According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization, one in six American women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. College age women, RAINN reports, are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted.

With the generous support of the Trustees’ Council of Penn Women, the Division of Public Safety is offering free Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes to all Penn women.

The RAD System is a comprehensive course that includes awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, and progresses to the basics of hands-on defense training. Classes are held on Wednesday, Sept. 23 and Sept. 30, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Courses are taught by certified RAD instructors and provide participants with a workbook/reference manual outlining the entire physical defense program for reference and continuous personal growth.

While not a martial arts program, the system of realistic defense provides a woman with the knowledge to make an educated decision about resistance. The program operates on the premise that a spontaneous violent attack will stimulate a natural desire to resist, on the part of the victim.

Women are educated about the “Flight or Fight Syndrome,” while showing them that enhancing their options of physical defense is not only prudent, but necessary, if natural resistance is to be effective.

Classes are held at the Division of Public Safety, 4040 Chestnut St. There are additional classes held in October and November.

For more information, contact Penn Police Officer Stacey Livingston at 215-898-3590 or email slivingston@publicsafety.upenn.edu.