Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The New Hampshire
Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
Donate Join Us
The New Hampshire

Opinions

The New Hampshire

Our state, our vote, our home

By Bret Belden · Monday, Feb. 27, 2017

As seen on A1, 40 recent proposals to adjust many of New Hampshire’s voting laws have been submitted, one of which puts out-of-state students’ voting rights at risk. The predominantly Republican house members have submitted a bill to change the definition of a domicile. This definition would be used to decide if a person can legally vote in the state. Other proposals introduced would rid same-day voter registration, yet another bill that many students relied on this past election.

The New Hampshire

Oscars Outlook

By Bret Belden · Monday, Feb. 27, 2017

     By publication, we’ll know who won the Oscars. “La La Land,” “Moonlight,” or “Manchester by the Sea.” My money is on “Moonlight,” but I wouldn’t be shocked if the celebrate Hollywood voters (“La La Land”) for the Oscars outnumber the let’s mix it up crowd (“Moonlight”). Hollywood will take every chance to self-congratulate itself on how important it is and “La La Land” is the exemplar of what a can-do attitude will get you in the entertainment capital of the world. For some reason I haven’t seen “Moonlight” yet, but it’s  on the top of my list. 

The New Hampshire

Getting Above Myself

By Bret Belden · Friday, Feb. 24, 2017

In our contemporary state of political and social turmoil, I think I’ll talk about a blatantly political song that can actually relate to more than just political scenarios, whether or not it was intended that way.

The New Hampshire

Time for UNH to make some noise in Hockey East

By Bret Belden · Friday, Feb. 24, 2017

My grandfather once told me that it’s not how you start, but how you finish. He was the biggest UNH hockey fan when I was growing up. Well, right now I don’t know how he would react to the tough month and a half of hockey that we have seen from the Wildcats. I just know, it is what it is.

The New Hampshire

Recommended reading

By Bret Belden · Monday, Feb. 20, 2017

In a time of media confusion, when what’s dominating the news cycles is the endless insanity of Donald Trump’s tweets, his attack on the fundamentals of democracy, and his cronies’ continual insistence that there’s nothing to see here, we need a grounded news source. My recommendation, and I make this on almost a daily basis to friends and family, is to read “The Intercept” and follow its reporters on Twitter.

The New Hampshire

Thomas has been sensational for Boston, but will it be enough?

By Bret Belden · Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017

Hello Green Teamers, it has certainly been a long time since we last spoke. Listen, I understand all of the confidence that has been surrounding the New England region as of late, but let us take a step back. I also understand that Tom Brady has passed the championship torch to Isaiah Thomas, but the NBA Finals in June are a long time away. For now, let us focus on what positive steps head coach Brad Stevens and the team have taken toward the overall No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The New Hampshire

‘Intensive Care’

By Bret Belden · Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017

Maybe it’s because I’ve been binge-watching “Criminal Minds” lately, but I feel the need to discuss a song or three about abuse. Whether it’s abuse of children or adults, whether it’s physical or emotional, it can leave a scar. Luckily, I have never been involved in abuse myself, but I’ve been friends with a few victims and I’ve seen so much on the news that it’s really a sore topic in today’s society. That’s probably why there even are so many songs about the subject.

The New Hampshire

Public issues, private schools

By Bret Belden · Friday, Feb. 10, 2017

Post-election, I tried to take a break from political “editors’ desk” editorials. Then republican Betsy DeVos was voted by Senate as the nation’s education secretary, with a 51-50 vote, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking the tie.  I have gone through the public education system from kindergarten through college, and both of my parents are educators in the Hartford, Connecticut public school system. Growing up, the majority of our dinner table conversations revolved around how the system was run, what benefited and didn’t work for these majority, underprivileged, students. And, Betsy DeVos, is not the individual for the job.

The New Hampshire

‘Just the kind of thing’

By Bret Belden · Friday, Feb. 10, 2017

I’m really liking this mash-up thing. This week I’m talking about a well-worn topic that might be on everybody’s minds as Valentine’s Day approaches. Some of my favorite songs are love songs, in fact. In that way, I’m not much different from the Eli Young Band (in reference to their song that goes “It was always the love songs, every time/ made everybody feel something inside…”). However, I’m not talking about them today. We’re going to go with two classics, one is a niche artist most well known for her stylings on the TV show “Ally McBeal,” and the other a classic rock pianist. Their songs? “Tell Him” by Vonda Shepard and “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel.

The New Hampshire

The future is February

By Bret Belden · Monday, Feb. 6, 2017

It’s time to buckle down. February is upon us and deadlines are near. If you are a Wildcat looking for an internship or future job, this is the month to do it. Each year, students from every major seize summer internships while graduates land positions in their desired job field. If you are someone new to the process, there could be a lot of confusion and stress. But, if you start with time to spare and become proactive in the pursuit, you are on the right track.

The New Hampshire

Currently streaming

By Bret Belden · Monday, Feb. 6, 2017

Usually, I’d be on here ranting about politics, but I’d like to mix it up a little bit this week. Since I reprised my Netflix account this past summer, I’ve found that my tour through television isn’t nearly over with. I’ve labored away for years watching the classics: “The Wire,” “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood,” “Breaking Bad,” and others. It is overwhelming how great television is.

The New Hampshire

‘The blame lies with all of us’

By Bret Belden · Monday, Feb. 6, 2017

It’s been a long and tiresome election cycle, and for many of us the outcome has been less than stellar. There is legitimate fear and concern for the future of this country on both sides of the aisle. Because of this fear and concern we the people have turned against one another.

The New Hampshire

The facts of life

By Bret Belden · Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017

Someone recently told me that to get over your past – in a very “hakuna matata” style – you need to erase the bad memories. “Edit out the bad,” as that person put it. I disagree. Without the bad memories, the bad events, we wouldn’t be who we are today. How am I supposed to explain the well-rounded qualities of my developed character without explaining how I got there? Adversity builds character. That’s why I’m going to use two different songs to help me make this point.

The New Hampshire

Everyone’s a journalist

By Bret Belden · Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the UNH community stood in solidarity with refugees and against deportations outside of Thompson Hall. On Friday, Jan. 27, President Trump signed an executive order titled, “Protecting the Nations From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.” This order barred immigrants from seven majority Muslim countries (Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen) from entering the U.S. for at least 90 days and outright banned all of refugees from Syria.

The New Hampshire

‘Beyond dispiriting’

By Bret Belden · Monday, Jan. 30, 2017

It’s beyond dispiriting that TNH neglected to fact-check this story, or to speak with the professors involved. For the hundreth time: there was no cabal “calling for expulsion.” One professor used that word, but she did so in a private comment on a private Facebook post (which was screenshot and re-circulated by a conservative website that explicitly targets perceived “liberal bias” in universities). My colleague was expressing genuine grief and fear; and in fact she retains the right to do so, as a private citizen, despite the beliefs of the aspiring constitutional scholars represented in TNH’s pages.

The New Hampshire

The first 7 days

By Bret Belden · Monday, Jan. 30, 2017

President Donald Trump came to political significance questioning the birth place of former President Barack Obama. I think few media outlets focused on this enough during the campaigns and, now that he is our president, it is only more sickening. His rise to prominence in our political atmosphere was racism and continues to be. Trump shows no shame or empathy and it may lead to an early impeachment.

Trending