The Journal

Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Kindra Jefferson Instructor Liza Schultheis (Public Safety) and Sophmore Kristen Dattoli (Social Sciences) demonstrate self defense moves for female students in a fun environment on October 13.

Liza Schultheis felt like a mother as she told her students what to do.

"Stand up straight," Schultheis said. "Look where you are going and be aware of your surroundings."

Schultheis gave a lecture and physical demonstration on self-defense against acts of violence Oct. 13. Three female students attended the seminar sponsored by Students for Gender Equality.

"I felt if something happened to me I could defend myself," said Amy Farfan, sophomore video production major.

Schultheis began by stating a statistics about how many women are raped each year.

"Those numbers are staggering. One in three women can expect to be raped. Two of us in this room," Schultheis said.

In her presentation Schultheis defined the word abduction as the resistance of freedom of movement and demonstrated how even putting an unwanted hand on someone's shoulder could be labeled as such. After asking the women in attendance what kinds of things they carry in their purses, Schultheis showed them how common items such as car keys, credit card and student ID cards could be used as a weapon.

"I carry my car keys in my fist," Schultheis said. "I get it just enough so that my remote is out."

She showed the women how to use their keys as tool to stab an assailant in the eye.

Schultheis encouraged the students to have their car keys out while they are walking to their cars.

"Before you get in, look in your back seat," Schultheis said. "Someone could easily be hiding in your car."

She also shared a story of a case where a female student who lived in the Webster Village Apartments was robbed while she and her roommate were home.

"A girl on campus left her door opened, popped in the shower and her computer was gone," Schultheis said. "Lock your doors! See if someone can get into your house without breaking anything."

Schultheis also said that when it comes to sexual predators, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic level or career is not a factor.

"There is no special mold that you can put a rapist into," she said.

Continued...

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