Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
September 7, 2025
September 7, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

News & Features







 LEON SANTHAKUMAR/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Students expressed their condolences and held a moment of silence.

Vigil commemorates terror attacks

In the wake of multiple major terrorist attacks around the world, several Hopkins groups organized a vigil on Friday evening to provide a moment of reflection for students.


 COURESTY OF Peyton Blackstock
Sophomores gathered Gertrude’s to celebrate the spring season.

Sophomore garden party draws 300 to Gertrude’s

Over 300 sophomores turned out for an upscale Spring Garden Party at Gertrude’s Restaurant at the Baltimore Museum of Art on Thursday night. The event was hosted by the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Sophomore Class Council.


Omega Psi hosts first cognitive science conference

Omega Psi hosted Monkeys to Infants to Humans, a regional cognitive science conference, on Saturday in the Charles Commons Ballroom. Established at Hopkins in 2011, Omega Psi is the first undergraduate cognitive science honor society in America and Monkeys to Infants to Humans was the society’s first regional conference.


Class of 2020 visits campus for SOHOP

Prospective students and their families participated in the first day of the Spring Open House and Overnight Program (SOHOP) on Wednesday. SOHOP is an annual admitted student information and immersion event planned by the Hopkins Hosting Society to give prospective freshmen a glimpse into college life at Homewood.



 yildiz yazicioglu/CC-By-SA-3.0
Turks mourn the victims of the March 13 Ankara Kızılay bombing.

Turkish students respond to turmoil

Multiple terrorist attacks have struck Turkey this month. The most recent bombing on March 19 was the fourth major terrorist attack of the year. At least 42 people have been killed and 163 injured throughout the month in the attacks on Ankara, Turkey’s capital, and Istanbul, its largest city.


Biden unveils Hopkins cancer research center

A $125 million gift to create a new cancer center at the Hopkins Hospital was announced Tuesday by Vice President Joe Biden, former New York City Mayor and Hopkins alumnus Michael Bloomberg and University President Ronald J. Daniels.


 SJP/FACEBOOK
In the context of Israeli Apartheid Week, students painted Jay the Blue Jay.

Free speech debate erupts over statue

The phrase “End Israeli Apartheid,” recently painted on the Blue Jay sculpture outside of the Fresh Food Café (FFC), has sparked a debate over free speech on campus.


 FILE PHOTO

Q&A with Greek Life Dir. Calvin Smith

Nearing the end of his first year as director of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL), Calvin Smith has already made several changes to Hopkins Greek culture, from altering recruitment procedures to supporting the University’s new party registration policy. In an email interview with The News-Letter, he reflected on his performance this year, the current state of Greek life at Hopkins and his hopes for the future.


Hopkins labs allegedly violate Animal Welfare Act

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued the University an “Official Warning” for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act for its treatment of primate test subjects. The USDA had originally reported a detailed description of Hopkins’ repeated violations of animal care in October 2015, attempting to enforce animal rights regulations in research laboratories.


 ELLIE HALLENBORG/PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF
Law professor Eugene Kontorovich used comparative historical jurisprudence to justify Israel’s borders.

Visiting professors talk Israel through lens of international law

Eugene Kontorovich, a professor of law specializing in international law from Northwestern University, had a conversation with School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) professor and former UN official Ruth Wedgwood on Wednesday. They discussed the merits and faults of using a framework of international law to analyze Israel’s position in the world. The event was hosted by the Israel on Campus Coalition, Hopkins Hillel, StandWithUs and the Department of International Studies.


 COURTESY OF TASA
Members of TASA served food to students who learned about Taiwanese culture.

TASA celebrates traditional Taiwanese food

The Taiwanese Student Association (TASA) hosted “A Ramen-tic Night” in celebration of traditional Taiwanese cuisine on Saturday in Charles Commons. The free event featured chicken and vegetarian ramen, Taiwanese tea eggs and Chinese sausage as well as a raffle to win two tickets to TASA’s Night Market event in late April. The ramen was served with fish balls, tofu, eggs, bean sprouts, carrots and corn.


Md. Senate passes act to protect student press

The New Voices Act (Senate Bill 764) passed the Maryland Senate with amendments in a 36-10 vote on March 18 and has been moved to the House Ways and Means Committee. This new bill proposes extending rights of freedom of the press to high school and college student media.


SGA debates funding own tickets to FAS

The Student Government Association (SGA) discussed a bill for funding Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS) seats at its weekly meeting on Tuesday in Charles Commons. Executive Treasurer Matthew Bee sponsored the bill, which proposed an allocation of $500 in support and sponsorship of SGA events in return for eight reserved seats at each event for SGA representatives.


 Kareem Osmun/Photography Editor
“Instructions Not Included” attracted students and Baltimore citizens.

TEDx speakers confront global and local issues

TEDxJHU hosted a series of Technology Entertainment and Design (TED) talks titled “Instructions Not Included” Saturday in Mudd. Seven speakers attracted an audience of faculty, students and members of the Baltimore community and was live-streamed on JHU’s Ustream channel.


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