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.

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Support local businesses, boycott Amazon

By SAM MOLLIN | September 8, 2018

This past Labor Day, tens of thousands of workers employed at Amazon fulfillment centers appreciated one of their few days of rest. It was doubtlessly a needed reprieve from working conditions so strict that Amazon fired a worker for seven minutes of unproductivity, forced employees to walk over 15 miles a day and caused one employee to state that [Amazon] kills you mentally and physically.

To fight ableism, hold yourself and the University accountable

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | September 6, 2018

Most of us at Hopkins are privileged in not having to think about disability accommodations, or even think about the challenges our peers with disabilities face. As the University moves forward with its initiatives, it’s time we change that. If we’re to successfully undo ableism at Hopkins, staying ignorant and passive is not an option. 

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Homewood should implement a smoking ban

By RUSHABH DOSHI | September 8, 2018

That smoking jeopardizes everyone’s health has been well-known for decades. In fact, Hopkins faculty have produced much of the research detailing smoking’s deleterious effects. Ironically, it is the University’s smoking policies that lag behind those of its peer institutions. 

We must keep organizing for graduate student workers

By PETER WECK and DIEGO GELSINGER | September 6, 2018

If you’re a graduate student receiving health insurance through the University, congratulations are in order. The 2018-2019 plan which took effect on Aug. 15 is a big improvement over its woefully unaffordable predecessors, reducing the costs of care and expanding coverage to vision and dental. Turns out that our eyes and teeth are part of our bodies after all.

COURTESY OF TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS UNITED Since 2014, Teachers and Researchers United has been fighting for affordable healthcare.
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Low income students deserve equal opportunity

By SAMUEL FARRAR | September 13, 2018

I am a low-income student, which means my parent makes less than $30,000 a year. This doesn’t mean I lived in squalor, but I certainly wouldn’t be able to afford the $70,000 price tag of Hopkins without a significant amount of financial aid. 

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Learn how to engage in college activism early on

By EMELINE ARMITAGE | April 30, 2018

The irony of being politically active in college is that once you get the hang of it, it’s time to graduate. I now know how to access the archives and notes of the Board of Trustees, how to navigate the Hydra head of bureaucracy that swallows student discontent, who is most effective to scream at and when, etc. 

The Office of Institutional Equity’s failed promises

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | May 6, 2018

At the start of the semester, The News-Letter set to work on an in-depth feature about the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) and its handling of sexual assault and harassment cases. Over the past several months, eight survivors came forward to share their stories with our reporter. We  would like to recognize those eight individuals who bravely shared their stories with The News-Letter.

COURTESY OF MORGAN OME
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College admissions should not be race-blind

By MORGAN OME | April 26, 2018

As May 1 approaches, high school seniors across the country are making the exciting and difficult decision of where they will spend the next four years of their life. Three years ago, when I was in that same position, I heard some troubling comments about how Asians are held to higher standards than other students.

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Trump’s actions will not be able to help Syria

By SAMUEL FARRAR | April 26, 2018

“Mission Accomplished!” No major politicians have dared to utter these words since George W. Bush famously stood by them (literally) atop an aircraft carrier 15 years ago. In this now infamous speech, Bush proclaimed the end of major combat in Iraq, right before the vast majority of casualties in the Iraq Wars, in a campaign that can hardly be called a ‘success.’ 

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The publishing industry needs to stop prioritizing male writers

By JACOB TOOK | April 26, 2018

Recently, my friends and I went to a reading at which five finalists for a literary award presented some of their work. Three of these finalists read snippets of fiction, and the other two read selections of their poetry. Four of these finalists were women, with one man standing among them.