By KATELYNN BALL, Staff Reporter
It used to be a requirement here at Northwestern that all freshman take a self-defense class to make sure they stay safe on this campus and within the town. It is no longer a requirement but it is still important to the school, specifically the 1is2Many campaign and a freshman, Shelbi Morland. Morland is hosting another self-defense class and seminar on Wednesday October 26th at 8 pm in the Fryer Hall lobby. This is a free event for Fryer Hall girls and anyone else on the campus or community that would like to come.
Morland is a freshman self-defense instructor. She practices kick boxing, Brazilian Jujitsu , Mixed-Martial Arts classes and is a black-belt in karate. She has held several classes as well as attended them. She has helped with classes since she was 10 years old. She has held seminars and helped several coaches over the years. The seminars she has held are focused on women to teach them how to look for predators and what to do if they are ever in a situation. “I teach them how to avoid situations like if you walk out of Walmart and you see people next to your car or if you see people starring at you, you should go back into the store and watch them” Morland said.
Not only does she teach tactics to avoid situations but also how to defend yourself if your ever in situation that you may be kidnapped and how to safely get away. “I decided to start these classes especially since the clowns have freaked people out it seems like a really good opportunity even though it may seem like a joke, if one of the clowns tried to hurt someone it gets you prepared for that or know how to avoid that or defend yourself if it ever happens” Morland said.
In the beginning if the class you should expect to have a seminar like environment where Morland talks you through real life situations and how to handle it including rape and domestic abuse and then after, the class will begin to learn some of the tactics or you can just observe. “I talk to you about how to get away from those things without using physical force and if something ever does happen I teach you how to protect yourself if anyone is ever trying to take you or do something to you that you do not want to happen” Morland Said.
In addition to these classes, Morland is a competitor for the Miss Northwestern Pageant this year on October 30th. “This is actually part of my platform and I am partnered through 1is2Many here on campus” Morland Said. Her talent for Miss Northwestern is a nunchuck routine that correlates with the self-defense moves. “Some of the things I show in my self- defense classes, you will see, throughout my routine. It has kicks, it has punches and stuff like that” Morland said.
If you have any questions about the classes please contact Shelbi Morland 580-334-0760 or by email at sjmorland79@rangers.nwosu.edu