“Stay back!” “No!” “Stop!” These three commands rung out loud and clear from the lips of about 50 females participating in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Department’s class of Basic Physical Defense for Women on Saturday in East St. Louis.
It was the first time that the University’s police department offered the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) systems of self-defense at the SIUE East St. Louis Center. Three female certified R.A.D. instructors from the SIUE Police Department led the class: Sgt. Lisa Johnson and police officers Tara Vaughan and Trisha Bland. Five male University police officers served as “offenders” on whom the females practiced their defense moves: Adam Severit, Dave Baybordi, Brad Hershberger, Tim Andrews and Anthony Jones.
“Life is valuable,” said Elke Harris-McIntosh, program director for the Upward Bound Math & Science program at the SIUE East St. Louis Center. “And being able to defend yourself makes it even more valuable.” Harris-McIntosh also had her daughter and niece in the class.
“I’ve never taken a self-defense class,” said Andrea Smythe, former dance instructor for the now defunct SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts. “I have a daughter and a niece. I can show them these techniques. Besides, things in the world seem to be crazier now.”
Participants listened to some basic facts about women and physical violence and R.A.D. “One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime,” Johnson said. “Approximately two-thirds of sexual assaults are completed by someone known to the victim.”
The goal of R.A.D. training is self-defense in response to an attempted abduction. “Once a person has been abducted,” Johnson said, “their chance of survival is cut in half. The goal of the training is not to be abducted.
“Run if you can and always yell. Do not scream. People will better respond to yells for help.”
For about six hours, participants yelled and practiced self-defense moves over and over. The moves, they were told, were not to be shared with any man.
“No men, except these police officers, were allowed in class for a good reason,” Johnson said. “Not all men are bad, we know that. But there are some people who would take advantage of it and use it against a woman.”
Wendy Klein, coordinator for the Division of Rehabilitation for Illinois, said she took the class and brought her 12-year-old daughter Kiersten. Klein hopes the class will help prepare them to become defensive.
SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School student, Leon’Sha Star, also wants to defend herself. “If ever someone should try to abduct me, I would need to know how to get away,” said the high school senior. “Or if I’m in a situation with a guy that I don’t like, and I want to get out of it, this will be helpful.”
Gaile Allen, an East St. Louis resident, said she enjoyed the class because it helped her feel more empowered.
“We’ve had students who have been the victims of sexual assault attend the class,” said Johnson. “As a result of the class, they have said that they felt as if they got back some of their power.”
The SIUE Police Department offers the free R.A.D. training in the spring and fall. “I knew everyone on this campus wasn’t able to travel to Edwardsville,” Vaughan said, whose eight-year-old daughter Addie was also a class participant. “The more people we can reach with this training, the better.”
“Everything that I’ve learned today, I believe I’ll be able to use it,” said Jamila Ajanaku, staff assistant with the Charter High School. “Taking this class has made me more aware. You should always have a plan.”
Precious Patterson said she doesn’t like to fight, but the teenager said the class taught her how to protect herself if ever she should find herself in harm’s way. Patterson is a student in the Upward Bound EC Program at the SIUE East St. Louis Center. “I feel a little more confident,” she said.
Photo Information:
SIUE Police Officer Tara Vaughan shows Leon’Sha Star, SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School student, how to best execute a particular self-defense move against University Police Officer Tim Andrews.
SIUE Police Officer Trisha Bland coaches eight-year-old Addie Vaughan how to begin a self-defense move. University Police Officer Anthony Jones steadies a body cushion.
The goal of the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) systems of self-defense is to fend off any possible abduction. In the foreground are Rene Smith of the SIUE East St. Louis Center, on the left, and Andrea Smythe of Belleville, on the right.
Andrea Smythe of Belleville assumes a defensive position against SIUE Police Officer Anthony Jones. University Police Officer Tara Vaughan coaches from the sidelines.