Resisting Aggression with Defense (R.A.D.) addresses violence as a sexist phenomena. Social constructs of masculinity promotes the notion that all men know "to fight" and that they are never the victims of violence. Violence can affect and victimize all genders. Statistics and recorded data indicate that a high percentage of reported aggressive or violent instances involve men in some capacity. This program's directive is the development of realistic and responsible self defense options for men that resist and deescalate confrontational situations.

The Rape Aggression Defense system (R.A.D.) is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. The system is a comprehensive course for women that begins with risk awareness, prevention, reduction, and avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. It is dedicated to teaching women defensive concepts and techniques against various types of assault, by utilizing easy, effective and proven self-defense/martial arts tactics. The RAD system of realistic defense provides women with the knowledge to make an educated decision about resistance.

Debated to be the most superbly engineered sword in the world, the katana spans into the modern day from deep roots in Japanese culture. Popularly recognized as the icon of samurai warriors as their primary weapon on the historical battlefield, Iaido reinvents the use of the sword as a means of practicing precision, refinement and manners inspired by more civilized settings. As a form-based martial art, Iaido is normally practiced without the presence of a physical opponent.

Students will review topics on handling equipment, maintenance and the practice of Shichido. Introduced at the intermediate level are two-arrow forms called Hitote and Tsukubai. Both will be practiced at short range and then gradually at a more distant target. Students will learn the difference in equipment required for long-range shooting and how to synchronize with other archers in their practice. In order to harmonize with others, surrendering the ego becomes a necessary objective. Being too fast or too slow during this process of the form is an indication of undesired individuality.

Archery was historically considered the most elite of samurai military forms. To be an archer meant you were beholden to defending your lord's stronghold from distant threats. After the era of great civil war had ended in Japan by 1600 A.D., samurai warriors were at a loss for a way to keep current their military tactics. The need to repurpose the paradigm of their fighting and destructive methods caused the samurai to shift towards scholastic pursuits, religion and philosophy. Students will encounter a standing form of Zen meditation or Ritsuzen, by way of the Japanese bow.

Students of all fitness levels will experience aerobic, plyometric training in a full introduction of strikes and kicks. Proper technique on how to safely align hands, wrists, feet and ankles for absorbing impact while hitting and holding a punching bag will be studied. (((This is an advancing course - continuing students will progress to more complicated material each semester.))) NOTE: This course is NOT a formal method of practical combat, violence prevention training nor a means to practice free form sparring.

Shotokan Karate began as an unarmed form of self-defense for civilians on the island archipelago off the southwestern coast of Japan: present day Okinawa. During its forceful annexation to the main island of Japan in the late 19th century, any individual with a working knowledge of hand-to-hand combat was considered a threat to the Japanese military incursions. Training and practice of karate had to be held in secret and late at night. No previous experience in any martial art is required for this class.

This class will explore issues of social justice through theatre and examine the intersection of art and activism. We will explore how to direct theatrical experiences that open up complex discussions on race, class, gender, sexual orientation, among other markers of identity and social location. Through multiple and varied dramatic structures, including but not exclusively narrative and traditional plays, we will create ways of engaging an audience into larger conversations that affect our world.

This course will focus on American presidential elections and try to understand not only their impact on people living at the time, but how our understanding of them continues to shape our present politics. We will look at contemporary and historical interpretations of elections in scholarship, journalism, film, fiction, and other media. We will pay special attention to the treatment of historically significant elections and to coverage of the 2016 elections. Students will be expected to produce a substantial portfolio of essays and journalism.

This course can be summed up as: everything you wanted to know about aliens but were afraid to ask (a scientist). The course will explore the topic of extraterrestrial intelligence from the perspective of several different fields. We will look at the history of UFO sighting claims and analyze the reliability of eye-witness testimonies, explore psychological & sociological reasons behind claims of alien abductions, and analyze the current state of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) from the perspective of astronomy and planetary research.