Low kicks, wrist twists and hammer fists don’t seem to be catching the attention of Northwestern women this year.

Because of a lack of student interest, the university may cut the self-defense program for women unless class attendance improves dramatically.

University Police was forced to cancel this weekend’s two-day workshop on Rape Aggression Defense Systems after only two Northwestern students signed up for the 20-person class, said Detective Ron Godby, the program’s coordinator.

“I think the word is getting out, but I don’t think it is as important to people as I think it ought to be,” he said.

RAD Systems is a free, 12-hour course that teaches women prevention and self-defense strategies. The program, which is taught nationwide and originated in Virginia, typically is divided into a two-day workshop. The course offers 10 hours of instruction with two hours where the women must use the techniques they have learned to defend themselves in a dynamic simulation.

Interest in RAD Systems has steadily declined since UP began teaching the program five years ago, and Godby said the department may have to stop funding the program in the future unless more women attend the classes.

“If something does not generate a lot of interest with the students, it will probably get canceled,” he said. “I hope that doesn’t happen, but it may.”

Godby said he was surprised when enrollment in RAD Systems did not improve this year, even after an NU student was attacked on the Lakefill in October.

Speech junior Jenny Meyer said taking the RAD Systems courses as a freshman has given her a sense of security while walking alone on campus.

“I feel a lot better knowing the techniques I learned in RAD,” Meyer said.

The course, which is offered twice a quarter, is open both to NU students and women in the Evanston community.

Additional courses are offered at the Chicago campus, where they are often more popular than the ones in Evanston, Godby said.

He attributed the low enrollment in RAD Systems to conflicts with the scheduling of the classes.

RAD Systems classes usually are held on the second floor of Patten Gym, but Godby said reservations for the facility need to be made about a year in advance due to the high demand for space.

As a result, the classes are often offered over the weekend and sometimes during the evening, which can be inconvenient for many students.

“We do have a large number of people who sign up ahead of time and then don’t come,” Godby said.

No-shows occur more often with students than with Evanston residents, Godby said.

Facility space can also be a problem because RAD Systems instruction requires a large, private room with a cushioned floor.

Weinberg junior Laura Millendorf, director of Women’s Coalition, said although self-defense is an important issue to women on campus, many students are not even aware of the existence of RAD Systems because of the lack of publicity.

She said more students would attend the classes if UP targeted women’s groups and sororities in its advertising.

“I think it would be a shame to cancel a program before a lot more publicity was done,” she said.

The next RAD Systems course is scheduled for April 6 and 7.