S.O.S. News
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month!
Use Your Power! Come out to our events during Sexual Assault Awareness Month #saam to learn more so you can #recognize dangerous situations, #support a friend, or learn how to #intervene. Tweet & instagram our hashtags. Ask for consent every time in every sexual encounter. Tell us about it at #iaskforconsent! Read about all our events at www.udel.edu/saam. Call Student Wellness at 831-3457 if you have questions about the events.
Stalking & Cyberstalking
A rising trend on college campuses...
The National College Women Sexual Victimization Survey conducted in 2000 (Fisher, et. al.), surveyed 4,446 female students at 223 colleges and universities. Key findings:
- 13% of the college women had been stalked since the school year began.
- 80.3% of victims were stalked by someone they knew or had seen before.
- Stalking incidents lasted on average 2 months.
- 3 in 10 women reported being injured emotionally or physically from being stalked.
- In 15.3% of incidents, victims reported that the stalker threatened or attempted to harm them.
- In 10.3% of incidents, victims reported that the stalker forced or attempted sexual contact.
- Overall, 83.1% of stalking incidents WERE NOT reported to police or campus law enforcement,
A 2009 study (Kristina Baum, et. al., "Stalking Victimization in the United States," Washington D.C., BJS: 2009) found that:
- 3.4 million people in the U.S. over age 18 experience stalking.
- 75% of victims are stalked by someone they know.
- Persons aged 18-24 experience the highest rates of stalking.
- 25% of stalking victims are monitored through technology (email, instant messaging, internet, etc.)
Summaries of both studies are available at the Stalking Resource Center, which is a project of the National Center for Victims of Crime. It provides statistics, laws, helpful information and resources for victims of stalking.
If you suspect you are being stalked through technological means, it may not be safe for you to be on the internet. There are steps you can take to erase a trail of your internet surfing, but it cannot be completely untraceable. If you are in a remote location and feel it is safe for you to explore the internet, the following are excellent resources providing safety information, strategies and resources if you are being stalked or cyberstalked, as well as general information.
Cyberstalking & Stalking Resources:
Delaware Stalking Law
Working to Halt Abuse Online
Love Me Not
National Center for Victims of Crime -- Cyberstalking Info
Cyberangels
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
If you suspect you are being stalked and you would like to talk to a supportive victim advocate right now, (24 hrs/day) call 302-831-2226. The person who answers will take a first name and phone number and the S.O.S. Victim Advocate on duty will call you back within 10 minutes.
Upcoming Events!
Bicycle Safety Program
218 Gore Hall
Presented & sponsored by Campus & Public Safety. For more info, contact the Community Resource Unit at 831-2224.