Upperclassmen were given valuable instruction in self-defense techniques in mid-May, when Mr. Pat Watterson, a former Navy SEAL, came to campus to share his expertise. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Pat was a member of SEAL Team 8 and former special agent for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He is now a hand-on-hand self-defense and tactical instructor for the Department of Homeland Security.
In addition to actual basic self-defense tactics, Pat spoke to the students about making a safe transition from high school to college, including knowing their surroundings and always being aware of them, not putting themselves in risky situations, never walking alone at night, and always staying in control in social settings. For the self-defense portion of the class, Pat was assisted by certified instructors, including Abbey alums Sean Rooney '96 and Evan Carbotti '00.