Personal Safety

University Police Slate Defense Workshops in April

March 17, 2009

By Pamela McLaren

In an effort to give female members of the campus community the tools and options to take care of themselves in threatening situations, University Police has scheduled an April program called Rape Aggression Defense or RAD.

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 four-part, 12-hour session will be held from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, and Wednesday, April 15, in Room 108 of the Kinesiology and Health Science Building and 3-6 p.m. Monday, April 20, and Wednesday, April 22, 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. “The four-part 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 278-4308.