Stalking

Stalking is defined as a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person, or a family or household member of such person, with the intent to injure, terrify, threaten or intimidate. It can include the use of regular mail, e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, posting on social websites and/or faxes. Stalking and cyber stalking are considered crimes and such behaviors are prohibited by university policy and Nebraska law.

Stalking is unpredictable and dangerous. No two stalking situations are alike and anyone can be a victim, including college students from any economic, ethnic or religious group.

The vast majority of stalking victims know their stalker, usually because they have had a relationship with him or her. The stalker can be an intimate partner or former partner, classmate, roommate or other acquaintance. A victim can be stalked for several days or for many years. The stalker's actions can also affect family, friends and co-workers.

Signs stalkers can demonstrate

• Repeatedly calling and texting you, including hang-ups.
• Following you and showing up wherever you are.
• Sending unwanted gifts, letters, cards or e-mails.
• Damaging your home, car or other property.
• Monitoring your phone calls, computer use or social network accounts.
• Hacking into your social networking accounts or e-mail.
• Using technology like hidden cameras or global positioning systems to track you.
• Driving by or hanging out at your apartment, outside your classroom or at your work.
• Threatening to hurt you, your family, friends or pets.
• Finding out more about you by using public records or online search services, hiring private investigators, going through your garbage or contacting your friends, classmates, family, neighbors or co-workers.

What to do

If you are being stalked:

• Call 911 if you are in IMMEDIATE DANGER.

• Contact University Security to file a report. They can assist you with understanding and taking action if the stalker has broken the law. Remember, every state has stalking laws, including Nebraska. If you don't want to contact the police alone, consider contacting counselors or domestic abuse centers who can assist you in filling out the paperwork. Resources can be found in our student and employee resource lists.
  
• Keep evidence by documenting the stalking. When the stalker follows you or contacts you, keep a log of the time, date, place and other details you may find of importance. Keep all e-mails, phone messages, letters, notes or social media messages. Photograph anything of yours the stalker damages and any injuries they may cause. Keep a list of any witnesses to the incidents. Ask witnesses to also write down what they saw. Keeping this information will be very beneficial if you decide to get a protection order.

• Consider getting a court order/protection order that tells the offender to stay away from you. Counselors and domestic abuse centers can assist you in filling out the paperwork. Our student and employee resource lists provide local contact information for counselors and centers.

• Don't communicate with the stalker or respond to their attempts to contact you. 

• Develop a safety plan. Include things like changing your routine, arranging place to stay, and having a friend go places with you. Also, decide in advance what to do if the offender shows up at your residence, classroom, work or somewhere else.

• Tell family, friends and others you trust about the stalking and seek their support.

• Get campus support. The prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression is much higher among stalking victims than the general population, especially if the stalking involves being followed or having one's property destroyed. There are many services on campus that are here to offer you support. Our student and employee resource lists provide local contact information for counselors and centers.

• Trust your instincts. Don't downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably are. Take threats seriously. Danger generally is higher when the stalker talks about harming themselves or someone else, or when a victim/survivor tries to leave or end a relationship.