We, the undersigned students of linguistics, respectfully ask Professor Martin Haspelmath to make a brief appearance at our morphology exam.

The reason is simple. Our professor, Oleg Belyaev, informed us that he would be delighted to give every student the highest grade if Professor Haspelmath were to appear at the exam. While this statement may have been intended humorously, we believe that great moments in academic history begin when students take jokes seriously.

Professor Haspelmath's work has influenced the study of morphology, linguistic typology, and language universals around the world. For many of us, his publications have already become part of our education. A short greeting from him would therefore be both an honor and an unforgettable event.

The exam will take place on 5 June at 10:00 Moscow time. We are not asking for a lecture, a presentation, or an assessment of our performance. We are asking only for a brief appearance via Zoom—long enough to say hello and witness the consequences of Professor Belyaev's promise.

By signing this petition, we express our hope that Professor Haspelmath will consider joining us for a few minutes and helping create what may become one of the most legendary morphology exams in recent memory.

Thank you, Professor Haspelmath.

Sincerely,

Students of Linguistics
Moscow State University