Stalking and Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in which submission to or rejection of such conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s work or school performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or school environment.

Stalking

The exact definition of stalking varies by state, but in general, stalking refers to a course of conduct directed at a specific person that involves repeated visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual communication, or verbal, written, or implied threats, or a combination thereof, that would cause a reasonable person fear. Examples of this behavior include:

• Repeated undesired contact (phone calls, emails, letters, show up unexpectedly, etc.).
• Following or laying in wait for the individual.
• Making threats to the individual or her/his family.
• Any other behavior used to contact, harass, track, or threaten the individual.

Each year in the United States about 3.4 million people are victims of stalking. Young adults are the primary targets; the majority of victims are 18–24 years old. Most victims know their stalker. About 1 in 4 victims experienced some form of cyberstalking.

If You Are Being Stalked You Should Consider:

• Avoiding all contact with the stalker.
• Informing family, friends, supervisors, and co-workers of what is going on.
• Reporting the stalking to Safety and Security or Hanover Police
• Keeping an accurate journal or log of all incidents connected to the stalking.
• Keeping all evidence received from the stalker such as letters, packages, taped telephone messages, etc.