R.A.D. Systems Empowers Plymouth Women

In the United States, one forcible rape occurs every seven minutes. Each year about 90 thousand forcible rapes are reported to the police. It is estimated that about 90 percent of all rapes and attempted rapes are not reported at all. Frightening statistics like these are the reason many women have decided to take fate into their own hands. “It is very empowering knowing that I can protect myself in any situation and that I don’t need to rely on a man to protect me.” explains Amanda Haney, a Plymouth Senior. Believe it or not, many women in the Plymouth community and all over the country share Haney’s attitude these days.These women are not martial arts experts. As a matter of fact, most of them have never had any formal defense training. They are, however are among those lucky enough to have enrolled in Plymouth State University’s section of the Rape Aggression Defense Systems (R.A.D.) class.In 1989, Lawrence N. Nadeau developed the Virginia-based R.A.D. Systems, a self-defense class designed specifically for women. Nadeau, a former Marine and police officer, believed that all women should have access to knowledge about self-defense.In the official R.A.D. Systems manual, Nadeau explains that the Instructional Objective is “to develop and enhance the options of self defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked.” R.A.D. Systems are designed to not only show women defensive strategies against potential attackers, but ways to think and act proactively as well. A classroom segment of the class reminds students of the importance of caution in everyday life. A section entitled “Risk Reduction” reminds women that rape is a crime associated with power, not just sex. It discards common myths associated with rape, and reminds the student that they are ultimately responsible for their own safety.In the comprehensive segment of the class, women are taught physical methods that can be used to deter attackers. This segment is a bit more physically demanding, but most women will have no problem with this training.Throughout the class, instructors continually remind women that the best personal weapon during an attack is their voice. Women are taught that yelling (as opposed to screaming which can be mistaken as a joke) will draw attention to the situation. A powerful “No,” clearly and stringently communicates to an attacker and onlookers alike that a situation has become threatening.And yes, the average women CAN physically take on an adult male.According to the R.A.D. Systems website, over 250,000 women in the United States and Canada have already enrolled in the program. A comprehensive, women-only course that emphasizes awareness, R.A.D. Systems commits to life-long awareness for its participants. Any woman who has previously taken the course, may return to any other R.A.D. Systems course free of charge. R.A.D. Systems classes are offered all over the United States and Canada. In other words, women have a free, life-long membership to this fabulous program.Plymouth senior Justine Handler agrees that her experience with R.A.D. Systems was an extremely positive and enlightening one. “I feel so much more confident in myself and feel so much stronger. I am more able to get myself out of bad situations, and that is so important. Every woman should have this opportunity to learn to defend herself, but to make some great friends at the same time.”Rape Aggression Defense Systems are offered at Plymouth State through the Health, Physical Education & Recreation department. R.A.D. is a one-credit course that can fulfill a Physical Education requirement, and it is open to PE majors and non-majors. For more information on the Rape Aggression Defense Systems Program visit their website at www.rad-systems.com. For more information about taking the class at Plymouth State consult the Academic Course Catalog or contact the HPER Department.