DeKALB | The voices of several members of the Atheist, Agnostic and Freethinkers group (AAFT) rang loudly in the MLK commons Friday as they demonstrated against current collective bargaining talks in Wisconsin that poise to cripple labor unions.

The AAFT at NIU are dedicated to giving a voice to the secular community. The group began in 2006 when president Kathryn Panger saw a need for the secular movement to have a place in the community, said AAFT treasurer Bryan Halco.

Since 2006, AAFT has been a part of NIU and classified as a religious organization. Halco said he plans to change the current classification of AAFT in the future.

“Atheism is no more a religion than bald is a hair color,” Halco said.

Under its current heading as a religious group, AAFT receives no money from the university, Halco said.

Because of this classification, the group is now fundraising to be able to take a trip to Washington D.C. to attend a seminar on the fight against human trafficking, said AAFT secretary Charles Fischer.

“The AAFT has associated itself with a number of benevolent causes,” said Christopher Nissen, AAFT adviser and associate professor of Italian. “In previous years we have collected for and donated to charity.”

In their meeting Wednesday, AAFT members discussed that they are not merely the dictionary definition of atheists. The AAFT meets at 8 p.m. Wednesdays in the Neptune Central’s Smart Classroom. Fischer said all are invited to attend.

“There is a group of open-minded, accepting people who get together every Wednesday to have intelligent discussions…and anyone is welcome,” Fischer said.