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University of Wyoming

Stalking


What is Stalking?

Stalking occurs when a person intentionally and knowingly engages in behavior  directed toward another person that would cause a reasonable individual to fear for his or her safety or the safety of his or her immediate family. In Wyoming stalking is a crime whether it is by a stranger, family member, former intimate partner or anyone else whose goal is to make you afraid of them.


What kind of people are stalkers?
 While there are several kinds of stalkers. Most are intimate partner stalkers. They are  someone who "just can't let go." They refuse to believe that a relationship has really ended. Often, other people - even the victims - feel sorry for them, but they shouldn't. Most intimate partner stalkers are not sympathetic, lonely people who are still hopelessly in love. Instead, they were usually emotionally abusive and controlling during the relationship. Many have criminal histories unrelated to stalking. Over half of stalkers fall into this "former intimate partner" category. Other stalkers may be strangers and some may even be family members. 


Don't be manipulated. You cannot reason with a stalker. The only conversation you should have with them is to say no one time and never say anything to them again.
Many stalkers become mean when thwarted. Some stalkers are violent and may do serious harm to you or to those around you. If you think you are being stalked, please contact the STOP office to learn about what you can do to protect yourself. If you have come to campus with a protection order against someone,  contact the UWPD and inform them about the protection order.

How do you know if you are being stalked?

  1. Are you receiving phone calls, emails, text messages, online postings, letters or notes from someone after you have told them to stop calling or sending you messages?
  2. Is someone following you, waiting for you after class and turning up many other places you go?
  3. Has your car or any of your other property been mysteriously damaged?
  4. Has someone threatened you, your friends, your family or pets?
  5. Is someone trying to manipulate you into doing something by threatening to harm themselves?
  6. Is someone spreading lies about you?
  7. Is someone doing things that are frightening you?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, someone may be stalking you.
 

What can you do to protect yourself?

  • Never, ever meet alone with your stalker.
  • Don't talk to them. They want attention, don't give it to them.
  • Change your patterns and routines.
  • Tell your friends and family what is going on. Encourage them to be vigilant and to avoid contact with your stalker.
  • Have your phone number and email address changed. Get a caller ID or answering machine to screen calls.
  • Keep a diary of the times your stalker attempts to contact you, sends your things, or other incidents. Note the dates.
  • Tell your RA or apartment manager.
  • Make sure you have all your keys. Get the locks changed if you don't.
  • Notify the police. 766-5179 or 911 if someone is violating a protection order

Are you being stalked online?

With the popularity of social networking sites increasing everyday, it is easy to understand how more and more students are being harassed and stalked online. We encourage everyone who has a profile on a social networking site to remember the following information:

  • Keep your profile private.
  • Avoid listing your home address, class schedule, or telephone numbers.
  • It is not necessary to include every bit of personal information about you in your "about me" section.
  • Avoid listing your date of birth.
  • Only accept friends that you know.
  • Avoid instant messages with those who you do not know.

Visit the Dean of Students website for more information on safely participating in online communities.

For more information on cyberstalking, click here.

 

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Studying, playing and living safely at the University of Wyoming where we encourage both men and women to be responsible for preventing sexual violence on our campus.

Last Updated on 8/12/2009 12:03:45 PM