Personal Safety

University Police Offer Defense Workshops This Fall

September 15, 2009

By Pamela McLaren

Cpl. Iris Cortes-Valley of University Police demonstrates a hold with Officer Jose Rosales of University Police during a recent Rape Aggression Defense training program for trainers. Later this month, Cortes-Valle will be running a RAD program for female campus members.

In a continuing effort to give female campus members the tools and options to take care of themselves in threatening situations, University Police has scheduled its Rape Aggression Defense, or RAD, program to kick off Sept. 29.

The nationwide program is specifically designed to teach women awareness and defensive techniques to prepare them to respond to possible physical assault. It is offered throughout the country and on many university campuses like Cal State Fullerton.

University Police has offered the program on campus since 2001, said Corporal Iris Cortes-Valle, one of the trainers. The upcoming three-part, 12-hour session will be held from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, in Room 221 of the Kinesiology and Health Science Building; and Thursday, Oct. 1 and Tuesday, Oct. 6, both in KHS Room 202.

The first session consists of bookwork to help women identify and avoid potentially dangerous situations. The second and third sessions involve a gradual progression into physical defense techniques.

“Our final session is a voluntary segment in which students employ the techniques they have learned to break and run from police officers in padded suits in three different simulated attack scenarios,” said Cortes-Valle. “The simulation takes place in the safest controlled environment possible while continuing to allow participants to react and thereby reinforce learned techniques. The students then sit and watch the recorded simulation to further strengthen their skills.

“This is a self-empowerment program,” said Valle, who offered classes last month to prepare trainers to offer the program at Cal State Los Angeles, Chapman and Biola universities, Whittier College and through the city of Davis Police Department. Mary Herman of the Student Health and Counseling Center and Rosie Camacho of the Women's Center also took part. “The program is all about providing students, faculty and staff members options, so that, no matter where they are, they can feel secure.”

A video of the training is available by clicking on the RAD logo located on the University Police website.

Sessions are open to 20 individuals and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. The $15 program fee pays for the RAD manual available on the first day of class. Comfortable clothes and tennis shoes are required for the workshops. To reserve a space, call University Police at 657-278-4308.