Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
September 18, 2025 September 18, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

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COURTESY OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS The Barn was originally built as a farm building but functioned as a space for student organizations after it was acquired by Hopkins.

Merrick Barn: Past and present

By LANA SWINDLE | March 14, 2024

Merrick Barn, located behind Brody Learning Commons, is one of the oldest buildings on campus and home to the Undergraduate Program in Theatre Arts and Studies at Hopkins. According to A Brief History of the Homewood Campus: Its Buildings, Monuments, and Sculpture, the Barn (as it was formerly named) was first constructed in 1803 for Charles Carroll, Jr., son of Charles Carroll of Carrollton — signer of the Declaration of Independence and one of the wealthiest American men at the time.

COURTESY OF CHRISTINE WANG Wang highlighted that she learned about the importance of communication and teamwork through her work experience at NASA.

Humans of Hopkins: Christine Wang

By AIMEE CHO | March 14, 2024

Christine Wang is a junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Space Science and Engineering. Outside of Hopkins, she has worked as an engineer in NASA’s Johnson Space Center since January 2023. In an interview with The News-Letter, Wang described her work at NASA, her experience as a Miss Maryland finalist and her professional fencing career.

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR SGA discusses community organizing and charity events.

SGA discusses MSE renovation plan and event planning

By LEO QI | March 14, 2024

The Student Government Association (SGA) convened for its weekly meeting on Tuesday, March 12.  The session began with a presentation from the library leadership team on the renovation plan for the Milton S. Eisenhower Library (MSE), which showed computer-generated graphics and floor plans of envisioned spaces. The project highlights open spaces, integration of natural lighting and an increase in seat count.

COURTESY OF NICK DAUM TRU-UE and administration are progressing in contract negotiations, but the union recently introduced a strike pledge due to disagreements over fair wages and benefits.

TRU-UE threatens strike amid stalled negotiations

By NICK DAUM | March 13, 2024

Following another round of negotiations with the Hopkins administration last month, the Hopkins graduate student union, Teachers and Researchers United (TRU-UE), announced a strike pledge on Tuesday, March 5. In the pledge, members expressed their willingness to strike if they do not reach an agreement with the administration regarding competitive wages and fair benefits.

COURTESY OF MAYA BRITTO Students held handpainted signs that called for the liberation of Palestine.

Students organize protest in opposition to violence in Palestine

By MAYA BRITTO | March 13, 2024

A demonstration in solidarity with Palestine took place on Monday, March 11. Around 20 students convened in front of the Beach on North Charles Street to protest the ongoing violence in Gaza. The protest was organized by Hopkins Students for Palestine and involved students from various groups on campus, including Speak Out Now and the Hopkins Justice Collective.

Hopkins community mourns the loss of Ethan Posner

By AIMEE CHO | March 12, 2024

The University is mourning the loss of Ethan Posner, who passed away Friday, March 8 after a brief illness. He was a sophomore studying Biophysics at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and a member of Hopkins Hillel, the Jewish Students Association, Club Swimming, the German Club and the Undergraduate Brain Computer Interface Society.

FILE PHOTO The candidates for the SGA Executive Board elections discussed issues such as MSE renovations, dining concerns and current vacancies in the organization.

SGA Executive Board candidates debate campus issues

By CATHY WANG | March 9, 2024

The candidates for the 2024–2025 SGA Executive Board took part in a debate on Wednesday, March 6, during which they answered questions about their platforms, the expanding structure of SGA and solutions to various issues on campus.

COURTESY OF GRETA MARAS Former Leisure Editor Maras encourages Hopkins students to enjoy life in college and explore Baltimore more.

Humans of Hopkins: Greta Maras

By AIMEE CHO | March 8, 2024

Greta Maras is a Hopkins alum who graduated in December 2022. As an undergraduate, she majored in Political Science and International Studies and minored in German and Environmental Studies. She is currently working as the administrative specialist for the Office of the Public Defender (PDO) in Baltimore. 

COURTESY OF ESTELLE YEUNG Students expressed their interest in learning about the short-and-long-term influences of colonialism.

Hsu presents research on decolonization and migration in Singapore

By ESTELLE YEUNG | February 26, 2024

The East Asian Studies Program held an event titled “Immobilization and Decolonization in Singapore, 1945–1953” on Tuesday, Feb. 20 as part of the East Asian Studies Speaker Series. The event featured Madeline Hsu, a professor of history and director of the Center for Global Migration Studies at the University of Maryland College Park.

COURTESY OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY Over two centuries, this historic building has served as a household, secondary school, office and space for the Johns Hopkins Club before its current role as a museum.

Homewood Museum: Past and Present

By AIMEE CHO | February 22, 2024

Between Milton S. Eisenhower Library and the Alumni Memorial Residence Halls, there is a large, two-story brick house that has stood there even before Hopkins existed: the Homewood Museum. The building had numerous lives before its current position as a museum.

COURTESY OF TRACE TERRELL Terrell shared his aspirations to support mental health through his work in national and global policy.

Humans of Hopkins: Trace Terrell

By JOHN CINTRON | February 22, 2024

Trace Terrell is a sophomore studying Public Health and Writing Seminars at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. He is currently a part of the Hopkins Semester in D.C. (HSDC) program and works with Active Minds, Inc. as a Policy Intern. In an interview with The News-Letter, Terrell discussed his work in youth mental health, his views on the mental support services at Hopkins and his experience in the HSDC program.

COURTESY OF JEREMY CAVANAGH Students attended the Major Fair on Feb. 16, where they were able to explore a variety of major and minor opportunities at Hopkins.

Inaugural JHU Major Fair introduces students to departments and faculty

By LANA SWINDLE | February 21, 2024

The inaugural JHU Major Fair took place on Friday Feb. 16 and was hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA) to introduce Hopkins students to various departments and new opportunities. Roughly 300 people attended the fair over the course of the afternoon, and over 40 different majors and minors were represented at the event. Majors spanned departments in both the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) and the Whiting School of Engineering (WSE), and ranged from Film and Media Studies to Mechanical Engineering. 

COURTESY OF LEO QI Ahmed Ragab from the School of Medicine was invited to speak about his research on the queer history of Islam.  

Faculty host seminar on interpretations of gender and sex in Islamic Society

By LEO QI | February 21, 2024

Continuing a series of seminars in the Islamic studies colloquium, the University's Program in Islamic Studies hosted an event titled "Sex, Gender, and Islam," co-sponsored by the Women and Gender Studies department, on Monday, Feb 19. The event featured Ahmed Ragab, an associate professor at the School of Medicine.

COURTESY OF TRU-UE Graduate student union leaders gave speeches and organized a picket line for a better a better contract.

Hopkins graduate student union organizes picket protest

By NICK DAUM | February 21, 2024

The University’s graduate student union Teachers and Researchers United (TRU-UE) hosted a picket protest in front of Homewood Campus on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Members protested for a better contract with the University, with provisions including better compensation and the establishment of a closed union shop.

COURTESY OF NAVEEDA KHAN Khan shares how her background and experiences have shaped her research interests as an anthropologist.

Humans of Hopkins: Naveeda Khan

By CATHY WANG | February 8, 2024

Naveeda Khan is an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at Hopkins. Khan is an anthropologist, author and activist — and photographer in her free time. In an interview with The News-Letter, Khan discussed her journey at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Building Resources Across Communities (BRAC) as well as her experience at the COP28 (Conference of the Parties) United Nations Climate Change Conference.

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