Stalking Information
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Stalking is serious, sometimes violent, and can escalate over time. It is not tolerated at Saint Mary's College.
Stalking is defined in the SMC Student Handbook as:
- a course of conduct directed at a specific person
- would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others
- or to cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distresss
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW...
Some things stalkers do:
- Follow you and show up wherever you are
- Send unwanted gifts, letters, cards, emails, or text messages
- Damage your home, car, or other property
- Monitor your phone calls or computer use
- Use technology to track where you are at any given time
- Drive by or hang out at your home, school and/or work
- Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets
- Post information or spread rumors about you online, in a public place or by word of mouth
- Utilize social media to follow, harass, and/or threaten you
- Any other actions that control, track, or frighten you
If you are being stalked, you may:
- Feel like you are losing your mind
- Feel fear of what the stalker will do
- Feel vulnerable, unsafe, and not know who to trust
- Feel anxious, irritable, impatient, or on edge
- Feel depressed, hopeless, overwhelmed, tearful, or angry
- Feel stressed, including having trouble concentrating, sleeping, or remembering things
- Have eating problems, such as loss of appetite, forgetting to eat, or overeating
- Have flashbacks, disturbing thoughts, feelings, or memories
- Feel confused, frustrated, or isolated because other people don't understand why you are afraid
Stalking is a form of power based personal violence.
If you or someone you know wants more information or to talk about your options please contact Megan Gallagher: Director of the CARE Center, by email at mag7@stmarys-ca.edu or phone at (925) 631-4193.