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NOTE: You are a Mandatory Reporter and this situation MUST be reported to your supervisor or Title IX Coordinator immediately. You may not offer confidentiality to the student in this case.

Stalking is any behavior that would make a reasonable person feel threatened, intimidated, annoyed, or afraid.  A stalker is much more likely to be someone the student knows than not.  A stalker may start with small, annoying, persistent actions and progress to criminal behavior.  Some example of stalking behavior are:

  • trying to start or keep a relationship that the person does not want
  • threatening the person or the safety of someone close to the person
  • becoming physically aggressive with the person
  • unwanted repeated calls, emails, or letters
  • following the person

Helpful Actions

  • Encourage the student to not deal with this potentially dangerous situation by her/himself and validate their confiding in you about the situation.  Encourage the student to tell her or his parents or another trusted adult immediately.
  • Advise the student to stay alert- pay attention, to the stalker- and to yourself.  Never ignore the first signs of stalking.  You have a creepy feeling about someone?  Sit up and take notice.  Always trust your instincts.  It beats someday saying, "I knew there was something wrong... I wish I'd paid attention."
  • Suggest the student consider talking to University Police (406-657-2222) who can assist you with documentation and confronting a stalker.
  • Impress upon the student the importance to document thoroughly.  Write down all of the stalker's behavior in detail.  Keeping voice mail messages, letters, emails, text messages, gifts, photos, etc.
  • Advise the student to consider applying for a restraining order.

Unhelpful Actions

  • Minimizing the potential danger of the situation.
  • Discounting the student's concerns and anxiety.
  • Ignoring the problem

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