Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
November 3, 2025 November 3, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

News & Features

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR The University released a Final Sustainability Plan, focused on various factors affecting environmental health — including research, consumption, transportation and the built environment of campus. 

University releases final sustainability plan to address climate crisis

By MAYA BRITTO | November 7, 2024

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized Hopkins for its use of green power sources, which accounts for 60% of the University’s total power needs. The University currently ranks fourth among colleges in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership — a voluntary program aimed at protecting human health and the environment. Furthering its work in sustainability, the University released a Final Sustainability Plan, committed to recognizing the gravity of the climate crisis and providing a plan for the development of sustainable solutions at Hopkins. 

COURTESY OF SAMHI BOPPANA   Hopkins students gathered at the Glass Pavilion for an election watch party hosted by Hopkins Votes. 

Hopkins students vote and await election results

By SAMHI BOPPANA | November 5, 2024

Hopkins students have cast their ballots and are now awaiting election results, joining voters nationwide. Hopkins Votes held a March to the Polls event at 12:30 p.m. Students met at the Beach, and then walked or took a HopVan to the Waverly Public Library polling station to vote or register to vote on Election Day.

SGA hosts presentation from Hopkins Dining

By LEO QI | November 2, 2024

The 112th Student Government Association (SGA) convened on Tuesday, Oct. 29 for their weekly meeting. The senate began the session with a presentation from the Hopkins Dining staff, covering recent updates and future plans. The team highlighted new additions to the Hopkins Café — such as a poke bar, updates to Levering Kitchens and the introduction of Niecy’s Fabulous Juice Bar replacing Good Part and Co. at the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center. 

Students voice discontent with University response to affirmative action ruling

By SHIRLENE JOHN | October 31, 2024

Following the University’s release of data on the socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds of the Class of 2028 — the first admitted since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision limiting race-conscious admissions — student leaders from various cultural and affinity organizations issued statements condemning the significant decline in underrepresented students within the freshman class.

SGA hosts public town hall to discuss racial diversity on campus

By JIYUN GUO | October 31, 2024

The Student Government Association (SGA) convened on Tuesday, Oct. 22 for their weekly meeting.This week’s meeting included a public town hall to discuss the decrease in the racial diversity in the class of 2028 and future steps to address the issue, moderated by Senator Cynthia Sanchez Hidalgo, SGA Treasurer Brandon Benjamin, Senator Srigouri Oruganty and Senator Nayshawn Ferebee.

COURTESY OF MYRA SAEED In the concluding event of the Fall 2024 Aronson Center Speaker Series, Professor Bentley Allan discussed global climate policy and efforts by nations to develop domestic clean-energy supply chains. 

Bentley Allan discusses the evolving dynamics of global climate governance in Aronson Center Speaker Series

By MYRA SAEED | October 30, 2024

The Aronson Center for International Studies, in collaboration with the International Studies Leadership Council, hosted the last event of their Fall 2024 Speaker Series, titled “Faculty Fridays: A New World Ahead,” on Friday, Oct. 25. The event featured a discussion by Professor Bentley Allan — an associate professor of political science — regarding the evolving dynamics of global climate governance. 

COURTESY OF CAROLYN SUFRIN Sufrin discusses her work and experience as an advocate for reproductive rights and improving health care for incarcerated people.

Humans of Hopkins: Carolyn Sufrin

By ARANTZA GARCIA | October 30, 2024

Dr. Carolyn Sufrin is a physician and associate professor at the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health. In an interview with The News-Letter, she discussed her research, work in obstetrics and gynecology, and advocacy for the reproductive rights of incarcerated people.

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR This Hoptoberfest featured a petting zoo, fall bouquet making and a pumpkin patch.

Hoptoberfest kicks off fall with several student activities

By BUSE KOLDAS | October 26, 2024

Hoptoberfest 2024, one of the signature events of the Hopkins Student Organization for Programming (the HOP), started on Wednesday, Oct. 23 on the Keyser Quad and featured various activities ranging from inflatables to lawn games. The event held Farm Day on Oct. 24, a haunted house event on Oct. 25 and a concert with Kiana Ledé and student openers on Oct. 26.

PACH BROTHERS / PUBLIC DOMAIN The Name Review Board recommended that an undergraduate research fellowship named after former President Woodrow Wilson be renamed, and that a residence hall entryway bearing his name be retained and contextualized. 

