At Martin Luther University (MLU), there is a threat of an eradication of the Small Subjects - subjects that not only have a long tradition at our university, but also contribute to the national and international reputation of the MLU in the fields of Ancient Languages (Greek Studies), Archaeology (Oriental Archaeology) and Non-European Studies (South Asian Studies, Indology and Japanese Studies) or Small European Cultures (South Slavic Studies), as well as being particularly successful in the acquisition of third-party funding and the promotion of young academics. Subject diversity has always been a hallmark of MLU, which has also made the university attractive for academics and students. In 2013, the German Science Council also strongly recommended that MLU make the Small Subjects more visible in its profile.

The current austerity dictate - under the euphemism of ‘Profilschärfung’/ ‘profile enhancement’ - affects the Small Subjects in a special way, because with the reduction of chairs, these subjects, which are only represented by one person anyway, are completely on the brink of extinction. This means that entire subject cultures are disappearing in Saxony-Anhalt, because subjects are being cut that, across the whole of Central Germany, are only represented at MLU.

In addition, the target agreement signed by the MLU Rectorate and the Minister of Science in 2020, the basis for the future structural development of the university, specifies as part of the teaching profile, among others: Greek, South Asian Studies, Japanese Studies, Archaeology and Slavic Studies. The current plans for cuts contradict the content of this agreement. This petition is directed against that. MLU is putting one of its brand cores at risk here, but it is threatening to lose far more than just the damage to its image: in times of globalisation, expertise in different regions of the world is a decisive location factor, for example in economically strong or strongly growing economies such as East or South Asia. In the South Slavic region, there are currently candidates for accession to the EU. But even beyond economic factors, political, cultural, religious and social problems are increasingly seen in and shaped by a global discourse that cannot be solved by the Western perspective alone. In order to understand these processes, to analyse them and to process them for the areas involved, regional scientific expertise in various fields is required in addition to sound language skills.

To successfully shape the future, it is always necessary to take a critical look at history, a history that does not only look at Europe, but at all regions of the world, and not only at modernity and the present, but is open to long periods of time. How much is to be learned from linguistic as well as material evidence, especially from regions that show the beginnings of globalised societies thousands of years ago, how much can we learn from their experiences and knowledge. In this respect, both the ancient languages and cultures of classical antiquity and Near Eastern archaeology, which deals with Mesopotamia as the "cradle of culture" and the junction between Orient and Occident, are indispensable.

The petition for the preservation of these subjects is therefore not only about the discussion of content at the university itself, but rather about having excellently trained graduates in these fields in the future who can contribute their expertise to the economy, politics, culture and administration in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany and the EU.

We call on the rectorate of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg to stop the massive cutback plans, to present the financial situation transparently and, building on this, to work together with the faculties and institutes on the further profiling of the MLU in the university network.

We call on the state government of Saxony-Anhalt to ensure stable basic funding for all universities in the state and to preserve MLU for what it is: a traditional alma mater with a future and the only comprehensive university in the state.

We appeal to the senators of the Martin Luther University to support not only the unity of research and teaching, but also the preservation of Small Subjects and the associated diversity at our university, and thus for a strong partner in the university network.

If you care about the future of MLU, the breadth of university education for future generations of students and researchers, and Central Germany as a strong research location that is also crucial for the social, economic and societal development of the region, then show your solidarity with us. Sign the petition and stand up for the continuation of the diversity of subjects at MLU with your signature and in the comments section.