By: Lysa Salsbury, Women’s Center and Vanessa Corwin, ATVP for the University of Idaho Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT)
January 2019 marks the 15th annual Stalking Awareness Month, a national call to action to acknowledge and respond to the crime of stalking. Society often romanticizes stalking behaviors: think of movies you’ve seen that have you rooting for a character’s repeated attempts to turn unrequited feelings into true love. What we don’t often see is the fear and anxiety experienced by recipients of those behaviors, not knowing when or if it will end, or what to expect next.
Stalking is a pattern of repeated behaviors that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. It sometimes manifests in behaviors that do not, on the surface, appear problematic. Keep in mind how your actions could be impacting others—everyone deserves privacy and safety. There’s a fine line between using the “SnapMap” casually to see where your friends are and using it to keep tabs on someone. Similarly, repeated texting or calling can be harmless, but if unwanted, could make someone feel uneasy.
Personal boundaries need to be respected. If you feel that yours are being violated, make a safety plan with someone you trust. There are a number of resources on campus and in the community to support you, including the Women’s Center, the Counseling & Testing Center, campus security, the campus police substation, and Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. You can attend a Green Dot overview or training to learn how to interrupt stalking behaviors safely and effectively. Let’s all work towards building an environment of respect and accountability for our Vandal family.
Lysa Salsbury, Women’s Center and Vanessa Corwin, ATVP for the University of Idaho Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT)