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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Grading on a curve promotes toxic competition

By SAM MOLLIN | April 1, 2018

It doesn’t matter if you successfully learned 95 percent of the material if 50 percent of your class successfully learned 96 percent. Rather than earning the A you deserve on a test, a bell curve could downgrade you to a C. In a scenario like this, what incentive is there to cooperate? 

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Working as an RA should not reduce one’s financial aid package

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | March 29, 2018

Residential Advisors (RAs) are some of the first people we meet upon arriving at Hopkins. They shape our first year experience and ease us through the transition from high school to college. The responsibilities of an RA go beyond just the hours they spend on duty. The job is vital to the emotional wellbeing of students and the position can often be emotionally, physically and psychologically taxing on RAs themselves.

Parkland students are using their privilege for change

By JACOB TOOK | March 29, 2018

Do those speakers accurately represent decades of people of color who have spoken out against gun violence and been silenced? No. But was it clear to me that these kids made a real effort to include a diverse range of voices and center those who often don’t get the chance to speak.

ROSA PINEDA/CC BY SA-4.0 The March in Washington, D.C. on March 24 was one of the largest gatherings in the country.

We cannot take local journalism for granted

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | March 19, 2018

At a time when local publications across the nation are facing increasing financial pressures, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to these local outlets. We are in a city that is grappling with how it is telling its own story. 

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Baltimore’s labor force must stand up to Hopkins

By JOHN HUGHES | March 21, 2018

For the majority of the 20th century, Hopkins was not the primary economic engine of Baltimore City. That title belonged to a massive steel mill whose workers were part of a strong union, operating out of Sparrows Point in southeast Baltimore — Bethlehem Steel’s Baltimore plant. Up until its decline in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the mill was the crown jewel of an industrial Baltimore, perfectly positioned in a major port and railroad hub in the middle of the eastern shore. 

A Hopkins private police force is not the answer

By STEPHANIE SAXTON | March 29, 2018

A protest on campus hosted by Students Against Private Police advertised with a now-famous picture of the University of California (UC), Davis police pepper-spraying peaceful protestors. In her book Campus Sex, Campus Security, Jennifer Doyle writes about the above incident of brutality.

Courtesy of Louis Macabitas This image from UC Davis shows the potential dangers of a private force.
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BIT training must consider sexual assault survivors

By DIVA PAREKH | March 21, 2018

I’ll start with a disclaimer: This article is going to discuss my experience with the Bystander Intervention Training (BIT) program during my freshman year. The program may have changed or evolved since my experience. I’m not criticizing the way it works today, but what happened during my BIT session was not okay.

Why we should care about the Italian elections

By MORGAN OME | March 11, 2018

This is an election year, and for most American voters the November midterm races for the House and the Senate are of paramount concern. But Americans should also pay close attention to elections happening abroad, particularly those in Italy, because they highlight important global trends which have wide-reaching ramifications. 

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Michael Vadon/CC by-SA 4.0 Trump changed his stance on gun control quickly, which has implications for all of politics.

Flip flopping in politics is more dangerous than ever

By SAMUEL FARRAR | March 8, 2018

“Flip flopping” is a very charged term in the realm of politics. However, from Reagan’s flip from liberal abortion legislation in California to anti-abortion laws in the White House; to Nixon’s promise to end Vietnam that turned into massive escalation; to Lincoln’s promise to not use federal troops within the borders of the Union (a flip we are all thankful for) — this process of changing agendas is a very normal part of a president’s career. 

Hopkins needs to act now for the health of students of color

By ALIZAY JALISI | March 8, 2018

On Feb. 22, 2018 the Task Force on Student Mental Health and Well-being released a report outlining the insufficiently met mental health needs of students and strategies to better meet those needs. Three major recommendations called on Hopkins to “promote a climate of awareness,” “to provide greater access to mental health services” and “offer, and in some cases require, training on mental health awareness and resources for faculty, staff, and students.” 

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Courtesy of Gillian Lelchuk Lelchuk's bullet journal has helped improve many aspects of her life.

Creating a bullet journal can change your life

By GILLIAN LELCHUK | March 1, 2018

I started bullet journaling in May 2017. I started on the first day of May. I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t have a special bullet journal. I didn’t have any fun pens. I didn’t have a plan. Actually, that was the whole reason I started doing it — because I didn’t have any plans.

Let’s hold Hopkins accountable for mental health

By SAM MOLLIN | March 4, 2018

It’s a well-known fact that for many people, Hopkins is a stressful school. There’s probably only one place in the world where you’ll see students streaming directly into the library after their University holds a campus-wide ceremony and light show, and that’s Hopkins! 

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Fabrice Florin/CC by SA-2.0 Students have started a movement of change in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting.

Armed teachers would create a culture of fear, not learning

By SAMUEL FARRAR | March 1, 2018

The Parkland school shooting two weeks ago proved to be the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012. Video surveillance footage revealed that the single armed guard at the school never made an attempt to confront the shooter and never even went into the school. 

Stop asking female athletes if they hate their competitors

By CATHERINE PALMER | February 24, 2018

Tonight marks the final figure skating event of the 2018 Winter Olympics: women’s long program. While the three Americans are likely out of contention for the podium, the gold medals favorites are Russian teens Evgenia Medvedeva and Alina Zagitova, both of whom hold world records.

Luu/CC By SA-4.0  Alina Zagitova has become a legitimate talent in the last few years.