Taylor Hanigosky
tmh004@marietta.edu
In an effort to better arm female students with knowledge and defense strategies, the Marietta College Police Department is offering a one-credit physical education course in self-defense tactics.
The class, PHED 194, will be offered for the first time beginning in the Spring 2015 semester. The curriculum is based off a program titled R.A.D, an acronym for rape-aggression and defense, and will include hands-on lessons about useful defense moves like punching and kicking, according to Chief of Police Jim Weaver. However, the course goes deeper and will cover first aid, risk assessment, date-rape information, self-defense and the law, Weaver said.
“There’s a lot more involved in the course than teaching people how to fight,” Weaver said.
Sgt. Bill Johnston and Officer Kim Settle have been trained to teach R.A.D material and their class is open to 20 students. Currently, 10 students are enrolled.
“I truly believe in the program,” Weaver said. “I want as many students to benefit from it as possible.”
Senior Elisha Laubacher is enrolled to take the course next spring and is anxious to learn the defense tactics.
“I’ll feel a little safer knowing how to give a proper kick to the balls,” she said. “Sexual assault is a problem everywhere, even small college campuses. It’s sad that reality has forced self-defense classes like this to become in-demand, but I’m glad Marietta is offering it. It’s empowering for women.”
Weaver said that the class is important for everyone, not just women. If the course receives enough interest, MCPD would like to offer a similar program designed for male students.
“Anyone can be at risk at any given time,” he said. “Marietta is a safe city, but sometimes, bad things happen in good places. The course will prepare students for life.”
Weaver hopes that enrolled students will not only walk away knowing how to defend themselves, but that they will also gain a new perspective about how to stay safe and avoid risk.
R.A.D began as a community-policing event in residence halls on campus four years ago. The original program is designed to be taught in 13 hours at one time, but Weaver understands most college students cannot set aside that amount of time. This is why he reworked the program to be taught as a one-credit class. Weaver hopes the class will reach more students as word spreads in the upcoming semesters.
