what we do and then we move on. We break it down into very simple steps like trusting intuition, how to be a bad victim and if everything else fails, here is how you protect yourself. We go through the details and get the students involved. We show them the things that are important and why. This has really resonated with students because it takes them on a path from prevention to response. We don’t give students a list and tell them to look out for this, this and this. I actually think that might put us in more danger because all of a sudden you tend to get a knee-jerk response to say a man walking down the street wearing a hooded sweat shirt. That kind of type-casting is not useful information. I have always told students to trust their intuition first. “ The situation of being in an airplane at 35,000’ is different from being at a party in an isolated location.
“Your options are different depending on the set of parameters. At a party, you can more readily remove yourself from that situation. In any case, you should know how to protect yourself if the situation accelerates. We avoid giving out cookie-cutter advice because every situation is a little different. I want them to look at themselves as being the expert. They can do this by quickly analyzing the situation and coming up with their own resolution.
The idea for Girls Fight Back originated with Erin Weed after the tragic murder of a friend at Eastern Illinois University. At the time, Erin had already graduated and was working in New York, but this death had a tremendous impact on her, so much that she decided to do what she could to prevent the violence. “When she was killed and I went back for the wake and the funeral, I could see how terrified my girl friends were and realized that we needed a program on college campuses for personal safety and self defense that was not threatening or intimidating. Sometimes law enforcement officers deliver the message with a fear-based tone and I realized it needed to be more of a peer-to-peer delivery and should be fun and upbeat in order to engage students. So what I went after was the edutainment angle.”
The program has grown by leaps and bounds and caused excitement on colleges all over the country. “There are four of us giving the program in the United States but we are also in India and Pakistan
and we were just invited to do the program in Africa. The content of our program in available and applicable to women all over the world. One of the things women all have in common is that we feel afraid and we lack the tools to defend ourselves. No matter what part of the world you are in, populations are struggling with how to deal with these problems.
“We not only developed Girls Fight Back but also Students Fight Back which is a gender neutral program. We realized that men have similar issues. A man is more likely to be murdered, assaulted or robbed when he is on campus than a woman. I found statistics that confirmed that we all have threats we have to deal with. While women are much more likely to be sexually assaulted, men are more prone to have to deal with these other threats. Of course our program starts off with a sad beginning and a lot of speakers seem to get hung up on dealing with the one sad episode that got them to where they are today. But I don’t think that helps student very much. We deal early on with why we do
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“You say, this is unique. I don’t feel safe right now. What are my options? Then start thinking strategically. Only they can save themselves in that situation. A lot of “self-defense” instructors think they can instruct students in a method that will resolve any situation and that is not going to happen. You have to empower people to be their own self-protectors. The resolution to your uncomfortable situation does not necessarily have to be physical. Quickly analyzing your situation and out smarting your attacker can be more rewarding and satisfying as a result. Experience this incredible program from Erin Weed along with your students. Contact Erin at EvoSo (a new speakers agency) at 303-845-9265, or visit evoso.com for more information.
RUNNER-UP: DR. JOHN CORVINO
Dr. John Corvino--also known as The Gay Moralist--has spoken at over 200 campuses on issues of sexuality, ethics, and marriage. His book, Debating Same-Sex Marriage, co-authored with Maggie Gallagher, will be published by Oxford University Press this June. Dr. Corvino is also a 17-time NACA Showcasing Artist and this year celebrates the 20th anniversary of his public-speaking career.
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www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com