As G.I.V.E continues to promote awareness education and prevention, the team is mindful of Stalking Awareness Month approaching in January. G.I.V.E is preparing for a month-long series of events aimed at raising awareness. This year’s theme is “Empower, Educate & Elevate.”
Although G.I.V.E continues to encourage students to know what stalking is, January is a crucial time to shed light on the issue. It is estimated that 13.5 million people are stalked in a one-year period in the United States. Approximately one in three women and one in six men have experienced stalking victimization at some point in their lifetime.
In January, G.I.V.E will focus on an overview of what stalking is to recognize, resist and respond to it effectively. While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another, Title IX and the Clergy Act have a good working definition of stalking. To generalize, stalking is engaging in a course of conduct at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety, the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress. Stalking is a violation of student conduct codes and Title IX. It is a crime in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and the federal government.
Building on last year’s campaign of “KNOW IT, NAME IT & STOP IT,” G.I.V.E will continue to dismantle stereotypes of what is considered stalking. The month will be dedicated to explaining different forms of stalking, such as cyberbullying and highlighting the emotional toll it has on victims.
The Student Advisory Team will work hard to spread awareness throughout campus. In their effort to create a platform for survivors to share their narratives and others to learn from their resilience, the Student Advisory Team extends an invitation and encourages fellow students who may be willing to share and submit personal stories or op-eds about their experiences with stalking. As a community, we can better assist and support these concerns. The Student Advisory Team will also share and promote stalking awareness videos that they recorded.
By actively participating in Stalking Awareness Month, the university can play a crucial role in breaking the silence around stalking. Together, we can foster an environment of empathy, support and education that empowers every student.
Please contact Leonora Campbell, Project Director of G.I.V.E, if you are interested in sponsoring a program and getting involved. Students can reach her by emailing [email protected] or her office that is located on the second floor of LaPenta Student Union #213.
Sources:
https://www.stalkingawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SPARC_StalkngFactSheet_2018_FINAL.pdf
