Purdue University North Central Campus Police will present a class in the community to teach the Rape Aggression Defense System (R.A.D.) to women age 13 and older.
R.A.D. is a national program, founded in 1989 by a Virginia police officer, which teaches simple, yet effective safety techniques that can be used by teenage and adult women. PNC has offered the training without charge since 2002.
The “R.A.D. on the RoAD” classes are taught by members of the PNC Police Department who are certified R.A.D. instructors. There is no charge to take part in the class.
R.A.D. will be held Mondays, Oct. 6, 13 and 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Andrew’s by the Lake Episcopal Church, 1007 Moore Road, Michigan City. To enroll in the class, contact St. Andrew’s office at (219) 872-6984 or on their Facebook page.
Young women ages 13 to 17 must be accompanied by their mother or female adult and a parental consent form must be completed by a parent.
The PNC Police Department offers “R.A.D. on the RoAD” to any group of females who would like to learn. If the group does not have the appropriate space needed for the class, the women will be invited to the PNC campus. The only requirement is that a group of at least six women and not more than 12 be willing to commit to attending three class sessions of three hours each.
Nationally, R.A.D. is taught on more than 2,500 college and university campuses around the world. It is also taught by community police departments and women's resource centers.
PNC Police Dispatcher Sue Zahn is a certified R.A.D. instructor. She explained that the R.A.D. techniques are simple and women of most any age or ability can utilize them effectively.
“It is important for every woman to know how to defend herself,” she said. “This class is empowering. It gives a woman the confidence to know that she can defend and stand up for herself. These skills can be used anywhere. And women will carry the skills with them the rest of their lives.”
According to Zahn, the R.A.D. training helps to make women aware of their surroundings and aware of the behaviors of those around them. It helps them identify potentially threatening situations and know how to react.
She noted, for example, there is a difference between dealing with someone who is angry but presents no physical harm and someone attempting an assault.
Zahn herself took the class prior to becoming an instructor.
“I tell the class ‘I know what you're going though,' ” she said. “R.A.D. is easy and effective. I want to make sure that everyone knows it.”
Class participants will practice different scenarios and possible responses. Participants are asked to practice the R.A.D. techniques outside of class so that they become second nature.
For more information about the PNC R.A.D. program contact the Campus Police at 219-785-5200 ext. 5220, Campus_Police@pnc.edu or visit www.pnc.edu/pd/rad.html.