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Today, Mandarin is one of the most important foreign languages for any American to learn, yet of all of the varied foreign languages offered at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN), it has the least support.

At the time of this petition's writing, there are zero Chinese classes offered at Cal State University Northridge. In previous years, the first semester of a course in Mandarin Chinese (not nearly enough training to communicate effectively) had been offered at CSUN, taught by a part-time professor and High School teacher.

China is one of the United States' greatest trading partners, and is becoming more and more important for international business and trade each year. According to the U.S. Government census, roughly 19% of all goods imported to America come from China (with Canada trailing a close second at 14%).

Bringing Chinese back to CSUN will allow CSUN students, the future workforce of America, to communicate with the majority of the Chinese people (20% of the world's population)

In addition to the immense number of practical applications for learning the Mandarin dialect of Chinese, the language is a beautiful one—representing centuries upon centuries of Chinese culture.

Why is it that one of the most important languages for international business in the modern world offered at High Schools but not a university of prestige in that very same realm of business?

It is the goal of this petition to see the instatement of one or more full-time teachers of Mandarin Chinese at CSUN, and that courses in at least both introductory and intermediate Mandarin be offered, such that CSUN students have the opportunity to become fluent enough in the language to communicate effectively in their future careers or personal lives.