Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
March 28, 2025

Voices

Hopkins is a diverse university where an incredible mix of cultures, academic interests and personalities coexist and thrive. Here is the section where you can publish your unique thoughts, ideas and perspectives on life at Hopkins and beyond.





Why I'd rather look sixty-five than twenty-one

I have the unfortunate luck of having a baby face. At the age of 20, I am still constantly mistaken for being 15 or 16. At one point last year while in Colombia with my family, I was even mistaken for being 12. When we asked to make reservations at a restaurant they informed us that one had to be 13 or older to dine there. My parents and I were speechless, unsure what to say. Finally after a few awkward seconds, my mother stuttered out, “How old do you think she is? She’s 19.” Needless to say, it was awkward.




On the Brink of the Brank: The Do's and Dont's of sporting a man's tank

The Brank, or more formally known as the bro tank, is a phenomenon most present, for better or worse, among young males in today’s society. The brank is a constant staple in the wardrobe of somewhat toolish, somewhat arrogant, but often simultaneously humorous and even laudable males in their teens and twenties.



Your vote matters - it's time to use it

As the Nov. 6 presidential election creeps ever closer, it’s time for every college student to register to vote. Most campuses, including ours, have volunteer groups that make the process very easy. So why do so many of our peers still choose not to vote?



Music advice for the upcoming season: Fall albums to look forward to

This summer has been great for music with releases like Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, the Dirty Projectors’ Swing Lo Magellan, Jessie Ware’s Devotion, Passion Pit’s Gossamer, and Purity Rings’ Shrines. But now, with summer at an end, the fall is here with even more releases. Just these past two weeks, The xx and Animal Collective have released their new albums Coexist and Centipede Hz, respectively. What else does the fall have in store?


No more mundane food, liven it up at Homewood!

With only three weeks of the school year under our belts, it’s surprising that it’s already possible to be sick of Levering salads, Sabra hummus snacks and Subway sandwiches. For some reason we don’t seem to get sick of late night Uni Mini mozzarella sticks and “specials with egg” in the same way. Whenever we waltz into Uni Mini past midnight, we are filled with excitement and enthusiasm of a new adventure into our own version of heaven. One that is chock full of hash browns, powdered donuts, chicken fingers and barbecue sauce. That being said, since most of us don’t frequent Uni Mini on a daily basis — and usually not in daylight — we have to look for ways to prevent the Levering salads from making us crazy.


Look both ways before you cross the street, seriously

Those yellow (and white) shoes on the corner of St. Paul and 33rd are among the coolest things I’ve seen in the area. The crossing guard, however, is not. The crossing guard at that intersection allows pedestrians to cross the street against the light. The officer will stop the flow of traffic in order to accommodate students.



Top 5 movies a college student must see

College is a highly scrutinized, ridiculed and caricaturized portion of the American experience, and rightfully so. It’s a strange phenomenon: thousands of people just entering adulthood coming together to learn, grow and let’s face it, party. This eclectic mix of seemingly discordant lifestyles that college students have simultaneously led for four years has fascinated filmmakers for decades. Thus, the “college movie” has become a genre of its own. Here are the top five ones you should watch, if you haven’t already, as a college student.



Undecided? Well, it’s time you made up your mind

The school year has begun, and I’m thrilled. Some people are excited to get out of their parents’ house and go back to being on their own. But I’m excited about classes. I’ve missed doing work.This first week, I was handed a math assignment and various worksheets for my language classes, and it was awesome. I’m trying to start this year out on the right foot. I’ve LaTeXed up my math lecture notes. (Don’t know what LaTeX is? Do you want to have your math homework printed? Check it out!) I’ve already started my homework. I have spent hours holed up in front of my computer, banging away at the keyboard to make pretty symbols appear on the screen. In fact, I was so absorbed in my work that I almost forgot to turn this article in.


Comedians are always a good thing

It is hard to talk about things you really like. You put yourself in a vulnerable place. To some, you seem childish. Why should anyone believe you if all you do is like things? Especially if you are excited about what seems like an absurd amount of information that you know about one specific thing or element?


A how-to guide on surviving and enjoying Hopkins

Four years later and Baltimore is still dripping, relishing the last throes of summer. Officially, I am a senior in college. That title has been a long time coming. I arrived as a freshman eager to plunge in to Hop’s high-level academics and Bmore’s flourishing music scene, and plunge I did. I took courses across disciplines, created my own major, and worked my way through the ranks to become the head of the campus radio station, WJHU. It is a great feeling, to be sure, but I find I am already beset by nostalgia; how few faces I recognize, how little time is left!


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