Be Safe In College: A Thing Or Two About Stalking

Aside from all the academics and adventures you will have in college, safety is of utmost importance. I created the "Be Safe In College" blog series in order to give my readers a heads up about some of the risks that they'll be exposed to in college. I think it's time I address stalking. Stalking constitutes any actions or threats intend to harass, annoy, or terrorize someone. I intend to use this post to spread awareness about a serious issue and give any victim some tips to stay safe and maybe save their life.

If you're ever in a situation where you're being stalked, TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. Understand that stalking can escalate into far worse situations if left unaddressed. Here are some things you can do to keep yourself safe and make the stalking STOP:

• Proof is power. Document any instances where the stalker is harassing you. Write down the date, time, location, and what the stalker did. Also, if the person sends you letters, emails, or text messages be sure to save them. Having proof will make your case against this person stronger.
• Tell other people. Let people know what you're going through. You don't need to face this alone. Tell your friends someone is causing problems for you; they will want to help you. Especially in situations where you could be in danger, having friends to back you up is crucial. They can keep you company and show the stalker that you are not alone.
• Get Help. There's always help. You can call the police as well as domestic violence centers. Universities have fliers everywhere for these shelters. I remember passing a poster everyday by the cafeteria that defined stalking and dating violence and gave resources for help. There was even a sticker in the mirror of our bathroom that had numbers of shelters on it.
• Educate yourself. Try to learn about your stalker. Knowledge is power and if you do decide to call the cops and can give them a name and places to find your stalker, it'll be very easy for them to confront the offender and take necessary action.

I understand that you all may be thinking this article is over the top but stalking is a real issue and with tools like social media, it is very easy for a stalker to make life horrible for their victim. Most people on campus are good people at heart and would never dream of doing something to terrorize the life of someone else but sadly there are exceptions. I just want to give you all the tools to use if you end up in a stalking situation.

Be safe and as always, thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Also, check out my post on the DSS Equature Blog, also about stalking.