Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
September 15, 2025
September 15, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Opinion

The opinions presented below are solely the views of the author and do not represent the views of The News-Letter. If you are a member of the Hopkins community looking to submit a piece or a letter to the editor, please email opinions@jhunewsletter.com.



COURTESY OF STEVEN SIMPSONPublic Editor Leo Lin reflects on the role of The Johns Hopkins News-Letter in upholding the University’s values of free expression and truth. He builds on President Ronald J. Daniels’ 2017 Winter Convocation remarks and considers how the paper can embody trust, clarity and value in its reporting.

What makes a great News-Letter? Setting standards for trust, clarity and value

The News-Letter functions not only as a record of campus activities, a place to play Hopkins-themed crosswords or share a nervous breakdown experience from finals week; it is also one of the few avenues through which Hopkins speaks to and about its community. Asking what makes a good newspaper inevitably raises larger questions about what makes for a thriving public conversation.


COURTESY OF GODSON NKANGINIEME
Nkanginieme reflects on the shortcomings of University housing options through the lens of his freshman year experience. Pictured above is his current single room in Scott-Bates Commons: an embraced change from his year prior. 

Be gone, double rooms

The sophomore housing selection process operates as a lottery. You cross your fingers for a good time slot to log into the portal first and claim your preferred residence hall. My top pick was a single room in a double suite in Scott-Bates Commons — where I am currently writing this article.




THE WHITE HOUSE / PUBLIC DOMAIN
Mahto argues against Trump’s tariff policy.

The White House's broken window: The problem with tariffs

French economist Frédéric Bastiat's "Broken Window Fallacy" mocks the economic logic (or lack thereof) behind President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff policies. The theory behind Trump’s unprecedented tariffs across the board on all industries from certain countries is that they will increase manufacturing job numbers. As a whole, however, tariffs ultimately hurt American consumers.


TINGTINGOU / CC-BY-SA 4.0
Mahto calls on University administration to address student life concerns around Homewood campus.

To address student life concerns, Hopkins must start with St. Paul Street

Hopkins has long had an issue with student life. Some on forums like Reddit have said, “Why does it feel like everyone hates it here at Hopkins?” while others have noticed the complain culture present at the school. Hopkins is one of the most academically prestigious schools in the country, but it often lags behind its peers in student life.


Harvard paved the way; Hopkins must follow

Hopkins researchers are facing critical cuts to their funding, impeding life-saving work. International students are getting their F-1 visas revoked “without reason or warning.” The U.S. government is handing out increasingly unreasonable demands to universities that target the core academic mission of higher education.



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE / PUBLIC DOMAIN
Gonzalez details the parallels between Castro’s attack on democracy and the Trump administration.

My dad fled Cuba — now I watch democracy die in America

My dad grew up in communist Cuba under Fidel Castro. During the Cuban Revolution, the people thought Castro would bring about positive change for society, but the opposite quickly became true. I notice parallels between Cubans choosing Castro and Americans choosing a demagogue who has instead enacted an authoritarian takeover of institutions. 


BROCKEN INGALORY / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Opris argues that the Trump administration’s actions will devastate national parks and federal lands in the United States.

What Trump 2.0 means for the environment

With the destructive effects of climate change and numerous efforts by the current administration to hinder the work of the parks, such as by freezing funding and mass layoffs, I strongly believe that national parks are now in danger. 


The detainment of Rümeysa Öztürk is an attack on student free speech

On March 26, 2024, Rümeysa Öztürk, a PhD student at Tufts University, co-authored an opinion editorial in The Tufts Daily. Almost exactly one year later, she was arrested near campus by plainclothes immigration officers, detained and sent nearly 1,500 miles away to a facility in Louisiana, where she is still being held. There are no charges filed against her. 


Supporting our international community

Our international community is very important to Hopkins, and we are committed to supporting them as we support all our students, faculty and staff. We share the serious concerns arising from recent changes in federal immigration policies and enforcement activities and understand the anxiety these changes instill in our community members and their families, here and abroad.


The time to protect immigrant and international students is now

We are Hopkins alumni who call on the University to step up and protect the most vulnerable members of our community. We are endorsing all activities that help protect international students, faculty, and staff during ICE raids.



JIYUN GUO / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR
The Editorial Board argues that the Board of Trustees must increase their transparency with the public and take steps to better listen to the voices of the Hopkins community. 

Earth to the Board of Trustees: Where are you at?

Ultimately, the Board of Trustees is out of touch with Hopkins students and operates with little to no transparency of how it is using its power. As the Board transitions to new leadership, it must take steps to increase its transparency and restore confidence. It is unacceptable for any group, much less one as influential as the Board of Trustees, to wield their power shrouded in secrecy. 


TED EYTAN/ CC-BY-SA 2.0
Levin opines about the effect of Trump’s executive orders on rights for transgender people.

How new executive orders are affecting disabled transgender people

The transgender community has been significantly impacted by Donald Trump's executive orders, emphasizing the need to advocate for those facing injustices. Despite challenges, the LGBTQ+ community has shown resilience. Among the most vulnerable are disabled students, transgender individuals, and veterans, who have been particularly affected without consideration for their mental and physical health.


DADEROT / PUBLIC DOMAIN
Mahto argues that liberal arts colleges are societal detriment to the poorest Americans. 

How liberal arts colleges fuel class divide

While the existence of liberal arts colleges may be a good intellectual activity for a small number of students, they are a terrible trade off for the United States as society and are the paragon of elitist institutions. 


USER51FIFTY / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Momeni argues that the devastation inflicted on Baltimore communities by the opioid crisis was led by profit-driven pharmaceutical practices.

Fighting the epidemic that began in the medicine cabinet

Baltimore is a city filled with rich culture, history and innovation. The city was the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner”; the American railroad system; and Hopkins, the U.S.’s first research university, which has been a hub for research and invention for more than a century. But beyond its historical and intellectual contributions, Baltimore is also known for another, more troubling distinction: the opioid crisis. 


ACEDISCOVERY / CC-BY-SA 4.0
Shu argues that many students have forgone their dreams for material gain.

The sellout epidemic: Not our fault but our problem

Nowadays, there seem to be more epidemics than ever before: COVID-19, obesity, drug addiction and bird flu, among others. But another epidemic haunts the ivory towers and brick-lined paths of elite universities across the U.S.: the “sellout” epidemic. 


News-Letter Magazine