Atheist students want God out of speech

EDMONTON, Alberta, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A move is afoot by Canadian student atheists and agnostics to have references to God removed from the University of Alberta's convocation ceremony.

For more than 100 years, the chancellor's address to the graduates has included the call for graduates use their degrees "for the glory of God," the Edmonton Journal reported.

Monday night, the U of A Atheists and Agnostics group petitioned a committee to change the wording to a compromise that encourages graduates to use their degrees "for the uplifting of the whole people; to inspire the human spirit; for all who believe, to serve your God; and to pursue more steadfastly whatsoever things are true."

Ian Bushfield, president of the atheists and agnostics society said he was disappointed any reference to God had to be made in the compromise wording, but Andrew Chan of the group Christians in Action Bible Study told the newspaper it was reasonable.

"For those who believe, they will still have their faith recognized as part of their schooling," he said. "For those who don't, it still asks them to use their degree for the betterment of mankind."

Further debate on the wording is scheduled for Jan. 26.