Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 28, 2024

News & Features



COURTESY OF WILL KIRK
Katyal and Rosen were assigned positions to take in the Dobbs v. Jackson case to further examine the powers of the Supreme Court. 

FAS and SNF Agora organize debate on the role of the Supreme Court

The Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS) and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute’s University debate initiative co-hosted the debate on the Supreme Court featuring Neal Katyal and Jeffrey Rosen on April 6. This was the fifth event in the 2023 Foreign Affairs Symposium series “Paradigm Shift.”


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Levering Hall today hosts dining spaces and the Tutorial Project.

Levering Hall: Past and present

Levering Hall is nestled between the Decker, Wyman and Keyser quads. In 1889, Eugene Levering, a successful Baltimore-born banker, philanthropist and trustee of the University, provided $20,000 for the establishment of a Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) on the University’s old downtown campus. In a letter dated May 1 of that year, Levering expressed his wishes for the building.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Founded in 1921, the JHU Pep Band encourages the University’s sports teams at home and away games.

JHU Pep Band encourages school spirit through music

The JHU Pep Band plays music at University sporting events, including football, field hockey and lacrosse games. The Pep Band has also played at a variety of nonathletic events, such as Alumni Weekend and Lighting of the Quads.


COURTESY OF REDONDA MILLER
Miller encouraged Hopkins students to go beyond the textbook to understand different careers in medicine. 

Humans of Hopkins: Redonda Miller, president of Hopkins Hospital

Redonda Miller attended the University as a medical student and became the first female president of Hopkins Hospital in 2016. In an interview with The News-Letter, she discussed her approach to leadership, how it informs the operations of the hospital and the insights she’s gained from her career.


PHOTO EDITOR / STEVEN SIMPSON
SGA passed the APIDA Fashion Show Funding Bill.

JHU Dining presents meal plan overview at SGA meeting

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on April 4 to discuss funding for an Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Fashion Show, SGA graduation stoles and containers for SGA. Additionally, JHU Dining presented a meal plan overview for the 2023–2024 academic year.


COURTESY OF ARUSA MALIK
Allen emphasised the importance of preserving Native American mounds.

Professor Allen speaks on the history and current perceptions of indigenous mounds

On April 4, various departments at the University hosted professor Chadwick Allen to discuss his new book Earthworks Rising: Mound Building in Native Literature and Arts. Allen is a Russell F. Stark University professor with academic specialization in trans-indigenous literary studies and postcolonial literatures. Allen, of Chickasaw ancestry, focused his talk on archaeological histories of mounds. 



COURTESY OF HELLEN SESHIE-NASSER
Elliot discussed the variability that exists when transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. 

EPIC hosts talk on regulation of electricity production

The Economic Policy Issues Colloquium (EPIC) held an event titled “Electricity Regulation and the Future of Pollution: Challenges and Tradeoffs” on March 31. The event was led by Jonathan Elliott, an assistant professor in the Department of Economics. Elliott has been working on the regulation of electricity production, which is responsible for about 25% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
SGA passes a bill to fund an Earth Fest Event. 

SGA discusses changes to Committee on Student Elections constitution

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on March 28 to discuss approving the Committee on Student Elections (CSE) constitution. The second readings for the Student Activities Commission guidelines, Sex Week Funding Bill and the Earth Fest Funding Bill were also presented. 



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
SGA discussed funding options for the annual FIJI Islander philanthropy event.

SGA debates caucus amendment

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on March 14 to present adjustments in the Student Activities Commission (SAC) Guidelines, a counter proposal for the Phi Delt Crab Fest and amendments in the constitution for caucuses. SGA also discussed the Gift of Life, Blue Hatchlings, Copa America and Fiji Islander presentations.


COURTESY OF JAMES WANG
Wang emphasized his appreciation for teamwork, especially in programming Semester.ly. 

Humans of Hopkins: James Wang

James Wang, a senior majoring in Computer Science (CS) at Hopkins, is the lead developer at Semester.ly, a course scheduling platform popular at the University. In an interview with The News-Letter, he discussed his thoughts on coding, advice for those interested in a career in computer science and his appreciation of teamwork in coding projects. 



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
While the competition for executive board elections increased compared to last year, there are still open positions on the senior and junior class councils.

2023–2024 SGA representatives are elected

The Committee on Student Elections (CSE) announced the results of the 2023–2024 Student Government Association (SGA) Executive Board and class council elections on the evening of March 15, three hours after voting closed. Out of the five executive board positions, only vice president was uncontested. 




COURTESY OF ARUSA MALIK
Appiah spoke about the complicated relationship between cultural artifacts and ownership of culture.  

Kwame Anthony Appiah presents on the ownership of cultural artifacts

The Alexander Grass Humanities Institute (AGHI) hosted the 2023 Richard A. Macksey Lecture featuring Kwame Anthony Appiah, a professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University, on March 9. His talk was titled “Who’s Heritage? Preservation, Possession, and Peoples.” This annual lecture honors the late Professor Richard A. Macksey, co-founder of the Humanities Center that is now the Department of Comparative Thought and Literature.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
SGA reflected on the results of the Multimedia Art Showcase, which encouraged undergraduates to share a piece of themselves through art.

SGA passes Hopkins Got Talent Funding Bill

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on March 7 to discuss the Roast Off Funding Bill, Portrait for Student Memorial Funding Bill, Hopkins Got Talent Funding Bill, Black Caucus Tabling Funding Bill and the SGA Accessibility Standards Bill. They also presented on the Multimedia Art Showcase Report, Crab Fest presentation and Hopthon tabling. 


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