"Harvard is in the middle of the city ofCambridge. It is not exempt from violent crimes,"said HUPD RAD instructor Robert T. Sweetland.

One student said she have concerns about theirpersonal safety.

"I want to take the course so that I can bemore comfortable when I am walking at night,whether by myself or in a group," said Haynes.

Other students said they took the course inresponse to prior attack experiences.

"I don't think there is a class that goes bywithout at least one person who was a victim.There is always at least someone who tells us thiswhether or not they tell the entire class orreveal it to us in private," said Glavin.

"I've been physically assaulted twice, and Ifinally feel like I'm getting out my aggression.I've never learned to strike out before. I feelempowered," said Caroline A. Cuningham, a RADparticipant from the Kennedy School of Government.

Cuningham feels that the course teaches basicskills that she might have been able to apply inher previous assaults. "The first time I wasafraid that he had a gun. I didn't know what todo, so I cried out to a passing car. That was theworst thing to do because he just socked me,"Cuningham said.

"I presented the scenario to Maureen[Morrison], and she said what I should have doneis complied and when I was digging in my purse Icould have kicked him in his shins," she added.

The program's biggest flaw seems to be its lackof advertisement, according to participants.Although small red and blue signs were posted lastweek describing the class and faxes were sent toall the houses, many students feel that thereisn't enough awareness about the program.

"It wasn't very well advertised. More peoplecertainly would have come if it had been,"second-year law student Njeri Mathis