Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 26, 2024

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.

Sequester myth: Drastic cuts or drop in the bucket?

By ALEX DRAGONE | March 14, 2013

If you’ve happened across the news in the past few weeks, chances are you’ve heard the word “sequester,” along with its description as “devastating,” “ruthless” and “draconian.” In 2011, President Obama and Congress agreed to enact a series of automatic budget cuts if Congress failed to cut $1.5 trillion from the federal budget over the next ten years. A bit less than half of the cuts target the discretionary side of the budget — funds which the federal government isn’t legally obligated to pay — while the rest target mainly non-defense discretionary spending, and a portion of Medicare.

Letter: The real aim of FAS

By NATALIE BOYSE and BEN KUPFERBERG | March 14, 2013

The opinions that were expressed in an editorial observer about the Foreign Affairs Symposium in last week’s issue of The News-Letter exemplify a clear lack of understanding of the mission of FAS. The Foreign Affairs Symposium aims to provide a forum for thoughtful and intellectual debate.  Through the events that we organize, we hope to generate discussion about current and pressing issues of international significance.  If the line-up were to cater to the views of individual students, it would not be doing its job.  It would only be reinforcing generally accepted views.  Instead, our speakers are selected for their ability to captivate an audience and spark dialogue.

Letter: Eddie's is a staple in Charles Village

By SUZANNE ROOS | March 14, 2013

Eddie’s market has been a crucial part of the Charles Village community for more than fifty years.  Through donations of goods and services, it has been a strong supporter of many Hopkins projects. They have a commitment to buying local brands and produce.  Most crucially, they hire locally, and support their permanent employees with health benefits and pensions.  All of their workers are unionized, an increasingly rare thing in the area. Some of their employees have been with Eddie’s since the eighties.

New track returns to research foundation

March 14, 2013

The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences has recently made available a Global Social Change and Development (GSCD) track within the International Studies major, with a stated focus on changes in wealth and power distribution, new forms of global conflict and “the degree to which we as individuals can influence global social change.” Students who pursue GSCD will graduate with a double major in International Studies and Sociology.

Lineup fails to live up to FAS aims

By NIKKO PRICE | March 7, 2013

As one of only two guest lecture series during the academic year, the Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS) is expected to offer students a window to the world. It prides itself on generating a substantive discourse on the most pressing issues of the day, aiming to “inspire the next generation of leaders in the Baltimore community to think analytically about issues, learn from innovation and consider the persisting problems that we must face and overcome in a rapidly changing world.”

Disciplinary structure needs revision

March 7, 2013

An undisclosed incident involving several members of the Hopkins Men’s Lacrosse team recently resulted in a violation of team policy. The team’s head coach, David Pietramala, responded by pledging to bench two different members of the team who were involved in the incident during games throughout the season.

New TSA weapon policy change is misguided

By KRISHNA PATEL | March 7, 2013

Following the Transportation Safety Administration’s (TSA) installation of full body scanners and the enactment of limitations on the size of liquid containers, some frequent flyers grumbled about the added inconvenience, but most embraced these precautions for the greater protection they promised to provide. Since September 11, these enhancements of airport and in-flight security and surveillance are part of a concerted effort to safeguard our skies and protect against future hijackings or terrorist attacks.

Oscar Pistorius’ fatal quest for control

By ELIZABETH SIEGAL | March 7, 2013

“I am the bullet in the chamber.” Those are the now infamous words that appear in the 2011 Nike ad featuring the South African double-amputee Paralympic star, Oscar Pistorius. After making history at the 2012 Summer Olympics as the first double leg amputee to compete in the men’s 400 meters and 4 x 400 meters relay races, Pistorius, dubbed the “Bladerunner” in reference to his blade-like prosthetic legs, was charged on February 14 with the murder of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, inside his home in Pretoria.

Committee should reach out to students

February 28, 2013

Last week, the Johns Hopkins Spring Fair Committee, in partnership with the Hopkins Organization for Programming (HOP), made an announcement presenting the L.A.-based indie band GroupLove as the highlight of this year’s Spring Fair Music Festival. Known for its hits, “Colours,” “Tongue Tied,” and “Itchin’ on a Photograph,” GroupLove is scheduled to perform in company with a diverse lineup of artists from April 12 to April 14.

McChrystal provides balanced critique

February 28, 2013

General Stanley McChrystal kicked off the Foreign Affairs Symposium last night. In his speech, the four-star general and former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan focused on the importance of understanding differing national perspectives and the significance of international relationships. He spoke at length about the U.S.-Iranian relationship and argued that the events of the past 70 years can be retold differently from both sides. Ignoring one side’s perspective, he concluded, is a recipe for disaster.

How America’s energy policies are stifling growth and innovation

By AGASTYA MONDAL | February 28, 2013

The U.S. federal government invests in many programs that aim to benefit its people, its economy and its global standing. While many of these programs are relatively successful, the U.S. has fallen severely behind is its policy toward technological innovation, especially in the field of energy.

America and Iran: A timeless tale of failure and frustration

By BAYLY WINDER | February 28, 2013

In response to the recent triumph of Argo at the Academy Awards, the Iranian state television channel called the film an “advertisement for the CIA.” This brief exchange serves as a painful reminder of the nature of the U.S.-Iranian relationship, one that has been marked by mutual distrust and deep-rooted animosity.

J-Street U offers refreshing balance

February 21, 2013

Last week, Hopkins J Street U held a discussion about Israeli-Palestinian border disputes. The nationwide organization advocates for a two-state solution to the ongoing conflict. Considering how complicated, relevant and heated this dispute is, this page believes promoting more dialogue to better understand the issues is valuable to a University campus.

Dry Weekend misplaces emphasis

February 21, 2013

From Feb. 8 to Feb. 9, the University implemented a dry weekend policy to curb alcohol use during sorority and fraternity recruitment events. According to the Office of Greek Life, alcohol is already banned from new member activities, but there have been problems in the past with heavy drinking right after sorority recruitment, which is why they chose that particular weekend to be alcohol-free.

Why Obama should scrap the Keystone XL Pipeline

By NICHOLAS DEPAUL | February 21, 2013

This past Sunday, I drove down to Washington, D.C. for a protest against the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline. Proposed in 2005 by TransCanada Corporation, the pipeline has been a hot-button issue for environmentalists and political leaders alike. They argue that its construction will cause irrevocable environmental harm — both by increasing “dirty” carbon emissions and through likely oil spills — and that it will reduce American energy security.

What would Locke do? Why his take on terror matters

By JACOB GRUNBERGER | February 21, 2013

It nearly goes without saying that the Enlightenment fundamentally changed the popular conception of government in society. For the United States, which adopted a constitution out of the ideals of this period of thought, perhaps no thinker was as influential as John Locke, whose writings on the composition and limitations of political institutions sit at the heart of the document that guides our state.

Treat Charles Village like it’s your home

February 14, 2013

The administration recently sent out an email to its Charles Village community contacts, detailing its committment to allay the neighborhood’s concerns regarding students living in off-campus housing. The concerns mostly had to do with the transition from the Student/Community Liason (the Shush Lady) to her successor, the Shush Lord.

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