Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 18, 2024

News & Features



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
According to the Milton S. Eisenhower Library (MSE) Modernization Project website, 2023–24 will be the last academic year before MSE closes for its first major renovation since its opening in 1964.

MSE renovations projected to begin 2024 summer

Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Library is slated for a complete renovation beginning in summer 2024. As the University’s principal research library since 1964, MSE has only had minor updates over the years. The MSE Modernization Project, which will encompass the approximately 182,000-square-foot library, will have an estimated cost of $100 million and is expected to take two and a half years.





COURTESY OF HARDY WILLIAMS
Williams shares his experience of moving out of his home state of Oklahoma and getting acclimated to Hopkins.

Humans of Hopkins: Hardy Williams

Hardy Williams is a senior completing a double major in Public Health and International Studies. In an interview with The News-Letter, he described his work in politics and LGBTQIA+ activism, as well as how his personal experiences have shaped his time at Hopkins.





COURTESY OF LANA SWINDLE
Fifty years ago, Augusto Pinochet led a violent coup to overthrow Former Chilean President Salvador Allende's regime.

LACLxS event on 1973 Chilean coup d'état criticizes disinformation campaigns

The Program in Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies (LACLxS) hosted “The 50th Anniversary of Chile’s Military Coup” on Sept. 28. The event featured Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst at the National Security Archive, Katherine Hite, a professor of political science on the Frederick Ferris Thompson Chair at Vassar College and Consuelo Amat, an assistant professor of political science at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute.



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The conversation between SGA and Hopkins Dining representatives addressed dining-related issues that students face.

SGA pushes to expand dining options and quality

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on Sept. 26 to inform Hopkins Dining of significant dining issues and discuss possible improvements. The meeting also included the approval of a bill to fund the upcoming Muslim Student Association (MSA) Barbecue (BBQ), a mental health resources discussion and the approval of a bill to fund tabling for the Sustainability Plan.


Hopkins community mourns the loss of Pava LaPere

The University mourns the loss of Pava LaPere, co-founder and CEO of EcoMap Technologies and a 2019 graduate of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. LaPere made her home in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore after moving from Tucson, Arizona. A vigil was held in the neighborhood Wednesday night.


TRU-UE and the West Coalition discuss police abolition on college campus

Teachers and Researchers United (TRU-UE) and the West Coalition co-hosted a panel titled “Policing Higher Ed in Baltimore: From JHPD [Johns Hopkins Police Department] to Cop City'' on Sept. 20. The panel featured a TRU-UE member, professors from Goucher College and the University of Baltimore, undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Maryland and Tawanda Jones, leader of the West Coalition.


COURTESY OF JEREMY GILES
The Writers’ Warehouse welcomes all students with a passion for writing, regardless of genre and background.

Writers’ Warehouse builds literary community on campus

Hopkins students found over a dozen books wrapped in newspaper sitting on a small table at the Breezeway, waiting to be picked up by prospective readers on Sept. 11. Each came with a sticky note and a description, which ranged from “best-selling thriller” to “cozy summer romance.” 


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
SGA swore in the new freshmen class representatives, making their new positions official. 

SGA passes Programming Bylaws Update Bill

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19 to swear in and acclimate the new freshmen senators for their posts. SGA also voted on the Chair of Programming Bylaws Update Bill and the Sophomore Class Council Tabling Funding Bill.


Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated in the University through PILOT initiatives, a new AI Institute and the JHU + Amazon project.

University's pursuit of AI initiatives extends to undergraduate education

PILOT, the academic support program offered to students to work on problem sets in groups, will be introducing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to a number of sessions in mid-October. This development follows a number of announcements on Hopkins’s goal to find a place for AI in education. 


COURTESY OF HARVEY MCGUINNESS
The Bloomberg Center is home to newly built classrooms, study spaces and lounges for SAIS students and other Hopkins affiliates in the heart of D.C.

Hopkins opens new center at 555 Penn in D.C.

Last month, faculty, staff and students moved into the Hopkins Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation (the Bloomberg Center) in D.C., which will serve as the new home of the University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The 10-story steel and glass building features 38 classrooms, multi-purpose study lounges, a public art gallery and a 375-seat theater.


COURTESY OF JUSTIN LORTS
Over 2,000 students and 100 employers attended the Future Fest In-Person Career Fair seeking employment and recruitment opportunities.

Fourth annual Future Fest Career Fair connects students to their futures

Over 2,000 students gathered to explore the opportunities of over 100 employers at the fourth annual Future Fest Career Fair on Friday, Sept. 15. The event — held in the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center (Rec Center) — was part of the Life Design Lab’s Future Fest, which intends to connect Hopkins students with employers, graduate schools and alumni.


ABIGAIL TUSCHMAN / CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
Due to a change in methodology, this year’s national rankings saw significant changes to the positions of many colleges. 

Hopkins drops to ninth in latest U.S. News & World Report rankings

Hopkins fell from seventh to ninth in this year’s U.S. News & World Report Best National University Rankings, published on Monday, Sept. 18. Currently tied with Brown University and Northwestern University at ninth place, Hopkins was previously tied with the University of Pennsylvania for seventh place. Prior to last year, Hopkins was ranked ninth for two consecutive years. 


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