On Wednesday, Feb.12, Hop Talks invited the Hopkins community to a seminar-style discussion titled “Hop Talks: Affirmative Action Impact at Johns Hopkins.” The focal topic of the event was how the recent Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action and race-conscious admissions have altered the demographics of the University’s first-year class.
On Jan. 20, President Donald J. Trump issued two executive orders: “Initial Recessions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions” and “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” Respectively, these orders revoked Biden-era protections for racial, gender, and sexual-orientation equity and terminated all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government.
On Feb. 10, the University shared plans to replace the Alumni Residence Memorial (AMR) I and the Hopkins Café dining hall, with construction expected to begin in the summer of 2026 and be completed by 2028. The plans were announced 10 days in advance of the University’s meeting with the Baltimore Urban Design and Architecture Advisory Panel (UDAAP) on Feb. 20 .
On Thursday, Feb. 6, the Chloe Center for the Critical Study of Racism, Immigration, and Colonialism hosted a panel "From the Borderlands to Baltimore: Meeting the Challenges for Refugees Today" in conjunction with the Center for Social Concern and the Program in Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies. A reception was held following the panel to celebrate the launch of the new Critical Diaspora Studies undergraduate major offered by the Chloe Center.
On Jan. 29, the University’s Integrative Learning and Life Design Lab hosted the first inaugural industry-specific career fair. The event consisted of two separate sessions on the same day, and aimed to connect students with employers in specific industries, ranging from engineering to business and more.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11 the Student Government Association (SGA) convened for its weekly meeting. They discussed the creation of a new student advisory board with Dean of Sheridan Libraries Elisabeth Long, fine tuned plans for the upcoming Valentine’s Day Speed Dating event and reviewed several funding bills.
The University agreed to pay $18.5 million in a lawsuit to resolve claims that it favored wealthy applicants and limited financial aid on Jan.17. The lawsuit was filed in 2022 against 17 universities, suggesting that they violated a U.S. antitrust law by taking students’ finances into consideration while making admissions decisions. Hopkins — alongside the California Institute of Technology (which agreed to pay $16.7 million) — continues to deny the allegations, but chose to pay the settlement to avoid further litigation.
On Jan. 7 2024, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the United States Department of Education released a letter addressed to President Ronald J. Daniels, sharing the findings of its nearly year-long Title VI investigation into the University. The investigation was launched in February 2024 in response to allegations that the University failed to respond to harassment of Jewish students during the 2023–24 school year.
David Fankhauser ‘71 is an Hopkins alumnus, who graduated with a PhD in Molecular Biology and worked as a Professor of Biology and Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati. At Hopkins, Fankhauser participated in anti-Vietnam war student demonstrations in May 1970. Fankhauser also participated as a Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights Movement. In an interview with The News-Letter, Fankhauser reflected on his time at Hopkins, his experiences with activism and his advice for current students.
On Wednesday, Jan 29, the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) and Hopkins at Home hosted an event titled “Beyond Borders: Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and the Israel-Palestine Divide” as the first virtual panel discussion in their ongoing series “Conflict in the Middle East: Context and Ramifications.”
Following President Trump’s inauguration, the flurry of executive orders and funding freezes introduced uncertainty into the period of political transition. Researchers and health practitioners across the country faced questions about the availability of funding for new graduate students and research fellows, as well as the broader impact on their fields in the coming years.
On Tuesday Jan. 28th, the Johns Hopkins Graduate Student Workers Union, represented by Teachers and Researchers United (TRU-UE), held a rally on campus to protest an alleged violation of worker’s rights as guaranteed by labor law and the collective bargaining agreement with the University.
The Mu Psi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in collaboration with the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Organización Latine Estudiantíl (OLÉ) Latinx Student Group, hosted an event titled “New Year, Same Advocacy” on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The event facilitated an open dialogue between students and leaders in the University administration regarding the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action and its subsequent effects on student admissions and enrollment.
On Tuesday, Jan. 28 the Student Government Association (SGA) convened for its weekly meeting. The meeting involved a presentation surveying student opinion on the new general education requirements for freshmen, the introduction of a potential SGA mentorship program and a review of plans for a February Speed Dating event.
On Thursday, Jan. 16 the University’s Public Interest Investment Advisory Committee (PIIAC) released a report that declined a divestment proposal. The proposal, drafted by Hopkins Justice Collective, an organization of Hopkins students, staff and alumni that has been vocal in its advocacy for Palestine, requested that the University divest its endowment from companies affiliated with the state of Israel, specifically those involved in the production of weapons. HJC’s proposal also asked that Hopkins disclose the financial investments of its endowment, both now and in the future.
The Student Government Association (SGA) convened for their first meeting of the spring semester. Members reviewed plans for the upcoming Student Involvement Fair (SIF) and discussed semester goals, construction updates and a Valentine’s Day Tabling event on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The Office of International Service (OIS) stated that changes in federal travel policies could occur around Jan. 20 and advised international students to return to the U.S. by or on Jan. 19 in their weekly newsletter sent on Dec. 11.
Ronald J. Daniels is the President of Johns Hopkins University. On Dec. 10, President Daniels spoke with The News-Letter in an exclusive interview discussing expression and protest on campus, the drop in racial diversity in incoming classes following the Supreme Court reversal of affirmative action, the implementation of the Johns Hopkins Police Department and more.
In interviews with The News-Letter, five dining workers described the challenges facing their work. They drew attention to understaffing, and concerns about temporary workers being able to sign up for shifts before employees. The identities of these personnel will remain anonymous, as The News-Letter grants anonymity to individuals who are at risk of losing their jobs by disclosing information.
Hopkins students, faculty, staff and community members gathered for the 20th annual Lighting of the Quads (LOTQ) ceremony on Friday, Dec. 6. This tradition marks the end of the fall semester with an evening of festivities, community bonding and vibrant celebrations.
