Kansas University will host an additional women’s self-defense course this week following news of a recent sexual assault in the city.

The class is being offered on Thursday and is in addition to the normal series of EmPower workshops presented by the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center at KU.

Lawrence police have said a recent reported rape in Lawrence could be related to a series of other sexual assaults that happened during KU student breaks.

“When something like this happens, it’s natural to be concerned,” said Kathy Rose-Mockry, program director of the Emily Taylor center. “It reminds us that it’s important to be concerned about safety whether or not an incident has happened.”

No martial arts experience is needed for the course, Rose-Mockry said. It will largely focus on self-defense tactics and “street fighting” techniques to fend off a would-be attacker.

The course is free to KU students, faculty and staff. Members of the Lawrence community can participate, if space allows, for a $5 fee.

Rose-Mockry said the center didn’t want to elevate the concerns that were already in the community, but felt that some options for women would be welcomed.

She said it was important for students to focus on these issues around finals, too. When students are more distracted with finals and tired, they can become more vulnerable in the eyes of an attacker, she said.

So far, she said, enrollment in the course has been brisk.

“I think empowerment is important,” Rose-Mockry said. “It’s important to feel like there’s something you can do.”

— Visit Andy Hyland ‘s Heard on the Hill blog.