A young woman walks back to the dorms from a night of studying at the library. She is alone and it is dark out and not well lit. She's zoned out listening to her iPod. What are the chances that she will become the victim of an attack?
With the constant advisory warnings from UB police regarding armed robberies, possible homicides and sexual assaults, it is understandable for young women to feel vulnerable and afraid when walking to their car or dorm after dark.
Yet this fear is actually helpful in preventing women from getting attacked, according to David Chernega, a University Police officer and instructor of a women's self defense class at UB. Being frightened forces students to be alert and aware of their surroundings, so if an attack does occur, they will be mentally prepared for it.
Utilizing his martial arts background in Judo and nearly 30 years of experience teaching defensive tactics at the Police Academy in Buffalo, Chernega teaches the class Self Defense for Women through the Athletics Department. The one credit course follows the program Rape, Aggression, Defense (R.A.D.), which provides situation-by-situation advice for women who are vulnerable to attacks. The class also includes physical methods for defense.
After the bike path homicide of Amherst mother of four, Joan Diver, being aware of some self-defense tactics can help students remain safe.
Chernega said there are three reactions a woman has when she is attacked-flight, fight, or freeze. He stressed that freezing up is the worst response, because the woman is left under the control of the attacker. Trying to escape, said Chernega, is the most beneficial action in many cases.
He also pointed out that a woman trying to fight against an attacker with a weapon could cause more harm than good. If she fights back, the chances of her getting injured are four times greater.
"You don't have to resist, especially if there are weapons involved," Chernega said. "Is it worth getting hurt over property?"
The course also lays out several risk reduction strategies, many of which are common sense, but often neglected including locking doors, parking in well-light areas and avoiding walking alone at night.
If it seems like someone is following you, Chernega said, walk to the nearest area where other people are present.
"The only time I feel unsafe is at night walking to my car," said Chelsea Harman, a sophomore media studies major. She said she looks around to be aware of any strangers nearby.
When it comes to meeting new people and dating, Chernega advises that the woman take down the guy's number instead of giving out her own. If the date is a stranger, the woman should offer to drive in order to avoid a vulnerable location.
Additionally, female students should also be aware of date rape and the importance of voicing her opposition to sexual advances.
"You have to say 'no.' You can't say, 'I don't really want to do this,'" Chernega said. "You have to send a clear message."
If an attack does occur and the woman feels that she cannot escape and must fight, Chernega said that there is no turning back once she takes action, so she must be sure she is prepared to defend herself. Carrying a weapon like pepper-spray can be valuable if used properly, but keep in mind that any weapon can be taken away by the aggressor and used on the victim.
Chernega made it clear that size does matter - the likelihood of a smaller woman winning a fight against a large man is slim, especially if she is not mentally prepared to defend herself.
"A rapist is not going to pick on somebody bigger than he is," Chernega said. "So if you fight fair, you lose. You have to fight dirty."
That means knowing the places to hit an attacker that will do the most damage. According to Chernega, slapping the aggressor will do little more than make him angry - instead use your body as a weapon to strike soft tissue areas like the eyes, throat, or groin. The class teaches simple actions like how to make a proper fist, and use body parts like the forehead, elbow and knuckles as weapons.
Various maneuvers for getting out of an attacker's grasp are also demonstrated and practiced in the class. For example, if a woman is being chocked from behind, she is taught to thrust her arm straight into the air, locking the attacker's hand between her should and neck. She then turns towards the upright arm, and the attacker is forced to release his grip.
Anna Ronka, a junior exchange student from Finland majoring in anthropology, said that she noticed more police officers patrolling the UB campus than there are at her college campus back home, which gives her mixed feelings.
"At the same time it's (both) scary and it brings safety," Ronka said.
If anything, the self defense course teaches women to be able to depend on themselves in a crisis situation, turning their fear into defensive action.
"We try to make them mentally tough," Chernega said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
