March 02, 2004

SIUC offering women's safety course

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale is offering a nationally recognized program for women that teaches self-defense tactics as well as techniques to reduce the risk of an attack.

R.A.D., or Rape Aggression Defense, begins Thursday, April 1.

 

 

 

 

 

Media Advisory

Reporters and photographers are welcome to cover the training sessions. The last session on Thursday, April 15, will include simulations where instructors don the "Red Man Outfit" and have participants demonstrate what they have learned in the course. For more information contact Capt. Todd Sigler or police officer Deb Cocke at 618/453-2381.

The training is free and is open to any female over 12 years old, although participants under 17 require parental approval. The classes are open to the public, with a maximum class size of 20 participants.

The sessions run from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the upstairs assembly room at the Student Recreation Center. Dates for the programs are April 1, 6, 8, 13 and 15.

SIUC's Department of Public Safety is offering the classes.

Capt. Todd Sigler said the program focuses on mental planning and preparation before a woman finds herself in trouble, and also provides a simple physical training program if she is a victim.

The program is taught by police officers certified as R.A.D. instructors, and is not a martial arts program.

The comprehensive course begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, progressing to the basics of hands-on defense training.

I think it is important because it not only provides some sound useful information that hopefully will prevent them from being victimized, but it also provides them a level of confidence that I think is important as well," Sigler said.

To register, call police officer Deb Cocke at the Department of Public Safety at 618/453-8612.

Community outreach and promoting campus safety are among the goals of Southern@150, the long-range blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.