In light of the recent disappearance of a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student and the late-night Halloween weekend ahead, safety and self-defense are precautions VCU officials said students need to be aware of.
Rape aggression defense (RAD) classes taught at VCU are designed to protect women against sexual assault and abduction by teaching them practical and physical defense exercises.
“They are beneficial,” Caitlyn Williams, an art history major said. “They should definitely offer way more (safety programs) because kids get killed on the street.”
The RAD class is a marketed self-defense class offered to females ranging from ages 14 and up. Participants who are 17 and younger must have parental consent to participate. Faculty members, staff and visitors from the community are charged $10 to enroll in the class.
The first class is held at the VCU Police Patrol Division office on West Grace Street. Following the first session, classes are held at differing locations on the VCU and MCV campuses. The course currently in session is held at the Franklin Street Gym.
Cpl. Jody Atkins, a VCU police officer who teaches the class, said the class holds 25 in each course and they fill up quickly.
However, some students said there are not many choices offered when it comes to safety awareness classes. Ranbir Chaggar, a computer engineering major, said he did not know of any safety service programs aside from escort services.
“Things happen to both (men and women),” Chaggar said. “It does not matter what gender.”
Beatrice Nguyen, undeclared, said she does not think the classes are advertised as much as they could be.
“I don’t think I have ever heard of a self-defense class (at VCU),” Nguyen said.
The RAD course is offered at least once a semester, maybe twice if the enrollment numbers permit.
A participant must make a four-day commitment over the duration of two weeks. The course is typically scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings, lasting a total of three hours a class.
“I personally like the RAD class,” Atkins said. “Men tend to be stronger in the upper body. RAD focuses on a woman’s strong points.”
According to Atkins, the first day of class is based on introductions and getting to know each one other. Discussions are encouraged, lectures are held by the instructors, questions are answered by participants and instructors, and some students offer their personal experiences with rape, assault and abduction.
“Days two and three teach physical techniques such as strikes, kicks, how to break wrist grabs and break choke holds,” Atkins said. “We teach techniques and pressure points that don’t require more than 12 pounds of pressure.”
The fourth and final night is a simulation class where participants use what they have learned from the previous three nights on simulated attackers. The night is optional, but members who choose not to participate are asked to come out for support and cheer for their peers.
“Trained aggressors get suited up and simulate different attacks,” Atkins said.
Atkins said after participants finish the four-day training, class and teacher evaluations are distributed so feedback is accounted for and impact is measured. So far, the only common complaint is classes do not last longer than four days.
Atkins said her objective was to provide options of self-defense should women become victims of sexual assault and abduction.
“I recommend all women take some sort of safety and self-defense class,” Atkins said.
Atkins said the program has grown continuously since 2003. The course has experienced a tremendous surge since she began working.