MONTGOMERY— Female students at Troy University will have a chance to learn how to protect themselves against sexual assault thanks to a grant awarded by Gov. Bob Riley.

The university’s Sexual Assault and Violence Education Project will use the $6,524 grant to purchase self-defense training equipment and certify new self-defense instructors.

“Troy college students should be able to focus on their education without fear of sexual assault,” Riley said. “I commend the work this organization does to help female students avoid dangerous situations and protect themselves if they are threatened.”

The instructors will be certified to teach Rape Aggression Defense, a nationally recognized, women-only course that begins by teaching awareness, prevention and risk reduction. The course then progresses to the basics of hands-on defense training. SAVE officials say the course helps women build self-confidence and increase their personal safety.

SAVE is an on-campus advocacy organization that uses presentations, literature and videos to teach women how to reduce the risk of being physically or sexually assaulted.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to Alabama by the U.S. Justice Department as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Riley informed Jack Hawkins, chancellor of Troy University, that the grant had been approved.

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Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers