Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
July 12, 2025
July 12, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

News & Features



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.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The QuestBridge National College Match program provides low-income students with full four-year scholarships to college partners.

University expands reach to low-income students with QuestBridge partnership

QuestBridge announced its partnership with the University in a press release on Jan. 19. QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving, low-income students with leading colleges and opportunities. In Fall 2023, the University will participate in the QuestBridge National College Match, a program that connects low-income students with admission and full four-year scholarships to QuestBridge college partners.


COURTESY OF TRU-UE
97% of votes were in favor of unionization.

Graduate students vote to unionize with a 97% majority

Graduate students across three Hopkins campuses voted in a union representation election, facilitated by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), on Jan. 30 and 31. The election was organized by Teachers and Researchers United (TRU), which is affiliated with United Electrical Radio, and Machine Workers (UE). 



COURTESY OF VID SMOOKE
Smooke describes pivoting from the career world into academia.

Humans of Hopkins: Vid Smooke

Vid Smooke is a professor of Music Theory at the Peabody Institute. In an interview with The News-Letter, they describe their experience in academia, their educational philosophy and the arts scene in Baltimore. 


Hopkins community mourns the loss of Sharleen Argamaso-Hernan

The University is mourning the death of Sharleen Argamaso-Hernan, assistant director of academic support, who passed away on Dec. 25, 2022. Argamaso-Hernan was assistant director for the Study Consulting Program and oversaw the first-year course Introduction to Hopkins: Arrive & Thrive. 


Hopkins community mourns the loss of Saeeda Osei Frimpong

The University is mourning the death of Saeeda Osei Frimpong, who passed away on Jan. 11. Frimpong was a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. She was a member of the African Students Association, the American Red Cross Corps and the Black Student Union. 


News-Letter Magazine