Stalking and Cyberstalking Awareness

Stalking

Stalking, cyber stalking, and harassment are criminal offenses under Maryland state law (MD Criminal Law Code 3-802; 3-803; HB 593; Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 27, 121B). Stalking, cyber stalking, and harassment are prohibited at Hood College.

Stalking is the willful, malicious, and repeated following or harassment of another person with the intent to annoy, alarm, or frighten. Stalking often occurs after a woman or man has broken up with a partner, or if one person wants a romantic relationship and the other does not.

Stalking can occur for other reasons too, and the stalker may or may not be known by the victim. Stalking is taken seriously by the College and is always viewed as potentially dangerous.

Stalking behavior examples:

Repeated, unwanted phone calls, mail, or e-mail of a harassing or disturbing nature
Threats prompting fear for one's life or safety
Threats prompting concern for the safety of one's family, friends, roommates, or others
Behavior such as unwanted following or encounters that cause apprehension

How to handle stalking behaviors:

Immediately notify campus security, your RA, and/or friends about your concerns. Don't hesitate.
Notify your appropriate campus administrator.
Walk with friends and use campus security escort services.
Document phone calls, keep letters, and save e-mail as evidence of harassment.

To assist in tracing phone calls, keep a record:

Date and time of calls?
How often, number of calls? Did you recognize the voice?
Male or female voice?
Background noises or sounds?
What did the caller say?
Campus security, the telephone company, or "Caller ID" can assist in tracing calls. Do not attempt to tape-record phone calls. It is a violation of Maryland law to tape-record a conversation without the permission of all parties to the conversation.

If you have any reason to think that you may be in any physical danger, immediately call campus security (x3111) or local police (911).

Cyberstalking and Safety

The increased popularity of the Internet and Cell Phones with enhanced features such as photo and video has created new means of communicating.

E-mail, list-serves, chat rooms, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and the like are leading to on-line and off-line relationships. Cyberstalking is a new phenomenon that compromise personal safety. In Maryland, cyberstalking is a criminal offense.

Guidelines to assist in safe on-line communication:

Anonymity is best. If someone doesn't know who or where you are, you are at least physically safe. Don't be tricked into revealing your name, location, phone number, or any other identifying information about yourself.
Better safe than sorry. If you decide you would like to meet an on-line contact in person, bring a group of friends with you and meet during the day in a public place. Get references from the person, including work contacts, friends, and family. The worst thing you can do is keep your on-line interaction a secret. Keeping it out in the open means other people will be able to look out for you.
Trust your instincts. If you ever get an uncomfortable feeling on-line, break off contact.
Do not delete. If you receive an isolated, unwanted on-line advance or message that is neither threatening nor hateful, you may choose to ignore it. If, however, you receive any threatening or hateful message or repeated non threatening ones, notify campus safety and/or appropriate campus administrators promptly. Senders who are a serious threat are usually persistent and do not easily give up. Do not delete any upsetting message you receive. Saved messages may be of value in tracing and prosecuting an on-line attacker.

Ways in which Hood College can assist if you have been stalked or harassed:

Each case is different and requires a response tailored to its specific facts. Some steps that have proved useful in prior cases include:
Disciplinary action against the person engaging in harassing or stalking behavior
Banning the individual engaging in harassing or stalking behavior from campus
Assisting the person experiencing harassment or stalking with writing letters or writing letters on his/her behalf to invoke protection of the harassment statutes
Assisting the person experiencing harassment or stalking with contacting law enforcement authorities
Identifying, evaluating, and preventing individuals from engaging in harassing behaviors

Campus Life.