Steve Kardian is a Nationally-recognized expert on campus safety, crime prevention, women’s safety and self defense

Are college women too trusting? In 2004, Inside Edition enlisted the help of Steve Kardian to find out. He posed as a stranger needing assistance on the campus of a university in the New York area. With the school’s permission, the producers filmed Steve with a hidden camera as he approached female students in a campus parking lot and pretended he needed help. With no hesitation, all eight of the women he approached cleared off seats and invited Steve into their vehicles. The results surprised even Steve, a career law enforcement and safety expert. When asked later, the women said that danger crossed their minds but that they decided that it was more important to “help someone out.” Steve stressed to the women afterwards that a woman should never allow a stranger to take her to a second location. Doing so greatly increases the odds of a sexual assault, or worse.

Steve Kardian is the nation’s go-to expert on issues of women’s safety.  In addition to his work as a consultant for Inside Edition, he is a national media consultant for Fox News, CBS, NBC, Men’s Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated. As a career law enforcement officer, detective, counter-terrorism specialist and chief crime investigator, Steve has a demonstrated lifelong passion for issue of personal safety, particularly as it applies to young women. Through his media and consulting work, Steve has helped millions of young women better understand their role in preventing assault.

Personally, he has trained tens of thousands of women to be safer in their homes, on their campuses, and in their communities. Although his campus programs deal with some seriously scary topics, Steve gets his audiences laughing, sharing, and interacting. His programs are not about scaring women. They are about empowering women, and preparing them with the confidence to react appropriately in an unfortunate situation. Steve is about prevention foremost, but he’s also committed to helping women know what to do when the worst happens.

“I’m doing what I can to change what it means to fight like a girl. I’m teaching women how to fight back, and how to make smarter choices that will help prevent them being singled out as a potential target by a predator.”

Reduce the Odds

A woman of any age can become the victim of sexual assault, however statistics indicate that women between the ages of 16 and 20 years-old are four times more likely to be victimized. A woman entering her first year of college – specifically, between September and Thanksgiving break – is at the most vulnerable time in her life.

In Steve’s general sexual assault prevention program (perfect for new student orientation or general sexual assault prevention education), he helps arms college students (men and women) with the knowledge, skills and tools to prevent them from becoming a crime statistic. Through a means of awareness, avoidance and escape, Steve helps students understand the mind of a predator and helps them understand the difference between a “hard target” and a “soft target.”

It’s not just the women.  Almost three million American men (about 3%) are victims of sexual assault.

Steve also discusses the critical effect of alcohol and other drugs (including party drugs) on the risk of sexual assault. He also discusses: setting up a safe residence hall room or apartment, dealing with stalkers, dating and domestic violence, and how to get yourself safe in the event of a campus violence incident.

As part of the his visit, Steve is available to conduct a hands-on self-defense training for women only, called “Fight Like a Girl.”  This add-on program can be conducted immediately following the main “Reduce the Odds” lecture program, at no additional cost.  This option requires some additional set-up considerations.  Please speak to your CAMPUSPEAK salesperson to discuss the requirements if you choose this option.

Reduce the Odds on Spring Break

In this Spring Break version of his main program, Steve frames the issues of sexual assault prevention and safety within the framework of a typical college student’s trip to an unfamiliar vacation location, full of young people, parties, alcohol, and opportunities for sexual activity. Steve helps women better understand that a vacation from their daily routine should not be a vacation from smart choices that prevent assault and other harm. Perfect for February and March programs prior to break.  Even if many of your students won’t be traveling to a vacation location, the messages about assault risk reduction will be applicable. 

To get more information about Steve speaking at your campus contact CAMPUSPEAK:

CAMPUSPEAK, Inc.