Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
July 5, 2025
July 5, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

News & Features




COURTESY OF BJARKE INGELS GROUP
The University predicts that the student center will be finished by fall 2024.

Hopkins selects design concept for future student center

The University released the final designs for the student center on Nov. 2. The facility is scheduled to open in fall 2024 and will serve as a non-academic space for students and student organizations, featuring auditoriums, digital labs, dining options and areas for relaxation. 


ADAM SCHULTZ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Harris makes history as the first woman of color elected to be vice president.

Students react to Biden-Harris victory

Former Vice President Joe Biden was elected as the nation’s 46th president on Saturday after a long period of waiting for votes to be counted in several key states. The race culminated after Pennsylvania, with 20 electoral votes, was called for Biden. 


COURTESY OF CHRIS H. PARK
Universities can still ask for disciplinary history from applicants, though the Common App removed the question.

Common App removed the disciplinary history question, but will Hopkins?

The Common Application (Common App), the most widely used tool used to submit college applications, announced last month that it will no longer ask applicants about their high school disciplinary history beginning during next year’s application cycle. Students applying to universities through Common App have had to answer such questions since 2006.  


COURTESY OF CHRIS H. PARK
Hopkins is building a temporary structure in anticipation of increased demand for outdoor spaces in the spring.

Large social distancing tent to be pitched in Freshman Quad

Earlier this week, a wheel dozer and a metal wire mesh fence along with several portable toilets appeared on the Freshman Quad, the patch of grass in front of the Alumni Memorial Residence dorm buildings. Here the University is building a temporary 9,000-square-foot structure — essentially, a large party tent used for outdoor weddings — to prepare for the hybrid reopening in the spring semester.


KORITSI-ISCHYS / CC-BY-SA-4.0
Brandon Scott pledges “A New Way Forward” for Baltimore City.

Brandon Scott wins Baltimore mayoral election

Democrat Brandon Scott, president of the Baltimore City Council, was elected to be the city’s 52nd mayor on Nov. 3. Succeeding Bernard C. “Jack” Young, Scott, at age 36, will become Baltimore’s youngest mayor. He will be officially sworn into office on Dec. 20. 



COURTESY OF CHRIS H. PARK
It could take days for the result of the presidential election to be called.

Students anxiously await decisive election results

“I didn’t choose to go vote at home in Pennsylvania. I requested my absentee ballot in August and wanted to vote early and get it out of the way without having to go home... About two weeks ago, though, I got an email that said my ballot was considered undeliverable by the USPS.” 



LAKSHAY SOOD / LAYOUT EDITOR
Because of historically low student voter turnout rates, the University will provide transportation for in-person voting.

Hopkins makes class on Election Day optional to boost student voting rates

To better accommodate students who will be voting in-person on Election Day, University President Ronald J. Daniels announced that no student will be required to attend live classes on Nov. 3 in a University-wide email on Oct. 19. Faculty have been asked to make recordings of their lectures for students who are unable to attend class. 




FILE PHOTO
On Monday, community members shared their hopes for the grant application process with the leaders of the Innovation Fund for Community Safety.

Nonprofit leaders give input on University's Innovation Fund

At the end of September, the University announced the creation of the Innovation Fund for Community Safety, a $6 million grant to be rolled out over four years to various nonprofits in order to improve wellness and safety in the Baltimore community. The University held a listening session on Oct. 26 with community and nonprofit leaders to gain a deeper understanding of how the grant application and selection process should be structured.  





FILE PHOTO
Henrietta Lacks' cells, which were taken without her consent by the Hopkins Hospital, spurred many medical breakthroughs.

Hopkins honors Henrietta Lacks' 100th birthday

The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) screened a video lecture honoring Henrietta Lacks and the impact of her cells titled “Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture: 100 years of Henrietta Lacks” on Saturday, Oct. 24. The event addressed the widespread reach and complexity of Lacks and her cells, both biomedically and ethically, and aimed to provide insight into the past, present and future of clinical research conduct.



COURTESY OF CHRIS H. PARK
At last week’s meeting, SGA invited students to share questions about the upcoming semester.

SGA hosts public forum to hear student concerns

The Student Government Association (SGA) held a public input forum at its weekly meeting on Oct. 20. During the forum, students asked questions about topics including the spring semester, grading and the virtual freshman experience.


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