Stalking 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 […]
