With the frequent crime alerts and increasing fear on campus, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity organized a self-defense class for students Tuesday night.

Those present at the Combat Room of the Activity and Recreation Center had the opportunity to increase their knowledge of self-defense.

The workshop, titled “Too Tuff on Crime Alerts,” was primarily geared toward those previously unexposed to martial arts and focused mainly on self-awareness, power of voice and basic hand and foot techniques.

Lonzyo Holcomb, senior in Business and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was one of the organizers of the event.

“We thought it was important to get students out and give them tips and tools on how to protect themselves if they were attacked on campus while they are out late or studying,” Holcomb said.

The class was led by Candice Solomon-Strutz, who also teaches Taekwondo at the ARC, as well as works as an IT professional for the University and is a graduate of the school as well.

Solomon-Strutz emphasized the need for self awareness, saying that it comprises about 90 percent self-defense.

“When you are walking on campus, you need to think about if the place you are walking in is too dark, is it well-lit, is this an area I should be in?” she said. “Just taking those things into consideration is very important regardless of how old you are. If something happens, you want to be aware of what happened so it is easier to report it.”

She also emphasized the need for strong vocalization in the face of danger and had groups yell out words such as “help” and “stop” to show how it is appropriate to attract attention to yourself when faced with an attack, to receive help and not be mistaken as intoxicated.

Solomon-Strutz then moved on to show simple hand and foot techniques and emphasized the need to practice these self-defense moves.

“It is something you need to practice in order for it to feel natural. When you are in a certain situation, you don’t want to think about the correct way of turning your arm,” she said. “If you are in a dangerous situation, and you have to think that much, it is not going to work.”

The students present shared their feeling of not wanting to end up in the next Crime Alert and a desire to be able to protect themselves if a dangerous situation ever were to arise.

“I just want to be able to defend myself because crime is a problem on campus. We get Crime Alert e-mails all the time,” said Ashley White, freshman in LAS.

Courtney Blissitt, freshman in LAS, said she agreed.

“The workshop is informative and beneficial because of all that is happening on campus, so it is a very good thing that the Alphas put (it) together,” she said.

Solomon-Strutz stressed the need for this education as well as knowing that a violent attack can happen to anyone, so it is important to always be prepared.

“People say they will not put themselves in that situation, but sometimes it is out of your control,” she said.