The opinions presented below are solely the views of the author and do not represent the views of The News-Letter. If you are a member of the Hopkins community looking to submit a piece or a letter to the editor, please email opinions@jhunewsletter.com.
I’ve taken on the ’90s aesthetic a time or two through a motorcycle leather jacket and jean skirt, but it has never felt real. What once grew out of lived experience has become something curated, aestheticized and filtered, where whole identities now get assembled from trend cycles and pre-packaged “types.” The quest for aesthetics is destroying our originality.
The blue jay is our campus mascot. But have you ever actually seen a blue jay on campus? Many students have never seen the iconic bird at Homewood. A concerning trend in decreasing bird diversity and abundance may be the explanation.
In fear of growing attached, I shook away any possibility of Mamdani winning the primary. Months later, here he is: the NYC mayor-elect, and here I am: a New Yorker who finally sees her vision for the city at the forefront of Mamdani’s new, people-centered administration.
On Sept. 16, The Johns Hopkins News-Letter Editorial Board released an article bearing the title “On generative AI: The News-Letter commitment to journalistic integrity.” It set the paper’s opinion on the application of artificial intelligence to student journalism, that The News-Letter would not sacrifice ethical reporting in the cause of efficiency, though the temptation may be.
As the boundaries of art continue to blur, the question of what marks art ‘good’ or ‘bad’ has become increasingly complex. These distinctions matter for anyone seeking to understand how creative expression shapes human thought and culture. But before we can evaluate the quality of art, we must first ask a more fundamental question: What is art?
Around 17 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered one of its most consequential decisions in modern American history. This case is one which took up the mantle of a centuries-long debate regarding the intended scope of the Second Amendment and sought to settle its ambiguous wording.
The U.S. has a longstanding reputation as the “land of the free” because its population is entitled to stand up for the values that matter to them, and the “home of the brave” because people are willing to stand up for causes that resonate with them. I see a crisis of these freedoms, values and equal opportunities in the U.S. today.
On Sept. 8, the Supreme Court temporarily halted the enforcement of an appeals court ruling against ICE's ability to use frivolous discriminatory factors as a reason for stopping individuals and checking their immigration status. This decision comes as a significant departure from the so-called ‘race blindness’ the Supreme Court has tried to pursue in college admissions.
In the race to build the biggest and baddest AI data centers, everyday Americans are being left behind. Predominantly Black and low-income communities have taken the biggest hit, especially in cities like Memphis, where the xAI Memphis Supercluster went online just last year. Now Maryland residents are facing a similar battle.
Reading “University students respond to the assassination of Charlie Kirk,” I was impressed by the way the paper addressed it: How do we protest the violent suppression of opinions while acknowledging the damage a person’s platform may inflict? As a student paper publishing an article on a political assassination is no small matter.
We need new policies, new leaders, new systems. In short: we need change. Yet, as much as we can discuss our concerns and complaints about the world, most of us are not as inclined to jump in to be a part of the change — and not because of the work needed to try.
Dining halls are a problem. Workers are understaffed and overworked, and students and staff have recently commented on the poor quality of food and reduced portion sizes. Dining is a crucial component of student life and well-being, and Hopkins staff are critical to its success. The administration, however, has neglected to provide an adequate working environment for its dining employees.
When I first applied, I didn’t really know either. On the list of positions at The News-Letter, “Public Editor” caught my eye because there were only a few people that had signed up. The other roles were obvious enough: the Voices Editor handled Voices, the Opinions Editor oversaw Opinions, the News Editor managed News. By that logic, I figured, the Public Editor must be in charge of the “public.”
This fall, The News-Letter conducted a community survey to better understand who makes up our readership. In total, 43 students shared their identities, academic backgrounds and experiences.
On Jan. 16, the PIIAC rejected a proposal from the Hopkins Justice Collective to divest from weapons and surveillance companies implicated in atrocities in Gaza. The decision came during one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, as over 90% of over 2 million Palestinians faced bombardment, starvation and displacement.
The restriction of generative AI in classrooms is appropriate to maintain academic integrity and intellectual honesty and should remain in place even as technology intertwines further with day-to-day life. However, artificial intelligence as a supplement to learning is inevitable yet detrimental to the learning mind.
AI is efficient, but journalism, as time-sensitive as it may be, requires more than just efficiency. When tackling sensitive topics, nuanced interviews and care for our subject matter are required to produce a sincere publication. The News-Letter will not sacrifice ethical reporting for efficiency, no matter how alluring the prospect may be.
Not a month passes in which I don’t wish Hopkins offered a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.
The News-Letter functions not only as a record of campus activities, a place to play Hopkins-themed crosswords or share a nervous breakdown experience from finals week; it is also one of the few avenues through which Hopkins speaks to and about its community. Asking what makes a good newspaper inevitably raises larger questions about what makes for a thriving public conversation.
The sophomore housing selection process operates as a lottery. You cross your fingers for a good time slot to log into the portal first and claim your preferred residence hall. My top pick was a single room in a double suite in Scott-Bates Commons — where I am currently writing this article.
