As students of the paleontology program at Carthage College, we are witnessing the decline of a once-promising department due to the lack of adequate support and funding. We pay the same tuition fees as everyone else, yet our program seems to receive a fraction of the resources allocated to larger departments such as nursing and engineering.

Last year, we faced eviction from the Kenosha Dinosaur Discovery Museum—a pivotal resource for our studies—without even being offered an explanation. Our equipment, essential for our research and learning, has been relegated to an old garage and a broom closet, where it suffers from neglect and damage. This treatment not only diminishes our educational experience but also endangers the potential of future students and the program's growth.

It is important to note that the tuition paid by each paleontology student more than covers the department's expenses paid back to them, even twice over, according to available financial insights. This misalignment in resource allocation undermines the program’s mission and the student body’s potential. Despite these financial justifications and the growing interest in the program, the decision-makers at Carthage College seem intent on ignoring these facts, allowing this valuable program to struggle and die.

Paleontology is not just about digging up fossils; it’s about understanding the history of life on Earth, which is an integral part of biological sciences. The dwindling attention to this field at Carthage College means not only a lost educational opportunity but also a significant contribution to sciences that remains unexplored and unsupported.

We call upon Carthage College to reinvest in and revitalize the paleontology program. This includes rehiring a dedicated fossil preparator, who is essential for hands-on training and practical learning experiences. Additionally, we demand a reevaluation of the paleontology students' facilities to provide a safe and professional environment for students to study and work. Currently we are sharing a lab with the physics students and there is not room for both groups at the same time.

We urge Carthage College to recognize the importance, value, and potential of the paleontology program. With proper support and investment, it can thrive and continue to attract and inspire future generations of scientists. By signing this petition, you are supporting the call for equitable educational resources that allow every student the opportunity to succeed in their chosen field of study.