Kappa Delta hosted David Heineman, a martial arts and self-defense teacher from Chicago, Ill., in the Union University chapel on Nov. 13 for a self-defense class open to all female students on campus. The event included Heineman’s personal testimony, red flags, tips on self-defense, how to help others in a situation and stories about the reality of sexual assault and rape.
With a background in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and boxing, Heineman provided valuable tips and information about how to defend oneself against an attacker. Topics such as what a sexual predator is looking for, what to do if one is sexually harassed or raped and how to fight back were among the few touched on by Heineman in the class.
Heineman began his talk by sharing his first experience with the realities of sexual assault when he was in high school. Having been asked to help with a women’s self-defense course, Heineman walked into the class and, instantly, one woman broke down crying. Heineman later found out that he reminded her of her attacker.
After the incident, Heineman said he vowed to raise awareness and help survivors. Since then, he has spoken at hundreds of campuses around the United States and has created a self-defense course for young adults heading to college or already in college.
“I think this is such a relevant issue right now that’s not being talked about enough on college campuses,” said Payton Scott, vice president-operations for Kappa Delta. “[Heineman] knew a lot about the legal processes behind reporting sexual assault, which I knew nothing about until last night. He also knew a lot from experience through his work with survivors and what they go through, which is so important for people trying to support their friends who have gone through an assault.”
Heineman focuses his training and classes on victims of rape and sexual assault, domestic violence and bullying, and when Heineman travels to teach at a university or college campus, he does so free of charge. He explained that once there is a price tag on the lesson, less campuses are willing to host, and he wants every campus to have the opportunity to learn about the impact of sexual assault, its prevalence in the United States, especially on college campuses, and how men and women can defend themselves.
“I think the event was a great success,” said Hannah Graves, president of Kappa Delta. “The speaker talked about basic self-defense tactics, but more importantly, he educated women on the realities of sexual assault in our world today. It was very eye-opening to hear him speak so openly about this topic, especially within the realm of college campuses.”
“As for the student body as whole, never underestimate the impact you have on a life, both good and bad,” said Heineman. “What may seem like something small to you could mean the world to someone else. This is the most inhuman crime out there, and it leaves the survivors at an extremely vulnerable state. My motto for tours has always been, ‘Be The Change.’ To all of you at Union University, be the change.”
