Ambrose holds female self defense class

by: sarah lindner
Staff Writer

In 2004, there were five reports of sexual assault on the St. Ambrose University campus, not to mention the additional assaults that took place this year alone. Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) is a self-defense class for women. The course is a combination of discussion, lecture, and plenty of hands on practice. 

Robert Christopher, director of security, is one of the three instructors who teach the class. 

“We start with avoidance and awareness information which really is the majority of keeping yourself safe,” Christopher said.  “If you can stay away from it and not deal with it, that’s really the easy way to go.”

In 2003, a government survey called National Crime Victimization reported 179,170 sexual assaults.  Out of those reports, 70 percent of the crimes were committed by an acquaintance, non-stranger.

“Typically what we would see on a college campus are sexual assaults that take place by someone the victim knows,” Christopher said.

Another part of the class teaches physical techniques that use both the hands and feet, and are designed to make the assailant release you, enabling you to get away. 

“The entire course itself is set up to empower people,” Christopher said.  “It’s one thing to know how to do something, but it’s more important to feel like you can actually do it.  I think that’s one of the things that is a little bit different than other programs I’ve worked with.”

RAD is opened to all women above the age of 13 years old.  Currently, there are six women enrolled in the class.

“We generally gear our classes towards students but we don’t turn people away unless we physically couldn’t fit them in,” Christopher said.  “It’s not unusual to have people from the community,”

Christopher became a certified instructor after going through a thirty-hour training program.

“We’ve all been through it,” Christopher said.

There are over 4,000 instructors offering RAD in the United States and Canada.

“It’s a well tested program and has been around for a number of years,” Christopher said.

The purpose of RAD is to enable women to walk away feeling that physical defense is a viable option for them.  Through it, they learn techniques that will help them avoid problems, make them more aware of their surroundings and how to interact in those surroundings, and physical techniques that will help them protect themselves as well.

“What we’re really trying to do is hopefully reduce the likelihood,” Christopher said.  “No one can stop crime.”

Though Ambrose is a safe place, the security department is always going to try and make it better.

“Even one crime is more than we want,” Christopher said.  “We realize we’ve got work to do and we’re going to do it.”

Although RAD will be offered again next semester, around the end of February, there are other opportunities worth seeking.  Instructors are willing to work one on one with individuals and one residence hall may use RAD as a building program.

 “We would be happy to come in and work with people,” Christopher said.  “The more people who know the better these situations are likely to be.”

What's more interesting is RAD has a free lifetime return practice policy.  When a student completes the class they are allowed to participate in any other RAD class throughout its locations for free.

 “It is something we encourage people to practice,” Christopher said.  “It’s really something that I think people can use beyond college.” 

RAD is a four-class program that meets on Sundays in the Lee Lohman Arena.  The course costs $30.00 for all four sessions, and $10.00 is refunded after completing all four nights.