News & Features

Baltimore activist groups discuss legislative session

By CLAIRE GOUDREAU
February 14, 2019

The Baltimore chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) held its annual Legislative Day on Saturday at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church to educate voters on initiatives and bills related to racial justice. The event featured speakers from five different ...

COURTESY OF SABRINA ABRAMS L.A. Kauffman has worked as a grassroots organizer for 35 years.

Activist discusses how to hold a successful protest

By RACHEL JUIENG | February 14, 2019

Writer L.A. Kauffman gave a talk on her new book, How to Read a Protest: The Art of Organizing and Resistance, at Red Emma’s on Wednesday. Kauffman, who has worked in grassroots activism for more than 35 years, details the history of mass demonstration in the U.S in her book.

Homewood Museum event discusses the history of chocolate

By KATERINA FRYE | February 14, 2019

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the Homewood Museum invited food historian Joyce White to present an event titled “Chocolate Through Time” on Wednesday, Feb. 13. White presented different ways of making chocolate throughout history and discussed the evolution of chocolate recipes. She invited attendees to taste samples of chocolate, giving each audience member a box of chocolates at different stages of production.

COURTESY OF TED TAK Participants were told at the event to come up with discussion questions.

OMA discussion explores black diaspora relations

By TED TAK | February 14, 2019

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) hosted an event on Saturday called “Black Diaspora Relations at Hopkins.” The event aimed to encourage students to have conversations about how the mass dispersion of people from Africa during the Transatlantic Slave Trade from the 1500s to the 1800s impacts black diaspora communities today.

Why are we having less sex today than ever before?

By ALYSSA WOODEN | February 14, 2019

Based on the media’s depiction of young adults, one would think that all college and high school students are having a lot of sex all the time. There are entire TV shows that focus on the sex lives of teenagers. But recent survey data seem to suggest that people are having a lot less sex than we think they are.

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NIH Director explores the ethics of gene editing technology

By JAE CHOI and JOHN FRYE | February 14, 2019

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discussed the medical and ethical implications of modern biomedical research as part of the Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Symposium on Tuesday. Collins focused on recent scientific advances in gene-editing technologies that could open up the possibility for therapeutic treatments that operate at the level of patients’ genomes.

SGA Executive President to face impeachment hearing

By DIVA PAREKH | February 14, 2019

During the Student Government Association (SGA) weekly meeting on Tuesday, Executive Vice President AJ Tsang presented impeachment charges against Executive President Noh Mebrahtu. Mebrahtu will face an impeachment hearing during SGA’s next weekly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19. This hearing will be closed to the student body, as required by SGA’s constitution.

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COURTESY OF ALEX KLEIN

Police force bill includes youth program funding

By MEAGAN PEOPLES | February 14, 2019

Last week, lawmakers introduced bills to both the Senate and the House of the Maryland General Assembly that would allow Hopkins to create its own private police force. These bills, Senate Bill (SB) 793 and House Bill (HB) 1094, also include millions of dollars in appropriations for Baltimore City youth programs, including the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund, an organization launched in 2016 to support youth leadership and the Baltimore City YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program, which connects underserved youth with paying summer jobs.

Marijuana possession will not be prosecuted in Md.

By MEAGAN PEOPLES | February 14, 2019

Baltimore’s State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced that she would no longer prosecute marijuana possession cases regardless of amount or past criminal charges on Jan. 29. Mosby also asked courts to vacate approximately 5,000 people convicted for the possession of marijuana. Maryland decriminalized possession of marijuana in quantities up to 10 grams in 2014. 

Hopkins History professor analyzes citizenship rights and race in Baltimore

By DEREK MORITZ | February 15, 2019

The Milton S. Eisenhower Library (MSE) hosted Hopkins History Professor Martha S. Jones on Thursday, Feb. 7 for a talk on her most recent book Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America. The book focuses on the struggle of free African-American people in Baltimore from the late 18th century until the start of the American Civil War and the challenges they faced in obtaining citizenship rights.

Foreign Affairs Symposium's 2019 lineup most diverse in its history

By RUDY MALCOM | February 14, 2019

The Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS) announced on Monday that the theme of its spring 2019 lineup is “Disrupt.” The speakers include: Vice President of the National Association of Displaced Afro-Colombians Erlendy Cuero Bravo; Iranian-American writer Solmaz Sharif; Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Beatrice Fihn; artist and activist Boots Riley; a panel on law and social movements; and Togolese activist Farida Nabourema.

