Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
May 9, 2025
May 9, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Voices

Hopkins is a diverse university where an incredible mix of cultures, academic interests and personalities coexist and thrive. Here is the section where you can publish your unique thoughts, ideas and perspectives on life at Hopkins and beyond.



New event procedures are counterproductive and convoluted

While I usually use this column to ramble about something related to music, I decided this time to talk about the new policies the administration has put in place concerning events that students groups organize. With the controversial moratorium on Greek life-related events taking the spotlight, these new, relatively unnoticed policies affect all student groups, not just fraternities and sororities.


Halloween and hipsters at Hopkins

The stuff at the bottom of the cup tasted like vinegar; I had to choke it down. Day two of Halloweekend, 11:30 p.m., I’m close to done. While my eyes were closed, another ping pong ball bounced past


The do’s and don’ts of college roommates

Unless you’re one of the few with a single in the AMRs, all of us freshmen are stuck with a roommate, or at least a suitemate or two. And while some of us might have been lucky (like myself, for example; my roommate is lovely), many freshmen have to deal with horribly impolite roommates. Or maybe you are the awful roommate? Then this is the article for you, a comprehensive list based on real-life experiences of several frustrated freshmen, who will remain anonymous for their own safety.


My reading list for budding feminists

As any good feminist knows, you don’t become a feminist by chance. Often, women read an empowering book and discover feminism, or they hear someone speak about womanhood and find it inspiring. And once someone claims the name “feminist,” there’s still a lot to learn and read and use to help you grow as a woman.


An ode to Oscar de la Renta and his legacy

On Oct. 20, 2014, Oscar de la Renta died at the age of 82 in his home in Kent, Conn. After struggling with cancer for eight years, De La Renta passed away leaving behind a massive legacy of prêt-a-porter fashion. Born and raised in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, he always desired to work in the fashion field throughout his youth. After training with Cristobal Balenciaga in Spain, De La Renta moved to work with Antonio del Castillo at Lanvin.


Brunch at Belvedere Square Market

Although Charles Village has a few quality brunch spots (we’re looking at you, Donna’s), we’ve recently been finding ourselves wanting more. This weekend, our stomachs lead us to Belvedere Market for a much-needed, post-Halloween recovery feast. Belvedere Market, also known as Belvedere Square’s Market, is about a ten-minute drive in the direction of Loyola, so start begging your car-bearing friends to chauffeur you over there.


The life of the party: 21 going on 62

In high school, which feels like way too long ago, senior year is heavily influenced by the beautifully dangerous senioritis. From what little I can remember, I barely did anything outside of the college application process. But at Hopkins, I can’t afford to let that happen again. Amidst the milestones of having purchased something from the Levering Café for the thousandth time, eaten my 100th beef patty from Brody and lost my balance on the breezeway, I also turned 21.


Where’s the woman who has it all?

If there’s one thing that stirs me in that young adult, I’ma-college-student-I-have-political-opinions way, it’s weak women. Subordinate ladies. Girls put down and repressed and known forever as the second sex. Yes, I’ll say it: I’m a self-proclaimed feminist, and weak women are my kryptonite.


The CMJ Music Marathon in review

For any CMJ Music Marathon, one probably goes in knowing a little more than one percent of the 1300 bands that come each year. The New York City-based showcase features many groups who are playing their first shows in NYC and for the first time for a majority of the audience. It is a great way to see what is happening currently and what is up-and-coming within music among different labels and locations in the country and even the world. Here were some of my favorite shows from the trip:


Gender equality is a two way street

This past Tuesday night, Phi Mu held their annual Mr. Phi Mu event, a loosely defined talent contest that raised money to benefit the Katie Oppo Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. The event basically consists of a bunch of representatives from the various fraternities and sports teams performing on stage.



Becoming the animals behind the cage

In the middle of the afternoon on a Monday, the library, as always, is jam-packed. Students chug paper cups of coffee. A girl fails to pull her nose from the binding of a paperback book. Some students slump over in their rolling armchairs, having abandoned for a moment the conscious will to sit up straight. Several boys basking in the glow of a Chemistry slideshow forget how to blink, breathe.


Before you ask, check your privilege

This summer when I was working at my camp, I had a ton of conversations about feminism and being a woman. I talked to other counselors about how to empower my female campers, and I talked to campers about what it looks like to have safe, women-only spaces. I watched as one of the girls I worked with engaged in an emotionally abusive relationship because of pressures she felt from other campers. I learned a lot about feminism, I grew into myself as a woman and I walked away from the summer with a lot of questions.



How to stay calm, cool and covered this fall

And here it comes. The overwhelming feeling when you walk outside and want to cry. Here comes the moment when you would rather sleep on a fraternity floor than take the beloved walk home. It is finally fall, and no amount of “basic” fall loving can change the fact that it’s cold outside.



Ben Affleck vs. Bill Maher: a fight of flaws

The media was abuzz this week as clips of Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher, and actor/director Ben Affleck, from Argo among other films, participating in a heated debate over “Islamaphobia” circulated the web. The argument centered on the pertinent topic of how we, as Westerners, shape our perceptions of Islam and Islamic society.



A bouncy home for Fall Break

My youngest niece, Alejandra, recently turned 4 years old, and since I chose to go to college in a different state and my weekends are far from open, I was not able to attend the festivities. My sister first notified me of the plan to host Alejandra’s birthday at Bounce U, a big bouncy spot in the Bronx, a good 2 months ago in the worst way possible... a text.


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