by Kimberly Schneider
A couple weeks ago on the KSU East Liverpool campus a student mentioned to others that someone she knows is stalking her. Even though the police and the courts are involved in the situation, the stalking has continued.
Many people do not take stalking seriously and think of it as a child-like crush that will end once the person finds a new interest. Perhaps we think that stalking only happens to the famous or is limited to women.
An estimated 1.4 million people in America have been stalked. Only one-third of these victims have reported it. Seventeen percent of reported cases go to trial; 13 percent of the stalkers in those cases are convicted. One fourth of stalking victims will obtain a restraining order, but two-thirds of the stalkers will violate the order. (Source: End Stalking in America)
Webster’s Dictionary defines stalking as “to pursue (game, etc.) stealthily; b) to pursue (a person) in a persistent, harassing, obsessive way.” Stalking by law is defined generally as any unwanted, repeated, and continuing contact that directly or indirectly makes a person feel harassed, threatened, or intimidated.
There are many warning signs of stalking behavior. A stalker might:
--Follow and show up wherever you are.
--Repeatedly call, email, and/or send text messages.
--Damage your home, car, or other property.
--Send unwanted gifts.
--Monitor your phone calls or computer use.
--Track your whereabouts.
--Drive by or hang out near your home, school, or work.
--Threaten to hurt your family, friends, or pets.
--Use the Internet or public records to find information about you.
--Take other actions that control, track, or frighten you.
What can be done about stalking? The safest bet is to report it. Don’t brush it off as some short-lived crush. Inform the school/housing security or the police. Inform your neighbors that you feel threatened so they know to be more aware of strangers and to report suspicious activities. If you think you are being stalked, never go out alone. Always take a buddy with you.
It’s very difficult to know another person’s intent, and in this crazy world people need to become more aware of their surroundings and take extra precautions to protect themselves. So if you feel you’re being stalked, you probably are.
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See End Stalking in America for a complete discussion of the subject of stalking. See Privacy Rights Clearinghouse for a fact sheet on stalking behavior. See this U.S. Department of Justice special report for in-depth information about stalking victims.
