There is one spot on Hopkins campus where every student goes multiple times a day. Between Krieger and Ames Halls, there is a special staircase, and the top platform is called Breezeway. At first, it might just seem to be the spot with the most foot traffic in the 10 minutes you have to run from Wyman Park Building to the Bloomberg Physics and Astronomy Building. But soon every new Hopkins student realizes: it is the spot where you start to recognize familiar faces, discover new clubs, and feel the energy of campus all at once.
Every student organization makes it a point to set up an annual tabling at the Breezeway. Stopping by at the Breezeway will give you a glimpse into all the upcoming activities, and you might be able to snag a treat or two in a giveaway. On any given day, you might see clubs advertising upcoming events, handing out flyers, or talking to students about how to get involved. Sometimes there’s music playing, sometimes there are games, and sometimes there are just groups of students excited to share something they care about.
The HOP (Hopkins Organization for Programming) is a regular feature at the Breezeway. This is the student organization that is responsible for planning some of the biggest events on campus like Hoptoberfest, but they also have regular pop-up events like giveaways at the Breezeway. At the beginning of each month, they put out an event calendar on their social media handles. The events range from smoothie giveaways in the summer to scarf giveaways as the colder months set in. They also host trivia and movie nights at the new Bloomberg Student Center. I love going to Hop events whenever I need a break or to get some new free merch.
The Hopkins Alumni Association also regularly has tabling events at the breezeway. Sometimes they have letter- writing events that involve writing a thank you letter to an alumni donor and then getting a free donut! They also host games and other giveaways.
When I cross the breezeway, I make it a point to not just walk past but actually stop and talk to the club representatives. Sometimes there are fun games like spinning a wheel or trivia. Other times, I just get to have a conversation that introduces me to something new that I didn’t know existed on campus. We also have a lovely tradition called “Blue Jay Tuesday.” If you dress in blue or wear Hopkins merch on a Tuesday, you can get some more free merch at the Breezeway. This has been my key technique to get a whole box of merch, from water bottles to keychains. The breezeway is always bubbling with life and excitement at Hopkins. Whether you are discovering a new club, collecting merch, or just running to class, it is one of the spaces that makes Hopkins feel truly alive.
