UNH mourns lose of senior Danielle Thompson
“Do You.” This is the motto Danielle Thompson lived by, a motto that reminded her to do what made her happy, regardless of what other people might think.

She lived life to the fullest, took risks and reaped their rewards. It reflected in her lifestyle and impacted everyone who met her. This is one of the many things that stand out in the minds of family and friends as they remember a life taken too soon.

UNH senior Danielle Thomson, 21, fell ill while visiting friends at UNH during winter break. She died on Jan. 3 of bacterial meningitis at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover. However, family and friends want her to be remembered for more than just her untimely and tragic death.

“I feel like at UNH, Danielle has become the poster child for meningitis, and there is so much more to her then that,” said roommate and friend Kim Watson. “She was hilarious, independent and was becoming so worldly.”

A native of Bangor, Maine, Danielle attended Bangor High School, graduating in 2003. While there, she participated in varsity soccer, cheering and track and field. Danielle was also a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club.

“My daughter was just someone who set a goal and worked toward it,” said Danielle’s mother, Cathy Thompson. “She would move heaven and earth to get to the goals that she set.”

After graduating from high school, Danielle enrolled at the university as a communication sciences and disorders major. Her UNH friends came to know her as Dani or simply D.

“All of her friends at UNH meant the world to her. They were like her family there, especially Kim Watson and Garrett Quinn,” said Thompson’s mom. “They were always there for her, and our family is so thankful for that. Danielle was always so cheerful and loyal to her friends and family.”

Danielle is remembered as an outgoing, genuine person and a loyal friend, Watson said.  “Danielle was careful with people,” she said. “She was really thoughtful about how her actions could affect others.”

Most importantly, Danielle strove to be true to herself. Her originality and upbeat nature seemed to rub off on everyone around her.

“She had such an attractive personality,” said Quinn. “If you had met her for one day, you felt like you had known her your whole life.”

Travel was another important part of Danielle’s life. She studied abroad in London in the spring of her junior year and was able to visit other areas of Europe.

“She didn’t want to just travel as a tourist,” said Danielle’s younger sister, Kristen Thompson. “She really wanted to know a place when she went there. When she went to London, she didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. My sister really tried to become part of the culture there.”

Professor Michael Fraas met with Danielle last semester to discuss her trip to London.

“The experience has really had a major impact on her life. She had so much enthusiasm and this wanderlust,” said Fraas. “Danielle definitely had a desire to keep traveling, and talking with her allowed me to reflect on my own experiences abroad. Her death was a big loss to our department.”

Music played another important role in Danielle’s life, and friends and family also remember her as a night owl who often stayed up into the early hours of the morning. They also remember little things, like her love of summer and getting coffee at Breaking New Grounds, and they remember her as a loyal, independent, and amazing young woman.

A memorial scholarship has been set up for Danielle at Bangor High School. Pam Tweedie, a friend of the Thompson family, who is collecting donations, said that the response has been incredibly positive.

-Megan Specia

looking ahead to 2008
As the school year resumes with the start of the spring semester, the UNH community is reminded of how fragile life can be. Over break, both Donald Murray, an award-winning writer and founder of the UNH Journalism program, and senior Danielle Thompson passed away, leaving huge voids in the UNH community.

The new year has also brought some interesting stories back into the fold, not the least of which is the men’s hockey team. Led by forward Trevor Smith’s deft scoring touch and Kevin Regan’s rock solid goaltending, the ’Cats have climbed all the way to number two in the country and are showing no signs of slowing down. With huge conference games approaching, the rest of the season promises to be as exciting as the first half, and the excitement level can only be raised higher with the continued involvement of the student body at the games.

Switching from the ice-covered rinks of New Hampshire to the marble tiled floors of the United States capitol, we have a potentially fascinating story involving the 2008 presidential election. Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton tossed her proverbial hat into the ring of presidential hopefuls, setting up the almost surreal battle between Clinton and fellow Democratic challenger, Sen. Barack Obama. Who knows what will transpire once the Election Day hour nears, but one thing is certain: this country is in for one hell of a ride.