Stalking | Student Health Services | SIU

Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct involving two or more independent actions, which threatens or endangers the health, safety, emotional welfare, or access to academic resources or employment of another person or which would cause a reasonable person to be fearful for his/her safety, health, or emotional well-being and which does cause another person to be fearful for his/her safety, health, or emotional well-being. For the purposes of this definition course of conduct means two or more acts in which the Respondent directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property. Substantial emotional distress means significant mental suffering or anguish that may but does not necessarily require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.

Common stalking behaviors include:

• Calling or texting you repeatedly
• Sending you unwanted letters, emails, or pictures
• Showing up unexpectedly at places you go
• Repeatedly contacting you or posting about you on social media
• Damaging your property
• Stealing things that belong to you

Sometimes people stalk their partners while they’re dating. This is a sign of an unsafe relationship.

Stalking is a crime. If you are a victim of stalking you may consider contacting the police or the Confidential Advisor.