News & Features

Local journalists talk policing in Baltimore

By TRISHA PARAYIL and By JAE CHOI
February 15, 2019

Stephen Janis and Taya Graham, two journalists from The Real News Network (TRNN), discussed their WYPR podcast “Truth and Reconciliation” and policing in Baltimore on Wednesday in Charles Commons. The event was co-sponsored by the Digital Media Center ...

Historian explores legacy of slavery in Baltimore

By RACHEL JUIENG | February 7, 2019

Anne Rubin, a history professor at the University of Baltimore, gave a lecture on early Baltimore at an event titled “Free Streets/Slave Streets: Visualizing the Landscape in Early Baltimore” on Feb. 6 at the Homewood Museum. During her presentation, Rubin used interactive maps to juxtapose the lives of enslaved and free blacks in the city. Rubin studies Civil War history and has earned acclaim for her work with digital archives.

Hopkins senior to run for political office in Virginia

By CLAIRE FOX | February 7, 2019

Akshay Bhamidipati, a senior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, announced his campaign to run as a Democratic candidate for Virginia’s House of Delegates (87th District) on Jan. 28. Coming from a background in student government and medical research, Bhamidipati looks to make an impact at the local level with his grassroots campaign. 

COURTESY OF AKSHAY BHAMIDIPATI Bhamidipati decided to choose a career in public service in November.
COURTESY OF STEPHANIE LEE

Third anti-ICE protest draws largest turnout

By MEAGAN PEOPLES | February 12, 2019

Students and faculty joined Baltimore community members in protesting the University’s contracts with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) by walking out of class at 11 a.m. on Feb. 6. The event was organized by the Hopkins Coalition Against ICE, which includes a number of campus activist organizations such as Students Against Private Police (SAPP), #JHToo, Teachers and Researchers United (TRU) and Refuel our Future.

Faculty and students weigh in on the 35-day government shutdown

By JAMES SCHARF and ISHA RAI | February 7, 2019

The United States government shut down from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019. At 35 days, the shutdown was the longest in U.S. history and was the result of a standoff between President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The conflict began because of Trump’s demand that Congress include a $5.7 billion budget for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border in government funding legislation. Non-essential employees were furloughed, while all others were expected to work without pay.

AGNOSTICPREACHERSKID / CC-BY-SA-3.0 The News-Letter explored how Hopkins community members have been affected by the government shutdown.
COURTESY OF TRISHA PARAYIL Event attendees coined the term victim-survivor to promote inclusivity.

Event celebrates black victims and survivors of sexual violence

By TRISHA PARAYIL and JAE CHOI | February 7, 2019

“Hear Our Stories: Celebrating Black Victim-Survivors,” an event focused on supporting black women and non-binary people affected by sexual violence, took place at The Motor House on Thursday, Jan. 31. The event was hosted by FORCE, a Baltimore nonprofit that aims to shift the narrative surrounding sexual violence through different forms of advocacy.

Using data to improve Baltimore neighborhoods

By DRAKE FOREMAN | February 8, 2019

Cheryl Knott, the geographic information systems project manager of Baltimore Neighborhood Alliance (BNIA), gave a guest lecture during a class titled “Health and Wellbeing in Baltimore: A Public Health Perspective.” She discussed different factors affecting Baltimore’s community health, as well as the various data that can be used to assess it. 

EDA INCEKARA / PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Many University students appreciated Shriver’s reopening this semester.

Shriver Hall reopens after three semesters of renovations

By DIVA PAREKH and SOPHIA LIPKIN | February 7, 2019

After undergoing three semesters of renovations, Shriver Hall has been reopened to the Hopkins community. The renovation, which began during the fall of 2017, was slated to be completed by the beginning of spring 2018. University officials announced in February 2018, however, that the project would extend into the 2018-2019 academic year. 

University continues to push private police legislation

By JAE CHOI | February 8, 2019

A bill that would grant Hopkins the authority to establish its own police force was introduced to the Maryland General Assembly on Monday. Senator Antonio Hayes is the sponsor of the bill, Senate Bill (SB) 793, titled “the Community Safety and Strengthening Act.” 

EDA INCEKARA / PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR The University makes its second attempt to authorize a private police force.
COURTESY OF JAKE LEFKOVITZ Panelist discussed the recently released Freedom in the World 2019 report.

