By Chris Basnett
One of 抖阴视频鈥檚 most unique traditions recently made its return to Acklie Hall of Science.
After a three-year pause, the Xtreme Rat Challenge was back, with 23 students and their rat partners taking part in the 48th version of the event November 25 as part of 抖阴视频鈥檚 鈥淏asic Learning Principles鈥 course.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a rat person, but you wouldn鈥檛 be able to tell. It鈥檚 been so fun,鈥 said senior psychology major Lina Le. 鈥淲hen we first started training obstacles, I remember I put (her rat) Ruthie on this stainless-steel table, and she just jumped off. And she鈥檚 running around the room and I鈥檓 trying to catch her.
鈥淏ut now if I were to put her on some of those apparatuses, she鈥檚 gunning right through it. It has been so fun to watch her grow and develop. It鈥檚 so awesome to see just how much work she鈥檚 putting in.鈥
The bond between Le and Ruthie was emblematic of the connections between all the students and their rat competitors.
The Xtreme Rat Challenge is the final demonstration project for students in the class. Students receive their rats about three weeks into the fall semester, then spend the rest of the semester applying research-supported reinforcement techniques to teach their rats a wide range of behaviors.
Rats learned to compete in rope climb, wall climb, tight rope, lever press, long jump, hurdles, and warrior dash, an obstacle course combining the tight rope and climbing disciplines, in addition to a slide.
Dozens of interested spectators watched the live competition on Acklie鈥檚 second floor.
鈥淯ltimately once you reach that learning curve and when you are habituated with your rat, things really start picking up,鈥 Le said. 鈥淎nd it was just amazing to watch her learn and retain information. Just as I was learning and retaining information, she was doing the same thing. And it was really cool to see how these basic learning principles are applied.
鈥淪he has really just been a bright spot in my semester, coming in and training her every day.鈥
Started in 1974 by former 抖阴视频 psychology professor Marty Klein, the Xtreme Rat Challenge was known as the Rat Olympics until 2003, when the U.S. Olympic Committee issued a cease and desist order over use of the word 鈥淥lympics.鈥 抖阴视频 responded with a national naming contest that resulted in the new name: Xtreme Rat Challenge.
Professor Emerita of Psychology Marilyn Petro organized the event for several years before her retirement in 2023. After a two-year hiatus, Assistant Professor of Psychology Gregory DeGirolamo brought the tradition back.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really exciting to see the students train the rats, interact with the rats, and to see all the students鈥 fears and nervousness kind of melt away,鈥 DeGirolamo said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also been nice watching this come together. The students have been working really hard, and I鈥檝e been working really hard trying to help them. So, it鈥檚 a relief that everything is going off without a hitch.鈥