Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Mike Brohard
Female student-athletes instructed in safety strategies
8/14/2019 5:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, RamWire
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The room started out quiet, making it clear the students weren't sure how to react to Ashleigh Rose, a corporal with the Colorado State University police department.
Addressing 16 female student-athletes and six female staff members, Rose came at them direct, with humor and a ton of energy. All of them stood back, eyes trained on her, not knowing exactly what was coming next.
Rose was there to instruct the Realistic Safety Strategies class, set up for the group by CSU athletic academic coordinator Alex Sommer, and most groups she teaches are the same. The opening mood is one of curiosity, but Rose brings them in closer, makes them part of her teaching. Her style is not to change the students in any way, just to help them be aware of their surrounds, take an active role in their safety and give them tips on how to defend themselves, should the need arise.
"Because I want them to understand they are people, they need to be comfortable in their skin," said Rose, who will meet with any interested gender group of at least five members. "So many self-defense classes are about changing who you are. That's not what this is about. I want you to be who you are, just with a little more empowerment. It frustrates me as a female that you need to change this, you need to change your hair. I don't know on the men's side if they get that as young, but that's what our society is about is people. We want empowerment in each other and strength within ourselves. It's not about what we wear, it's about who we are."
The curious looks on the faces surrounding her are rather common as Rose gets her message started, but engagement amplifies when he gets the group to start yelling "No" in an authoritative fashion.
For the remainder of the 2-hour session, she has their full attention and participation.
"I mean, you read stuff and you see stuff all over, but when it comes time to putting yourself in a situation or a scenario, you need to know what to do, and I think this class was very beneficial for that," said freshman women's basketball player Alexis Eberhardt. "I think it's very important for females to know what to do if you're in that situation, and I thought this class prepared ourselves for that. I thought it was awesome, a great experience."
Every university in the country wants to be a safe haven for their students, and Sommer wants to do her part in making that as much of a reality for the CSU athletes she serves, also setting up classes with the health network and the women's gender and advocacy group.
"You don't just check boxes. It's a continued education, it's making sure we're always learning, always empowering our women," Sommer said. "It's the reality of society too. It's not the woman's fault, but it's also knowing how to protect and empower yourself. Having these officers here was everything. Also, their faces, being able to recognize them on campus and having a familiar face to call if anything were to happen or just to say hello. I think that's making campus partners more visible for our student-athletes, and that's a great goal for us."
Rose, assisted by fellow officer D Allen, educated the young women on how to be more aware of their surroundings, assuring them it was OK to ask someone to step back or even stay away and how to avoid unsafe situations.
Naturally, she taught them how to defend themselves, what body parts deliver the most punishment, what areas they should target and the proper technique.
Most important, for each woman in attendance to understand her self-worth and that she should fight to the end to protect herself. As the time passed, freshman soccer player Kaitlyn Abrams became more animated and ready to participate, especially when it came time to delivering a knee blow.
"It was just so fun to learn how to defend ourselves, and our team hyped each other up a lot," Abrams said. "It also helped us take out their anger. I kinda understand now why guys fight. It's a stress relief. It's fun to learn how to do it the right way, and I want to be able to protect myself.
"Every time I go into class or a different room, I'm always looking for different exits. That's something my dad has always taught me. You worry about it, but you always try to be safe, and I always have my teammates around me."
For Rose, these sessions serve two purposes. She wants the students she's sworn to protect to be able to fend off unwanted advances, or, better yet, prevent them. It also gives them a chance to get to know her as more than just an officer on campus. Both she and Allen are now familiar faces, people she stressed they can come up and just chat with or sit down and have a cup of coffee.
An additional safety function of the university is offered through the CSU police department, SafeWalk, where students can call (970) 491-1155 seven days a week from dawn until dusk if they feel they need a safe escort on campus. The service extends a 1-mile radius, including the university's satellite campuses.
"I absolutely love it. That's why we're CSU police officers. I love interacting with all of our students. Us cops, were one of you, we are part of you," Rose said. "We don't want to be separate from the rest of them."
While members of the soccer and women's basketball team were present, the presentation from Rose is available by appointment, and softball coach Jen Fisher has had her athletes take part, and swimming coach Christopher Woodard is already in the planning stages for his team.
Eberhardt admitted she's one of the folks Rose made Exhibit A -- out and about, but paying more attention to her phone than her surroundings. That, she said, will change, and her walks will come with more of a purpose.
Abrams joked she's ready for a fight now. In all seriousness, she hopes to never find herself in a bad situation, but she does feel more confident with classes around the corner.
"I'm alert, but I'm also always talking, so it was a wake-up call to always be looking around,' she said "There are normal things, like buses driving by and bikes around campus. Now I'll definitely be more alert.
