Tuesday, September 24, 2013 l TechNews

 

Introducing ‘Tales From the Victory Lap'

Miriam Schmid &
William Syvongsa
TECHNEWS WRITERS

“Shouldn’t you have graduated
already?” is a question that fifth year students
get asked quite frequently. But the questions
that should be asked look something like this:
“If you could change one thing about your
undergraduate career, what would it be?”
Or, “What has been your most challenging
experience at IIT?” Upperclassmen provide
insight and perspective to the undergraduate
experience, and fifth year students have an extra
year to develop this insight.

Many of you may have heard our
names on campus or worked with us in
some capacity. We are William Syvongsa, a
Biomedical Engineering and Engineering
Management double major, and Miriam
Schmid, a Biochemistry and Math and Science
Education major. Between the two of us, we have
served as officers in Union Board, Alternative
Spring Break, Greek Council, Greek chapters,
Student Government Association, and Ultimate
Frisbee. In addition, we have worked in the
Office of Campus Life, Residence and Greek
Life, Academic Resource Center, Oflice of the
Dean of Students, Galvin Library, IIT Dining
Services, and Mies Society. Through all of these

experiences, we have grown as individuals
and leaders and hope to be able to share this
perspective.

We are far from unique. We were
lucky to learn and be inspired by graduating
upperclassmen, which shared their stories
and experiences with two first year students
who were looking for direction for their time
at Illinois Institute Technology. Ifyou were to
ask any upperclassmen, you would find that
he or she has had similar opportunities to be
involved at IIT and has a unique perspective to
offer. Unfortunately, this perspective and insight
is often overlooked and undervalued by both
students and staff. As these students graduate,

this experience and knowledge of the past is lost.

Before we graduate in May we hope to
share some of our experiences and perspective
through our opinion pieces that will be featured
weekly in TechNews. Subsequent articles will
feature a single topic that both authors will share
their unique perspectives. Guest writers may
make appearances fi'om time to time bringing
fresh perspectives and topics to “Tales from the
Victory Lap.”

Next week, we will discuss what it
means to be a member of a minority group
on campus, specifically being a woman and
being a member of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual
Transgender (GLBT) community.

 

Campus self defense workshops useful in Windy City

Shireen Gul
COPY EDITOR

The Windy City is a dream place for
many people as it is the third most famous city
of the USA. Like any big city, there are many
concerns especially when you are a female
and away from your family for the first time.
Everyone will advise you that no matter what,
you should not go out alone especially when
you live on the South Side. My father was really
worried when I decided to move to Chicago.
However, deep in my heart I was worried too
but I knew that it was my dream and I would
have to live it without fear.

Walking down the street after sunset

. isr‘not a very favorable thing to do here, but
whenéyou are a student who has late classes and

multiple assignments you sometimes do. While
working on them you don’t realize how much
time elapses and by the time you get done it is
already way past sunset. So, now what should
one do in order to stay safe? It’s very simple:
either go back to your place with a group of
people or join a self-defense workshop to learn
how to protect yourself from any ill-fated
incident.

This week IIT offered students a free
self-defense workshop which I was fortunate
to attend. The workshop was led by IMPACT
Chicago. IMPACT Chicago was founded in 1987
and it is a not-for-profit organization which is
governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and
an Administrative Team. They offer women and
girls with an opportunity to learn and practice
prevention, assessment, verbal boundary setting
and physical self-defense skills in simulated

scenarios with a padded attacker.

Molly Norris, who is an instructor at
IMPACT Chicago, conducted the workshop.
Norris is an awesome individual who knew
exactly how to grab her audience’s attention
and teach them the best. It was a 90-minute
workshop where we learned about personal
safety tools, such as awareness, safe distance, and
verbal and physical self-defense tools. We were
told how we canlstay protected even without
carrying any weapon because carrying weapon
can be dangerous for ourselves.

One thing that I learned at the
workshop and really want to share with our
dear reader is that if ever you are caught up
in such a situation where you feel you are in
danger, the best weapon to use is your voice.
You should not be scared because the attacker
will be more confident if he knows that you are

scared. You look into their eyes and tell them
politely, “Please stay away.” If they refuse, you
then raise your voice and tell them, “Stay away,”
and if they still refuse, you shout out even louder,
“Stay away now!” By doing this simple thing you
will give them a signal that you are not a coward
and not an easy prey. Apart from this you never
know if someone might hear your voice and
show up to help.

After attending only one workshop
I now feel more protected and walking down
the street is not that scary as it used to be. I
wonder if I ever get a chance to attend any of
their programs, how brave and protected I will
feel.

You can like them on Facebook:
IMPACT Chicago or visit their website for
further information http://www.impactchicago.
org