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If You're Being Stalked

What can I do if I'm being stalked?

1. Let trusted people in your life know what is happening.

You are not alone, and you don't have to suffer in isolation. Reaching out to others can provide you with much-needed emotional support and those in your life (i.e., family, friends, partners, professors, RAs/RDs, supervisors) can pool their resources to increase your safety and decrease stalking impacts on a day-to-day basis. Note that Northwestern faculty and staff are required to notify the university if they learn about campus stalking, but you cannot be required to make a report and, in the vast majority of cases, the university will not take further action if you do not wish them to.

Stalking is both illegal and a violation of Northwestern's policies. Northwestern resources, such as the Northwestern University Police Department (NUPD) and the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (OCR), can take specialized action to assist you.

CARE advocates are available to connect you to resources and strategize with you about how to best disclose the stalking to others and ask for what you need. 

2. Develop a safety plan.

A safety plan is a document personalized to you with practical strategies for reducing the potential physical and emotional harm of stalking in all areas of your life (i.e., work, school, social life, online) and increasing feelings of safety and control. Safety plans consider your pre-existing resources, personal goals, concerns, and priorities.

CARE advocates can assist you with designing a safety plan. For additional safety planning information and tools, visit the Responding to Relationship Violence page or Stalking Awareness Safety Strategies (PDF).

3. Keep track of the stalker's behavior using a log.

It's tempting to automatically delete upsetting material, but consider keeping a log documenting all stalking behaviors (PDF), including in-person contacts and timestamped screenshots (PDF) of any e-mails, texts, social media, or phone contact. Also, keep any physical letters or gifts you have received. This information can be used as evidence if you decide to pursue any course of formal action.

4. Report online harassment to platforms.

Harassing and abusive online behavior violates the terms and conditions of many social media platforms and internet service providers in addition to potentially being illegal. You can report harmful content, request that content be removed, and/or alter your accounts' privacy settings in response to stalking. The non-profit organization Without My Consent hosts a guide to content removal for victims of online harassment, and the Clinic to End Tech Abuse offers multiple guides to increasing security on various online platforms and devices. 

CARE advocates can help you explore all your options in response to digital harm. 

5. Apply for a Stalking No Contact Order or a no-contact directive.

Two remedies available to people experiencing stalking are filing for a Stalking No Contact Order (sometimes called a 'restraining order') through the court system or requesting a no-contact directive, which is provided by Northwestern. If granted, both these remedies dictate that the stalker stay away from and cease contacting you, though with different jurisdictions. If the stalking continues, the stalker faces legal and/or university sanctions.

You do not need to file a police report, pursue charges, or participate in a university investigation to receive these remedies, though you could choose to do these things simultaneously. Speak to a CARE advocate if you want more information about these processes or assistance navigating them. 

6. Seek counseling for support.

Stalking is scary and can cause large disruptions in victims' lives, significantly impacting their mental health. Both CARE and CAPS can provide you with direct emotional support or refer you to trauma-informed therapists in the community.

What can I do if someone I know is being stalked?

If you’re trying to support someone who is being stalked, it may be difficult to know how to respond without escalating the situation or being targeted yourself. Start by believing the survivor and validating their emotions; minimizing the situation could prevent the survivor from seeking help in the future and encourage them to dismiss their own instincts. Respect and protect the survivor's privacy and autonomy and, if they're interested, offer practical support and resources that help increase safety.

CARE is here for both those experiencing stalking and those they turn to for support. Schedule an appointment to find support for yourself and discuss ways to be a good support for your loved ones.

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