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.
February is Black History Month — as students, we should take this time to celebrate the achievements and heritage of Black people at Hopkins and beyond. As residents of Baltimore, we can support local Black-owned businesses and learn about Black history and culture in the city.
Hopkins hasn’t experienced a “normal” semester since fall 2019, and we return this spring with an all-too-familiar sense of uncertainty. Once again, we spent a break sorting through seemingly contradictory messaging from administrators which often brought more confusion than peace of mind. For example, although masking and testing requirements have been increased, Hodson 110 and Gilman 50 are packed with students returning for spring classes.
Housing Operations announced that regular guest and open-access policies would be suspended for residential students on Jan. 15. While this change is temporary at present, expiring after Feb. 6, it marks a stark departure from the University’s previous endeavors to protect students from COVID-19 while maintaining some form of social life.
Let’s be frank — Hopkins has yet to commit to the radical environmental action necessary to combat climate change, air pollution and toxicity. This lack of action directly contributes to the disproportionate harm that Black and low-income populations in Baltimore experience.
“Biology is too mainstream.” This is a sentiment I often hear from many students, especially those on the premedical track. Oftentimes, it seems that some students will choose an entirely different major to differentiate themselves, even if they are not as interested in that subject.
We have come to the end of another semester at Hopkins. Reflecting on the past three months, we must ask ourselves: Has the University eased our transition to a “new normal?”
An affinity for astrology, a disinterest or shortcoming in math, a love for plants, an excellent sense of style, a tendency to walk quickly, a toxic obsession with an ex. These characteristics only skim the surface of LGBTQ+ stereotypes and their inherent magnitude, which have more breadth and depth than is casually perceived.
We have a problem with trash on campus. And the University knows this. In response to a 2018 audit of sustainability in dining facilities, the University added extra compost bins and signage on how to properly dispose of waste.
In response to “Students react in wake of alleged intentional drugging at Sigma Phi Epsilon” published on November 10, 2021:
Since the onset of the pandemic, the University has continued to prioritize its own financial health over the needs of the people it exists to support.
On Monday, the University informed students of a reported intentional drugging incident at a Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity party over the weekend. The News-Letter stands in support of the victim.
Since the passage of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief bill earlier this year, millions of American families have received monthly direct payments from the federal government based on the number of children they have.
If you take the University’s word for it, Hopkins is a beacon of inclusivity. Alongside stunning views of campus, pictures meant to exemplify diversity feature prominently in the University’s promotional materials. This image is too rosy. The environment surrounding disability on campus exemplifies this inconsistency.
In theory, college is a time and place for us to discover ourselves, establish connections and learn more about what excites us. The experience, however, comes with a steep price tag.
Journalism has long been classified as a utility that provides information and facts to the public. However, with the advent of 24/7 news and the internet, the focus now seems to be on virality and maintaining constant attention from viewers. This causes much of the news to be sensationalized so that readers will click on, skim through and possibly share the story.
Hopkins often feels distant from the city it calls home. Community engagement efforts are largely concentrated in the areas surrounding the Homewood and East Baltimore campuses. Firmly entrenched in the Hopkins Bubble, we rarely stray far from the University.
There is nothing wrong with a woman wanting casual sex. There is nothing wrong with a woman wanting something more than casual sex. The game itself is what’s wrong.
In mid-September, The Wall Street Journal published leaked internal documents from Facebook regarding the harmful effects Instagram has on teenage girls. According to the internal report, the app increases the prevalence of body image issues and suicidal thoughts among teenagers.
Last week, the family of Henrietta Lacks filed a lawsuit against biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific. Seventy years ago, Lacks sought treatment for cervical cancer at Hopkins Hospital, where doctors harvested her cells without her knowledge. Following her death, her immortal cells, known as the HeLa cell line, would revolutionize modern medicine.
It has been a mere six weeks on campus and already I have lost track of the number of times I have heard some excuse to skip a meal: too much schoolwork, too stressed to eat, holding off until a later event.
