“I’m gonna Facebook stalk her”

In song lyrics, TV shows, and movies, stalking behavior is often portrayed as common or expected, even desirable. With these depictions in popular culture and the widespread use of social media, stalking has become an increasingly problematic behavior pattern resulting in significant trauma for victims. The Clery Act defines stalking as: “Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (1) Fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or (2) Suffer substantial emotional distress.”

Stalking is a form of violence that threatens its victims and can escalate over time. Typical stalking behaviors include: following someone; sending unwanted gifts, letters or e-mails; monitoring phone calls or computer use; and using technology such as hidden cameras or GPS systems to track someone’s location. On college campuses, stalking often involves social media. Offenders use many platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat—to send unwanted messages and easily track down their victims, particularly when victims have voluntarily shared their locations online.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, and Clery Center knows how important it is to remind students who are victims of stalking that there is help and they are not alone.

How campuses can help stalking victims

“At institutions of higher education, there are specific safety planning concerns—a student might share a residence hall or use the same dining hall, gym, or other campus resource as someone who may be stalking them,” said Abigail Boyer, interim executive director at Clery Center. “Fortunately, institutions have additional options available to them, such as campus policies to adjudicate incidents of stalking on campus, no-contact orders or other campus-specific protective measures, and ideally positive partnerships with local law enforcement and other local, state, or federal agencies to offer a network of support to a reporting party.”

To help stalking victims, campus safety professionals can:

• Distribute tips for stalking victims through campus mail, email, and campus social media platforms.
• Devise a safety plan for stalking victims that includes safety accommodations and help with relocating to a different residence hall or apartment if necessary.
• Establish and publicize stalking victim reporting procedures.
• Start and facilitate a support group for stalking victims.

How Stalking Victims Can Protect Themselves

In the U.S., stalking is a crime in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. Women are three times more likely to be stalked than men, and many victims of stalking suffer from anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression. The Clery Act requires that institutions report incidents of sexual violence to the federal government, which makes the information available to the public. Stalking was one of the crimes included in a 2013 amendment to the Clery Act.

Victims of stalking can take these steps to protect themselves and stay safe:

• Trust your instincts. If you feel that you’re unsafe, you probably are. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.
• Don’t communicate with the stalker or respond to attempts to contact you.
• Contact a crisis hotline, victim services agency or a domestic violence or rape crisis center. These resources can help you devise a safety plan, provide information about local laws and refer you to other services.
• In developing a safety plan, include things such as changing your daily routine, arranging for a place to stay, or having a friend or relative accompany you.
• Keep evidence of the stalking. When the stalker follows you or contacts you, make notes of the time, date, and place. Keep e-mails, letters, phone messages, and text messages that the stalker sends to you.
• Contact the police and the security staff at your institution. Every state has stalking laws, and the stalker may have broken other laws by assaulting you or stealing your property.
• Consider a court order that requires the stalker to stay away from you.

“Over 13 percent of women in college during the school year, and one out of five college women has reported being sexually assaulted,” said U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore. “It’s simple to talk about statistics. It’s more difficult to remember that each number is a victim and represents a daughter, a sister or a friend.”

Does your college or university campus have a stalking awareness program or reporting policies? Please let us know and share your ideas on our social media channels.

For more information on stalking, visit the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center, a program of AEquitas at https://www.stalkingawareness.org.