opinions

Your silence won’t protect you

By Bret Belden · Saturday, April 22, 2017

On Tuesday, I attended the 25th annual LGBTQ+ Pancake Breakfast, which I also wrote an article about in today’s issue. The speaker, Professor Gary Bailey of Simmons College, carried messages of acknowledging the importance of intersectional issues in today’s world, as well as reflecting on how these issues have been lost to history. As anyone who as in attendance of either the breakfast or the Kidder Lecture later that day knows, Bailey is an incredibly captivating, articulate and simply inspiring speaker.

Something to be proud of

By Bret Belden · Saturday, April 22, 2017

As you can all probably imagine, I was not the most “normal” child in the world. My go-to outfit in the sixth grade was knee-high socks, plaid bermuda shorts and a fedora, if that is any indication about what kind of 12-year-old I was. It wasn’t really a secret that I was different. I mean, anyone with eyes could seek my brace-face smile and lime green plaid shorts from a mile away. Kids in my class would usually laugh at me and poke fun, but I always smiled and said, “I know, right?! Aren’t these shorts so cool?” and walk away.

Musing on Music: "Strait Up"

By Bret Belden · Thursday, April 13, 2017

Most of you know by now that I’m a big fan of romantic music. However, the fact that most of his songs focus on the theme of love and romance are not the main reason that I’m such a fan of George Strait. I’m actually a fan of his songs because they often involve puns, whether in the title and chorus or throughout the song. I might be an even bigger fan of puns in general than of romance. It definitely explains why I love my punster boyfriend so much (at least partly).

Better safe than sorry

By Bret Belden · Thursday, April 13, 2017

Let’s talk about sex, baby. No really, let’s.

Do what you came here to do

By Bret Belden · Monday, April 10, 2017

As I sit and write this editorial, I feel extremely lucky that the newsroom has no windows. If it did, I probably wouldn’t be here, but would instead be outside in the stunning, 70 degree weather, in my hammock on T-Hall lawn, drinking a smoothie and petting dogs. We at The New Hampshire have done a short newsroom poll (page six), and it seems as though my colleagues feel the same way. Unfortunately folks, what we have here is a case of Spring Fever; a completely fictional condition that is lethal to school work, house work, homework and all other kinds of work there are.

The ‘alternative truth’

By Bret Belden · Monday, April 10, 2017

After weeks of nonstop meetings, news articles, negotiations and hard work, the Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program’s (SHARPP) street harassment wall has been re-installed on the third floor of the Memorial Union Building (MUB). The incredible support from various departments, administrators, and fellow students on campus has been overwhelming, and I have no doubt that it is this support which helped us advance the display’s re-installment in some form. The way our campus came together around an issue that affects so many of us drew more attention to it than originally intended, and this only shows how strong we are when we come together as a community.

Saved by the Belden: Postseason preview: Celtics have their hands full with Cavs, Raptors

By Bret Belden · Monday, April 10, 2017

The Celtics’ second consecutive playoff run already looks more promising than last year’s, at least through the first round. They have two regular season games remaining and currently hold a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They’re guaranteed at least third place, and with one more win they’ll have clinched at least the second seed.

From the dancer: Former executive editor reflects on dance at UNH

By Bret Belden · Sunday, April 9, 2017

The first story I ever published in The New Hampshire was about the Houston Ballet II performing in the Johnson Theatre. Since then, the Arts section has not been a place readers have seen my name. This is mainly due to the fact that about a month later I joined the Department of Theatre and Dance as a dance minor and a Jazz, Tap, Aerial (JTA) dancer in the UNH dance company. So, full disclosure, this is a highly bias column because although I am no longer in the company due to this wonderful publication, I am still close friends with the dancers, spend six hours a week in aerial class with Gay Nardone, have taken jazz with Mary Beth Marino and ballet with Susan Endrizzi and Assaf Benchetrit. The studio in New Hampshire Hall is the first place I truly found myself at UNH, the first place I met the people who share a passion of dance and the place where I could express myself in the best way I know how; dancing.