As most of us are aware'and some more painfully than others'Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Yet contrary to popular belief, the month of February isn't just about candy hearts and red roses. It also happens to be National Condom Month. So, while in the coming weeks students can expect to be bombarded with sexual products and images, it would be smart to direct some attention to the issue of sexual assault.
National surveys indicate that one in eight women are sexually assaulted in college. Cheri Dubiel, Chimera self-defense coordinator, asserts that this ratio could be narrowed to nearly one in four over the course of a lifetime.
\Anybody can protect themselves and take steps to avoid being hurt,"" Dubiel said.
On Saturday, Dubiel participated in a Chimera self-defense program sponsored by the Rape Crisis Center, the Dean of Students Office and the University Residence Halls.
""Chimera is self-defense more specifically designed for women,"" Dubiel said. ""What's great about Chimera is it teaches these defense moves anyone can learn.""
Whether you're old, young or even uncoordinated, Chimera is simple, easy to remember and practical.
According to the UW-Madison Web site here, Chimera ""teaches that all women have the right and ability to defend themselves regardless of size, age or physical ability. Using assertiveness, awareness and physical protection skills, class participants learn effective strategies that are useful in harrassing and assaultative [sic] situations.""
Alexandra Godar, a senior at Madison West High School, took the two-day Chimera course because next year she will be leaving home and wants to know how to take care of herself.
""It's nice just taking two classes and having a level of confidence I didn't have to work at for years,"" Godar said.
Chimera not only focuses on the physical aspect of self-defense moves, but also teaches women to develop assertiveness skills.
""Chimera takes into account the fact that the majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by people known to the victim, so that's why it's important in our class that we teach assertiveness skills,"" Dubiel said.
In addition to coaching women in blocking techniques, hand and kick strikes and how to break out of particular holds, Chimera incorporates various exercises in verbal skills and assertiveness.
""For example, we practice role plays in which we use assertiveness techniques that include the most effective way to use your voice,"" said Jennifer Sell, a Chimera instructor at the class.
Also, according to Sell, assertive techniques involve practicing and maintaining a calm, low-pitched yet forceful tone or simply having the confidence to shout ""No!"" at a potential attacker.
Brenda Kvernen, a senior at UW-Madison, said she took the Chimera course because she felt vulnerable a lot of the time.
""I do find myself in situations where I'm walking by myself or that could be potentially dangerous,"" Kvernen said.
Yet the ability to protect herself in the event of an assault isn't all Kvernen feels she has gotten out of the course.
""More than just defense in a situation where you feel endangered, the assertiveness skills are applicable in everyday situations,"" she said.
This idea that self-protection in a dangerous situation is particularly poignant at a time when many people are worried about their ability to protect and defend themselves in a number of circumstances.
Matt Numrich, owner and head instructor of Elite Defense Systems in Chicago, said he has seen a sizable increase in enrollment of his self-defense classes since the Sept. 11 attacks.
""People's fears are just being able to do the right thing,"" Numrich said.
According to Numrich, his organization teaches Jeet Kune Do, which, like Chimera, ""does not focus on power and strength as it does on a person's ability to use mind and savvy,"" he said.
Numrich and Elite Defense Systems will be teaching a one-day self-defense course for men and women off-campus at the Pinnacle Health and Fitness center in Madison on March 10.
Some of the techniques that Numrich will be teaching are a Rapid Assault Tactics program, weapon defense, weapon disarming, mass attack defense ground fighting options, close quarters applications, street psychology and attribute development methods. The class is offered to students for $49 and to non-students for $59. To register for this program, contact Vikki at Pinnacle Health and Fitness center at 278-8118.
And for those who missed the Chimera course, it is just one of the programs launched at UW-Madison to promote safety on campus. Other campus-wide efforts to reduce incidents of sexual assault can be seen on the Web at the UW-Madison based Web site here.
For support groups, short-term counseling and other resources, refer to the University Health Services Web page here.
""Sexual violence is a reality on the UW campus, and it's important for students to have thought through and prepared for every situation,"" Sell said.
