College-aged women are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted and 85 percent of rapes on campuses are committed by acquaintances or date rape.
These statistics are possibly two of the most important ones shown in the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) pamphlet.
The Longwood University Police Department hands out these pamphlets to teach females the simple statistics that have come out about sexual assaults.
The basic self-defense women’s class for this spring semester began Wednesday, Feb. 5. The course will continue over the next four weeks, meeting once a week for three hours at a time.
The sessions are taught by Sergeant Ray Ostrander, a Certified RAD Instructor with the Farmville PD.
“They see they can defend themselves if they do get in a situation and they’re not helpless and also that they learn some valuable educational material that we give out,” he said.
Ostrander added, “It’s just a lot of small things but it’s things that you can not only carry with you here at Longwood but long after you leave here.”
Ostrander is accompanied by investigator John Thompson who has retired from Longwood PD but still helps on a volunteer basis. Senior Emergency Coordinator Melissa VanRomondt also works
with Ostrander and Thompson. The RAD program began in 2001 and a class is offered every semester to students and faculty, but if someone out the campus wants to come in, they are generally allowed.
10 students are currently taking the class and the average usually stays around that number.
While Thompson originally coordinated the training, Ostrander took over three years ago after Thompson’s retirement.
“[The classes] were really helpful and let you know different ways that you can protect yourself if an attacker ever comes after you,” said graduate student Caitlin Brennan.
“It was very informative and allowed all of the participants to get hands-on experience with how to actually do the moves,” Brennan added.
During the first night of the class, students deal with paperwork and go over safety procedures on how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
By the second session, the hands-on tactical training begins. Ostrander hopes the class gives females a place to learn defense.
Ostrander receives little monetary help from the school, receiving some funding from the Student Government Association (SGA) for manuals and supplies, and money from the university for the equipment.
The class comes free to all its students.
Three years ago brand new equipment was given to the program including two aggressor suits and eight student suits.
The aggressor suit has thicker material and is worn mainly by Ostrander so that, on the final night of the class, the students get to “beat [him] up,” according to Ostrander.
The student suit comes set with hand gear, elbow pads, knee pads, chest protector and head gear.
“We try to make sure that they’re well-guarded and well-protected,” said Ostrander.
Students act as safe-guarders as well. Once they have completed their hands-on combat, they stand with the others to cheer and make sure no padding slips, helping to ensure the safety of the students.
Freshman Hannah Throckmorton missed the start date of the class but said she was still interested for the next session.
“I have always wanted to take a self-defense course and what better time than now? Also it’s nice that it is free,” said Throckmorton.
While the current session has already begun, if enough students show interest in the class to Ostrander, another could be added.