"I would definitely use these things. I don't want to break my hand, and now I know how to do them."
Addressing 16 female student-athletes and six female staff members, Rose came at them direct, with humor and a ton of energy. All of them stood back, eyes trained on her, not knowing exactly what was coming next.
Rose was there to instruct the Realistic Safety Strategies class, set up for the group by CSU athletic academic coordinator Alex Sommer, and most groups she teaches are the same. The opening mood is one of curiosity, but Rose brings them in closer, makes them part of her teaching. Her style is not to change the students in any way, just to help them be aware of their surrounds, take an active role in their safety and give them tips on how to defend themselves, should the need arise.
"Because I want them to understand they are people, they need to be comfortable in their skin," said Rose, who will meet with any interested gender group of at least five members. "So many self-defense classes are about changing who you are. That's not what this is about. I want you to be who you are, just with a little more empowerment. It frustrates me as a female that you need to change this, you need to change your hair. I don't know on the men's side if they get that as young, but that's what our society is about is people. We want empowerment in each other and strength within ourselves. It's not about what we wear, it's about who we are."
The curious looks on the faces surrounding her are rather common as Rose gets her message started, but engagement amplifies when he gets the group to start yelling "No" in an authoritative fashion.
For the remainder of the 2-hour session, she has their full attention and participation.
"I mean, you read stuff and you see stuff all over, but when it comes time to putting yourself in a situation or a scenario, you need to know what to do, and I think this class was very beneficial for that," said freshman women's basketball player Alexis Eberhardt. "I think it's very important for females to know what to do if you're in that situation, and I thought this class prepared ourselves for that. I thought it was awesome, a great experience."
Every university in the country wants to be a safe haven for their students, and Sommer wants to do her part in making that as much of a reality for the CSU athletes she serves, also setting up classes with the health network and the women's gender and advocacy group.
"You don't just check boxes. It's a continued education, it's making sure we're always learning, always empowering our women," Sommer said. "It's the reality of society too. It's not the woman's fault, but it's also knowing how to protect and empower yourself. Having these officers here was everything. Also, their faces, being able to recognize them on campus and having a familiar face to call if anything were to happen or just to say hello. I think that's making campus partners more visible for our student-athletes, and that's a great goal for us."
Rose, assisted by fellow officer D Allen, educated the young women on how to be more aware of their surroundings, assuring them it was OK to ask someone to step back or even stay away and how to avoid unsafe situations.
Naturally, she taught them how to defend themselves, what body parts deliver the most punishment, what areas they should target and the proper technique.
Most important, for each woman in attendance to understand her self-worth and that she should fight to the end to protect herself. As the time passed, freshman soccer player Kaitlyn Abrams became more animated and ready to participate, especially when it came time to delivering a knee blow.
"It was just so fun to learn how to defend ourselves, and our team hyped each other up a lot," Abrams said. "It also helped us take out their anger. I kinda understand now why guys fight. It's a stress relief. It's fun to learn how to do it the right way, and I want to be able to protect myself.
"Every time I go into class or a different room, I'm always looking for different exits. That's something my dad has always taught me. You worry about it, but you always try to be safe, and I always have my teammates around me."
For Rose, these sessions serve two purposes. She wants the students she's sworn to protect to be able to fend off unwanted advances, or, better yet, prevent them. It also gives them a chance to get to know her as more than just an officer on campus. Both she and Allen are now familiar faces, people she stressed they can come up and just chat with or sit down and have a cup of coffee.
An additional safety function of the university is offered through the CSU police department, SafeWalk, where students can call (970) 491-1155 seven days a week from dawn until dusk if they feel they need a safe escort on campus. The service extends a 1-mile radius, including the university's satellite campuses.
"I absolutely love it. That's why we're CSU police officers. I love interacting with all of our students. Us cops, were one of you, we are part of you," Rose said. "We don't want to be separate from the rest of them."
While members of the soccer and women's basketball team were present, the presentation from Rose is available by appointment, and softball coach Jen Fisher has had her athletes take part, and swimming coach Christopher Woodard is already in the planning stages for his team.
Eberhardt admitted she's one of the folks Rose made Exhibit A -- out and about, but paying more attention to her phone than her surroundings. That, she said, will change, and her walks will come with more of a purpose.
Abrams joked she's ready for a fight now. In all seriousness, she hopes to never find herself in a bad situation, but she does feel more confident with classes around the corner.
"I'm alert, but I'm also always talking, so it was a wake-up call to always be looking around,' she said "There are normal things, like buses driving by and bikes around campus. Now I'll definitely be more alert.
"I would definitely use these things. I don't want to break my hand, and now I know how to do them."
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Soccer
G
/ Women's BasketballTuesday, May 13
Wednesday, April 17
Thursday, April 20
Thursday, December 15