Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
November 22, 2024

Opinion

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.



 Karl-ludwig poggemann/cc by 2.0
President Donald Trump signs a stack of executive orders on Inauguration Day.

Executive orders are a threat to democracy

America has endured little over a week of the new Trump Administration, and already there’s a sense of commitment towards unconstitutional governance. President Trump, as of this past weekend, has issued 17 executive orders and memorandums with the goal of making good on many of his campaign pledges. The problem is that the vast majority of these orders are completely unconstitutional.


 COURTESY OF GILLIAN LELCHUK Protesters gathered with signs at Baltimore’s Women’s March.

Stay active and involved beyond calling yourself a feminist

As we enter the next four years of America, it seems like a lot of people are taking a greater interest in politics and activism than they previously had. Protests are popping up all over the place, from the Women’s March to the anti-Muslim ban protests at international airports across the country.


Student groups should stop meeting, start doing

"Let’s meet to talk about that” seems to be the new get out of jail free card for those involved in administering student organizations. We must be wary of this phenomenon and take all necessary steps to defend against it. Meetings too often replace actual action with a trap of busywork, defined as work that usually appears productive or of intrinsic value but actually only keeps people occupied. Considering the extensive responsibilities some of our student leaders and administrators have, meeting may very well be a waste of time.



Editorial: We need to protect workers’ rights at Hopkins

Last Thursday, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), along with labor unions Unite Here Local 7 and SEIU 32BJ, hosted a “Forum for Equality” a gathering where representatives from the various contract workers’ unions on campus could share organizing strategies.


Editorial: Flash Seminars – liberating learning from the grade

Founded by two Hopkins seniors and inspired by an organization started at the University of Virginia, the new Flash Seminars strive to discuss academic ideas outside of the typical classroom setting. Each seminar invites a different professor to lead a group, capped at fifteen students, in a topic of the professor’s choosing. Designed to explore intellectual thought, these seminars act as a one-time event to discuss topics ranging from physics to poetry.


Letter to the editor: 12/8/16

The News-Letter’s recent articles about the International Studies Program (“Reviews Identity Flaws in International Studies Program,” “Editorial: International Studies Must Better Support Its Students,” 1 Dec.) raise several valid points about the current state of one of campus’ most popular majors.




 IRACAZ/CC BY-SA 3.0
Students seem to have time to lounge around the Beach, but not to sign a petition.

Students must stay inspired post-election

Following the presidential election, Hopkins students seem to have forgotten the apathy that typically characterizes them. Students have participated in protests against hate, fossil fuels, the review of the Humanities Center and so much more. All of this is great, but we can’t let it fizzle out.


Editorial: International Studies must better support its students

Though International Studies (IS) is one of the most popular majors at Hopkins with 332 enrolled students, it has frequently come under scrutiny. In response, the IS program released an internal review this month in which both faculty and select students assessed the current state of affairs and outlined ways in which the program can improve. The internal review was held just before the Homewood Academic Council, composed of non-IS Hopkins faculty and faculty from other universities, conducted an external review.



 RICHARD POTTS/CC BY 2.0
It is important to change the way we think about rape culture.

Facebook comments exemplify and perpetuate rape culture

After the election, a lot of us were rattled. My echo chamber of a Facebook feed reflected my feelings of hopelessness, fear and anger. Growing up in California and attending a so-called “liberal” university, most of my friends align themselves on the left side of the aisle, but there are a few who don’t share the same feelings as me about our new President-elect.


Liberals’ response to the election is problematic

In March, I wrote an article about how I was disappointed in how liberals were treating Trump as a joke rather than a serious threat. And yet, up until the night of the election, I also did not believe that Trump would win. I had ideas in my head of what a Clinton presidency would look like, how to protest her various hawkish policies, ready to get angry at people lauding her as a feminist idol. And yet, here we are, egg dripping down my face.


 COURTESY OF EXPLORE THE CORE! CENTRAL BALTIMORE
The new stickers on the JHMI buses advertise the Homewood Community Partners Initiative’s campaign to invest in Baltimore.

Students should explore Baltimore more

If you are a frequent commuter on the JHMI shuttle between Homewood and the Medical Campus, you may have noticed in recent weeks that several of the buses running the route have a rather unique livery.


 KAREEM OSMAN/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Since Trump's victory, activism has exploded on campus. Corey Payne is pictured at center with megaphone.

After last week, we need to keep fighting against injustice

Last week’s election shook our campus, and rightfully so. Many of us have questions about the future. Many of us are scared. Many of us are hurt. We cannot deny that much has happened in the succeeding week, and it has been difficult to make sense of all of it.




The Democratic elites are not to blame

Like many of my peers last Tuesday night, I sat on my couch, eyes glued on the television, ready to experience the election of the first female president. How could Hillary Clinton not win?


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