Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
July 27, 2024

News & Features




COURTESY OF MATTHEW PETROFF
The George Peabody Library today houses special edition books, including a first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. 

George Peabody Library: Past and present

The Peabody Institute was founded by George Peabody as a cultural institution for the citizens of Baltimore in 1857. Today, the George Peabody Library houses Special Collections, hosts private and public events and ensures that its materials are accessible through public engagement programming and the digitization of collections.


COURTESY OF LANCE PHILLIPS
Members of Hopkins Baja pose with their car at a Baja SAE competition. 

Hopkins Baja provides opportunities to apply engineering skills outside the classroom

Blue Jay Racing, also known as Hopkins Baja, is an undergraduate engineering design team that builds an off-road vehicle to compete against more than 100 other university teams in the Baja SAE. Baja SAE consists of three competitions that annually take place in the early summer. In the competitions, the vehicles are judged on diverse criteria including design, sales presentation, acceleration and sled pull.



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The Nexus Awards will expand the University’s presence in Washington, D.C.

University launches Nexus Awards for research and teaching in D.C.

The University announced the launch of the Nexus Awards in an email to affiliates on Feb. 17. The awards provide $15 million in support of faculty-led proposals for research, courses and convenings at the University’s new academic building at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.


COURTESY OF HILARY GALLITO
Gallito spoke on her feelings of incredulity working with the University’s archives.

Humans of Hopkins: Hilary Gallito

Hilary Gallito is a sophomore working at the Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives. In an interview with The News-Letter, she discussed her work as well as her passion for history.


COURTESY OF YANA MULANI
Incoming students spotlight research and social opportunities as reasons to apply to Hopkins.

First 811 students of the Class of 2027 admitted through Early Decision rounds

The University admitted 278 students to the Class of 2027 through the Early Decision II (ED II) round on Feb. 17. The newly accepted cohort joins the 533 students that were accepted in December through the Early Decision I (ED I) cycle. This is the third year that Hopkins has offered an ED II cycle in addition to ED I and Regular Decision.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The CSE presented dates for SGA’s upcoming elections.

SGA releases WSE technology in the classroom survey results

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its general body meeting on Feb. 14 to discuss the Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) technology in the classroom survey results, the Meat the Future Movie Night Funding Bill and the Plushie Refund Bill. The Committee on Student Elections (CSE) also gave a presentation outlining dates and procedures for upcoming elections.



COURTESY OF ARUSA MALIK
Musicians John Tyler and Scott Patterson draw from the struggles and influences of diaspora communities in their work. 

SNF Agora and Baltimore Center Stage highlight intersections of music and activism

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute kicked off the Elijah E. Cummings Democracy and Freedom Festival with a “Pop the Vote” Baltimore Butterfly Session on Feb. 7. Baltimore Center Stage, the state theater of Maryland and Baltimore's largest active professional theater company, teamed up with SNF Agora to bring a night of art and civic engagement to Hopkins. 


PHOTO EDITOR / STEVEN SIMPSON
SGA unanimously passed the Liaison Program Bill.

SGA outlines executive branch plans for spring semester

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on Feb. 7 to discuss recommendations for the executive branch, the SGA Accessibility Standards Bill, the SGA Bill for South Asian Mela, the Hopkins Got Talent event plans and the Student Services Liaison Program Act.



COURTESY OF YASMINE BOLDEN
Bolden shared how racial identity and queerness guides her work. 

Humans of Hopkins: Yasmine Bolden

Yasmine Bolden is an award-winning poet currently in her sophomore year at Hopkins. In an interview with The News-Letter, she described her writing process, the advocacy projects she’s been involved in and the impact she hopes to have.




STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Student attendees and organization leaders reported enjoying SIF despite the decreased turnout.

University hosts spring Student Involvement Fair with decreased turnout

The spring semester’s Student Involvement Fair (SIF) was hosted by Leadership Engagement and Experiential Development (LEED) on Feb. 3 in the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center. The event provided students with the opportunity to explore and meet hundreds of student groups on campus, ranging from dance teams to volunteer and advocacy groups. 


COURTESY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SYMPOSIUM 

The symposium will feature discussion on international shifts and patterns surrounding complex topics. 

FAS announces 2023 spring speaker series theme and lineup

The Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS) announced that the theme of its 2023 spring speaker series will be “Paradigm Shift” on Feb. 4. The lineup features activist Heather Booth, retired U.S. Army General Lieutenant Mark Hertling, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Professor Narges Bajoghli, climate change experts Amali Tower and Patrick Brown, former U.S. Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal and CEO of the National Constitution Center Jeffrey A. Rosen. 


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
SGA discusses including land acknowledgements in large ceremonies like commencement and convocation.

Office of Student Affairs presents new strategic plan at SGA meeting

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its first general body meeting of the spring semester on Jan. 31. At the meeting, Chief of Staff for the Vice Provost of Student Affairs Lee Hawthorne presented the Office of Student Affairs’ new strategic plan. Representatives provided executive, class and committee reports along with information on supporting the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in the U.S. Supreme Court, the liaison programming bill and Meat the Future Movie Night funding bill.


COURTESY OF LONDON CRADDOCK 
Attendees worked to establish a more inclusive base of knowledge on the history of composers.

Wikipedia edit-a-thon calls attention to underrepresented composers

The Hopkins Symphony Orchestra hosted “Canons Away! — A Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon,” an event designed to bring experienced and first-time Wikipedia editors together to expand the canon of historically underrepresented composers and performers. The event was held at the Arthur Friedheim Library at the Peabody Institute on Jan. 28.


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