Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

News & Features



Former SGA Senator alleges violation of SGA constitution and bylaws by Executive and Legislative Branch

On Sunday, Feb. 23, the Student Government Association (SGA) Judiciary granted a Writ of Certiorari for a petition filed by former Senator Jackson Morris against SGA. In the petition, Morris called for the judiciary to consider whether current SGA practices constitute a violation of SGA’s constitution and the Bylaws of the Senate, specifically regarding the availability of SGA minutes, meetings and proceedings to the public. 




COURTESY OF MYRA SAEED
BSU hosted an alumni panel and a museum exhibition with stories and photographs dating back to BSU’s founding in 1968.  

BSU hosts "Legacy and Progress" exhibition

On Feb. 21, 2025, the Black Student Union (BSU) hosted the “Legacy and Progress” event, showcasing an alumni panel and a museum exhibition with stories and photographs dating back to BSU’s founding in 1968. Held in the Gilman Atrium, the event’s museum exhibition featured old photographs of BSU throughout the decades, Black performance advertisements, protest signs and yearbooks. 



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
On Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, the Office of Public Affairs in the Department of Justice announced that the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism would visit ten universities, including Hopkins, to assess reports of antisemitic incidents and determine “whether remedial action is warranted.” 

Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism will visit Hopkins

On Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs announced that the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism would visit ten universities, including Hopkins, to assess reports of antisemitic incidents and determine potential further action.



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
551 students were admitted to the University in the first two round of Early Decision admissions. 

Hopkins welcomes 793 students to the Class of 2029 through Early Decisions rounds

On Feb. 14, the University welcomed 242 students to the Class of 2029 through Early Decision II (ED II). The first rounds of Early Decision — Early Decision I (ED I) and QuestBridge admissions — were released in December, admitting 551 students to the University. The numbers are consistent with data from last year’s early decision admissions cycle. 


COURTESY OF KAYLEE NGUYEN
Protestors marched around Homewood Campus to protest Trump’s claim that the U.S. will occupy the Gaza Strip.

Protesters gather outside of Gilman to demand “Gaza is not for sale”

On Feb. 21, 2025, members of the Hopkins Justice Collective (HJC) gathered outside of Gilman Hall at Keyser Quad to protest against President Donald J. Trump’s claim that the “U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip” and the University’s decline to divest its endowment from companies that have ties to Israel. 



COURTESY OF WILL KIRK
Pratt stressed the importance of improving the accessibility of the criminal justice system, especially with regard to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Judge Victoria Pratt reflects on her legal career and advocacy for criminal justice reform

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, Judge Victoria Pratt headlined the first Hopkins Lecture Series event of the spring semester, focusing on criminal justice reform in the 21st century. The event was held in Shriver Hall. As Chief Judge of the Newark Municipal Court in Newark, New Jersey, Pratt also presides over Newark Community Solutions, an alternative sentencing program providing an alternative to jail and fines for low-level offenders. She has advocated for criminal justice reform across the United States and abroad, and has given a TED talk, guest lectures and keynote addresses on the matter. 


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The 2023 report by the Office of Institutional Equity highlighted a general rise in campus reporting and provided information that most reports did not become cases within OIE.

OIE's 2023 annual report highlights rise in campus reporting

In Dec. 2024, the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) released its 2023 annual report, overviewing all received complaints and actions taken related to discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct, as well as requests for disability or religious related accommodations. The report reflected a general rise in reporting from 2022 and provided information on the outcome of cases. 


COURTESY OF
Steeped in tradition and connection, the Hopkins Tea Club bridges campuses and cultures through a shared appreciation for tea.

Spilling the tea with Tea Club

Along with coffee and zero-calorie energy drinks, tea has now become a cherished beverage on campus. The Tea Club — founded in 2023 by Mengbo “Ben” Guan and Menghan “Rex” Jiang — attracts tea aficionados and beginners alike. More than hosting a scheduled time and place to sample different teas, Tea Club aims to foster connections among students from all Hopkins campuses united by a shared appreciation for advanced tea culture.



STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
HopTalks hosted a seminar-style discussion for members of the Hopkins community to share their perspectives on the Supreme Court’s reversal of affirmative action and impact on student demographics. 

Hop Talks event invites Hopkins community members to discuss affirmative action

On Wednesday, Feb.12, Hop Talks invited the Hopkins community to a seminar-style discussion titled “Hop Talks: Affirmative Action Impact at Johns Hopkins.” The focal topic of the event was how the recent Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action and race-conscious admissions have altered the demographics of the University’s first-year class.


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
Following the Trump Administration’s recent orders and guidances pertaining to DEI and race in University activities, the impact on Hopkins remains unclear. 

Baltimore Judge blocks enforcement of Trump's executive orders related to DEI

On Jan. 20, President Donald J. Trump issued two executive orders: “Initial Recessions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions” and “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” Respectively, these orders revoked Biden-era protections for racial, gender, and sexual-orientation equity and terminated all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government. 


STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
The AMR 1 residence hall and Hopkins Cafe will be replaced by a new building. Construction on the project is expected to begin in summer 2026 and be completed in 2028.

AMR I residence hall and Hopkins cafe to be replaced

On Feb. 10, the University shared plans to replace the Alumni Residence Memorial (AMR) I and the Hopkins Café dining hall, with construction expected to begin in the summer of 2026 and be completed by 2028. The plans were announced 10 days in advance of the University’s meeting with the Baltimore Urban Design and Architecture Advisory Panel (UDAAP) on Feb. 20 . 


COURTESY OF LUNA MERCURI
The Chloe Center for the Critical Study of Racism, Immigration, and Colonialism hosted an event on migration and how the new administration’s policies may pose additional challenges.  

Hopkins launches Critical Diaspora Studies major with "From the Borderlands to Baltimore" event

On Thursday, Feb. 6, the Chloe Center for the Critical Study of Racism, Immigration, and Colonialism hosted a panel "From the Borderlands to Baltimore: Meeting the Challenges for Refugees Today" in conjunction with the Center for Social Concern and the Program in Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies. A reception was held following the panel to celebrate the launch of the new Critical Diaspora Studies undergraduate major offered by the Chloe Center. 


COURTESY OF JOHN CINTRON

Life Design Lab hosts inaugural industry focused career fair

On Jan. 29, the University’s Integrative Learning and Life Design Lab hosted the first inaugural industry-specific career fair. The event consisted of two separate sessions on the same day, and aimed to connect students with employers in specific industries, ranging from engineering to business and more. 


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