Protecting Me, Myself and I on Sept. 16 showed women various ways to protect themselves.

UCAPD Officer Nicole Sumner-Wheeler led the lesson. 

This was Women of Excellence’s third time hosting the course and it was exclusive to women, differing from previous years where it was open to everyone.

Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Diversity and Community Angela Jackson said that last year there were 42 attendees, and this year there were 27 people.

Sumner-Wheeler went through a slideshow that showed self-defense topics, such as: awareness of surroundings, items that can be used as weapons, date rape drugs and self-defense moves to use in case of attack. 

One recommendation Sumner-Wheeler gave was to not wear headphones at night because it can prevent one from hearing if a person is approaching.

Sumner-Wheeler also demonstrated a way to hold keys between each finger which can be used to injure an attacker.

Sumner-Wheeler then went over what drugs tend to be used in a drugging situation, and how to prevent them. 

She said to never leave a drink unattended at a party, not even with a friend.

Sumner-Wheeler demonstrated how to do 10 moves in the span of the lesson.

These moves included the front chokehold, the rear chokehold, the one arm chokehold, the throat punch, the eye gouge, the brachial stun, elbow strikes, rear elbow strike, the ear-pop-groin strike and the proper punch.

Sumner-Wheeler demonstrated the self-defense moves with Women of Excellence’s Chaplain Jada Simpson.

After they were demonstrated, Sumner-Wheeler had those in attendance line up and practice these moves on her.

When demonstrating the rear chokehold move, Sumner-Wheeler said that it doesn’t matter how much one weighs, with this move, anyone will do some damage in some way shape or form.

The last thing Sumner-Wheeler demonstrated was how to create a punch. Then, she held a kick pad and had everyone line up to practice their punches.

UCA doesn’t offer a course to teach these self-defense tactics to students, so it’s up to the RSOs to host these events.

Women of Excellence’s Membership Chair Jaden Fleaks said, “We have our first-year seminar. I think we can integrate self-defense into that or maybe have some sort of event during welcome week or SOAR.”