University News

WIU Marking National Stalking Awareness Month

January 13, 2015

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University is commemorating National Stalking Awareness Month during the month of January with the theme "Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It."

This year's awareness campaign is being coordinated by the WIU Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.

"As part of our efforts to support campus safety and to provide information on Title IX and the behaviors prohibited under the law, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access is partnering with a number of campus organizations and departments to provide greater awareness of the various forms of sex discrimination," said EOA Director Andrea Henderson. "Stalking, including electronic stalking, is a form of sex discrimination and is a violation of the University's Sexual Misconduct Policy. It is also a crime. It's important for our students to be aware of this, not only in terms of knowing that they have a right to live, learn, and work in an environment free of stalking, but also in terms of knowing that they have a responsibility not to engage in such behavior."

Stalking impacts 7.5 million victims each year and in one of five cases, stalkers use weapons to harm or threaten victims. Victims suffer anxiety, social dysfunction and depression at a much higher rate than the general population.

WIU will be promoting stalking awareness at a variety of locations throughout the month.

In accordance with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Western recently approved new policies that keep up with, and reinforce, evolving laws. The policies may be found at wiu.edu/vpas/policies. The new Sexual Misconduct Policy (Title IX) focuses on the prohibition of sex discrimination, which includes dating violence, domestic violence, gender harassment, discrimination based on pregnancy and parental status, sexual assault/rape, sexual harassment and stalking. The Non-Discrimination Policy prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status and any other classes protected by state or federal law.

For more information about stalking prevention, visit stalkingawarenessmonth.org and ovw.usdoj.gov.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing