Victims Assistance

Stalking

Stalking refers to harassing or threatening behavior that an individual engages in repeatedly such as following a person, appearing at a person's home or place of business, making harassing phone calls, leaving written messages or objects, or vandalizing a person's property. 

Stalking is not a one time event, but rather a series of threatening incidents that, if not responded to, may end in violence. Stalking often causes pervasive, intense fear and can be extremely disruptive for the victim. 

Online stalkers (cyberstalkers) can easily disguise themselves by adopting several false identities and then harass the target through unsolicited e-mails, disturbing private or public messages on bulletin boards or in chat rooms, and communiqus of actual threats of harm. In addition, stalkers may pose as the victim online in order to incite others to harass and threaten the victim. Online stalking may lead to other forms of stalking.

These behaviors are a violation of the Winthrop University Code of Conduct and the SC Code of Laws and such charges could range from sexual assault to disorderly conduct or harassment, according to the Student Conduct Code and is a crime according to the State of South Carolina.

Did You Know?

  • 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men will be victims of stalking in their lifetimes
  • 15% of college women report some kind of stalking
    • Can involve repeated texts and phone calls, unwanted visits, being flashed, or being sent pornography
  • Young women ages 18-19 experience the highest rates of stalking.
  • 75% of stalkers are individuals that the victim knows (partner, former partner, or classmate) 
    • 61 % of female victims and 44 % of male victims were stalking by a current or former intimate partner
  • 7.5 million people were stalked in one year in the U.S

Sources: www.stalkinghelpline.org and www.victimsofcrime.org

Remember: You have the right to break off a relationship at any time

What You Can Do

  • Once you have communicated your disinterest, cut off all interaction and document any attempted contact.
  • Change your schedule and habits to avoid being alone. Avoid being alone until the stalking ends, especially at night and when going from one place to another.  Let others in your life know what is going on.
  • Contact campus police and local authorities, or the Office of Victims Assistance.