LAPD Officer and Iraqi war veteran Cliff Byerly talks about the "Fight Like A Girl" instructor certification!

See what this Law Enforcement and Military trainer has to say about the program!

Steve Kardian keynotes the Washington State University "Campus Safety Banquet."

The Daily Evergreen

"ASWSU stresses campus safety"

The second annual banquet was meant to inform students about safety programs on campus.

Sarah Linker
The Daily Evergreen
Published: 11/02/2009

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A woman entering her freshman year of college is at the most vulnerable time in her life for sexual assault, Steve Kardian said Friday evening.

Kardian, a former police officer and nationally recognized self-defense expert, was the keynote speaker at the second annual ASWSU Students for Safety Banquet.

He discussed ways students can protect themselves from sexual assaults, date rape drugs, school shootings and stalkers. He said it is important to have a plan and think about what could go wrong in dangerous situations before they happen.

ASWSU President Derick En’Wezoh said many of the topics Kardian touched on are extremely relevant to WSU students.

“We have a very strong social atmosphere here, and sometimes I do feel like students, both men and women, can become really trusting of their environment and be oblivious to some of the warning signals,” he said. “It’s important to be aware of your environment and be aware of what’s going on around you.” Joshua Hart, ASWSU director of student affairs, said the goal of the banquet was to promote safety programs that are available for students.

For example, ASWSU provides grants for self-defense and personal safety courses offered by University Recreation. It is also working with local and university officials to improve campus lighting.

SafeWalk, a volunteer-based weekend service that provides escorts to students on campus and College Hill, is another ASWSU safety program. Hart said the list of SafeWalk volunteers is expanding. In the past week, roughly 50 people joined.

Banquet attendees were also asked to fill out comment cards with suggestions for new safety program ideas.

“We realize that safety is not a luxury — it’s a right,” Hart said. “And so we need to treat it that way. We need to continue to have programs like this that are going on around campus to promote safety.” Hart said he is not yet sure how much money the banquet raised. Those numbers will be available later this week. He estimated that 260 people came.

“I don’t anticipate making a lot,” he said. “If we break even and make a little bit, I’ll be happy. It’s really more about informing the students.” Erin Thomson, a senior humanities major, attended the banquet with members of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. She found the event informative and worthwhile, she said.

“I think there was definitely information we will take back to our chapter and share,” she said. “These are really serious issues, so I’m glad we got to have some exposure to them, and the speaker was really cool. I was impressed.” Thomson said she believes sexual assaults are the most important issue on our campus in regards to safety.

“Sexual assault is always a big issue because it often goes un-talked about,” she said. “I think it’s something we need to talk about a lot more.” Hart also believes that safety issues such as assault need to be addressed frequently on campus.

“We live in a community really that is pretty darn safe,” he said. “If we pull into that apathetic idea that we are not safe, and we don’t need to worry, someone is going to take advantage of us.”
Link: http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/29969

Jennifer Ewing, the mother of three, was brutally raped and murdered along the Silver Comet Trail in Atlanta, Georgia. On May 22, 2009 Michael Ledford received the death sentence by a Georgia court for Jenny’s murder. For more than 2 ½ years Jenny’s family had to remain quiet until the case was disposed of. Now with the case disposed of and the predator receiving the death sentence the family has closure and can work to keep Jenny’s spirit alive. Jenny’s sister, Paige Slocumb, traveled from Macon, Georgia to Westchester New York to learn Steve Kardian’s “Fight Like A Girl” program. Paige and her family have created www.safealone.org to promote safety while in public places. After the two day “Fight Like A Girl” and “Girls On Guard” certification Paige talked to safety expert Steve Kardian about Jenny, her murder, the system and what she intends to do with her new found skills.

A Woman's Warrior

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE Nurse) Karen Carroll doing wonderful things worldwide. Karen and I have worked sexual assault cases together and we serve on the Victims Assistance Board of Advisors for Westchester County, NY.

Fifteen years ago, Karen D. Carroll, RN, SANE-A, NY-SAFE, was raped by her then-husband and had to show an ED physician how to collect the evidence.

Today, the Yonkers, NY, resident is associate director of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) at North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH), providing trained forensic examiners to NCBH and two other public hospitals in the Bronx: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center and Jacobi Medical Center, all part of the New York City Health and Hospital Corp. SART sees approximately 200 cases a year.

SARTs combine medicine, law enforcement and victim advocacy to ensure sexual assault victims receive appropriate medical attention, evidentiary examinations, emotional support and referral information.

Click here for the full article!
http://nursing.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Content/Editorial.aspx?CC=207483

Are College Students Too Trusting? A must see for parents and students alike!

In 2004 I did this piece with the investigative unit of Inside Edition. This has never been done before in the United States. The results amazed all of us!

 

To book Steve at your College or University contact CAMPUSPEAK AT (303) 745-5545 http://www.campuspeak.com/speakers/kardian/

Defend University's Top 10 Back-To-School Safety Tips

1. Rely on the gift of intuition, trust your instincts. If you feel that the guy is a creep, he likely is. If you feel that you are in danger, you likely are.

2. Go to people, be with people. Avoid being isolated or alone with strangers.

3. When you arrive on campus familiarize or reacquaint yourself with the campus, housing and your surroundings.

4. Have a plan. Explore the “what ifs?” What do I do if someone tries to break into my dorm, someone is following me, someone is stalking me... Making decisions while under stress or duress is the worst time to make any type of decision.

5. Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are all wonderful social networking sources but they remain a stalkers dream. The college campus is a closed community and social networking sites are a tool the stalker uses to accomplish his/her desire.

6. The buddy system. Go out as a group, go home as a group. If you see something is out of place address it or bring it to the attention of someone in authority.

7. Don’t accept a drink from someone you don't trust your life with. Watch the drink being poured or served and remember that the bartender and predator sometimes act in concert.

8. If you see something, say something. If you observe a friend doing something odd or acting out of character don't be afraid to intervene.

9. Create and share a secret signal with your friends for when they should intervene if you’re in an uncomfortable situation.

10. Do your best not to go out alone at night. If you do walk with a roommate or someone you trust. Avoid the ATM and jogging during darkness. Don’t put music headphones in both ears so that you can be more aware of your surroundings.

To book Steve at your College or University contact CAMPUSPEAK AT (303) 745-5545 http://www.campuspeak.com/speakers/kardian/

From California to Cape Cod, Massachusetts here are the new Fight Like A Girl instructors.

Defend University, The Women's Self Defense Institute and the Fight Like a Girl Program have come of age. Brad Parker, Ray Butcher and I will continue to empower women of all ages, "world wide", with the knowledge and information that will keep them safe!

The next east coast Instructor certification will be held on September 19th & 20th, 2009.