By Haley Lynch
Have you ever been walking on Kurtz Lane, seen a group of people and thought, “Isn’t it weird that I see them every day?” I find myself having that thought a lot, especially on such a small campus. With a little over 2,000 people on campus, you always seem to see everyone you don’t want to see. This makes it difficult when discussing the recurring reports of stalking that appear on the daily Campus Safety reports.
Campus Safety uses the federally mandated definition of stalking which is defined as two or more acts by someone toward another that would generally have someone fear for their psychological, physical, and/or emotional safety. Stalking is a repeated crime that is intentional and focused on the target that can be daily or over the span of months. When investigating these cases, Campus Safety follows the same “alert and investigate” model that would be used for any case. The accuser reports the allegations to Campus Safety, then Campus Safety would investigate (whether that be through canvasing or increased patrols around a certain area), and depending on the outcome, the case is handed to Title IX. However, this takes time depending on the patterns and the length of time between incidents.
Despite the perceived rise in reports of stalking, Kris Brown, the Director of Campus Safety, and Wynn Phillips, the Director of the Violence Intervention and Prevention Center (VIP), say that there is actually a decrease in reports. Brown pointed out that according to the recently released 2023 Clery Report that compared to the 16 reports made in 2021, there was a massive deduction in 2023 with only one report of stalking. So why are so many being reported on the daily reports?
Brown gives one explanation to this by saying, it is one actor with several players, simply put one offender in multiple cases. Phillips added that the pandemic has also played a big role. Many students, especially neurodiverse students, suffer a lack of socialization, which in turn affects the development of the understanding of social cues and communicating boundaries. Resulting in, students who are not able to understand when their presence is unwelcome and others who struggle to communicate boundaries to let the students know.
Brown advises that students who believe that they are being stalked to stay vigilant and make sure they are aware of their surroundings and own patterns. If you feel unsafe or can’t find someone to walk with on campus, there are blue lights on campus or you can call campus safety to come escort you home.
Phillips says to remember that ‘context is key’. Remember that your actions have effects on others. What you might see to be a kind gift, to another student is the acknowledgment that you know information about them they did not know people knew. If you believe you are being stalked, be aware of your resources off campus as well, such as StalkingAwareness.org.
Brown specifically stated that the Cleary Report, besides giving accurate stats about crime on campus, provides resources on what to do and who to contact if you believe you are being stalked. All students have access to the Cleary Report through MyNest.
With all this information, students who have been victims of stalking on campus are demanding more. DJ Hannon, a junior and the student coordinator of the Erynn E. Reiss LGBTQ+ Resource Center, said that after being stalked, they always have to look over their shoulder while on campus. While there are great resources and programs on campus like the VIP Center, Hannon does not feel as though the campus is safe in regards to stalking. They suggested adding more blue lights to create a stronger sense of safety on campus. By providing more on-campus immediate relief, Campus Safety can help students feel as though they are safe. By having more information/marketing of these resources Brown and Campus Safety, can help educate the student population on if they are being stalked what to do, and where to get support on campus.
If you or someone you know is being stalked, contact Campus Safety or contact Transitions of PA at 1-800-850-7948.