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.

Former research animals deserve safe homes

By CELINA CISNEROS
February 16, 2017

This month the Maryland General Assembly will be considering the Humane Adoption of Companion Animals Used in Research Act (SB 420, HB 528). This piece of legislation calls for research institutions in Maryland, including Hopkins and many others, to ...

PUBLIC DOMAIN The Maryland State House will hold hearings for the legislation.

Editorial: Promising Atrium app needs more professional oversight

  | February 9, 2017

A team of Hopkins students has created the mobile app Atrium as part of the Hopkins community’s mission to improve mental health on campus. The app is designed to provide free, anonymous peer support and counseling from a licensed therapist, and it is currently in pilot testing with Hopkins students.

Editorial: Why we need more spots in Computer Science classes

  | February 9, 2017

The Computer Science department is currently facing a shortage of teaching power, with waitlists for certain classes exceeding 50 people.  Many students, including CS majors and minors, struggle to get into the classes that they need in order to graduate.

BAGOGAMES/cc by 2.0 The all-female Ghostbusters film was still directed by a man.

Hollywood needs to be more open to female directors

By ALEX SILBERZWEIG | February 9, 2017

Think of a movie that revolves around the needs, desires and misadventures of at least one female character. No it cannot be a movie where a man spends an agonizing 120 minutes trying to get “the girl.” And no it cannot be a movie directed by a man. This is harder than it seems, right?

First-time protesters: Think and learn from the past

By EMELINE ARMITAGE | February 9, 2017

The Women’s March on Washington was fraught with problems from the very start. It was originally called the Million Women March, but black feminists pointed out that the Million Woman March had already occurred in Philadelphia in 1997. The organizers changed it to the Women’s March on Washington, which was then accused of co-opting the name of the historically important 1963 march.

Editorial: Follow Daniels’ example, reject Trump’s ban

  | February 2, 2017

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 27 banning travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries. This ban came only a week after Trump took office, taking many immigrants, travelers, students and American citizens by surprise.

Editorial: The fight for the Humanities Center isn’t over

  | February 2, 2017

After a six-month-long review of the Humanities Center (HC), Dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Beverly Wendland announced mid-January that the Center will remain open. The neutral committee tasked with reviewing the HC compiled a report detailing three potential alternatives.

Executive orders are a threat to democracy

By NICK EAGLE | February 2, 2017

America has endured little over a week of the new Trump Administration, and already there’s a sense of commitment towards unconstitutional governance. President Trump, as of this past weekend, has issued 17 executive orders and memorandums with the goal of making good on many of his campaign pledges. The problem is that the vast majority of these orders are completely unconstitutional.

Karl-ludwig poggemann/cc by 2.0 President Donald Trump signs a stack of executive orders on Inauguration Day.
COURTESY OF GILLIAN LELCHUK Protesters gathered with signs at Baltimore’s Women’s March.

Stay active and involved beyond calling yourself a feminist

By GILLIAN LELCHUK | February 2, 2017

As we enter the next four years of America, it seems like a lot of people are taking a greater interest in politics and activism than they previously had. Protests are popping up all over the place, from the Women’s March to the anti-Muslim ban protests at international airports across the country.

Student groups should stop meeting, start doing

By TOMMY KOH | February 2, 2017

"Let’s meet to talk about that” seems to be the new get out of jail free card for those involved in administering student organizations. We must be wary of this phenomenon and take all necessary steps to defend against it. Meetings too often replace actual action with a trap of busywork, defined as work that usually appears productive or of intrinsic value but actually only keeps people occupied. Considering the extensive responsibilities some of our student leaders and administrators have, meeting may very well be a waste of time.

Editorial: We need to protect workers’ rights at Hopkins

  | December 8, 2016

Last Thursday, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), along with labor unions Unite Here Local 7 and SEIU 32BJ, hosted a “Forum for Equality” a gathering where representatives from the various contract workers’ unions on campus could share organizing strategies.

Editorial: Flash Seminars – liberating learning from the grade

  | December 8, 2016

Founded by two Hopkins seniors and inspired by an organization started at the University of Virginia, the new Flash Seminars strive to discuss academic ideas outside of the typical classroom setting. Each seminar invites a different professor to lead a group, capped at fifteen students, in a topic of the professor’s choosing. Designed to explore intellectual thought, these seminars act as a one-time event to discuss topics ranging from physics to poetry.

Letter to the editor: 12/8/16

  | December 8, 2016

The News-Letter’s recent articles about the International Studies Program (“Reviews Identity Flaws in International Studies Program,” “Editorial: International Studies Must Better Support Its Students,” 1 Dec.) raise several valid points about the current state of one of campus’ most popular majors.

IRACAZ/CC BY-SA 3.0 Students seem to have time to lounge around the Beach, but not to sign a petition.

Students must stay inspired post-election

By GILLIAN LELCHUK | December 8, 2016

Following the presidential election, Hopkins students seem to have forgotten the apathy that typically characterizes them. Students have participated in protests against hate, fossil fuels, the review of the Humanities Center and so much more. All of this is great, but we can’t let it fizzle out.

Editorial: International Studies must better support its students

  | December 1, 2016

Though International Studies (IS) is one of the most popular majors at Hopkins with 332 enrolled students, it has frequently come under scrutiny. In response, the IS program released an internal review this month in which both faculty and select students assessed the current state of affairs and outlined ways in which the program can improve. The internal review was held just before the Homewood Academic Council, composed of non-IS Hopkins faculty and faculty from other universities, conducted an external review.