Hazelton program teaches basic self-defense technique

By VICTORIA FREILE
Collegian Staff Writer

"Woman must not depend on the protection of a man, but must be taught to defend herself," Susan B. Anthony said in 1871.

This creed is the inspiration for Lisa DeLaurentis, chair of the newly established Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Program at the Hazelton Campus.

DeLaurentis, also a Hazelton Police Services officer, said providing tools for basic self defense is the main goal of the program.

"You can't always depend on other people," she said. "We want to help females protect themselves against aggression -- to defend themselves."

The RAD program will begin next week with a three-day course for female resident assistants, DeLaurentis said. Awareness,

prevention, risk reduction and avoidance will be covered in the program. They will also discuss how victims should react when confronted by an attacker.

The first section of the course will consist of lecture and classroom work, DeLaurentis said, and the remainder will focus on the physical defense aspect.

"We want to teach the girls different techniques they can use to defend themselves," DeLaurentis said. "You never know when you will need the skills."

Hazleton Safety and Police Services supervisor Mike Conway said the campus generally has a safe environment, but the program will help prevent future problems.

The most vulnerable students are freshman and sophomore females who are away from home for the first time, DeLaurentis said.

The program will be offered to all female students at the campus from Oct. 19 to Oct. 21, she said.

Later in the academic year, Conway said he would like to offer the program to women in the community.

Conway said he would even like to take the program a step further by participating in the national event Take Back the Night -- where the community holds a vigil for women who have been sexually assaulted -- in the spring.

DeLaurentis said she has gotten positive reactions from students about the program, adding she hopes to train female students not to act like a victim so they can avoid becoming one.