Female SIUC students and other local women who are concerned about their safety can learn sexual assault prevention, protection and escape techniques free of charge next week.

Carbondale Community Resource Officer Don Priddy said the personal safety class for women meets July 12, 13 and 19 from 6-9 p.m. each night. The class, which is open to women 13 and over, is free of charge.

Priddy said the first night of class is a lecture covering a variety of tips about sexual assault prevention and protection. He said the following two classes are workshops that focus on escape techniques.

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Everything we teach is designed for escape, Priddy said.

Priddy said the workshops teach women how to inflict enough pain on attackers forcing them to cease what they are doing and allow the victim to escape.

Priddy said class organizers would prefer anyone under 17 to be accompanied by a parent. However, a person can still attend the class without a parent if a release form is signed.

We have had quite a few mothers and daughters who have come together, Priddy said.

Carbondale City Clerk, Janet Vaught said she attended one of the classes with her daughter Patty, who was 13 at the time. Vaught said she recommends that mothers and daughters take the class together, because the class has given her the security of knowing her daughter has the ability to handle potentially dangerous situations.

It makes me feel a little bit better, because I think she could survive, Vaught said.