Stalking

Stalking is a pattern of legal and/or illegal goal-directed behavior which can be influenced by an irrational and/or delusional thought process. Stalkers have an emotional obsession with the victim and tend to hold a selfish perception of the relationship. Through stalking they empower themselves to feel omnipotent and in control of the relationship while creating a state of vulnerability in the other person. The legal definition of stalking is “willful, malicious and repeated following and harassment combined with the credible threat intended to make the victim fear death or serious injury.” Stalking behavior includes following the victim to school, the theater, the grocery store, home, etc.; repeated harassing attempts to communicate via phone, e-mail, FAX, or letters; giving of unwanted gifts; vandalizing the victim’s property; and unwanted hyper-attentiveness to the victim. Stalkers can be male or female and their targets can be members of the same or opposite sex. If you become aware of a student who is feeling unsafe around another person and believes s/he is being stalked:

DO

1. Encourage the student to trust his/her instincts.
2. Refer the student to Counseling Services (893-4411).
3. Refer the student to the rape prevention coordinator at the Women’s Center (893-3778).
4. Refer the student to the sexual harassment complaint officer (893-2546).
5. Advise the student to call the Campus Police (893-3446).
6. Advise the student to document each stalking incident and save correspondence so it may be used as evidence.
7. Advise the student to change his/her routes to and from work and/or school frequently to protect him or herself.
8. Advise the student to walk with an escort whenever possible. Campus CSO escorts can be reached at 893-2000.

DON’T

1. Ignore or minimize the situation.
2. Blame the student for inviting the obsession.
3. Feel responsible for protecting the student.