The GOP-controlled Committee on Redistricting for the State of New Hampshire released a proposed map early last week ahead of the first hearing on the redistricting process. The proposed map has major ramifications for the University of New Hampshire (UNH) students and community voters as it would shift Durham and some neighboring towns from New Hampshire’s 1st congressional district (NH01) to the 2nd district (NH02). These changes would give Republicans a firm advantage in NH01 going into the 2022 midterm elections while giving Democrats a stronghold in NH02.
In an announcement sent out last Friday, UNH President James Dean announced that under new federal requirements some UNH faculty members are considered federal contractors and will now be subject to vaccine requirements. However, on Friday, Oct. 22, Dean announced that this vaccination requirement would now expand to all university employees, including students employed by the university.
Hampshire (UNH) community and around the country. Rising cases around the country and region led UNH administrators to again impose mask requirements in all indoor spaces under new CDC guidance, with over 88% of the student population being fully vaccinated.
Earlier this week, the New Hampshire State Senate began hearings over House Bill 98 which would move the state primary ahead to the fourth Tuesday in June, two months earlier than its current date on the second Tuesday in September. The bill passed the New Hampshire House of Representatives last month 195-174 mostly along party lines with six Democrats voting in favor and nine Republicans against.
On Tuesday, University of New Hampshire (UNH) President James Dean and Athletics Director Marty Scarano announced the culmination of an extensive review of the financial health of UNH’s athletics department.
Last week, the New Hampshire State Senate passed HB320, a bill that if signed by Gov. Chris Sununu would add a civics competency as a graduation requirement for all New Hampshire public high schools. This bill flew mostly under the radar, passing the House 208-141 with some bipartisan support: 14 Democrats joined Republicans in favor with six Republicans voting against, before passing the Senate on complete party lines 14-10.
Earlier this week, University of New Hampshire (UNH) Student Body President Nicholas Fitzgerald and Student Body Vice President Tyler Silverwood signed a letter with other student governments from Dartmouth College and Plymouth State College urging New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu to expand coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine access to out-of-state college students.
Starting this past Monday, the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site run by the state of New Hampshire located at Exeter High School has closed down and been moved to the Fox Run Mall in Newington, working out of the former Sears retail location. The vaccination site is one of 11 locations run by the New Hampshire National Guard and, in addition to the Dover vaccination site running out of the C&J Bus Lines, it is one of two locations in the Seacoast region.
Two bills seeking to place some limits on abortion within New Hampshire passed the New Hampshire House of Representatives last month and have been introduced in the Senate, setting up a heated battle over the polarizing social issue.
On Friday, the University of New Hampshire (UNH), and Faculty Senate co-hosted a convocation on free speech, truth and civility. The hour-long zoom presentation and question and answer session were a part of UNH’s wider effort to bring attention to the issues of speech on college campuses and is the first of many similar convocations in the coming weeks.
In the first week since the University of New Hampshire (UNH) transitioned to orange mode of operations, positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test numbers have dropped slightly, but remain at very high levels.
As we finish the second week of classes in the spring semester, the number of active coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on campus have nearly reached their high from the fall semester causing many students to worry about a possibly-impending campus shutdown.