Experts discuss declines in democracies

By JAKE LEFKOVITZ | February 7, 2019

Michael Abramowitz, the president of Freedom House, sat down with Karen DeYoung of The Washington Post and Yascha Mounk, political scientist at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Angora Institute, on Tuesday to discuss his organization’s recent report on the global state of democracy. The School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), the SNF Agora Institute and Freedom House hosted the event, titled “Freedom in the World 2019: Democracy in Retreat.” Elise Labott, former CNN foreign affairs reporter, moderated the talk.

Panelists discuss how to fund unpaid internships

By KATERINA FRYE | February 7, 2019

The Career Center hosted a workshop titled, “How to Fund Your Internship” on Tuesday night. The panel consisted of directors from Internship Programs, the Office of Development, the Career Center, the Center for Social Concern and the Office of Student Financial Services. 

COURTESY OF ANANTA SRIVASTAVA The black history month opening ceremony included poetry readings.

Students reflect on the start of Black History Month

By ANANTA SRIVASTAVA | February 7, 2019

In honor of Black History Month, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) hosted an opening ceremony at The LaB on Feb. 1. The ceremony featured poets Aja Monet, Dominique Christina and Mecca Verdell as the opening act. This was the first in a series of events that will be held throughout Hopkins during the month of February. 

Baltimore City Council passes bill to regulate trash incinerators

By WILLIAM EDMONDS | February 9, 2019

The Baltimore City Council voted to approve a bill that would require trash incinerators in the city to either abide by stricter environmental regulations or shut down on Monday, Feb. 4. After a two-month long process that started on Nov. 19, 2018, the Land Use and Transportation Committee voted unanimously on Jan. 30 to send the bill to the full City Council for approval. After the City Council passed the bill 12-1, a final vote remains and is to be held on Feb. 11.

WELP.SK / CC-BY-SA-3.0 Environment Maryland data says Baltimore air pollution is among the top 10 worst in the nation.

SGA discusses private police, JHU-ICE relationship

By CLAIRE GOUDREAU | February 7, 2019

The Student Government Association (SGA) listened to a presentation on public safety legislation by University officials and endorsed a walkout organized by the Hopkins Coalition Against ICE during their weekly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 5. 

Hopkins releases first draft of revised police bill

By MORGAN OME | February 7, 2019

University officials released the first draft of a bill that would grant Hopkins the authority to establish its own police force on Wednesday. The News-Letter also independently obtained an earlier draft of the bill that same day. The draft is the first piece of proposed legislation released to the public since March 2018 and includes several revisions, such as the creation of an Accountability Board, an expanded definition of “campus area” and a timeline for implementing a police department. 

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Rally for Immigrants’ Lives tackles JHU-ICE

By JAMES SCHARF | January 31, 2019

Members of the Hopkins community gathered on Wednesday to listen to a panel about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its contracts with the University. The four panelists included an expert on migration, an organizer for CASA de Maryland, a volunteer with Sanctuary Streets of Baltimore, and Drew Daniel, the Hopkins English professor who organized a petition protesting the JHU-ICE contracts.

Eight questions with Students Against Private Police

By TRISHA PARAYIL | February 7, 2019

Within hours of the University announcing its plan to create a private police force last March, several student activist groups organized to form Students Against Private Police (SAPP). Within days, SAPP had organized one of the largest protests on campus and marched to President Ronald J. Daniels’ house. By the end of the month, SAPP had lobbied legislators in Annapolis and circulated a petition which garnered over 2,300 signatures. This semester, they continue to coordinate efforts against the formation of a police force. 

Students Against Private Police organized one of the largest campus protests just days after the University announced its intent to create a campus police force on March 8, 2018.
FILE PHOTO Charles Village, one of the neighborhoods bordering Homewood Campus, would be impacted by the proposed police force.

How do city residents view campus policing?

By MEAGAN PEOPLES | February 7, 2019

Last spring members of the Maryland General Assembly refused to support a bill that would allow Hopkins to create a private police force. Lawmakers called on University officials to conduct an interim study and engage in more substantial community outreach if they wanted to reintroduce a bill in the future.

University to buy the Newseum building in D.C.

By DIVA PAREKH and JAE CHOI | January 31, 2019

The University announced its $372.5 million purchase of the Newseum building in Washington, D.C. on Friday.  The Newseum, located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave., is a museum dedicated to raising awareness about free speech and journalistic freedom. It is managed by the Freedom Forum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the First Amendment.

Another Believer / CC-BY-SA-3.0 The Newseum will remain open through 2019, after which it will relocate.