Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
November 28, 2020

News & Features

COURTESY OF RUDY MALCOM The Black Faculty and Staff Association organized a peaceful demonstration on the eve of Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating emancipation.

Black faculty demand representation on eve of Juneteenth

By RUDY MALCOM | June 19, 2020

More than 200 members of the Hopkins community gathered in front of the Beach on Thursday, June 18 to demand that the University better hire and support black faculty members, as well as cancel the planned private police force. The Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) held the peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the nationwide protests that have followed George Floyd’s killing by a white Minneapolis police officer.  

FILE PHOTO FLI and international students discuss employment and housing issues for the fall.

SGA discusses improving inclusion on campus

By LEELA GEBO | June 18, 2020

The Student Government Association (SGA) discussed resuming in-person activities and promoting diversity efforts at its first meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on Tuesday, May 16. Although SGA typically begins meeting in the fall, the group decided it would meet twice this summer, citing unprecedented circumstances and the need to carry out time-sensitive activities. 

FILE PHOTO Although the University has suspended plans to implement a private police force for at least two years, students have questioned whether that is enough.

University delays plans for private police force

By CHRIS H. PARK and RYAN AGHAMOHAMMADI | June 13, 2020

University President Ronald J. Daniels and other administrators announced the suspension of the implementation of the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD) for at least two years in an email on June 12. This announcement followed nationwide protests against racism and police brutality prompted by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. 

FILE PHOTO Administrators will address the petition at a town hall on June 10.

Faculty demand shared governance in petition to Daniels

By GRETA MARAS and CHRIS H. PARK | June 9, 2020

More than 600 faculty members signed a petition delivered to President Ronald J. Daniels on June 5 calling for greater representation in University decision-making. The petition also demanded greater financial transparency and the reversal of various austerity measures taken by the University, including hiring freezes and suspension of retirement plan contributions. 

FILE PHOTO

University to open for some form of academic instruction this fall

By MICHELLE LIMPE | June 6, 2020

University President Ronald J. Daniels announced in an email to the student body on Friday, June 5 that Hopkins will be open this fall for limited academic instruction, co-curricular activities and residential life. By the end of the month, University leaders will share a detailed plan for comment and feedback. According to Daniels, a final plan will be posted by mid-July. 

FILE PHOTO The University’s three-phase plan will mirror Baltimore's plan for reopening.

University holds third 2020 planning town hall

By MICHELLE LIMPE | June 5, 2020

The University’s 2020 Research Workgroup held its third virtual town hall on May 29 to discuss plans for the fall semester. The event built on the information shared in the previous town halls concerning the guidelines for reopening campus for researchers.  

COURTESY OF RUDY MALCOM  Protesters in Baltimore demand the end of police brutality. 

Students call on Hopkins to better support the black community

By LEELA GEBO | June 3, 2020

The killing of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department has sparked nationwide protests to highlight police brutality and promote racial justice. These protests have occurred in over 350 cities. In addition, people have shown their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement through donations, petitions and social media.

COURTESY OF GAIGE KERR The University has reportedly attempted to prevent students from photographing the graffitied sign.

“Justice 4 Floyd”: Hopkins sign graffitied and covered up

By CHRIS H. PARK | June 3, 2020

The marble sign on the Merrick Gateway and parts of the Mattin Center were spray-painted with messages such as “Justice 4 Floyd” and “No JHUPD” following nationwide protests against police brutality on May 31.The University has since covered the sign with tarp, surrounded it with fences and is in the process of removing the messages.

FILE PHOTO The University hopes to begin phase one of their reopening plan this June.

University holds second 2020 planning town hall

By LEELA GEBO | May 26, 2020

The University’s 2020 Research Workgroup held its second town hall on May 20. The event’s purpose was to encourage feedback on the Workgroup’s guidelines for resuming research this year. The Workgroup is currently examining the impact of lab management and safety strategies during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and has helped develop a three-phase reopening plan.

FILE PHOTO Hopkins officials discussed campus reopening plans during a town hall meeting on Friday.

University holds first 2020 planning town hall

By NATALIE WU | May 20, 2020

Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Stephen Gange and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer Jon Links hosted a virtual town hall discussing the University’s plan for the fall semester on Friday May 15. At the event, Gange and Links laid out a three-phased reopening plan and answered questions from the public. 

FILE PHOTO University announces student advisory committee to participate in planning the return to campus. 

University announces formation of student advisory committee

By RYAN AGHAMOHAMMADI | May 13, 2020

Vice Provost for Student Affairs Alanna Shanahan and Associate Vice Provost for Education Janet Schreck announced the formation of a student advisory committee in an email to the student body on May 12. The committee will be tasked with providing feedback on University plans and brainstorming ideas as to what the process of reopening campus might look like amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. University President Ronald J. Daniels suspended in-person classes on March 10.

GAGE SKIDMORE/CC BY-SA 2.0 U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has faced criticism for her recently released final guidelines.

How will changes to Title IX regulations impact Hopkins?

By MICHELLE LIMPE and LEELA GEBO | May 10, 2020

The Department of Education issued changes to Title IX regulations on May 6. The new regulations will impact how universities investigate and handle sexual harassment and assault cases. The Office for Civil Rights reviewed more than 120,000 public comments and surveys to finalize the revised law, called “The Final Rule.”  

FILE PHOTO Students still in University housing will either have to move out by May 15 or pay a nightly rate to stay in Homewood Aparments.

University asks students to move out, offers Homewood stay for $40 per night

By CHRIS H. PARK | May 9, 2020

Earlier this semester, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Alanna Shanahan emailed all students, instructing them to vacate University housing by March 15 due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Exceptions were granted to students “who [could not] return home due to international travel restrictions, financial hardship or other extraordinary circumstances.”

Nest Network aims to help students find internships amid COVID-19.

Nest Network places Hopkins students in summer internships with Baltimore businesses

By LEELA GEBO | May 7, 2020

Nest Network, an initiative run by students from the JHU American Marketing Association (JHU AMA), is working with Hopkins and community partners to match students with internships for the summer. Nest Strategies, the marketing branch of JHU AMA, created Nest Network to address the growing concern over the cancellation of students’ summer internships due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

PUBLIC DOMAIN / edited by David Hilden Paul McHugh, former chief of psychiatry at Hopkins Hospital, believes that being transgender is a mental disorder.

Trans postdoc claims psychiatrists were biased against him

By RUDY MALCOM | May 5, 2020

“It was one of the first graduations Ron Daniels was at. I got to shake his hand. Underneath the cap and gown, I was wearing a dress. At another graduation, I was wearing a shirt and tie. It felt full circle. At Hopkins, I had gotten a bachelor’s degree and a PhD — and a new body and soul. Everything was possible here, but on the flip side, when I followed someone else’s advice blindly, it almost killed me.” 

COURTESY OF RUDY MALCOM According to many RAs, RDs need to be better held accountable.

RAs report mistreatment under Residential Life

By KATY WILNER | May 3, 2020

The RA manual now states that RAs are unable to speak directly to media outlets without permission from their supervisors. This year, seven RAs broke this rule to inform The News-Letter of ongoing systematic issues within Residential Life. Some students’ identities will remain anonymous.

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