January is Stalking Awareness Month听
Learn how you can seek support for yourself, a friend or a colleague.听
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.听
#1 Stalking can take many forms听
Stalking goes beyond following someone. It can include a variety of tactics, which can happen 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, threatened or in danger.听
Examples of stalking behaviors include:听
- Repeated, unwanted phone calls, texts, messages, etc. that may or may not include direct threats听
- Creating fake profiles to continue contacting a person after they have been blocked on someone鈥檚 personal account听
- Observing, following or 鈥渃oincidentally鈥� showing up wherever the person goes听
- Waiting outside of the person鈥檚 class, home, job, car, etc.听
- Leaving notes, gifts or other items for the person听
- Spreading rumors online and/or in person听
- Posting messages or images of the person on social media or in discussion groups without permission听
- Vandalism or destruction of property, including sabotaging school or other work听
- Breaking into the person鈥檚 home, workplace or car听
- Hacking into the person鈥檚 social media, email or other accounts听
- Collecting information about or attempting to contact the person through friends, family members, coworkers or acquaintances听
#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, colleagues or someone they have never met or only met once, including matches on dating apps.听听
Here are some ways to identify healthy, unhealthy and concerning behaviors that may prompt someone to seek additional help or support:听
听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
鈥嬏�Unhealthy behaviors are:听When you say 鈥渘o鈥� the other person continues to contact you again and again.听
鈥嬏�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
鈥嬏�Consider seeking help from an听advocate, the police, or other professional鈥�: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
鈥嬏�Call 911:听When the other person directly threatens you, tries to harm you, harms you or damages your property (including your pets).
#3听Context is key
Gift giving, location tracking, or sending multiple texts can be components of a healthy friendship or romantic relationship. It can feel really special for your roommate to bring you a coffee just because or have friends checking an app to make sure you got home safe. The key here is that these behaviors are wanted and help increase a sense of safety within the relationship.听听
Stalking, on the otherhand, is a pattern of unwanted behavior that reduces a person鈥檚 sense of safety. From the outside it may look similar to some of those innocuous behaviors, but to the person experiencing it, it can really feel threatening. The context of the behavior and the impact it has on the recipient is key.听
Stalking violates听CU鈥檚 campus policies听and is considered a serious听. CU 麻豆影院 provides a number of reporting and support options for those experiencing stalking.听
Support resources for students, staff and faculty听
If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking behaviors, it鈥檚 important to connect them with appropriate support resources and services.听
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.听
听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鈥攖he 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 and reporting options if needed, discuss their living situation and more.
听University reporting
If you think you may be experiencing stalking, you can report the incident to the CU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. You can file a report with OIEC by calling 303-492-2127, emailing听cureport@colorado.edu听or听听online.听
听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 or anonymous 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. If stalking behaviors have occured on campus, contact the听CU 麻豆影院 Police Department. Otherwise, contact your local police department.听