Every year at UW-Stout, the Stout Student Association requires organizations to submit budget requests and attend a budget hearing in order to secure funds for things like recruitment, travel, speakers, and campus events. The budget hearing consists of a presentation made by the officers of each organization, and is judged by the Stout Student Association - a board made up of students and members of the Financial Affairs Committee. Towards the end of the year, a public document is made available of the budget allocations for each organization.

We have noticed there is an alarming trend and pattern in the way the budget is allocated. Non-Academic clubs based on recreational activities and sports are far more supported than Academic clubs at UW-Stout. They are given funds to support social gatherings and travel that does not promote the educational programs at UW-Stout. One of Stout's main selling points in their marketing strategy is the large emphasis placed on job placement and internships.

The lack of funding for academic organizations affects the opportunities we have as students to attend workshops, networking events, and conferences to further our careers and education. Based on the budget allocations for 2015-2016, Non- Academic clubs requested $596,894 and received $430,872 or 72.12%. Academic clubs requested $130,262 and received just $55,521 or 42.62%. The profound lack of regard for academic clubs is directly harming the strength and success of the programs we have at UW-Stout. Please sign this petition if you agree that UW-Stout SSA should work towards supporting academic organizations as a whole and provide the funds necessary in order to ensure our success.