Pittsburgh KS Sig Eps Sponsor Kemp Foundation Women's Self Defense

Ali-Kemp-Foundation-event-held-Saturday"

Fashion Show Saturday afternoon at Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.

SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN

By NIKKI PATRICK

The Morning Sun

Posted Jan 24, 2010 @ 12:22 AM

PITTSBURG —

Tasers aren’t usually considered to be fashion accessories, but both were featured Saturday in Prom Fashion 2010, held Saturday in Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.
The event was presented by Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority in support of the Ali Kemp Foundation. Following a show of prom finery from Jean Scene, a free self-defense class was offered.
Ali Kemp, 19, was murdered on June 18, 2002, at a Leawood community swimming pool. She fought for her life, and her father, Roger Kemp, reasoned that if she had had some self-defense training, she would have had a better chance of surviving.
The foundation, started by the Kemp family, offers free self-defense classes, and the fashion shows serve as both a fundraiser and as a “lure” to bring in young women.
Kaitlyn Fox and sister Kendra Rouse came up with the idea for the shows. “Ali used to baby-sit us when we were kids,” said Fox, now a Pittsburg State University senior and Tri Sigma president. “We approached the family with the idea, and they approved it. Roger never misses a show.”
The first fashion show was held in 2004 at Blue Valley High School. “There were a lot of hand-made signs in the halls, and we had the show in the school auditorium with 20 audience members,” Fox said. “Now the show is held at the Overland Park Convention Center, and this past year 4,000 people attended.”
Kemp spoke briefly, noting the huge number of lives lost each year to murder. “It is unacceptable that these acts of violence are going on in our society,” he said. “If these classes save one woman’s life, it’s worth it.”
Mandy Riffel, Tri Sig member and fashion show coordinator, said that the Pittsburg show started last year. “I was really excited by the turn-out this year,” she said. “The fashions were wonderful — it really helps that I work at Jean Scene.”
Zachary Baker, PSU ROTC cadet and Sigma Phi Epsilon member, coordinated the self-defense program.
“Last year we had punching and kicking, and I thought this year a classroom setting might be better for the girls, so they could learn how to prevent getting into that setting where an attack might occur,” he said.
Crawford County Deputy Sheriff Mark Rose offered safety tips. “Go out in groups, know how many drinks you’re having and who is giving them to you,” he said. “Never let some guy you don’t know give you a drink.”
He also advised women to park in well-lighted areas, and to always carry their car keys in their hand while walking to their car. “I believe you can feel if something bad is going to happen,” Rose said. “If you feel that, scream and do something to get attention. That could prevent an attack. If somebody does grab you, slash at him with your keys, kick, fight and cuss. Nothing gets attention quicker than cussing.”
Finally, he urged assault victims to get checked at a hospital and notify police. “Whether you pursue charges or not is up to you,” Rose said. “But even if you don’t talk to us, talk to a counselor or a friend. An attack damages not only your body but also your mind. If you don’t deal with it, it will come back and get you.”
After the talk, young women practiced some self-defense moves, and Baker showed his personal taser. “Some people are immune to mace, but nobody’s immune to electricity,” he said.
Baker allowed one of the girls to use the taser on him.
“I was nervous and excited at the same time,” said Shelby Reazin, Altamont, who was a model in the fashion show. “I had always wanted to tase somebody, and it was great to learn some self-defense.”

Copyright 2010 Morning Sun. Some rights reserved

TN Martin Sig Eps & ZTA Train Campus for TAKEdefense

SigEp, ZTA host TAKEdefense mixer
Shyteria Dunlap

The brothers of the Tennessee Kappa chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity along with the sisters of Zeta Tau Alpha hosted a self-defense mixer in the University Center on Wednesday, April 8. The mixer was held in support of one of the fraternity's national philanthropies, TAKEdefense, an organization that trains people, especially women, to protect and defend themselves in dangerous situations.

Richard Tant, of the Health and Human Performance Department and a SigEp, was the instructor for the evening who demonstrated a mixture of moves that could not only cause an attacker to back off, but even save one's life.

"Because of the many assaults that have taken place on college campuses, it becomes imperative to inform students of the importance of self defense in an altercation," said Brian Nelson, SigEp's philanthropy chair.

Tant demonstrated to students how movements such as scratching across the face and into the eyes can cause an attacker to become visibly impaired, a technique called the eye scrape. He even explained how a victim can keep herself breathing while being strangled.

"If a boyfriend becomes belligerent, grab him by his 'love handles' and twist downward," Tant said. "This gesture will not only cause tremendous pain, but gives the victim time to remove herself from the situation."

Tant gave other suggestions such as knowing the situation. He said there are signs to look for to determine whether an attacker plans to rape or rob a victim. He suggested looking in the backseat before getting into a car. He also encouraged women to utilize a 'buddy system'.

"Such a system allows effective communication between friends while out partying," Tant said.

He added that seat belts can become defense tools by using the buckle to strike an attacker.

"Keep your car keys or house keys in your hand when walking because they can be used as tools also to scratch or wound an attacker," Tant said.

Tant offered advice on when to give in to attacker's demands.

"When an attacker asks for money, give it. Even plead for your life. But when your life is directly on the line my personal opinion is to take a risk by using proper defense mechanisms to protect yourself," Tant said.

"Sigma Phi Epsilon plans to have TAKEdefense host a self-defense class at UT Martin next year for all females on campus," Nelson said.
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On the net: http://www.takedefense.org/

SMU Pi Phi's anfd Sig Ep's Teach Self Defense

Pi Phi and Sig Ep unite to save women's lives
Kelsey Jukam, Senior Staff Writer
In 2002 a Kansas State University freshman named Ali Kemp was raped and murdered.

In her memory, and with the aim of saving the lives of others, her parents created The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation (TAKE). The foundation presents self-defense courses at campuses across the country, and on Wednesday, thanks to the collaboration of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Pi Beta Phi, the course will be offered to the women of SMU and the Dallas community at large.

The class will take place at the Highland Park United Methodist Church gym, located at the intersection of Normandy and Hillcrest, on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to all women over the age of 12.

"This is a resource we believe is crucial to the Dallas community rather than for SMU only," sophomore Hampton Gray said. Gray is a member of Sig Ep and is helping to coordinate the event.Ali Kemp's father was a member of the Sig Ep fraternity and the TAKE foundation is one of Sig Ep's philanthropies.

Ali Kemp was a member of Pi Phi, which is one of the reason's Sig Ep approached the sorority to co-sponsor the event. Sig Ep and Pi Phi hosted the first TAKE self-defense program last January.

In addition to working with TAKE to get the program back this fall, Pi Phi has also been raising money for the organization with the Pi Phi Fiesta.Katie Reynolds, Pi Phi Vice President of Communications, says that "every woman" should take the self-defense course to be able to protect themselves if they are ever in a dangerous situation."

Since our whole Chapter has taken the class we can tell you first hand how great it is," Pi Phi Vice President of Philanthropy Ashlee Rivalto said.

Pi Phi and Sig Ep have also been relaying information provided by TAKE to showcase the importance of self-defense knowledge. This information includes statistics which show that one in four women will be sexually or physically assaulted in her lifetime and 20-25 percent of women will be sexually assaulted during their college career.

"Every woman and girl should be able to live their lives without fear by gaining the knowledge of how to protect themselves," Reynolds said.

Pi Phi and Sig Ep plan on making the TAKE self-defense class an annual event."We would love for this to happen every year as we believe that it is invaluable to those who choose to listen," Gray said. For more information about the TAKE self-defense program, visit www.takedefense.org