U grad empowers women through self-defense classes – University Department of Public Safety

After her teammate and friend Lauren McCluskey was murdered, Mesa Weidle was full of grief and fear.

“I was afraid to even walk around campus and it altered my life pretty significantly,” the 2019 University of Utah graduate said. “Attending my first SASS Go class helped me reclaim my safety and empowered me in so many ways.”

U alum, Mesa Weidle (right) leads a self-defense class on Nov. 1, 2024.

SASS Go is a non-profit dedicated to eradicating “assault, abuse and trafficking against women and girls globally through prevention education, self-defense training and case consulting.” In courses like the one Weidle attended, participants are taught physical and mental techniques to respond to common safety threats, from avoiding being grabbed to escaping strangulation.

Because the SASS Go class helped her so much, Weidle became an instructor. She now teaches a variety of self-defense classes to women and girls across the Salt Lake Valley, including at events sponsored by the Lauren McCluskey Foundation. According to Weidle, it’s amazing to watch the confidence participants gain during her classes.

“At the start, participants’ heads are down, their shoulders are slumped and some are a little nervous,” she said. “Throughout the class I see them start using their voices, putting their shoulders back and bringing their eyes up. Many are smiling and laughing. I literally feel the shift in the room, and I hope participants do too.”

Mesa Weidle (far left) poses with students who completed a SASS Go course.

In addition to providing self-defense classes for campus community members, the McCluskey Foundation has also utilized SASS Go resources to help university police officers learn more about supporting victim-survivors.

“The major mission of the Lauren McCluskey Foundation is to change the culture that responds poorly to victims of relationship violence,” said Jill McCluskey, Lauren’s mother. “One way we do that is to provide resources. The SASS-Go classes are one of those resources. With these classes, Mesa teaches women and girls physically and mentally how to respond to threats.”

If you are interested in attending a future class or would like help sponsoring one for your group or organization, please contact Linda Mittelhammer at the Lauren McCluskey Foundation.