news-features

Near Eastern Studies lecture hosts archeologist and professor Anne Porter

By RYAN AGHAMOHAMMADI | October 31, 2019

Anne Porter, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in the Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations Department, presented her findings from her former dig site in Syria as part of the Near Eastern Studies lecture series last Thursday, Oct. 24. She discussed her research on the site of Tell Banat, which held a complex of burial grounds both outside the settlement and within it. 

COURTESY OF RYAN AGHAMOHAMMADI Professor Anne Porter managed an archeology dig in Tell Banat in Syria.

Learning to pick my battles and save my energy

By STEPHANIE LEE | October 31, 2019

It was 2:16 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. I was hunched in front of my computer in a baggy T-shirt, no pants on, furiously pounding away at my keyboard. Line after line after line of angry, black text appeared as fast as my acrylic nails would allow me to type them. 

COURTESY OF STEPHANIE LEE For Lee, it’s important to figure out which battles are worth your time.
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My experience with representation in politics

By KELVIN QIAN | November 4, 2019

These days seem like a high-water mark for minority political representation. It seems especially so for Asian Americans, with prominent Asian American figures like Andrew Yang and Kamala Harris running for president and record numbers of Asians getting elected into office. But that’s all at the top — how much does that translate to my own experience as a politically active Asian American?

The self-care alphabet: a conclusion (part II)

By CECILIA VORFELD | October 31, 2019

I am back at it again! Self-care. Just as important this time as last. These tips and tricks never grow old. It’s just up to you what you want to make work for you. And with that, here is the second half of the self-care alphabet for you:

COURTESY OF CECILIA VORFELD For Vorfeld, services like A Place To Talk are great for seeking support.
PUBLIC DOMAIN Despite its subpar quality, nostalgia still draws Beaver to Halloween music.

Halloween songs are bad, but they still slap

By CLAIRE BEAVER | October 31, 2019

This week we’re gonna take a deep dive into my childhood. I’m kidding (kind of). I threw it way back and listened to the weird Halloween songs teachers played for us in elementary school, only half of which are actually Halloween songs. 

Showering “kill shelters” with love and support

By GABI SWISTARA | October 31, 2019

Everybody seems to love puppies and kittens and animals of all kinds — they’re cute, vulnerable, funny, companionate — yet so many people have misconceptions about how humans interact with animals. As someone who grew up with animals, spent most of her life as a pescatarian and vegan and volunteers at an animal shelter, I wanted to highlight some of these misconceptions and actually explain the truths behind them. 

COURTESY OF GABI SWISTARA Maggie, Swistara’s own rescue dog of seven years, is getting her Halloween costume.

The News-Letter’s guide to a fun Halloween season

By ARIELLA SHUA | October 31, 2019

Officially, Halloween takes place on Oct. 31. Unofficially, the days surrounding Halloween are also grouped with the holiday. Some enthusiasts have long been celebrating, but there are still plenty more activities to put you in the spooky spirit.

CC0 Public Domain/Petr Kratochvil The Hopkins community celebrates Halloween in a variety of different ways.
PEABODY AWARDS/CC BY-SA 3.0 Terence Nance is a director known for the HBO series Random Acts of Flyness.

Director Terence Nance inspires young creators

By CHARLOTTE WOOD | October 30, 2019

This past Friday I had the pleasure of taking a seat in the Parkway’s main theater — which is a pleasure in and of itself as the place is gorgeous — and watching some truly amazing work from TV writer, director and creator Terence Nance.

University Press releases free digitized manuscripts

By JAMES SCHARF | October 31, 2019

Last week, the Hopkins University Press released digitized copies of 100 out-of-print books to celebrate International Open Access Week. These books are part of the Hopkins Open Publishing: Encore Editions initiative which began last year after a $200,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

FILE PHOTO Jessica Kasamoto encourages students take time to think about their major.

If you’re an engineering major for any of these reasons, don’t be

By JESSICA KASAMOTO | November 3, 2019

If there’s anything that I’ve learned during my two-and-almost-a-half years in the Hopkins bubble, it’s that Hopkins is quite literally the place of existential crisis. Maybe not quite literally — if you are a philosophy major you may actually know what the term “existential crisis” entails and may strongly disagree with that statement — but you know what I’m talking about.

MSH is an interdisciplinary major perfect for pre-meds

By MUHAMMAD ABIDI | October 31, 2019

Have you wanted to learn about the complex meanings hidden in artworks of the Middle Ages but struggled to balance such interests alongside passions in science coursework? Worry no more, as Hopkins holds one of the nation’s few dedicated majors in Medicine, Science and the Humanities (MSH).

LUC VIATOUR/CC By 2.0 Like the MSH major, da Vinci’s Vitruvian man combines science and art.  
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Panelists highlight maternal mortality as an under-researched area

By AKEIRA JENNINGS | October 31, 2019

Thousands of women around the world die every year of maternal mortality. Millions more suffer from stigmas and cultural misconceptions around women’s health. In recognition of the importance of the taboo topic of women’s menstruation and health, Wings and Global Medical Brigades came together to host four panelists specializing in research and advocacy for their fall speaker event, Women’s Health: Global Perspectives. 

Courtney Lab studies prefrontal cortex and cognitive control

By SHIVNI PATEL | October 31, 2019

Imagine walking into a busy restaurant with a friend, sitting down and discussing what you will both be ordering tonight. In the booths next to you, bustling conversations about sports and work are happening, but you do not pay much attention to them. Your attention is on the task at hand, on ordering your meal and chatting with your friend. 

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COURTESY OF SHIP Students swapped gently used clothes and made reusable tote bags.

SHIP launches market for second-hand clothes

By DEANNA RAHMAN | October 31, 2019

Sustainable Hopkins Innovative Projects (SHIP) marked the launch of Blue Jay Threads, Hopkins first online and pop-up thrift store, with a clothing swap event at the Beach on Friday, Oct. 25. SHIP is a student organization that aims to increase the University’s participation in sustainability initiatives through a variety of programs and events

Seminar highlights the role of heart valve transplants in medicine

By MEDHA KALLEM | October 31, 2019

Dr. Arash Kheradvar of University of California, Irvine discussed how his interest in heart valves began in his talk “Emerging Trends in Heart Valve Engineering and its Translation to Clinical Medicine” on Oct. 25. Using Leonardo da Vinci’s discoveries, he began further research into heart valves in 2002 at the California Institute of Technology. 

OFFICIAL U.S. NAVY PAGE/CC BY 2.0 Dr. Arash Kheradvar talked about the history of heart valve research.
HOPKINSSPORTS.COM Football rested many of their starters during the second half in an incredible 63-7 blowout.

Football destroys Gettysburg as Tammaro breaks QB record

By BEN SCHLESINGER | November 1, 2019

The Hopkins Blue Jays scored in every single quarter against the visiting Gettysburg College Bullets last Friday, taking a 14-0 lead within the first five minutes of play. The Blue Jays never relinquished that lead, pouring on 48 points by the time Gettysburg was able to get on the board late into the fourth quarter.