Organizations that teach sexual-assault safety have seen an increase in student registration for their programs in the Fall term rather than in Spring.
In both Fall 2013 and Fall 2014, more students participated in UPD’s Rape Aggression Defense class than in the Spring terms of those school years, according to R.A.D. program coordinator Christina Lamb’s report.
In Fall 2013, 172 students were registered for R.A.D., 155 for Spring 2014, 254 for Fall 2014 and 127 for Spring 2015, according to UPD’s R.A.D. report.
In Fall semesters, freshmen are asking more questions about how to stay safe on campus because it’s a new environment for them, said Wayne Clark, UPD officer in the community service division and public information officer.
Last Fall, Clark said more students signed up for self-defense classes because of the string of on-campus assaults.
"Of course last year, with the guy running around trying to attack women, that definitely got people’s attention," he said.
And this Fall, students like UF criminology and anthropology senior Lesley Jackson decided to participate in a self-defense class after receiving several UF Alerts.
Jackson, 21, is a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority, which hosted a co-ed self-defense class with Sigma Beta Rho fraternity.
She said she was working with a sorority chapter member when she received UF armed-robbery alerts.
"They were encroaching on where we were working by ourselves, and we just realized that we need to be protected," Jackson said.
She said the sorority contacted UPD and asked them to help with the sorority’s "What Would You Do?" self-defense class, which was held Wednesday.
This month, GatorWell will host the Yes Means Yes seminar for the third time at UF. It promotes discussions on consent and positive sexuality, said Rita Lawrence, interpersonal violence prevention coordinator for GatorWell and student counselor for Yes Means Yes.
The Yes Means Yes seminar aims to change the conversation on consent to focus on the word "yes," rather than the lack of "no," she said.
The program begins Sept. 29 and will meet every Tuesday until Oct. 27 in Graham Gallery.
UF animal sciences freshman Sofia Calderon, 18, said she signed up for R.A.D classes after it was advertised during her Preview session. Her parents encouraged her to do so, she said.
"It was a mutual agreement that it would be best for me to sign up," Calderon said.
For the second Fall, Gator Wesley Foundation hosted SCREAM Theater, which stands for Students Challenging Realities and Educating Against Myths, on Sunday at the Gator Wesley Foundation, said Narcie Jeter, Gator Wesley Foundation executive director and campus pastor.
The foundation will continue to host the event during future Fall terms, she said.
"Freshmen girls are the most vulnerable between now and Thanksgiving break," Jeter said.
