January marks National Stalking Awareness month -- a time to recognize and respond to the serious crime of stalking. Stalking is defined as engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would jeopardize a person’s safety or the safety of others.
According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking in their lifetime. Stalking can affect mental health, academic success and more.
It’s important to know the signs of stalking, how to stop it, what resources to use and how to help someone who is being stalked. IUPUI's Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response team works to educate students about how to be safe on and off campus and provides confidential advocacy and support.
Identify the signs
Common stalking tactics include:
- Unwanted contact through emails, phone calls, text messages or messages through social media.
- Unwanted cards, letters, flowers or presents.
- Watching or following from a distance.
- Spying with a listening device, camera or GPS.
- Approaching or showing up in places such as the victim’s home, workplace or school when it is unwanted.
- Using friends and family to try to communicate with you or know your whereabouts.
Safety tips
Trust your instincts. Take threats seriously. Reach out to trusted others for help.
Smart phones
- Put a passcode on your phone and do not share it with other people.
- Turn off your Bluetooth when you’re not using it.
- If you’re using an iCloud or Google account, choose strong passwords.
- Try not to store sensitive information on your phone.
Location
- Review primary settings on your phone.
- Consider turning off the location setting when you’re not using it.
Apps
- Log out of your apps after you use them.
- Delete all apps that you are not familiar with, do not use or do not understand.
- If you have an iPhone/iPad, turn off automatic downloads. This prevents apps from downloading automatically to all devices with the same Apple ID.
Social media
- Remember that once something is posted on social media, it is no longer under your control. Only post things you would like the public to see.
- Keep your social media passwords private and do not share them with anyone.
- Ask friends to be sensitive when tagging you in social media.
- Personal information shared online may allow someone to know your activity and movement online.
Computer safety
- If you believe someone has access to your computer or may be monitoring your use, consider using another computer or device that the person has no access to.
- If there is information about you online that you are uncomfortable with, reach out to the websites directly to remove the information.
- Set up a two-step verification on all your online accounts to help prevent unauthorized access by adding a layer of security to logging in.
- Consider covering the lens of the camera on any computer/device that has webcams and make sure the webcam is off when you are not using it.
- For more information on tech safety visit: www.techsafety.org/resources.
How to stop stalking
Understand that we all have a role to play to stop stalking.
- Help others define and recognize stalking behaviors.
- Create supportive safe environments within relationships, schools or programs.
- Encourage bystanders who witness a potentially violent situation to either intervene or seek help.
National resources
If you are in imminent danger, call 9-1-1 or call IUPD 317-274-7911.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or by online chat
- National Sexual Assault Hotline:1-800-656-4673 or by online chat
- National Human Trafficking Resource Center: 1-888-373-7888 or by text line
IUPUI campus resources
To report incidents of discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct -- which includes stalking, you can file a report with the following offices:
- Office of Student Conduct (OSC): If you feel you have experienced discrimination, harassment or sexual misconduct by a peer, you can file a report at conduct.iupui.edu or call 317-274-4431.
- Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO): If you feel you have experienced discrimination, harassment or sexual misconduct by a faculty or staff member or a visitor on campus, you can file a report at oeo.iupui.edu or email oeoiupui@iupui.edu.
- Contact the confidential advocate at CAPS to learn more about resources and safety planning: 317-274-5715 or email saadv@iupui.edu.
- Learn more about the RAVE Guardian App, which has links to campus and community resources.
Stalking is a violation under the IU Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy. If you or someone you know is being stalked, reach out to the resources above for help.