At least 1 in 4 college women will be the victim of a sexual assault during her academic career, according to the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault. In order to combat this, on Thursday, March 21, there will be a Women Empowerment Night in the Ferguson Center Ballroom where women can receive training in self-defense.
“The focus will be on seven to 10 of the most common situations that would be encountered with a would-be attacker, and the specific movements to get out of each situation,” Jason Archer, a senior majoring in biochemistry, said. “With each situation, fleeing the attacker is paramount. All energy is used to get away rather than injure the attacker.”
There are two sessions scheduled for 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Both sessions will begin with a 10-minute introduction on safety and awareness followed by 50 minutes of training.
“This event started through the Collaborative Student Organization Grant from the SOURCE. Our organization, the College Life in Christ, is a student ministry sponsored by the Cottondale Church of Christ,” Archer said. “We saw this grant and thought it would be a great way to give back to the UA community as well as work with other student organizations on campus.”
The seminar is hosted by College Life in Christ ministry, Tiger Rock Martial Arts, Strong Inc. 24-Hour Gym, Society of Women Engineers, and the UA Sitters for Service.
“Randy Latner, our college minister, teaches Brazilian jujitsu at Tiger Rock Martial Arts Studio in Northport, and over the past three years our organization has spent one night each semester getting some self-defense training at Tiger Rock,” Archer said. “With this previous experience, we felt prepared to take this training to the next level.”
The event is free and open to all women of any fitness level ages 15 and up.
“Randy, along with David Clibrey, a graduate nursing student trained at Tiger Rock, will lead the event instruction,” Archer said. “Members of the partnering organizations attended a session last week at Tiger Rock to sharpen our self-defense skills so that we can oversee small group instruction.”
Comfortable clothes are encouraged and water will be provided.
“For each situation, the level of intensity is self-determined,” Archer said. “I have worn jeans and a T-shirt before.”
