Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 27, 2024

News & Features



COURTESY OF MAYA BRITTO
The MSE Symposium event featured a debate on the pros and cons of race-based college admissions. 

MSE Symposium partners with SNF Agora Institute to host debate on affirmative action

The second Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Symposium event of the year, titled “Affirmative Action Debate,” took place Wednesday, Nov. 15. The event, organized in partnership with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute, brought together four speakers to debate the question of whether race-based affirmative action is still necessary despite the recent Supreme Court ruling against it. 



COURTESY OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
The MSE Library was built in 1964 to make room for the increasing volume of books and artifacts.

Milton S. Eisenhower Library: Past and present

The Milton S. Eisenhower Library (MSE), a staple of the Homewood Campus, has a rich and complex history. During the 1940s, the University faced a lack of space as Gilman Hall and other buildings on campus could not accommodate the growing number of texts in their archives. In 1947, former librarian Homer Halvorson noted that Hopkins would need to begin planning a new facility.


COURTESY OF WILL KIRK
APTT was founded in 1983 and recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.

A Place To Talk provides peer-led mental health support

APTT is a peer listening group that aims to create a space for students to freely drop by and talk about anything, from serious concerns to daily happenings. The core mission of the organization is to provide mental health support for the undergraduate student body.


COURTESY OF ANNA MINTZER
Hopkins hosts weeklong events to honor veterans on campus with keynote speeches from Brigadier General Adam Flasch and Whiting School of Engineering Dean Ed Schlesinger.

Veterans Employee Resource Group hosts its second annual Veteran’s Day commemoration

Brigadier General Adam Flasch and Whiting School of Engineering Dean Ed Schlesinger spoke during a keynote event at the Homewood Campus for Veteran’s Day on Friday, Nov. 10. This event was the last of a series of events and celebrations that the Johns Hopkins Medicine Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted from Nov. 7–10 to honor those who have served in the armed forces.


COURTESY OF STEVEN DOCTORMAN
In addition to sorting and shipping medical supplies, SHARE strives to build a learning community among members through shadowing programs, exhibitions and social events.

SHARE supports areas in need through medical supply redistribution

Supporting Hospitals Abroad with Resources and Equipment (SHARE) is an organization that strives to enhance sustainability in the medical industry. SHARE not only redistributes unopened and unused surgical supplies from the Johns Hopkins Hospital to countries in need but also helps its members better understand those supplies and the medical scene through various shadowing programs.



COURTESY OF MAYA BRITTO
Bianchi’s research suggests that the impacts of pandemic unemployment have disproportionately impacted African Americans.

Francesco Bianchi presents research on long-term impacts of COVID-19 unemployment in E.P.I.C. event

The Economic Policy Issues Colloquium (E.P.I.C.), a student-run economics forum, hosted an event on Friday, Nov. 10 titled “Impact of Unemployment on Life Expectancy and Mortality during COVID.” Economics professor Francesco Bianchi gave a presentation on his work studying the long-term impact on mortality and life expectancy rates resulting from pandemic unemployment.


COURTESY OF HARVEY MCGUINNESS
McGuinness describes how his interdisciplinary interests played a role in shaping his unique academic journey.

Humans of Hopkins: Harvey McGuinness

Harvey McGuinness is a student enrolled in the International Studies B.A./M.A. Program. He is currently a fourth-year undergraduate at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and a first-year graduate student at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). In an interview with The News-Letter, he shared his passion for exploring the information ecosystem, the intersection between policy and mathematics, as well as his work in forming a disability training program in his home state, New Mexico.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
SGA raised concerns about the upsurge of armed robberies lately and questioned the JHPD's response to them.

SGA discusses the development of JHPD draft policies

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on Nov. 7. During the meeting, the Chief of Police of the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD)and the Vice President for Public Safety Dr. Branville Bard presented the JHPD Draft Policies.



COURTESY OF LEO QI
Jenann Ismael, a professor of philosophy, presents alternate interpretations of time in a new faculty lecture.

Ismael illustrates time and visual imagination through physics and philosophy

The Alexander Grass Humanities Institute (AGHI) hosted its first New Faculty Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 2 with Jenann Ismael, the William H. Miller III Professor of Philosophy at Hopkins. Previously a philosophy professor at Columbia University and an affiliate of Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute, Ismael gave a talk titled “Time and Visual Imagination: From Physics to Philosophy.”



FILE PHOTO
The Open Letter from JHU Faculty in Solidarity with Gaza calls on elected representatives in Baltimore and federal government officials to push for a ceasefire. 

Hopkins faculty write open letter in solidarity with Gaza

In response to the ongoing war in Gaza, Anthropology Department Professor and Graduate Studies Director Clara Han and Anthropology Department Associate Professor and Chair Naveeda Khan wrote the “Open Letter from JHU Faculty in Solidarity with Gaza.” As of Friday, Nov. 3, 29 professors have signed the letter.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Students expressed mixed feelings about the proposed changes in distribution requirements in both KSAS and WSE.

Hopkins proposes changes to distribution requirements beginning next year

The Office of the Provost will implement a new plan to alter the University’s distribution requirements for the incoming Class of 2028. The previous distribution requirements will be replaced by Foundational Abilities (FA) requirements, which encompass the six categories of languages and writing, scientific and quantitative thinking, creative expression, citizenship within global diversity, ethical reflection and impactful projects. 


COURTESY OF CHRISTINA FAHMY
Fahmy shares her experiences with designing clothes and incorporating sustainable practices into her art.

Humans of Hopkins: Christina Fahmy

Christina Fahmy is a junior studying Molecular and Cellular Biology and Spanish. In an interview with The News-Letter, she describes her journey into creating stainable fashion, as well as where she looks to for inspiration.




SNF Agora and ISLC host discussion on political factors in War on Terror

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute and the International Studies Leadership Council (ISLC) co-hosted “The Politics of War Powers” on Oct. 24. The panel discussion featured Visiting Fellow Rebecca Brocato and author Tess Bridgeman. The speakers discussed the use of Article 1 of the Constitution and the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) as legal basis for the War on Terror.


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