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.

Unlike the typical white buses with the words “Johns Hopkins University” in the Arnhem Pro font or the navy blue buses featuring different Hopkins initiatives such as the Baltimore Scholars Program or HopkinsLocal, these colorful buses have little, if any, reference to Hopkins.

Instead, the emphasis of the advertisement is on Central Baltimore and the opportunities that it offers as a destination. Without additional information, it may seem that an external organization has decided to advertise on a Hopkins bus.

In fact, Hopkins itself is involved in the Explore the Core! Central Baltimore campaign. Central Baltimore is the site of the Homewood Community Partners Initiative, an investment in 10 neighborhoods and one commercial district surrounding the Homewood campus. Many students remain unaware of such efforts.

It is likely that only a small minority of students even knows that there are 10 neighborhoods around campus. Most will be familiar with Charles Village. Some will have heard about Remington and Station North. Few, if any, know of the existence of Barclay, Old Goucher and Abell. Most have never heard of them.

The University’s efforts at community engagement demonstrate its continued commitment to the local community. A recent Economist article (“Applied research,” Sept. 3 2016) featured several ways that the relationship between the University and the City of Baltimore is changing. The article suggests that Hopkins is assuming a kind of responsibility more often associated with government than with a private institution, reflective of the anchor institution relationship that educational and medical institutions have with their communities.

For students, there is much to be done in the Central Baltimore area. The upcoming opening of R. House in Remington will provide an additional exciting culinary option nearby.

Station North is home to a vibrant arts scene. Alloverstreet, a monthly night of simultaneous art openings and events spanning the art spaces of E. Oliver Street is celebrating its third anniversary this Friday. If the Papermoon Diner is slightly overwhelming for you, BAMF café is worth a visit not just for their outstanding Madeline Pryor (an Earl Grey latte with honey and vanilla) but also their comic book store-like décor. A visit to the Explore the Core Facebook page provides an instant list of the diverse activities taking place in close vicinity to campus.

Students at Hopkins are often at the forefront of exploration and discovery. Yet, the frequent reference to the “Hopkins Bubble” suggests that while we excel in exploring and discovering within intellectual academic spaces, we fall short of doing the same in our urban community spaces. This is a huge pity.

The incorrect impression that anything worth doing in Baltimore is distant and inaccessible prevents students from exploring nearby areas, an endeavor that may require less time and effort than expected. It is entirely possible to do a Waverly Farmer’s Market trip in an hour on Saturday morning. Zeke’s Coffee, Atwater’s (the cheese scones are a favorite) and Dangerously Delicious Pies are but a few options that make the trip worth it.

The coming weeks heading into reading period and finals are likely to be academically intense. In moments like this, a reminder of how our own University is engaging with the surrounding community might be helpful.

Not only does it provide opportunities to be involved, it also provides new insight into the relationship we have with our city and ultimately a greater sense of belonging and home. Give Central Baltimore a chance and explore the core. Honeygrow is not the only new thing on the block, there is so much more.

Tommy Koh is a junior in the departments of political science, psychology, with a minor in social policy. This piece is part of a biweekly feature titled “Change and Continuity: Insights into our Hopkins Community.”