In 2022, Student Wellbeing at the University of Delaware launched a new campaign to promote protective behaviors while drinking alcohol. And Rascal is here to stay.

The campaign’s mascot is a squirrel named Rascal who demonstrates responsible alcohol consumption and shares statistics regarding UD students' behaviors and attitudes around drinking. 

"Students are always talking to us about the squirrels on The Green, and honestly the images of the squirrels just made me laugh," said Director of Strategic Wellbeing & Training Helen Ann Lawless. "We want students to understand that the majority of their peers are socializing responsibly and that they can still have fun while being safe, too. I think students will love Rascal as a mascot for these messages."

Rascal the squirrel is featured participating in harm reduction strategies such as choosing a set number of drinks and staying with the same group of friends while partying. His name is an acronym: 
 

RASCAL

Raid the cabinet for snacks before and while celebrating

Alternate water and alcohol

Stop before having too much to drink

CALL 911 for help if needed
 

The campaign is informed by social norms research conducted every few years in health communication, which has proven to be successful on other college campuses. Rascal campaigns run in the fall and spring semesters in alignment with two of the biggest partying holidays—Halloween and St. Patrick's Day. 

According to a Spring 2023 survey:

• 67.1% of UD students alternated alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages on St. Patrick's Day. 
• 97.5% of UD students ate before or while drinking on St. Patrick's Day. 
• 85.4% of UD students cut themselves off before drinking too much on St Patrick's Day. 
• 60.4% of UD students has four or less drinks on St. Patrick's Day.
  
  

And according to a Spring 2022 survey:

• 94.2% of UD students ate before or while they were drinking at a Halloween event.
• 93.3% of UD students made arrangements to get home safely from a Halloween event.
• 90.1% of UD students stayed with the same group of friends while partying on Halloween.
• 73% of UD students stopped before having too much to drink while celebrating Halloween. 
   

Chairperson of the Department of Communication Kami Silk is leading the research team behind the campaign and saw success with a similar program at Michigan State.

"Many students are influenced by what they think is 'normal' in their community,” said Silk. “So when a campaign can point to survey data that says that most UD students stopped before having too much to drink last Halloween, it helps students realize that most of their peers are not drinking as much as they initially thought. Over time, we will measure and hopefully see the impact of social norms messages on safe drinking and related behaviors."