Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
October 20, 2025 October 20, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Magazine

COURTESY OF GHASSAN SJP hosts both educational events and protests advocating for Palestinian liberation.

The hidden parts of political activism: A look into Hopkins Students for Justice in Palestine

By LUBNA AZMI | April 27, 2023

People notice the flashy moments of activism the most: the massive protests, the inspiring speeches and the ratified legislation. Activism is much more than that. Sometimes activism grows through spontaneous spurts of growth, and other times, its roots take time to spread. It's kept alive through the cultivation of continuity through tough moments of growth and active moments of flourishing.

COURTESY OF JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SHERIDAN LIBRARIES Students erected shanties on Wyman Quad in protest against apartheid in South Africa.

The 1986 Coalition for a Free South Africa

By MARIA HARAR | April 27, 2023

In June 1976, roughly 10,000 students in Soweto, South Africa organized a peaceful protest against new legislation decreeing that Afrikaans, alongside English, be used in Soweto high schools. Afrikaans was known as the “language of the oppressor” in apartheid South Africa. Upon their peaceful march toward Orlando Stadium, the protesters were met with heavily armed police. 

From 1970 to today: The intersectional experiences of women at Hopkins

By LEELA GEBO | April 27, 2023

“When we first came here, many of us found that we were not entirely welcome. A great number of men came to Johns Hopkins not wholly receptive to the addition of undergraduate women. There were those who resented the intrusion of women into their male sanctuary; there were those who considered women incapable of surviving academic pressures; and there were those who feared women would be equal competitors. In many instances we felt unusually isolated from the rest of the community.” 

COURTESY OF JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SHERIDAN LIBRARIES Students carry signs and banners at an anti-Vietnam War rally on Homewood Campus.

Anti-Vietnam War protests at Hopkins

By HELEN LACEY | April 27, 2023

More than 200 students and demonstrators surrounded Homewood House (now known as Homewood Museum) in protest of military recruiting on campus on April 17, 1970. The protest occurred following the events on April 16, where 40 activists blocked the entrance to Levering Hall to protest the U.S. Marine Corps recruiters inside.

COURTESY OF RUDY MALCOM Refuel Our Future has led the call for the University’s divestment from fossil fuel companies.

The push for greener universities

By MOLLY GAHAGEN | April 27, 2023

Divestment has been a demand leveraged by student activists to fight several social issues, including apartheid in South Africa and the unethical practices of tobacco manufacturers. For a little over a decade, student activists have found a new cause around which to mobilize and demand divestment: climate change.

COURTESY OF TRU-UE Founded in 2014, TRU-UE seeks to improve working conditions for graduate students.

An overview of graduate student activism at Hopkins

By SHIRLENE JOHN | April 27, 2023

Affiliated with United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), the University’s graduate student union Teachers and Researchers United (TRU-UE) officially won recognition through a union representation election facilitated by the National Labor Relations Board in January 2023.

COURTESY OF JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SHERIDAN LIBRARIES Student activism at Hopkins has a long and storied past.

The history of student activism at Hopkins and nationwide

By MICHELLE LIMPE | April 27, 2023

At the very core of society’s progress, activism has always been integral to sparking change. From macroscopic protests advocating for women’s rights to smaller movements concerning local issues, the freedom to assemble is ingrained in the very founding of the United States.

COURTESY OF ELLON MUSQUE Elon Musk has made several demands to the University in order to be the 2023 commencement speaker.

BREAKING: University announces Elon Musk as 2023 commencement speaker

By ELLEN MUSQUE | April 1, 2023

APRIL FOOLS’: This article was published as part of The News-Letter’s annual April Fools’ Day edition, an attempt at adding some humor to a newspaper that is normally very serious in its reporting. In a recent broadcast email, Hopkins announced that this year’s commencement speaker for the Class of 2023 would be American business magnate Elon Musk. The announcement was later confirmed in a cryptic tweet from Musk himself.

COURTESY OF MR. WISE-OWL Mr. Wise-Owl was recently elected into the position of the Hopkins PETA chapter President.

Hopkins PETA chapter officially announces a barn owl as next year’s president

By LUCY GOOSEY | April 1, 2023

As a shocking demonstration of animal rights, the Hopkins People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) chapter has officially named their current mascot, Wise-Owl, as next year’s chapter president. Wise-Owl officially joined the chapter as a representative of the North American barn owl population throughout PETA’s protests last fall. 

