Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 19, 2025
April 19, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

News & Features



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Students savored local food in outdoor seatings.

Students make do with downsized Spring Fair in rainy weather

The University held its 52nd Annual Spring Fair from April 27 to April 30. This year’s Spring Fair, following the precedent set by the previous two years, was planned by the Office of Leadership Engagement and Experiential Development (LEED) in collaboration with Hopkins Student Organization for Programming (HOP).




COURTESY OF LONDON CRADDOCK
Roche spoke on horror as a genre of interest, highlighting the fantastical dimensions it allows film to explore. 

Humans of Hopkins: Jimmy Joe Roche

Jimmy Joe Roche is an interdisciplinary artist whose portfolio includes music, film, sculpture and performance. In an interview with The News-Letter, he discussed his upbringing, his journey into the art world and a partnership with another artist that he has found valuable.






STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The first SGA meeting of the 111th senate clarified several bylaws and presented the updated 2023–2024 Rules Bill. 

SGA holds committee chair elections for 111th senate

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on April 18 to discuss SGA Committee reports and elections, spring 2023 bylaws updates and the 2023–2024 Rules Bill. This was the first meeting of the 111th senate.



WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / CC BY-SA 2.0
Johns Hopkins Hospital shortly after its construction in the late 19th century.

Johns Hopkins Hospital: Past and present

Johns Hopkins, a wealthy Baltimore merchant and businessman, hoped to build a hospital that would “compare favorably with any other institution of like character in this country and Europe.” 


FILE PHOTO
Students discussed struggling to feel part of their organizations due to the shift online during the pandemic. 

Students reflect three years after University shutdown

Following the announcement of the suspension of in-person classes on March 10, 2020, the University announced that students were required to leave campus by March 15, 2020 due to increasing worries around the spread of COVID-19. The following fall semester, the University moved courses to an entirely virtual modality. 


COURTESY OF KATHERINE BUDINGER.
Budinger highlighted the accessibility of working with the Special Collections.

Humans of Hopkins: Katherine Budinger

Katherine Budinger, a sophomore majoring in Writing Seminars and English, is currently conducting a research project connecting Dante Alighieri's narrative poem The Divine Comedy with tarot card meaning and symbolism. In an interview with The News-Letter, she discussed her interest in humanities research, working with the Sheridan Special Collections and the connections she found between Dante and astrology. 



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The strategic framework solicited opinions from the Hopkins community to ensure the inclusion of diverse experiences. 

University releases draft of Ten for One Strategic Framework

The administration sent a broadcast email releasing a draft of the University’s second strategic framework, Ten for One, on April 14. The framework outlines 10 goals that the University hopes to achieve by 2030. The goals focus on building an inclusive, University-wide community on-campus; promoting excellence in students, faculty and staff; continuing to lead in research endeavours with real world impacts; and contributing to neighboring Baltimore communities.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Panelists shared their personal experiences with promoting workers’ rights through organized activity.

Panel underscores importance of collective action for labor rights at final FAS event

The Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS) held its last panel of the semester on the topic of workers’ rights on April 13. The panel featured Chris Smalls, the president and founder of Amazon Labor Union, Roxie Herbekian from Unite Here and Anna Word from Teachers and Researchers United, the Hopkins graduate worker union. The event was moderated by Maximillian Alvarez from The Real News Network, and speakers shared their stories on organizing and unionizing in their respective industries.


COURTESY OF JASON ZHANG
Zhang spoke on how he continued his research after after hitting a roadblock.

Humans of Hopkins: Jason Zhang

Jason Zhang is a senior completing a BS/MSE in Chemical Biomolecular Engineering. In an interview with The News-Letter, Zhang discussed his research in chemistry and physics, where he grows gemstones in his lab, as well as his participation in the Mentoring Assistance Peer Program (MAPP).


COURTESY OF KAIYUAN DU
Cameron spotlighted the lack of availability of resources for patients on donor lists as a driving reason for continued research and investment in xenotransplantation.

Speakers at TEDxJHU main event explore themes of resilience

TEDxJHU held its spring main event, "In Full Bloom," on April 8. Four speakers from the Baltimore region spoke at the event, including associate professor Andrew Cameron, plant enthusiast Liz Vayda, educator Kaelyn Chang and singer Almira Zaky. The AllNighters, an acapella group at the University, performed during intermission.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
SGA voted not to pass the Fiji Islander Funding Bill due to financial constraints.

SGA makes amendments to Constitution and bylaws

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on April 11 to discuss funding for a Blue Jays and Poets Open Mic Night, the Fiji Islander Funding Bill, constitutional and bylaws amendments, the Container Funding Bill and the SGA Inauguration Funding Bill. The Financial Aid Office also gave a presentation to SGA.


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