November 6, 1998

A day in the life of an extraordinary woman

by Kimberly Dorencz, A’99 Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications

By day, she’s sergeant; by night, student. Angela Honora leads a double life these days. She has been with Loyola’s University Police Department of Public Safety since 1995, and also is a candidate for the master’s of mathematics degree offered by City College with a projected graduation date set for “sometime in the future.” If that isn’t enough, she also is the proud mother of eight-year-old daughter, Porschá.

Honora graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge with a degree in mechanical engineering. She had planned on teaching math to elementary school children but put her dreams on hold to come to New Orleans to be closer to her dying mother. In the interim, Honora decided to become an officer with the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office in 1990; however, the sheriff’s office did not provide Honora with the work environment she needed, so she left after four years.

“I came to Loyola because I wanted a better job with better hours and more stability. Now I have a normal job with normal hours.” In 1996, Honora was promoted to sergeant after serving as a field officer. Even though her new role as sergeant requires her to always be on call, she doesn’t have any complaints. “I like working here. I get to talk to students and stay abreast of what is happening in the community.”

Besides her job as crime prevention officer, she serves on the Task Force for Parking, the Task Force for Night Out Against Crime, and the Substance Abuse committee. One of her more important roles, however, is that of Rape Aggression Defense System (R.A.D.) instructor. “In this day and age, it is vital that a woman knows how to protect herself,” she says. Honora, along with her R.A.D. partner Matt Hahlos, teaches women at Loyola techniques for avoiding rape. “Being a woman, I know the powerlessness women feel when in a dangerous situation. Teaching R.A.D. gives women the power to know they are not helpless.” While the program doesn’t exclude men, it doesn’t necessarily encourage them to enroll, either. The goal of R.A.D. is to give women the physical skills necessary to defend themselves against men. “If potential rapists were allowed to join, they would learn the tactics women use to defend themselves and thus women would become defenseless against their attackers,” Honora explains.

Right now, the classes are offered over a two-day period once per semester. Classes are kept small in order to provide individual attention. “Hopefully, more women will want to learn how to defend themselves and the classes will grow.” Honora affirms that the program is getting attention. “We have offered R.A.D. classes at the University of New Orleans and Tulane, and we’re expanding.”