COURTESY OF GABRIELLE GASLIGHTÉ A team of undergraduate researchers found the majority of students to misspell the University’s name.

Vast majority of students believe there to be a hidden "s" in John Hopkins University

By GASSY LIGHTRA | April 1, 2023

APRIL FOOL’S: This article was published as part of The News-Letter’s annual April Fool’s edition, an attempt at adding some humor to a newspaper that is normally very serious about its reporting.   Undergraduate researchers at the John Hopkins Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences conducted a SONA study last week and found that a vast majority of undergraduate students believe there to be a hidden “s” in the University’s name.

COURTESY OF BETTY BUTTERFACE SGA discusses the recruitment of more attractive students, limits on spring break Cancun posts, and choices for spring fair performers.

SGA proposes the recruitment of more attractive students

By DICKY DITZO | April 1, 2023

APRIL FOOL’S: This article was published as part of The News-Letter’s annual April Fool’s edition, an attempt at adding some humor to a newspaper that is normally very serious about its reporting.  The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on March 28 to discuss a proposal to recruit more attractive students, an executive order to limit spring break Cancun Instagram posts and choices for more relevant spring fair performers.

COURTESY OF JIM BROZE The University announced physical education classes to be required for all first-year engineering students starting next fall.

BREAKING: University announces physical education requirement for first-year engineers

By X ERCISE | April 1, 2023

APRIL FOOLS’: This article was published as part of The News-Letter’s annual April Fools’ edition, an attempt at adding some humor to a newspaper that is normally very serious about its reporting. In a shocking turn of events, the University announced yesterday that all first-year engineering students will be required to take physical education classes starting in fall 2023. That's right, folks — engineers will now be required to work on their physical fitness in addition to their technical skills. 

COURTESY OF SOPHIA PARK Park discusses her experiences trying to glow up and the overwhelming pressures to change oneself.

The dark side to glowing up

By SOPHIA PARK | December 1, 2022

Lately I have found myself in an unhealthy relationship with TikTok. It starts when I am about to fall asleep. All I can do is scroll and scroll, an endless pursuit that inevitably ends in sore eyes and lowered self-esteem. My For You page seems to know me a little too well and is littered with “hot it-girl energy” videos.

COURTESY OF JUDY JEONG Harar provides advice on how to decorate and maintain a home that feels like your own.

Making your living space feel like home

By MARIA HARAR | December 1, 2022

As a core experience of college life, decorating your dorm room for the first time is both new and exciting. However, while many of us look forward to it, planning your room can also be daunting.  Although having a cute, aesthetic room is a priority for some, the most important thing is having a space you feel comfortable in — a space to call home. To ease some of the anxiety you may be having or to simply help your room “glow up,”  here are a few tips on making your dorm (or apartment) feel like home. 

COURTESY OF ASHLEY KIM Liu offers tips on starting and staying committed to journaling.

Tips to kickstart or revitalize your journal

By ROWAN LIU | December 1, 2022

I've been journaling for over a decade now. My first journal was a shoddy thing I glued together from construction paper, notebook paper and cardboard back in fourth grade. I was big on crafts back then. 

COURTESY OF SOPHIA PARK Savani discusses the importance of daily mindfulness.

Making space for yourself

By NIVA SAVANI | December 1, 2022

Taking time for yourself is highly recommended to integrate into your daily routine. These moments help us process our thoughts, emotions and surroundings, allowing our brain to take on the needed break from stress. Whether you spend one hour or 15 minutes, this time will help you recharge, reflect and prevent future burnout. 

COURTESY OF ELLIE ROSE MATTOON Mattoon recommends five books that have inspired and empowered her.

Five books hot girls working on themselves read

By ELLIE ROSE MATTOON | December 1, 2022

Grab your tote bags and head down to Bird in Hand for an iced oat chai, because it’s time to sit down for some reading. No, not the desert-dry PDF scan your professor uploaded to Canvas. And no, the #fitspo Instagram captions that make you feel horrible about yourself don’t count either. When is the last time you sat down to a book that felt like it fed your soul? A book that inspired you to be the best version of yourself? While I myself do not read as much as I would like to, here is a roundup of some of the books that have made me feel like an empowered main character by the time I was done with them. 

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