Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 30, 2025
April 30, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

News & Features



 PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Comedian and actor Eric André’s unconventional humor entertained a full crowd, including some of his biggest fans, in Shriver Hall.

Eric André bares all at packed MSE kickoff

Students filled Shriver Hall on Thursday Sept. 8 to see alternative comedian, writer and actor Eric André begin the 2016 Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Symposium. MSE’s theme this year is “Facing Fracture.”


 COURTESY OF SARAH Y. KIM
The four former members of Congress answered student questions and debated with each other in a town hall format last night.

IDEAL hosts former U.S. representatives at forum

IDEAL at JHU hosted its first-ever Congress to Campus town hall Wednesday night in the Hodson Boardroom. The event brought together a bipartisan team of four former Congress members, Toby Roth (R-WI, 1979-1996), Barbara Kennelly (D-CT, 1981-1999), Nick Rahall (D-WV, 1977-2015) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL 1989-2013), over the span of three days.


Nobel Laureate talks global climate change

The Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) hosted a lecture by Nobel laureate and former U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu titled “Climate Change and a Low-Cost Path to Clean Energy,” Tuesday afternoon in Shriver Hall. Chu’s address, which was the 2016 Carolyn and Edward Wenk, Jr. Lecture in Technology and Public Policy, addressed the effects of and solutions for global climate change, as well as its future impact on society.


CINDY JIANG/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Current residents of Nine East 33rd praised the upscale amenities and conveniences of the new building.

New residents consider pros and cons of Nine East 33rd

Nine East 33rd, commonly known as “The New Building,” first opened its doors to student residents on Aug. 21. The building’s upper levels are designated as off-campus student housing, with retail space on its first floor.


COURTESY OF PARAM SHAH
Junior Param Shah, CEO of Fusiform Medical, named one of Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 under 40.

Hopkins junior pioneers medical startups

Junior Param Shah, the co-founder and CEO of prosthetic and orthotic Baltimore startup Fusiform Medical, has been named one of Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 under 40. The annual list spotlights young business leaders in the city handpicked by the Journal’s editorial staff from a pool of more than 350 nominations and recommendations.




 COURTESY OF TIMOTHY LEE
This year’s orientation program strengthens inter-student exchange through a revamped FYM program.

Orientation 2016 fosters peer mentorship

This year’s new student orientation sought to maintain the spirit of years past while implementing new dynamic changes in a five-day program focused on welcoming and transitioning new students into the University.


O’Connor Fund backs campus entrepreneurs

This semester marks the beginning of the third year for the Ralph S. O’Connor Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Fund, a Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV) program. Since its first cohort of recipients in 2014 and 2015, the fund has added more mentorship and infrastructural support for budding entrepreneurs.


Justice department criticizes BPD conduct

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division released an extensive report on Aug. 10 reviewing the policing practices of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). The report revealed that there has been a pattern of violations of federal and constitutional law and systemic discrimination against African Americans by the BPD.


KAREEM OSMAN/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Construction on the Keyser Quad is expected to end by fall of 2017.

Quad construction disrupts students

Students returning to campus have had to adjust to major construction on the Keyser Quad and the Breezeway. Since June major portions of the quad have been fenced off. New detours and construction noise in the area have confused and inconvenienced some students.



 COURTESY OF MORGAN OME
Students feel the Housing Office failed to communicate clearly and provide adequate living arrangements.

Response to Commons flood angers residents

Students activated a fire sprinkler in their dorm room on the 12th floor of the Charles St. Building of Charles Commons, which led to flooding and an evacuation on Sunday, Sept. 4. The Housing Office has not clarified the cause of the incident.


 COURTESY OF WILL ANDERSON
 Organizers say covered grades help freshmen transition to Hopkins' academic rigor.

Students react to University’s revocation of covered grades

At the end of last semester the University announced that covered grades, officially known as the first semester grading policy, will be discontinued in 2017. This prompted criticism from two dozen student groups, which formed a coalition named Re-Cover Hopkins to protest the change and the University’s lack of transparency in finalizing the decision.


University considers non-union Hop Cops

The University is currently reviewing its 10-year-old contract with Allied Universal, the company that provides contractor-employed security guards, commonly known as Hop Cops. Controversy has erupted over the University’s decision to open the bidding process to non-union companies.



COURTESY OF BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT
From top left, clockwise: Goodson, Jr., Miller, Nero, White, Rice, Porter.

Mosby drops charges against BPD officers in Freddie Gray case

All charges against the remaining three Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers implicated in the death of Freddie Gray were dropped yesterday morning. The decision by the office of Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby came after unsuccessful prosecutions of four of the officers between December 2015 and July 2016.


COURTESY OF SUNIL KUMAR
Kumar will be the University's next provost.

Sunil Kumar appointed next Hopkins provost

The University has selected Sunil Kumar, dean of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, to be its fifteenth provost, effective Sept. 1. Kumar will replace Robert C. Lieberman, who will become a Krieger-Eisenhower professor in the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences (KSAS) and will continue his research on the intersection of race and inequality in the United States.



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