Save CSULB Italian Studies MA Program

My name is Alessandro Russo and I am the current President of Club Italia at California State University Long Beach and about to receive my Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Italian Studies. I was born and raised in Southern California to Italian immigrants, so I have a passion for Italian language and culture and I am a part of the community as well.

The George L. Graziadio Chair of Italian Studies at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) was created in 2001 thanks to the generous donations and support of the entire Italian-American community of Southern California which included a collaboration of various Italian organizations. Since then a Bachelor's of Arts Degree and Teaching of Italian Credential (currently the only one available in California!) Programs were created and have had much success.

The current Chair of The Graziadio School of Italian Studies, Dr. Clorinda Donato, has worked tirelessly in the past couple of years to successfully create a Master's Degree Program in Italian Studies that was approved earlier this year by the university and was formally set to begin in the Fall of 2011. We, the Students of Italian Studies, were very excited to have this new opportunity that will so greatly enhance our lives. Unfortunately, we have been told that the MA Program in Italian Studies will be delayed with no estimation as to when it will be offered again. Therefore, I have with the support of other students created an online petition to save the MA Program in Italian Studies at Cal State Long Beach.

We need the Italian-American community's help in achieving our ultimate goal of an MA Program in Italian Studies at CSULB for Fall 2011. We are asking for your help by signing our petition and helping spread the word to the entire Italian community of Southern California. We appreciate anything you and your collaborative organizations can do to bring attention to the importance of Italian language and culture in academia by supporting us.
The student petition can be found online at http://www.change.org/petitions/view/save_csulbs_italian_studies_ma_program

Grazie Mille,
Alessandro Russo
President, Club Italia at CSULB