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 ROLLIN HU Hu argues that to be more effective activists, students must look to their predecessors.

Take lessons from the past for future student activism

By ROLLIN HU | September 16, 2018

Over the past three years, I’ve gotten to learn more about Hopkins than I would have liked. Our renowned medical research carries the shadow of exploiting test subjects with cases like the nonconsensual removal of Henrietta Lacks’ cells or the Kennedy Krieger lead paint experiments. Our school’s commitment to research-based solutions is discarded as it pursues a private police force which researchers and community members alike have rejected.

What Asian representation means to me

By SARAH Y. KIM | September 16, 2018

When I learned that there was a movie called Crazy Rich Asians hitting theaters, I decided that I was going to love it. I didn’t really know or care what it was about. All I knew was that it was an American movie with a predominantly Asian cast, and that was all it took to get me on board. 

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Black arts editorial

Creating a black arts district would celebrate our city’s history

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | September 13, 2018

Baltimoreans have called for a black arts and entertainment district to be designated in the city for years. Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, a local grassroots think tank, formally applied to recognize a historic part of Pennsylvania Avenue in Upton as such a district this year. After a kick-off event in the area this weekend, the creation of a black arts district has never seemed more achievable.

We’re Top 10 again. But does rank represent the true student experience?

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | September 13, 2018

After falling to number 11 last year, Hopkins has reclaimed its number ten spot in the 2019 U.S. News & World Report National University Rankings. Being a top ten school is something our University holds in high regard, publishing it proudly on The Hub and delivering the news to every student’s inbox. It is even listed as the fourth goal in University President Ronald J. Daniels’ Ten by Twenty plan.

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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.