Campus Safety hosted a free four-part Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training series forwomen. RAD is a program focused on instilling life saving knowledge to reduce risk and harm of rape or abduction. The course consisted of three full lectures followed by a hands-on portion to put skills into practice. 

The training was conducted by Candice Spruill, Administrative Assistant and Patrol Officer; Priscilla Guerrero, Campus Safety Officer; and  Maria Arredondo, Administrative Sergeant of Campus Safety. This is the first time the university has conducted a women-only multi-part self defense series. 

It’s important to offer a session like this, Spruill said, “particularly as it’s a women’s only course.” A Rainn.org study noted that girls and women “ages 12 to 34 are the highest risk years for rape and sexual assault. “I just think it’s good for women to have some type of basic self-defense today,” Spruill said.

Guerrero stressed the “situational awareness learning” part of the course. “[We teach] being aware of what is a risk, recognizing risk, avoiding risks,” she said.  

Madeline Stokes, sophomore, said, “I found the training to be so useful and I am surprised I've never heard of RAD before.” Stokes had never taken a self defense course and said she learned “how to spot people who may be a threat, how to stand and understand stances.” Stokes noted that the course pushed her comfort zone but said she “felt the time was worth it.”

Lauren Martinez, senior, said, “I wanted to attend RAD training as I thought it would be good to see some different insight into how I can better protect myself on a day-to-day-basis.” Martinez has attended self defense training in the past but wanted to “freshen up on my understanding of self defense and what I can do if I were put into a bad situation.”

Spruill said, “RAD is important because even though some of the skills are beginner level or a reminder to things you are already aware of, it never hurts to practice self awareness and physical defense techniques.” 

90% of self defense training are cautionary actions meant to stop a situation before it even begins and these skills have been proven to have life saving effects. Spruill said, “Practicing is being prepared and being prepared can save your life in a life threatening situation.”

Along with education, the attendees became allies to each other during the practice sessions. “One thing especially today is that they're motivating each other,” Arredondo said. “They’re encouraging each other. At the beginning of the course we always see more of a shy response and everybody’s a little bit reserved,” she continued, “Right now we’re on the third day, and I see they are more lively, more in tune with it.”

Campus Safety plans to host future training sessions on RAD and other safety topics.

Tags:

---

About Tabitha Johnson

More articles by Tabitha Johnson