By Ben Sale | For George Mason Athletics

Student-athletes take numerous courses during their time in college. The wealth of knowledge they absorb varies across a wide range of subjects.

For George Mason's female track and field athletes, though, one of maybe the most important classes they'll take came over the winter break and isn't offered in their normal curriculum. 

In a George Mason Field House classroom recently, these women were schooled in one of life's most important lessons - safety. 

Women, unfortunately, are often the targets of assault. This course was taught by members of the Fairfax County Police Department and aimed to ensure young women are prepared for situations they hope to never experience in their lives.

Instructed by Officer Sabrina Ruck, a 20-year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department, and her partner Meg Hawkins, a former Mason women's soccer player and 14-year veteran of the police department, it looked to give women the tools needed for any situation. 

"I hope they have a different sense of awareness in their surroundings," Ruck said. "And just that confidence that if you were ever able to be confronted with an attack, they feel prepared to defend themselves."

Ruck has always had a passion for teaching self-defense. Despite the budget cuts that ended Fairfax counties' sexual assault program called Sexual Assault Freedom Empowered or S.A.F.E, she still dedicates her time to keep women on track for safety. 

"I've always had a passion for self-defense, and this is something I wish I had learned when I was in college," she said. "So, when I had the opportunity to go to a school myself and become an instructor, I jumped at the chance to do that."  

This is the first year that the track and field program utilized this program. It appears to have been highly successful.

Two sophomores on the track and field team, Patrice Mitchell and Kiana Stallworth, felt it was a great success, and thought the topic was of great importance.

"I think its super important for women to know self-defense because there are just too many situations today where things happen," Mitchell said. "We freeze and don't know what to do, having not just women but children, people from all backgrounds know these important things, it could help them out at some point or anothe."

Stallworth echoed a similar sentiment: "And with the 'Me Too' movement going on now, it is essential for everybody to know how to defend themselves, so these situations do not happen especially on college campuses." 

Assistant track and field coach Tony Mihalich spearheaded bringing the program to the Field House as he realized how essential a self-defense could be to his student-athletes.

"I thought it was important," Mihalich said. "It started back in the fall. There were a couple of college athletes that were met with a tragic end. There was a golfer from Iowa State and there was a runner from the University of Iowa. They went out the door and didn't come back. So, I wanted to make sure that when these student-athletes come here (to George Mason), they are one of us and we're not going to let them down."

The seminar utilized two important parts, but its main theme was "survive and escape." The first part was a classroom instruction where the athletes learned methods and tools they can use to protect themselves. They learned how to be mentally prepared and reduce the risk of becoming a victim. This included going places in groups, being aware of their surroundings, using the weapons they have on them such as keys, pens and pencils. They also learned how their voices could help in a dangerous situation.

While the first part of the course focused on methods women can use to deter attackers, the second part allowed them to practice these skills. These skills included learning punches, kicks, elbow jabs and various other methods of defending themselves from an attacker. One thing Ruck spoke of was using one voice while using one's fists. The girls were all taught to scream, "NO!" while they struck the attacker. This is done to allow others nearby to hear the attack going on. 

At the end of the classroom portion, Ruck recalled a story that happened to her a few years back. She had just gotten off-duty and was pulled over by what turned out to be a police impersonator. When the officer walked up, he demanded her license and registration. He said he was "undercover off-duty." This phrasing was a bit suspicious. Ruck asked for his police identification. Instead of presenting the ID, the would-be officer ran back to his car and sped off fearing his cover had been blown.

While still trying to convince herself that he was a legitimate officer, she went with her gut and chased after him. She eventually was able to track him down. The moral of this story, she said, was how to be a good witness. By being able to get a good look at him and his license plate, she was able to track him down. This tool was yet another critical component of the seminar. The class proved to be beneficial for everyone to learn defense mechanisms and better prepare themselves in case they are approached by a would-be attacker.