COURTESY OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SYMPOSIUM

Local journalists talk policing in Baltimore

By TRISHA PARAYIL and JAE CHOI | February 15, 2019

Stephen Janis and Taya Graham, two journalists from The Real News Network (TRNN), discussed their WYPR podcast “Truth and Reconciliation” and policing in Baltimore on Wednesday in Charles Commons. The event was co-sponsored by the Digital Media Center (DMC), The News-Letter and WYPR.

Historian explores legacy of slavery in Baltimore

By RACHEL JUIENG | February 7, 2019

Anne Rubin, a history professor at the University of Baltimore, gave a lecture on early Baltimore at an event titled “Free Streets/Slave Streets: Visualizing the Landscape in Early Baltimore” on Feb. 6 at the Homewood Museum. During her presentation, Rubin used interactive maps to juxtapose the lives of enslaved and free blacks in the city. Rubin studies Civil War history and has earned acclaim for her work with digital archives.

COURTESY OF AKSHAY BHAMIDIPATI Bhamidipati decided to choose a career in public service in November.

Hopkins senior to run for political office in Virginia

By CLAIRE FOX | February 7, 2019

Akshay Bhamidipati, a senior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, announced his campaign to run as a Democratic candidate for Virginia’s House of Delegates (87th District) on Jan. 28. Coming from a background in student government and medical research, Bhamidipati looks to make an impact at the local level with his grassroots campaign. 

Third anti-ICE protest draws largest turnout

By MEAGAN PEOPLES | February 12, 2019

Students and faculty joined Baltimore community members in protesting the University’s contracts with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) by walking out of class at 11 a.m. on Feb. 6. The event was organized by the Hopkins Coalition Against ICE, which includes a number of campus activist organizations such as Students Against Private Police (SAPP), #JHToo, Teachers and Researchers United (TRU) and Refuel our Future.

COURTESY OF STEPHANIE LEE
AGNOSTICPREACHERSKID / CC-BY-SA-3.0 The News-Letter explored how Hopkins community members have been affected by the government shutdown.

Faculty and students weigh in on the 35-day government shutdown

By JAMES SCHARF and ISHA RAI | February 7, 2019

The United States government shut down from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019. At 35 days, the shutdown was the longest in U.S. history and was the result of a standoff between President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The conflict began because of Trump’s demand that Congress include a $5.7 billion budget for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border in government funding legislation. Non-essential employees were furloughed, while all others were expected to work without pay.

Event celebrates black victims and survivors of sexual violence

By TRISHA PARAYIL and JAE CHOI | February 7, 2019

“Hear Our Stories: Celebrating Black Victim-Survivors,” an event focused on supporting black women and non-binary people affected by sexual violence, took place at The Motor House on Thursday, Jan. 31. The event was hosted by FORCE, a Baltimore nonprofit that aims to shift the narrative surrounding sexual violence through different forms of advocacy.

COURTESY OF TRISHA PARAYIL Event attendees coined the term victim-survivor to promote inclusivity.

Using data to improve Baltimore neighborhoods

By DRAKE FOREMAN | February 8, 2019

Cheryl Knott, the geographic information systems project manager of Baltimore Neighborhood Alliance (BNIA), gave a guest lecture during a class titled “Health and Wellbeing in Baltimore: A Public Health Perspective.” She discussed different factors affecting Baltimore’s community health, as well as the various data that can be used to assess it. 

Shriver Hall reopens after three semesters of renovations

By DIVA PAREKH and SOPHIA LIPKIN | February 7, 2019

After undergoing three semesters of renovations, Shriver Hall has been reopened to the Hopkins community. The renovation, which began during the fall of 2017, was slated to be completed by the beginning of spring 2018. University officials announced in February 2018, however, that the project would extend into the 2018-2019 academic year. 

EDA INCEKARA / PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Many University students appreciated Shriver’s reopening this semester.
EDA INCEKARA / PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR The University makes its second attempt to authorize a private police force.

University continues to push private police legislation

By JAE CHOI | February 8, 2019

A bill that would grant Hopkins the authority to establish its own police force was introduced to the Maryland General Assembly on Monday. Senator Antonio Hayes is the sponsor of the bill, Senate Bill (SB) 793, titled “the Community Safety and Strengthening Act.”