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.

Hopkins avoiding taxes is civic disengagement

By ROLLIN HU
November 8, 2018

Last month, Hopkins announced the end of its “Rising to the Challenge” fundraising campaign, which solicited over $6 billion in donations over the past eight and a half years. It seems like this money is going to a lot of good causes like financial ...

COURTESY OF ROLLIN HU Due to its status as a nonprofit, property belonging to Hopkins in Baltimore is nontaxable by the city government. 
BARGAINMOOSE/CC BY 2.0 Goudreau argues that there are affordable alternatives to fast fashion brands like Forever 21.

How to shop clothes ethically when you’re on a low budget

By CLAIRE GOUDREAU | November 8, 2018

Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is either burned or dumped into a landfill, with an estimated lost value of $500 billion per year. And at what cost? The industry is plagued with dangerous working conditions, as exemplified by the 2013 collapse of a Bangladesh garment factory, which killed 1134 workers and injured about 2500 more. It’s also harmful to the environment, with textile production emitting 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases annually.

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. (55).png

Reflecting on anti-semitism after Pittsburgh

By ARIELLA SHUA | November 5, 2018

I hate that these words need to be said. A massacre against Jewish people took place last weekend. An armed shooter entered the Tree of Life – Or L’Simcha synagogue, yelling that “all Jews must die” as he broke into the Saturday morning prayer service. Eleven members of the congregation were killed and six were injured, including three police officers who responded to the scene.

free speech editorial

Jamal Khashoggi’s murder is a threat to journalists everywhere

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | October 25, 2018

In their efforts to inform the public, journalists often put their lives on the line and this past year has been particularly dangerous. A few weeks ago, Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi was tortured, dismembered and killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after advocating for free expression in the Arab world in The Washington Post. U.S. President Donald Trump has meanwhile been reluctant to hold the Saudi government accountable in Khashoggi’s death. 

FILE PHOTO While Landy thinks athletes deserve payment, Melick argues that paying football and basketball players is inequitable.

Opposing Viewpoints: The problem with paying college athletes

By GREGORY MELICK | October 25, 2018

As college football and basketball make more money for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and universities, more people think the athletes playing in these sports should be compensated. While this seems like a nice, logical and fair idea, the execution could send everyone involved down a rabbit hole that they may never be able to fully climb out of.

Opposing Viewpoints: College athletes should be paid

By DANIEL LANDY | October 25, 2018

In college football, University of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — the Heisman Trophy frontrunner who has his eyes set on delivering the school its second straight national championship — won’t make anything. No contract, commercials, shoe deals. Nada. The same goes for Duke University’s Zion Williamson, a generational basketball talent whose talents will fill Cameron Indoor Stadium night after night this upcoming season. You won’t see them starring in shoe commercials, jerseys with their names being sold on store racks or their names and likenesses being used in video games.

  FILE PHOTO While Landy thinks athletes deserve payment, Melick argues that paying football and basketball players is inequitable.

Elitism, not racism, is the real problem in admissions

By ROLLIN HU | October 18, 2018

When I was applying to college, my dad told me 山外有山,天外有天 which translates to “there will always be a taller mountain, there is always something higher than the sky.” In other words, there’s always something better out there.

COURTESY OF ROLLIN HU Hu, pictured top right, visits John Harvard’s statue with his parents.

Hopkins housing system fosters loneliness

By JEANNE LEE | October 18, 2018

I agree: We should continue badgering the administration for the construction of a new student center. But while we’re at it, let’s also address the University’s isolation-inducing housing system. 

COURTESY OF JEANNE LEE Lee argues that the University's current housing system is not conducive for maintaining long-term relationships.

Letter to the Editor 10/11/2018

By BENJAMIN TAYLOR and DAVID JOHNSON | October 10, 2018

If the values of “diversity” and “community engagement” are to be more than mere slogans — and if Hopkins is serious about its expressed commitment to equality — ending its contracts with ICE is non-negotiable. 

The University must stand behind indigenous students

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | October 11, 2018

The celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day on campus makes us hope that Hopkins is becoming a more diverse and inclusive university. But we can’t expect indigenous students to carry that burden alone. We have to remember that the University must also take action. 

Indigenous Peoples Day Editorial
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. (40).png

Students, please vote. You too, STEM majors.

By ANNALISE BLUM | October 15, 2018

When I was 17, I set up an ironing board on the side of Market Street in downtown San Francisco. I wore a brand new shirt with straight-out-of-the-box creases, which read: “Ask me to help you register to vote.” Panicked about the possible re-election of George W. Bush (remember him?), I had convinced four friends to spend the day with me trying to register distracted shoppers.

Brett Kavanaugh has won. All Americans have lost.

By ARIELLA SHUA | October 11, 2018

Yes, this is a piece by a college student lamenting the state of politics in this country. I’m not going to waste space here talking about what happened. We’re in America. Pretty much all Americans who’ve logged onto Facebook or seen a news headline know the facts, or, at least some version of the truth. Those in charge of our country these days seem to be always arguing about what actually happened in any given situation.

COURTESY OF EDA INCEKARA Protesters rallied at D.C. on Saturday in opposition to Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote.
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. (33) (1).png

Opposing Viewpoints: It's your duty to vote in Maryland

By JACOB TOOK | October 8, 2018

Baltimore is a college town, with nine universities in the city limits attracting around 55,000 students. Many of these students, particularly those at Hopkins, are reluctant to make a home in the city. They are wary of exploring its neighborhoods, rarely patronize the city’s cafes, steer clear of getting involved in local political issues and are generally comfortable living in the Hopkins bubble for four years.