The Seahawk

Issue date: 9/30/09 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Courtesy of UNCW Police

According to the UNCW University Police Web site, "About 3 percent of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a typical college year."

You do not have to be a part of this statistic if you have taken the UNCW Police program Rape Aggression Defense (RAD), which is a women's defense program that has been taught for several years on the university's campus.

According to the UNCW University Police Web site, "RAD is a course developed for women only that has established standards of acceptability for female self-defense. It teaches tactics and techniques that are hands-on and realistic in nature."

RAD classes are taught in four sessions during both fall and spring semesters.  Each session lasts for two weeks and is taught two days per week.  Sessions fall on different days of the week to accommodate as many people as possible.  One session is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, another session is offered Mondays and Wednesdays, and two sessions are offered Saturdays and Sundays.

Some skills that RAD will teach women are stances, punches, kicks, ground defense, bear hugs and choking defense. 

"Confidence, being aware of surroundings and skills that make them more confident," is what Detective Keli Kotler wants participants to take away from RAD.  Kotler, who is one of four RAD instructors, has been with UNCW Police for a little over two years and worked at North Carolina State University before she came to Wilmington.

"There is no age limit for self-defense," Kotler said.  RAD teaches safety to women who are young teens to in their 60s.  The class can also count towards the UNCW PED 101 requirement as long as the student attends all four classes in a session.

On average, there are approximately 10 to 15 women who sign up for each RAD session.  Kotler recommends participants sign up at least two days before the session to make sure they make the roster.  Those interested can register online at http://www.uncw.edu/ba/police/radschedule.htm. 

The next session will take place from Oct. 12 to Oct. 21, Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  More information can be found at the UNCW Police Web site and on posters around campus

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