The University of Delaware staff and students behind the annual Spooktacular party are back, with a fresh slate of events for the spring semester that emphasize data driven dialogues. Overarching themes for spring Student Wellness and Health Promotion initiatives define wellbeing as a holistic endeavor — one that includes thinking critically about one’s own daily habits, adopting safer behaviors, and learning practices that enhance community wellbeing.

“We’re here to help Blue Hens create a foundation for lifelong wellbeing,” said Nancy Chase, director of Student Wellness and Health Promotion (SWHP) in the Division of Student Life. “Together with our partners, we are always reassessing our efforts to retool offerings in support of current student needs.”

Spring celebrations

Findings from AlcoholEdu, a pre-arrival assessment required for all incoming UD students, have long informed programming efforts such as the fall Spooktacular as well as campus-wide substance abuse prevention efforts. The annual Shamrockfest celebration will return on March 17, as the spring programming component of efforts to provide healthy social atmospheres on traditionally high-risk weekends. This year, as part of the new Campus Wellbeing Collaborative, Shamrockfest will also be part of a new campus-wide push entitled Blue Hens Go Green for St Patrick’s Day, which seeks to change the narrative around this holiday for all members of the UD community.

Speaker series

The annual spring speaker series provides additional opportunities for students to explore and discuss components of their personal and social wellbeing. Melissa Fabello and Wesley Hamilton will close out the series on April 17 and May 3 respectively, with the former addressing pop culture’s portrayal of unhealthy relationships and the latter discussing physical, spiritual, and intellectual wellness in the face of unexpected physical disability, single fatherhood and depression.