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

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STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR Panelists shared their personal experiences with promoting workers’ rights through organized activity.

Panel underscores importance of collective action for labor rights at final FAS event

By KAIYUAN DU | April 18, 2023

The Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS) held its last panel of the semester on the topic of workers’ rights on April 13. The panel featured Chris Smalls, the president and founder of Amazon Labor Union, Roxie Herbekian from Unite Here and Anna Word from Teachers and Researchers United, the Hopkins graduate worker union. The event was moderated by Maximillian Alvarez from The Real News Network, and speakers shared their stories on organizing and unionizing in their respective industries.

COURTESY OF JASON ZHANG Zhang spoke on how he continued his research after after hitting a roadblock.

Humans of Hopkins: Jason Zhang

By LUBNA AZMI | April 15, 2023

Jason Zhang is a senior completing a BS/MSE in Chemical Biomolecular Engineering. In an interview with The News-Letter, Zhang discussed his research in chemistry and physics, where he grows gemstones in his lab, as well as his participation in the Mentoring Assistance Peer Program (MAPP).

COURTESY OF KAIYUAN DU Cameron spotlighted the lack of availability of resources for patients on donor lists as a driving reason for continued research and investment in xenotransplantation.

Speakers at TEDxJHU main event explore themes of resilience

By KAIYUAN DU | April 14, 2023

TEDxJHU held its spring main event, "In Full Bloom," on April 8. Four speakers from the Baltimore region spoke at the event, including associate professor Andrew Cameron, plant enthusiast Liz Vayda, educator Kaelyn Chang and singer Almira Zaky. The AllNighters, an acapella group at the University, performed during intermission.

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR SGA voted not to pass the Fiji Islander Funding Bill due to financial constraints.

SGA makes amendments to Constitution and bylaws

By ARUSA MALIK | April 13, 2023

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on April 11 to discuss funding for a Blue Jays and Poets Open Mic Night, the Fiji Islander Funding Bill, constitutional and bylaws amendments, the Container Funding Bill and the SGA Inauguration Funding Bill. The Financial Aid Office also gave a presentation to SGA.

COURTESY OF WILL KIRK Katyal and Rosen were assigned positions to take in the Dobbs v. Jackson case to further examine the powers of the Supreme Court. 

FAS and SNF Agora organize debate on the role of the Supreme Court

By AIMEE CHO | April 13, 2023

The Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS) and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute’s University debate initiative co-hosted the debate on the Supreme Court featuring Neal Katyal and Jeffrey Rosen on April 6. This was the fifth event in the 2023 Foreign Affairs Symposium series “Paradigm Shift.”

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR Levering Hall today hosts dining spaces and the Tutorial Project.

Levering Hall: Past and present

By LONDON CRADDOCK | April 6, 2023

Levering Hall is nestled between the Decker, Wyman and Keyser quads. In 1889, Eugene Levering, a successful Baltimore-born banker, philanthropist and trustee of the University, provided $20,000 for the establishment of a Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) on the University’s old downtown campus. In a letter dated May 1 of that year, Levering expressed his wishes for the building.

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR Founded in 1921, the JHU Pep Band encourages the University’s sports teams at home and away games.

JHU Pep Band encourages school spirit through music

By HELEN LACEY | April 6, 2023

The JHU Pep Band plays music at University sporting events, including football, field hockey and lacrosse games. The Pep Band has also played at a variety of nonathletic events, such as Alumni Weekend and Lighting of the Quads.

COURTESY OF REDONDA MILLER Miller encouraged Hopkins students to go beyond the textbook to understand different careers in medicine. 

Humans of Hopkins: Redonda Miller, president of Hopkins Hospital

By ARANTZA GARCIA | April 6, 2023

Redonda Miller attended the University as a medical student and became the first female president of Hopkins Hospital in 2016. In an interview with The News-Letter, she discussed her approach to leadership, how it informs the operations of the hospital and the insights she’s gained from her career.

PHOTO EDITOR / STEVEN SIMPSON SGA passed the APIDA Fashion Show Funding Bill.

JHU Dining presents meal plan overview at SGA meeting

By ARANTZA GARCIA | April 6, 2023

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on April 4 to discuss funding for an Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Fashion Show, SGA graduation stoles and containers for SGA. Additionally, JHU Dining presented a meal plan overview for the 2023–2024 academic year.

COURTESY OF ARUSA MALIK Allen emphasised the importance of preserving Native American mounds.

Professor Allen speaks on the history and current perceptions of indigenous mounds

By ARUSA MALIK | April 5, 2023

On April 4, various departments at the University hosted professor Chadwick Allen to discuss his new book Earthworks Rising: Mound Building in Native Literature and Arts. Allen is a Russell F. Stark University professor with academic specialization in trans-indigenous literary studies and postcolonial literatures. Allen, of Chickasaw ancestry, focused his talk on archaeological histories of mounds. 

COURTESY OF HELLEN SESHIE-NASSER Elliot discussed the variability that exists when transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. 

EPIC hosts talk on regulation of electricity production

By AIMEE CHO | April 4, 2023

The Economic Policy Issues Colloquium (EPIC) held an event titled “Electricity Regulation and the Future of Pollution: Challenges and Tradeoffs” on March 31. The event was led by Jonathan Elliott, an assistant professor in the Department of Economics. Elliott has been working on the regulation of electricity production, which is responsible for about 25% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR SGA passes a bill to fund an Earth Fest Event. 

SGA discusses changes to Committee on Student Elections constitution

By SHIRLENE JOHN | April 2, 2023

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on March 28 to discuss approving the Committee on Student Elections (CSE) constitution. The second readings for the Student Activities Commission guidelines, Sex Week Funding Bill and the Earth Fest Funding Bill were also presented. 

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR SGA discussed funding options for the annual FIJI Islander philanthropy event.

SGA debates caucus amendment

By AIMEE CHO | March 19, 2023

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly general body meeting on March 14 to present adjustments in the Student Activities Commission (SAC) Guidelines, a counter proposal for the Phi Delt Crab Fest and amendments in the constitution for caucuses. SGA also discussed the Gift of Life, Blue Hatchlings, Copa America and Fiji Islander presentations.

COURTESY OF JAMES WANG Wang emphasized his appreciation for teamwork, especially in programming Semester.ly. 

Humans of Hopkins: James Wang

By ARANTZA GARCIA | March 19, 2023

James Wang, a senior majoring in Computer Science (CS) at Hopkins, is the lead developer at Semester.ly, a course scheduling platform popular at the University. In an interview with The News-Letter, he discussed his thoughts on coding, advice for those interested in a career in computer science and his appreciation of teamwork in coding projects. 

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR While the competition for executive board elections increased compared to last year, there are still open positions on the senior and junior class councils.

2023–2024 SGA representatives are elected

By CATHY WANG | March 16, 2023

The Committee on Student Elections (CSE) announced the results of the 2023–2024 Student Government Association (SGA) Executive Board and class council elections on the evening of March 15, three hours after voting closed. Out of the five executive board positions, only vice president was uncontested. 

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