Stalking is a pattern of legal and/or illegal goal-directed behavior which can be influenced by an irrational and/or delusional thought process. Stalkers have an emotional obsession with the victim and tend to hold a selfish perception of the relationship. Through stalking they empower themselves to feel omnipotent and in control of the relationship while creating a state of vulnerability in the other person. The legal definition of stalking is “willful, malicious and repeated following and harassment combined with the credible threat intended to make the victim fear death or serious injury.” Stalking behavior includes following the victim to school, the theater, the grocery store, home, etc.; repeated harassing attempts to communicate via phone, e-mail, FAX, or letters; giving of unwanted gifts; vandalizing the victim’s property; and unwanted hyper-attentiveness to the victim. Stalkers can be male or female and their targets can be members of the same or opposite sex. If you become aware of a student who is feeling unsafe around another person and believes s/he is being stalked:
DO
- Encourage the student to trust his/her instincts.
- Refer the student to Counseling and Wellness Services (906) 487-2538
- Refer the student to the Office of Judicial Affairs, (906) 487-2212
- Advise the student to call Public Safety and Police Services (906) 487-2216 or local police (911)
- Advise the student to document each stalking incident and save correspondence so it may be used as evidence.
- Advise the student to contact Public Safety and Police Services if they do not feel safe walking to or from their classes/vehicles. Public Safety and Police Services provides a “Safe Walk” program and can be reached at (906) 487-2216.
DON’T
- Ignore or minimize the situation.
- Blame the student for inviting the obsession.
- Feel responsible for protecting the student.
REFERENCES
This page was adapted with permission from material developed by the University of California, Santa Barbara.