December
5 , 2003
MHC
Students Learn the Art of Self-Defense
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Photo: Fred LeBlanc
R.A.D. organizer Cindy Chan '05
practices with instructor Eddie Leverett. |
If you happen to walk into Pearsons
dining hall around 5 pm on a Tuesday evening this semester,
you will come upon a group of determined young women perfecting
their blocks, parries, and a host of other defensive moves.
These students have been taking a course in R.A.D., which stands
for Rape Aggression Defense. Sergeant Eddie Leverett of the
College's public safety department teaches the course
with assistance from officers Kellie Cournoyer and Frank Allen.
Leverett, who has been teaching self-defense to Mount Holyoke
students for four years, said, "It's fun. There's
a variety of people and a lot of energy in the group."
Pearsons student adviser Cindy Chan '05 was inspired to organize the course,
which she titled What's Rad about R.A.D? after more than 30 people showed
up for a R.A.D. workshop earlier in the semester. She said she has always been
interested in women's self-defense. "Every woman should know the
basics of how to defend herself," Chan said. "Even petty things like
having her purse grabbed—she should know what to do to protect herself."
Jennifer Craig '07 enrolled in the R.A.D. course after taking part in the
workshop. "My worst fear is being assaulted, and I knew that the material
I would learn in R.A.D. would boost my confidence and sense of safety," Craig
said. She has enjoyed learning the moves, but said the most important thing the
course has taught her is how to avoid dangerous situations and to fight only
if a confrontation is unavoidable.
Leverett agreed. "I want to bring the awareness level up. The students
learn about what things they need to look out for. It's about avoidance,
not just how to fight off an attacker."
This is the first time a College residence hall has offered a R.A.D. course,
and it has been so successful that Chan plans to organize another one next semester. "We
are so privileged to have the R.A.D. course at our fingertips," Craig said. "I
recommend it to anyone and everyone."
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