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COURTESY OF MICHELLE LIMPE An unusually deserted John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The journey home: the plight of the international student

By MICHELLE LIMPE | August 8, 2020

Every country is battling the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in a different way, each at varying stages of protecting its citizens and eliminating the virus. With international students accounting for approximately 19 percent of the University’s student body, The News-Letter reached out to a few of them to hear about their journeys home during the pandemic and the current state of COVID-19 in their countries. From scrambling to book flights home, to weighing their options for the fall semester, international students have had to make many hard decisions in the past few months. 

COURTESY OF MICHELLE LIMPE Baltimore restaurants can resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity.

Mayor Young eases indoor dining restrictions in Baltimore

By MICHELLE LIMPE | August 8, 2020

Baltimore City Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young announced that restaurants can resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity beginning on Friday, August 7. This follows Young’s previous orders from July 24 to suspend all indoor dining services after a recent spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Maryland. 

COURTESY OF CHRIS H. PARK The University announced that all classes would be held remotely for the fall semester due to a spike in coronavirus cases nationwide.

Hopkins announces online-only fall plans and tuition reduction

By MARVIS GUTIERREZ and CHRIS H. PARK | August 6, 2020

University President Ronald J. Daniels announced in an email to the Hopkins community that all undergraduate classes will be offered online for the entire fall semester. Ongoing on-campus research will resume in accordance to Phase 1 guidelines. Additionally, the University will also reduce tuition by ten percent, and most incoming freshman will not be able to live on campus.

PUBLIC DOMAIN The International Studies Leadership Council hosted Thiru Vignarajah for a discussion on how to counter racial injustice in Baltimore City.

Former mayoral candidate discusses ending the racial divide in Baltimore

By LEELA GEBO | July 23, 2020

The International Studies Leadership Council (ISLC) hosted the second event in its Summer Series on Race, “Racial Divides in Baltimore,” on July 16. Thiru Vignarajah, the former deputy attorney general of Maryland and candidate in Baltimore’s recent mayoral election, spoke at the event. Vignarajah, a Baltimore native, discussed policing, education, public transportation reform and marijuana legalization as ways to mitigate the impact of systemic racism in Baltimore City.

FILE PHOTO SGA signed a petition demanding the University end its plans for the private police force.

SGA votes to rename Woodrow Wilson Fellowship

By MICHELLE LIMPE | July 1, 2020

The Student Government Association (SGA) met for the second time this summer on June 30 over Zoom. At the meeting, SGA voted unanimously to support renaming the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and Gildersleeve House of AMR II in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The group also signed the petition calling for the University to permanently end its plans for the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD). 

COURTESY OF MICHELLE LIMPE The Atlas Restaurant Group faces dress code backlash after manager refused to seat a Black child.

Baltimore restaurant reignites controversy after denying service to Black customer

By CHRIS H. PARK | June 28, 2020

Atlas Restaurant Group apologized after a Black woman posted a video of her and her son being denied service at Ouzo Bay in Harbor East on June 21. In the video, which has since been widely circulated on social media, a white manager denies service to the Black woman and her son because her son was wearing athletic clothing. The video shows a white child in similar clothing dining at the restaurant.

FILE PHOTO As Baltimore begins to reopen, Mayor Young has lifted the ban on large outdoor gatherings.

Young lifts Baltimore's outdoor gathering ban

By LEELA GEBO | June 28, 2020

Baltimore City Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young lifted the city’s ban on large outdoor gatherings beginning June 26. This decision comes one week after Young moved the city into phase two of Maryland’s re-opening plan, following shutdowns to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).  

COURTESY OF RUDY MALCOM The Black Faculty and Staff Association organized a peaceful demonstration on the eve of Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating emancipation.

Black faculty demand representation on eve of Juneteenth

By RUDY MALCOM | June 19, 2020

More than 200 members of the Hopkins community gathered in front of the Beach on Thursday, June 18 to demand that the University better hire and support black faculty members, as well as cancel the planned private police force. The Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) held the peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the nationwide protests that have followed George Floyd’s killing by a white Minneapolis police officer.  

FILE PHOTO FLI and international students discuss employment and housing issues for the fall.

SGA discusses improving inclusion on campus

By LEELA GEBO | June 18, 2020

The Student Government Association (SGA) discussed resuming in-person activities and promoting diversity efforts at its first meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on Tuesday, May 16. Although SGA typically begins meeting in the fall, the group decided it would meet twice this summer, citing unprecedented circumstances and the need to carry out time-sensitive activities. 

FILE PHOTO Although the University has suspended plans to implement a private police force for at least two years, students have questioned whether that is enough.

University delays plans for private police force

By CHRIS H. PARK and RYAN AGHAMOHAMMADI | June 13, 2020

University President Ronald J. Daniels and other administrators announced the suspension of the implementation of the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD) for at least two years in an email on June 12. This announcement followed nationwide protests against racism and police brutality prompted by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. 

FILE PHOTO Administrators will address the petition at a town hall on June 10.

Faculty demand shared governance in petition to Daniels

By GRETA MARAS and CHRIS H. PARK | June 9, 2020

More than 600 faculty members signed a petition delivered to President Ronald J. Daniels on June 5 calling for greater representation in University decision-making. The petition also demanded greater financial transparency and the reversal of various austerity measures taken by the University, including hiring freezes and suspension of retirement plan contributions. 

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