For just $13 and 14 hours of her time, any woman on campus canlearn the tactics necessary to keep herself safe.
The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program on campus in whichwomen learn self-defense skills and techniques that can keep themsafe and on guard through personal protection information andhands-on, basic self-defense techniques. The program is hosted by theUniversity Police and the Housing and Residential Life Office.
The program is free of charge for San Diego State students, but a$13 manual is required for the classes and can be purchased at theCampus Bookstore.
Kristina Maxwell, communication organizer from HRLO, said theobjective of the RAD program is “to develop and enhance the optionsof self defense so they may become viable considerations to the womenwho are attacked.”
Administrative coordinator for Public Safety and RAD instructorLinda Kenan has been involved with the program for six years. Shesaid that the main part of the course is risk reduction and focusingon how to avoid unsafe situations.
The classes also deal with self-defense tactics for times that anactual physical assault is made against a woman. They teach differentmoves such as strikes and kicks that will work for differentsituations and different types of people.
Kenan encourages all women to attend. She said the class isstructured but there are no tests, students work at their own paceand at their own ability level.
“It is an eye-opening experience,” Kenan said. “After goingthrough the program women alter their lifestyles so that they don’tput themselves in dangerous situations.”
She also added that the RAD program has received a lot of positivefeedback from past students who say that the tactics have kept themfrom getting attacked.
Many female students on campus expressed the importance of theprogram, and agreed that all women should be trained.
“Rape defense is essential to surviving the college years,” saidpolitical science freshman Liz Emmons. “It teaches us to be proactiveabout our safety and helps us to become stronger women.”
Students also say the classes could help them feel better aboutbeing alone at night.
“I have night classes, so this sort of training would make me feela lot safer when walking back to my dorm at night,” said undeclaredsophomore Kelly Cook.
The RAD program is spread throughout the United States and Canadaand all courses are taught out of the same manual.
SDSU just hosted a RAD training seminar for instructors; 22 peoplefrom different campuses came to be certified in teaching the course.Each instructor has to go through a 30-hour training block beforethey are certified.
The program is open to all women and held once a month during thesemester. Additionally, once a year in December there is an advancedcourse offered.
The next course being offered is Nov. 5, 7, 12 and 14 in TulaHall. The course is 3.5 hours each day from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Toregister for this session, call Linda Kenan at 594-4421.
The dates and times for next semester’ s classes will be posted inJanuary.
