Self-defense program faces low attendance

By Spencer L. Roush

Columbia has begun offering free self-defense classes for students to learn safety and security tips so they never have to be victims, said Sensei Terrance Hicks Jr., a Columbia graduate and self-defense instructor.

As April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it would seem to be appropriate for self-defense classes to begin April 6. The student turnout, however, has been very low, so Hicks is working overtime to promote the class held in the 916 Building, 916 S. Wabash Ave., during Manifest T-shirt handouts at SGA elections.

The classes are offered twice a week on Monday and Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. So far, there have only been about three to five people who have come for the classes at any given time.

“The problem is not many people know about the program or even about this building,” Hicks said. “That’s the reason I’ve been taking advantage of [SGA] handing out the Manifest T-shirts. I’ve been pulling people over to tell them what the classes are all about and what I can teach them.”

The classes were originally scheduled to be held at the recently closed Roosevelt University fitness facility, but they will now be held at the Loft in the 916 Building. The new space isn’t an ideal spot, Hicks said, but he is hoping to make the space work and fill the room once the word gets out around campus.

“Any group that starts up needs some time to develop a network,” said Mark Brticevich, coordinator of Fitness and Recreation at Columbia. “We hope to take advantage of advertising at orientation and convocation, which will hopefully get students interested.”

Hicks, who has been involved in martial arts for 18 years, said the self-defense classes will teach students defense techniques for when they are riding trains or buses. He also gives instructions for students to defend themselves from someone twice their size or someone who has a martial arts background.

Last semester, Columbia tried hosting a few seminars about self-defense and other safety tips for students, like being aware of their surroundings; however, attendance was poor then, too. The problem is getting students to believe that being attacked or robbed could happen to them, Brticevich said.

“Being aware is something we really need to teach to students,” Brticevich said. “Don’t make life easy for a criminal, hold onto your things, don’t expose things that are of value, don’t carry a lot of money and IDs around. Students need to keep their damn iPods out of their ears, so they can hear what’s going on.”

Self-defense is important for everyone who lives in an urban environment to learn, Britcevich said.

Ashley Blose, a senior illustration major, said she would go to the self-defense classes, but she didn’t know Columbia offered them. She said she started going to Capoeira classes, a martial arts class Columbia offers, when she was a freshman, because there were no self-defense classes offered then.

Blose joined the Capoeira classes because she has been grabbed on the street by a predator on more than one occasion. She made the decision to take classes on her own to learn some defense moves.

Now Blose said she feels confident walking down the street because of the defense moves she learned.

Hicks said he hopes more students will come to classes because he wants to give everyone the confidence and knowledge to defend themselves against any attacker, especially with the crime that has been going on in the area.

“During the economic crisis, security should be prepared. People are going back to their basic survival instincts because they may need to pay bills or feed their children, so they go robbin’,” Hicks said. “I’m from the South Side of Chicago, I know a lot of people that will do this stuff and not think twice. They are like sociopaths and won’t feel bad.”

Hicks said with all of the school shootings, he was hoping the college would change some of their policies and tighten security, but that hasn’t been the case.

“I have spoken with some of the security folks, and they want to learn [self defense], because they said they truthfully were never taught this stuff,” Hicks said. “This is a major concern of mine.”

Another concern is all of the construction happening on campus using the high fencing, Hick said. The high fences and narrow pathways make the predators’ jobs even easier, he said.

“A criminal will sit back and watch the same people every day and look for patterns. They look for a time when they can catch you,” Hicks said. “College students need to be ready.”