The Daily O’Collegian

In 2000, 84 percent of rape victims knew their attacker, said Ed Boese, an officer in the Crime Prevention Unit in Stillwater in his speech Tuesday.

The Off Campus Student Association sponsored the event, “Whistle your Heart Out,” in light of the recent attacks and rapes in Stillwater.

Boese began with a PowerPoint presentation, allowing him to show statistics and figures as he spoke.

Boese focused on keeping aware of your surroundings, using analogies and real life situations he had encountered as a police officer to accentuate the points.

As the D.A.R.E. officer for the Stillwater junior high, Boese is used to giving these presentations, though not as much to those in college. His joking mannerisms brought a sense of ease to the attendees and allowed them to feel more comfortable when asking questions.

Boese noted that in the year 2000, 14 percent of murders were committed by a stranger. He said the same holds true for robbery, rape and other violent crimes.

Due to this, Boese emphasized three rules to help prevent crime.

“If you leave, let someone know where you are going and who you are with,” Boese said. “Know your surroundings when you go someplace and know the people you are with and be picky.”

Although he usually speaks to those in their early teens, these same rules apply for adults, as well.

“I would rather take a really drunk woman to jail then let her go off with a couple of guys she doesn’t know,” Boese said. “At least then I know she’s safe.”

After Boese finished his presentation, Officer Shawn Gibson introduced himself and began his own, focusing more on information around campus that would aid students and visitors.

Gibson explained how the blue emergency phones around campus worked and gave some tips on easy escapes from basic holds. Gibson is the teacher of the self defense courses at the Colvin Center, and was well versed in explaining things in an easy to understand way.

Both lecturers used audience participation to help with understanding, allowing people to see and feel what they talked about. Boese used volunteers to explain how body posturing can be seen as aggressive and how to defuse the situation, while Gibson used the audience to show basic self defense moves.

Both presenters have a great deal of understanding when it comes to self defense and awareness. Both are self defense instructors for their departments.

Boese also teaches the Royal Gracie defense system for rape, a style of self defense employed mostly by women based on the Gracie jiu-jitsu style of martial art. Gibson teaches the RAD system, which stands for Rape Aggression Defense. Both officers can be contacted at their departments and are able to give group instruction upon request.

Marie Basler, faculty adviser for the OCSA, asked a very important question in light of what has been going on in the nation.

“What do you guys think or have to say about safety in the classroom?” Basler said. “This classroom is set up like the one at [Northern Illinois University]. What do you suggest students do?”

The officers agreed in the fact that there is no definitive answer. Boese, however, had an interesting idea.

“If all of the people in the classroom rushed the shooter, there is no way he would have the time to shoot many times,” Boese said. “When you outnumber a shooter 200 to one, the odds are definitely in your favor.”