January! A new year. Time for annual resolutions and promises to do and be better. But January is also Stalking Awareness Month. And one of those resolutions must be to support people, especially women on college campuses who are stalked and harassed. Women need to be heard and feel safe. They need access to the resources that can help them regain control of their lives. Colleges must also take allegations of stalking seriously and discipline the perpetrators of these acts and when necessary, support the criminal justice system’s prosecution of these individuals. According to Victim Connect Resource Center, “stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.” https://victimconnect.org/learn/types-of-crime/stalking/ It is a pattern of behavior that can be overwhelming and leave its victims isolated, and in extreme cases, too terrified to leave their homes. In worst cases, stalking victims have been killed by their stalkers. If you have not been stalked, you might know someone who has been victimized by stalking. In the United States, 1 out of 6 women have been subjected to the fear inducing acts of a stalker. While stalking behavior is not limited to men, (1 […]
These resources from SPARC (Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center can help campus professionals better understand how to identify and respond to incidences of stalking on campus. Campus Stalking Fact Sheet Campus Stalking Infographic Stalking Incident and Behavior Log Response Strategies for College Campuses
Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking impact individuals across all races, ethnicities, socio-economic levels, genders, sexual orientation, and levels of education. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the impact on different populations and explore ways to improve prevention and response efforts, while taking into consideration different factors that can impact diverse student populations. Data published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that one in three (34.4%) Latinas experienced physical violence, sexual violence, and/ or stalking from an intimate partner in their lifetime. The same report indicated that 18.5% of Hispanic men had experienced sexual violence during their lifetime Download Document
The purpose of this toolkit is to provide institutions of higher education with information, strategies, and resources to develop a coordinated community response to addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS) on campus.
Continue ReadingAs we endeavor to educate college campuses and communities about sexual assault during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it is essential to understand the subtle way dangerous relationships can lead to sex trafficking.
College campuses can be ground zero for fighting sexual assault and human trafficking. Leaders on campuses should provide students, faculty, staff, parents, and communities with information to recognize the warning signs of destructive relationships.
Continue ReadingStalking is a very serious and all-too-common crime. An estimated 6 to 7.5 million people in the United States are stalked every year, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. In fact, because of the prevalence of stalking, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified it as a public health issue that is critical for individuals and organizations to understand and work to prevent. National Stalking Awareness Month, which is observed each January, is a time to raise awareness about the warning signs of stalking and promote ways people can stay safe if they believe they have a stalker. Throughout this month, we encourage you to learn, take action, and share information to prevent and end stalking on your campus and in your community. LEARN The first step to staying safe is to learn the behaviors that constitute stalking. Stalking can include unwanted appearances or contact at a person’s home, work, or school; leaving strange or potentially threatening items for a person to find; watching, following, or tracking a person; or sneaking into a person’s home or car. As we’ve become more connected digitally, people are also experiencing an increased rate of cyberstalking–stalking […]