IUPD promotes safety program

Since the recent report of a blitz rape of an IU freshman Oct. 23 near Ballantine Hall, many students have personal safety on their minds.\nThe IU Police Department is putting on a program designed to alleviate fears.\nRape Aggression Defense is a program of realistic defensive tactics and techniques that teaches women to be aware of their surroundings and minimize the threat of assault. The school also teaches women hands-on physical tactics. \n"RAD provides women with knowledge concerning awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance," IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said. "RAD also teaches hands-on self defense techniques for those women who decide to resist an attacker. These techniques are presented in both static and dynamic training sessions."\nRAD is taught in several sessions a year by IUPD instructors, including Sgt. David Rhodes, a martial arts expert.\nRhodes said the RAD self-defense techniques are based on martial arts, but emphasized the course is not a martial arts class out of "Karate Kid."\n"The techniques are simply blocks, strikes and kicks a woman with an average strength and size can perform," Rhodes said.\nThe first class is from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Class members will learn risk reduction and risk awareness. These techniques lower chances of a possible attack as the potential victim may be able to avoid the situation all together.\nThe second and third classes are from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 11 and 13. In these classes, members will learn the physical techniques.\nAn optional class period, called "Dynamic Simulation," runs from 6 to 9 p.m., Nov. 18. In this class students who are dressed in safety equipment will defend themselves against mock aggressors. \nRhodes said this is essentially using the techniques at full force, because most women have never hit or kicked someone as hard as they could. They also receive positive feedback on how well they work.\n"No one can tell a woman how she should respond in these types of situations," Rhodes said. "Instead we provide options to physically resist an attacker."\nThe course is an annual event sponsored by IUPD to aid potential victims on campus.\nRegistration is required. Any woman can register by calling IUPD at 855-4111. Class size is limited to 10 participants and is free for IU students. There is a $20 training fee for non-students.\n-- Contact staff writer Brandon Morley at bmorley@indiana.edu.