Surviving Being A Woman: Delta’s host Self-Defense Class

The spring semester may be coming to an end, but activities on campus are still taking place. The Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. hosted its May Week, which consisted of engaging and informative events each day.
Delta member and graduating senior, Madison Weatherspoon, explained, “[May week] It’s kind of like a chance for them to see us nonstop all week, them to interact with us, get to know us, and get to know what we are about.” This year’s May week theme was based on the Johnson Family Vacation movie, and each event related to the film in its own way.
However, there was one day that elevated above all and could easily come back to save every participant’s life. Held at the Event Center just off the Bluff, Thursday night’s event taught imperative self-defense lessons. Weatherspoon stated, “It was really just like to teach the women on this campus just a couple of defense mechanisms, just some self-defense tactics, what to do if you’re ever in a situation where you need it.”
The instructor for the night was Lieutenant Leonard Harry of the Baton Rouge City Police. Lt. Harry explained what to do if you’re ever being attacked, and described different tools and tactics that could be used to prevent the situation altogether. Lt. Harry also shared that it’s crucial to be aware of your surroundings at all times, “Especially like when they’re going into parking lots and parking garages.” He also elaborated, “The first thing to remember is you got to breathe”, he continued, “Because if you’re not breathing, you’re not fighting, and then understand that you’re fighting for your life.”
In addition to being equipped with the proper mindset, women can further protect themselves by investing in mace and other deterrents. Lt. Harry said, “Mace is good. It doesn’t matter which product it is, there are several different products on the market, they all work.” Lastly, Lt. Harry stated that running workouts can also help ensure, that in the event of an attack, you don’t become fatigued quickly.
All these tips and lessons are coming at a time when they’re needed the most.
According to recent studies done by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, twenty percent of female college students have experienced some form of sexual assault. Although that rate is slightly lower on HBCU campuses, it is still a staggering fact.
This is why the Baton Rouge City Police Department is taking matters into its own hand and is now offering self-defense classes to any individual who wishes to participate. Referred to as the “Equalizer” course, the class is hosted by the Baton Rouge City Police Training Academy every quarter. It is located at 9000 Airline Highway, and more details can be found on the Baton Rouge City Police website.