UNI Freethinkers & Inquirers, known around campus as UNIFI, is the University of Northern Iowa's student organization for atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, and anyone who values critical thinking and rational inquiry. We're a community of students who believe that questions are more valuable than unexamined answers, and that open, honest discussion about religion, science, and secularism makes for a better campus and a better world.
Whether you're a lifelong atheist, someone questioning your beliefs, or just curious about what a secular student group actually does, you're welcome here. We don't require a membership card or a statement of non-belief. We just ask that you come with an open mind and a willingness to engage in thoughtful conversation.
Our Mission
At UNIFI, we're committed to promoting rational inquiry, scientific literacy, and secular values on campus and in the broader community. We believe that reason and evidence should guide our understanding of the world, and that faith claims deserve the same scrutiny as any other claim about reality. That doesn't mean we're hostile to religious people—many of our members come from religious backgrounds, and we welcome productive dialogue with people of all beliefs. What we're opposed to is dogmatism, pseudoscience, and the assumption that certain ideas should be immune from criticism simply because they're labeled as sacred.
We also recognize that being non-religious in a society that often privileges religious belief can be isolating. Part of our mission is simply to create a space where students can be open about their lack of faith without judgment, where they can ask hard questions, and where they can connect with others who share their worldview. For some of our members, UNIFI is the first place they've felt comfortable discussing their doubts or their atheism openly.
What We Do
UNIFI isn't just a discussion group, though discussion is certainly a big part of what we do. Throughout the academic year, we host weekly meetings where we tackle topics ranging from the philosophy of religion to science denialism to the separation of church and state. These meetings are informal and student-led—anyone can propose a topic or lead a discussion. We've debated everything from the ethics of artificial intelligence to whether New Atheism is dead to why people believe in astrology despite all evidence to the contrary.
Beyond our weekly meetings, we bring guest speakers to campus, participate in community service projects, and engage with other student organizations in interfaith and secular dialogue. We table at student involvement fairs, we collaborate with the philosophy and biology departments, and we occasionally host social events because, believe it or not, secularists know how to have fun too.
But our flagship event, the one we're probably best known for, is Darwin Week. Every year, we organize a week-long speaker series celebrating science, evolution, and critical thinking. We've hosted science communicators, academics, activists, and skeptics who challenge pseudoscience and promote evidence-based thinking. Darwin Week has become a tradition at UNI, and it's one of the highlights of our year. If you've ever attended one of our Darwin Week events, you know what UNIFI is all about.
Who Can Join
The short answer: anyone. You don't have to be an atheist to be part of UNIFI. You don't have to denounce your religion or sign a statement of secular principles. We welcome students of all backgrounds, including those who are religious but curious about secular perspectives, those who are questioning their beliefs, and those who simply want to engage in thoughtful conversations about big questions.
That said, UNIFI does exist primarily to serve the non-religious community on campus. If you're an atheist, agnostic, humanist, skeptic, or just someone who doesn't fit into traditional religious categories, this is your group. We're here to provide community, support, and a space where you can be yourself without having to explain or defend your lack of belief.
Our members come from all majors and all walks of life. We've got biology students and philosophy majors, engineers and English majors, freshmen and graduate students. What unites us isn't a shared major or a shared background—it's a shared commitment to asking questions and seeking answers based on reason and evidence.
Getting Involved
Joining UNIFI is easy. Show up to a meeting. That's it. We don't have membership dues or initiation rituals. We meet regularly during the academic year, and you can find our meeting times and locations posted on our social media and around campus. If you're nervous about coming to your first meeting, don't be—everyone was new once, and we go out of our way to make newcomers feel welcome.
If you want to get more involved, we're always looking for students who want to take on leadership roles, organize events, or lead discussions. Our officer team changes each year as students graduate and move on, and we rely on passionate, organized students to keep UNIFI running. If you're interested in becoming an officer or getting more involved behind the scenes, reach out to our current leadership team.
Why UNIFI Matters
In a world where misinformation spreads faster than facts, where pseudoscience masquerades as science, and where religious dogma still shapes public policy, organizations like UNIFI matter. We're not just a social club—though the social aspect is important. We're a community of students who believe that critical thinking, scientific literacy, and secular values are essential to building a better future.
We're also a reminder that you don't have to be religious to be moral, that you don't need faith to find meaning, and that a life guided by reason and compassion is a life worth living. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, we'd love to have you. Come to a meeting, stay for the conversation, and see what UNIFI is all about. We think you'll like what you find.