisconsin Law School. Russ Feingold, Robert La Follette Sr., What I like best about it: I love cludes Fitz and the Tantrums, STS9, My religious upbringing was: Lu- William Brennan and Thurgood Mar- working with a small group of dedi- Phish, Dave Matthews Band, a few sym- theran. shall. cated staff and interns who believe in phonies by the Chicago Symphony Or- How I came to work as an FFRF le- These three words sum me up: Te- the work they do. I also love hearing chestra and Miles Davis. gal intern: I applied for the internship nacious, dedicated, amiable. from complainants whom we help. It’s Things I smite: Website/blog com- through the Wisconsin public interest Things I like: Sitcoms, “The Wire,” a great feeling to know we make a dif- ment sections, people who insist cre- interview program. the Green Bay Packers. ference for our members and others. ationism/intelligent design belong What I do here: I research various Things I smite: Humid weather, in- My legal interests are: Constitution- in schools because they’re legitimate Establishment Clause legal issues for tolerance. al law generally, legislation and policy scientific theories, people who send us staff attorneys and write internal legal My loftiest goal is: To become a con- and criminal defense. crank mail, Antonin Scalia. memoranda. I also draft letters of com- stitutional law professor. My legal heroes are: Any lawyer My loftiest goal: A tie between get- plaint to government agencies. Fun fact: I was all-conference hon- who uses their degree to bring about ting a Ph.D. in philosophy and run- What I like best about it: Seeing my orable mention as a football offensive change. The world isn’t waiting for ning for Congress. One seems more actions at FFRF effect positive change lineman (left tackle) in my senior year more attorneys to do corporate merg- likely to happen than the other. Close in the world. of high school. ers or real estate law. If I must be spe- runner-up: writing a novel. Something funny that’s happened at cific, I admire the four staff attorneys Freethought Today A Note to Notify Us of published by Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. Members [email protected] • FFRF.org Your Address P.O. Box 750 • Madison WI 53701 Your address label shows the expira- tion date of your membership in FFRF, Change Promptly! (608)256-8900 • FAX (608)204-0422 Email: [email protected] which includes your subscription to Editor: Bill Dunn, [email protected] Don’t miss a single issue! If you Freethought Today and “Private Line.” move, notify us directly and Production Editor: Scott Colson If it says August 2013 or earlier please Executive Editor: Annie Laurie Gaylor renew! Your prompt re newal ($40-single promptly. The Post Office does mem ber ship; $50-household; $100 sus- not forward third-class mail. Contributing Editor: Dan Barker taining; $25-student) saves us time and FFRF cannot be responsible for re- Contributors: Philip Appleman, Patrick Elliott, Sarah Eucalano, post age, and is tax-deductible. Free - placing back issues if we have not Sarah Jones, Daniel Koster, Andrew Seidel been notified prior to your move. thought Today is published 10 times a August 2013 year, with combined issues in Jan/Feb Back issues, while they last, may The only freethought newspaper in the United States and June/July. Send to FFRF, Box 750, be ordered for $2 each. Madison WI 53701, ffrf.org/donate August 2013 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 3 Fabio qualifies as brush with fame? Photo: Andrew Seidel Summer interns (left) Josh Glasgow, Ryan Dwyer, Sarah Eucalano and Aaron Loudenslager pose with Hemant Mehta (center) outside Freethought Hall. derstand why I find religious movies so mentaries, the bands American Hi-Fi funny, but I’ve seen 62 of them to date. and They Might Be Giants, puns, bad Check out “Suing the Devil” or “C Me movies, the fact that people dress up Dance” and you will understand.