I'm considering starting a student organization at my school (the University of Utah) sometime in the next week. I'm not sure if I'll get funding but I'm really motivated to get it started, largely because schools of 2,000 students have this organization whereas my school, of 30,000, does not. It's called the Secular Student Alliance (http://www.secularstudents.org/). Please don't just tell me to look on their website because I've done that and would like to know what somebody (if anybody) with real student organization-management experience could recommend. Some questions:

1) How much of my time will this take up?

2) What's the best way to advertise? As you can guess I'm not great at going up to people and asking them to join an organization out of nowhere, so please don't say word of mouth.

3) What are some non-atheistic activities that my organization can do? I'd hate to drive anybody away so I intend for at least some activities/meetings to not be religion-related.

4) Further, what are some atheistic activities that I can do? I'll be sure to do a student panel, several debates, a few films, etc., but do you guys have any other ideas?

5) Is once every 2 weeks satisfactory for meetings/activities?

6) Though the Univ. of Utah is a public school, about 50% of its students are Mormons, and many more are also quite religious, though I'm sure I could get enough non-theists to join. To avoid offending or putting people off of this organization, should I call it the Secular Student Association, or the Secular Student Alliance? "Alliance" sounds too strong of a word. Any creative acronyms I can use that you can think of?

7) Any general tips? Anything I should look out for?

I'd offer something, but I've never been involved in a student organization. I always had too many other things on the go.

However, it sounds like a good idea. Alliance is a good word for it. Good luck.

It may absorb a lot of your time, until you find people to join that are willing to help out.