Name Review Board recommends renaming of the Woodrow Wilson research fellowship and contextualization of AMR entryway

By SAMHI BOPPANA | October 26, 2024

The Johns Hopkins Name Review Board (NRB) made recommendations on the use of former United States President and Hopkins alumni Woodrow Wilson’s name for an undergraduate research program and residence hall entryway on Oct. 24. The Board recommended that the Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship, which provides funding for students to conduct independent research, be renamed as the University Undergraduate Research Fellowship, effective immediately. The NRB also recommended that AMR I’s Wilson House entrance retain its name but with added contextual information.

COURTESY OF LEO QI  Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers performed a series of cultural dances in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Hopkins celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day highlights Indigenous innovation and research

By LEO QI | October 22, 2024

On Oct. 14, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion hosted a program from 3–8 p.m to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day, with a focus on Indigenous innovation and impact. The program included a community gathering event, a keynote presentation from Dr. Donald Warne — co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health — and a performance from the Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers.

SNF Agora and CSC host event discussing the significance of presidential pardons

By MYRA SAEED | October 22, 2024

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute and the Center for Social Concern (CSC) hosted an event titled “Presidential Pardon Power: Where is the Limit?” on Wednesday, Oct. 9. As part of an ongoing discussion series tailored for engaging undergraduates in political issues, the event featured a discussion between Kim Wehle, a professor at the University of Maryland Law School and a legal contributor for ABC News, and Emily Zackin, a political science professor at Hopkins, about the contents of Wehle’s new book Pardon Power: How The Pardon System Works — And Why.

COURTESY OF EESHA BELLAD Trejo spoke about how local journalists are the primary victims of assassinations in Mexico.

SNF Agora hosts Guillermo Trejo in presentation of violence against journalists in Mexico

By EESHA BELLAD | October 12, 2024

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute organized an event titled “Silencing the Press in Criminal Wars: Why the War on Drugs Turned Mexico Into the World's Most Dangerous Country for Journalists” on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The event brought in Guillermo Trejo, a professor of political science at Notre Dame University and director of the Violence and Transitional Justice Lab at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Trejo is an avid researcher in examining political and criminal violence, as well as an advocate for human rights and social justice in Mexico and Latin American.

RUI DO ROSARIO / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR The results of a survey on student responses to the MSE closure by The News-Letter showed general student dissatisfaction.

N-L survey highlights student backlash to the closure of MSE

By LANA SWINDLE | October 10, 2024

This year, the Milton S. Eisenhower Library (MSE) closed for renovations. The plan was announced in the fall of 2023, and, as of last October, the renovations were expected to cost $100 million and to be completed in two and a half years. This semester, The News-Letter conducted a survey gauging student responses to this closure and assessing its impact on student life at Hopkins. 

COURTESY OF YASMINA METTEWA  The Hopkins Lecture Series, formed from the merger of the Milton S. Eisenhower Symposium and the Foreign Affairs Symposium, organizes speaker events on the Homewood Campus.

The Hopkins Lecture Series fosters dialogue on campus through guest speakers

By SAMHI BOPPANA | October 10, 2024

The Hopkins Lecture Series, a group within the Hopkins Student Organization for Programming, was formed  following the merger of the Milton S. Eisenhower Symposium (MSE) and the Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS). The Lecture Series hosts year-round programming on Homewood Campus and aims to facilitate  dialogue at Hopkins and within the greater Baltimore community.

COURTESY OF PEYTON MIKOLAYEK Mikolayek shares her experience being a social media influencer, while also a student at Hopkins.

Humans of Hopkins: Peyton Mikolayek

By JOHN CINTRON | October 10, 2024

Peyton Mikolayek is a first-year undergraduate studying English and Psychology at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. She’s also a social media influencer with over 500K followers on TikTok. In an interview with The News-Letter, Peyton discussed how she’s adapted to life in college and the reality of navigating dual worlds while maintaining authenticity, as well as how social media has created new opportunities for her.

COURTESY OF MYRA SAEED Shane discusses his new book Flee North with audience at the Homewood Museum.

Book Talk Highlights the Underground Railroad’s Forgotten Hero

By MYRA SAEED | October 9, 2024

Journalist and author Scott Shane discussed the history of his newest work, Flee North: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery's Borderland, at the Homewood Museum on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Jeannette Marxen, the Programs and Interpretation Manager for JHU Museums and organizer of this event, emphasized the discussion’s importance in relation to the museum’s focus on public education and Baltimore’s history in an interview with The News-Letter. 

Trending
Weekly Rundown
News-Letter Magazine