January is Stalking Awareness Month
Learn how you can seek support for yourself, student or a colleague.听
Sometimes it can be hard for students to know where to draw the line between annoying, clingy interactions and stalking. Popular culture, like shows and movies, can make it seem like persistence is the key to winning someone over. However, persistence can quickly turn into discomfort or fear when it鈥檚 unwelcome. Here are a few things everyone should know about stalking.
#1 Stalking can take many forms
Stalking goes beyond following someone. It can include a variety of tactics, which can happen听 in person and/or online. Stalking is defined as a pattern of unwanted behavior, directed at a specific person, which causes that person to change their routine or feel afraid, nervous or in danger.
Examples of stalking behaviors include:
- Repeated, unwanted phone calls, texts, messages, etc. that may or may not be threatening
- Creating fake profiles to continue contacting a person after they have been blocked someone鈥檚 personal account
- Observing, following or 鈥渃oincidentally鈥� showing up wherever the person goes
- Waiting outside of the person鈥檚 class, home, job, car, etc.
- Leaving notes, gifts or other items for the person
- Spreading rumors online and/or in person
- Posting messages or images of the person on social media or in discussion groups without permission
- Vandalism or destruction of property, including sabotaging schoolwork
- Breaking into the person鈥檚 home or car
- Hacking into the person鈥檚 social media, email or other accounts
- Collecting information about the person through friends, family members, coworkers or acquaintances
- Contacting other people in order to gain information about how to access or communicate with them
#2 Stalking can happen to anyone
While stalking is often directed at someone from a previous or current intimate relationship, a person can also be stalked by roommates, friends, classmates or someone they have casually met or never met before, including matches on dating apps.听
Here are some ways to identify healthy, unhealthy and concerning behaviors that may require your student to seek additional help or support:
- Healthy boundaries are:听When you say 鈥渘o鈥� the other person respectfully leaves you alone and does not attempt to contact you again.
听 - Unhealthy behaviors are:听When you say 鈥渘o鈥� the other person continues to contact you again.
听 - Consider discussing with someone or documenting what is happening:听When you say 鈥渘o鈥� more than once and the other person tries to talk you into saying 鈥測es鈥�, continues to contact you and/or contacts you more often.
听 - Consider calling the police/seeking help:听When you are contacted repeatedly, the other person shows up where you are, indirectly threatens you, is disrespectful and/or does not take 鈥渘o鈥� for an answer.
听 - Call 911:听When the other person directly threatens you, tries to harm you, harms you or damages your property (including your pets).
#3 Context is key听
Stalking behaviors by themselves may or may not be illegal. However, context of the behaviors and the impact they have on the other person are key. Stalking violates CU鈥檚 campus policies and is considered a serious crime in Colorado. 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录 provides a number of reporting and support options for those experiencing stalking.
Support resources for students
If your student shares that they are currently experiencing stalking behaviors, it鈥檚 important to connect them with support resources and services.听
General support
The听Don鈥檛 Ignore It website听provides options for seeking confidential support on and off campus, skills for helping others and reporting options related to sexual misconduct, stalking, intimate partner abuse, harassment and discrimination.
Confidential services
Students, staff and faculty can get confidential support and/or counseling through the听Office of Victim Assistance (OVA)听by calling 303-492-8855 or filling out a听听online. This form will only be reviewed by OVA staff 鈥� the university will not be notified and no investigative action will take place. If you would like to get in contact with an OVA advocate counselor, be sure to include your contact information. OVA advocate counselors can provide additional support to help individuals explore their rights and options, make a safety plan, get medical treatment if needed, discuss their living situation and more.听
University reporting
If your student thinks they may be experiencing stalking, they can report the incident to the听Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC). OIEC can address concerns in a variety of ways including a formal grievance process or through a policy compliance meeting with the person engaging in behaviors that might be considered stalking. Additionally, OIEC may be able to provide safety and supportive measures, such as no contact orders, academic support remedies and more. Students can file a report with OIEC by calling 303-492-2127, emailing听cureport@colorado.edu听or听听online.
Law enforcement reporting
Reporting to the police can take many forms and doesn鈥檛 have to lead to filing of criminal charges. An informational report is sometimes an option to make the police aware of the situation. Individuals may have the option to ask police to contact the person to give a verbal warning or press criminal charges.