Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
November 21, 2024

News & Features



COURTESY OF YUKI JOHNSON 
Johnson discusses her love for linguistics, teaching languages and her career at Hopkins. 

Humans of Hopkins: Yuki Johnson

As Director of the Center for Language Education and a professor in Japanese grammar and language, Yuki Johnson exhibits a distinct love for linguistics and the art of teaching languages. In an interview with The News-Letter, she explained her work as director and described her career and successes at Hopkins.





COURTESY OF MYRA SAEED
Hopkins faculty and alumni assessed the U.S. presidential election results in an online event, comparing pre-election predictions with final outcomes.

SNF Agora and Hopkins at Home discuss U.S. presidential election outcome

Hopkins at Home and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute hosted a virtual event titled “Insights & Impacts: Post-Election Debrief” on Thursday, Nov 7. The two-part discussion from Hopkins faculty and alumni analyzed the election outcome of the 2024 U.S. general election and its future implications. 



COURTESY OF JIYUN GUO
Matías Vernengo, a professor of economics at Bucknell University, gave a talk tracing Argentina’s economic development and describing the impact of President Javier Milei’s policies. 

LACLxS and International Studies department host talk on Argentine President Javier Milei

On Oct. 31, Matías Vernengo, a professor of economics at Bucknell University, gave a talk titled “La Argentina de Javier Milei: 10 Months Later,” which centered around Argentina’s economic issues and current President Javier Milei’s approach to resolving them. Hosted by the Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies department, as well as the International Studies department, the event shed light on the political dynamics that impede Argentina’s economic development.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Hopkins students and faculty react to former President Donald J. Trump winning the 2024 election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Trump wins again: Hopkins students and faculty react

On Nov. 6, Former President Donald J. Trump was announced as the winner of the 2024 presidential election over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump received 295 electoral votes, including decisive votes from various swing states, compared to Harris’ 226, and will return to office for a second term. 



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The University released a Final Sustainability Plan, focused on various factors affecting environmental health — including research, consumption, transportation and the built environment of campus. 

University releases final sustainability plan to address climate crisis

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized Hopkins for its use of green power sources, which accounts for 60% of the University’s total power needs. The University currently ranks fourth among colleges in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership — a voluntary program aimed at protecting human health and the environment. Furthering its work in sustainability, the University released a Final Sustainability Plan, committed to recognizing the gravity of the climate crisis and providing a plan for the development of sustainable solutions at Hopkins. 


COURTESY OF SAMHI BOPPANA  
Hopkins students gathered at the Glass Pavilion for an election watch party hosted by Hopkins Votes. 

Hopkins students vote and await election results

Hopkins students have cast their ballots and are now awaiting election results, joining voters nationwide. Hopkins Votes held a March to the Polls event at 12:30 p.m. Students met at the Beach, and then walked or took a HopVan to the Waverly Public Library polling station to vote or register to vote on Election Day.


SGA hosts presentation from Hopkins Dining

The 112th Student Government Association (SGA) convened on Tuesday, Oct. 29 for their weekly meeting. The senate began the session with a presentation from the Hopkins Dining staff, covering recent updates and future plans. The team highlighted new additions to the Hopkins Café — such as a poke bar, updates to Levering Kitchens and the introduction of Niecy’s Fabulous Juice Bar replacing Good Part and Co. at the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center. 


Students voice discontent with University response to affirmative action ruling

Following the University’s release of data on the socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds of the Class of 2028 — the first admitted since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision limiting race-conscious admissions — student leaders from various cultural and affinity organizations issued statements condemning the significant decline in underrepresented students within the freshman class.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
This week’s SGA meeting included a town hall to discuss diversity, after the percentage of first-year undergraduate students who reported identifying with underrepresented groups dropped from 37% in 2023 to 17.6% this year.

SGA hosts public town hall to discuss racial diversity on campus

The Student Government Association (SGA) convened on Tuesday, Oct. 22 for their weekly meeting.This week’s meeting included a public town hall to discuss the decrease in the racial diversity in the class of 2028 and future steps to address the issue, moderated by Senator Cynthia Sanchez Hidalgo, SGA Treasurer Brandon Benjamin, Senator Srigouri Oruganty and Senator Nayshawn Ferebee.



COURTESY OF MYRA SAEED
In the concluding event of the Fall 2024 Aronson Center Speaker Series, Professor Bentley Allan discussed global climate policy and efforts by nations to develop domestic clean-energy supply chains. 

Bentley Allan discusses the evolving dynamics of global climate governance in Aronson Center Speaker Series

The Aronson Center for International Studies, in collaboration with the International Studies Leadership Council, hosted the last event of their Fall 2024 Speaker Series, titled “Faculty Fridays: A New World Ahead,” on Friday, Oct. 25. The event featured a discussion by Professor Bentley Allan — an associate professor of political science — regarding the evolving dynamics of global climate governance. 


COURTESY OF CAROLYN SUFRIN
Sufrin discusses her work and experience as an advocate for reproductive rights and improving health care for incarcerated people.

Humans of Hopkins: Carolyn Sufrin

Dr. Carolyn Sufrin is a physician and associate professor at the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health. In an interview with The News-Letter, she discussed her research, work in obstetrics and gynecology, and advocacy for the reproductive rights of incarcerated people.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
This Hoptoberfest featured a petting zoo, fall bouquet making and a pumpkin patch.

Hoptoberfest kicks off fall with several student activities

Hoptoberfest 2024, one of the signature events of the Hopkins Student Organization for Programming (the HOP), started on Wednesday, Oct. 23 on the Keyser Quad and featured various activities ranging from inflatables to lawn games. The event held Farm Day on Oct. 24, a haunted house event on Oct. 25 and a concert with Kiana Ledé and student openers on Oct. 26.


PACH BROTHERS / PUBLIC DOMAIN
The Name Review Board recommended that an undergraduate research fellowship named after former President Woodrow Wilson be renamed, and that a residence hall entryway bearing his name be retained and contextualized. 

Name Review Board recommends renaming of the Woodrow Wilson research fellowship and contextualization of AMR entryway

The Johns Hopkins Name Review Board (NRB) made recommendations on the use of former United States President and Hopkins alumni Woodrow Wilson’s name for an undergraduate research program and residence hall entryway on Oct. 24. The Board recommended that the Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship, which provides funding for students to conduct independent research, be renamed as the University Undergraduate Research Fellowship, effective immediately. The NRB also recommended that AMR I’s Wilson House entrance retain its name but with added contextual information.