By Raven Hanning, Editor-in-Chief
The UNCP Annual Security and Fire Safety report highlighted a concerning trend: a significant rise in reported stalking cases on campus. The report, released in late September 2023, covering 2020 to 2022 showed a doubling of stalking incidents from the prior year.
The report is mandated by the Jeanne Clery Act and is a consumer protection law dedicated to guaranteeing awareness of campus policies and provide statistics.
The stalking category doubled from 2021 totaling 42 instances reported on campus for 2022. The total number of reported stalkings in 2021 for comparison was 20.
stalking cases on campus between the years 2021 and 2022.
PN Infographic/Created in Microsoft Excel by Raven Hanning
Stalking is defined by the university in the report as two or more actions aimed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others; or cause substantial emotional distress.
The university clarified in the report that a reasonable person, in the stalking definition, is referring to someone with a similar identity to the victim would be afraid.
With this definition being vague, in the opinion of Ronette Gerber, Title IX Director and Director of Clery Compliance, students can be accused of stalking when they aren’t stalking anyone.
“When the semester starts and people are making friends, there’s sometimes a realization that students don’t want to be friends with someone else and they don’t say anything, so they ghost and that someone wants to know why,” Gerber said. “And the victim is afraid because they don’t know this person, and it is stalking but it’s not what we’re looking for. It’s just someone trying to figure out what happened.”
Gerber attributes the increased reported cases to be related to that confusion.
“In my opinion, with no research, when you look at these years, I genuinely feel that students who went through COVID [are experiencing] some consequences to that.” Gerber said.
Students should always go to Title IX, an RA or Community Director if they feel they are, or, unsure if they are being stalked.
“I would much rather them come and to us anyway and tell us what’s going on,” Gerber said. “It may very well be serious!”
Student Experiences
Martina Van Etten, a junior in Biology, experienced this herself this semester. She was unsure if what she was experiencing was stalking, or as Gerber explained, was just an awkward student trying to make friends.
“There was this kid back in September who I would see a lot, he wanted to be my friend I think but he would just keep walking up to me and asking me a random question before walking away again,” Van Etten said. “He would only approach me when I was around my girl friends but when I was with my guy friends, he wouldn’t come up to me. He never did anything out of line though, besides show up to my classes.” She said he wasn’t enrolled as a student in her classes.
Van Etten said she didn’t report the student because she wasn’t sure if the student “didn’t understand social cues” and didn’t want to report him if it wasn’t serious.
The last time she had contact as of with this student was during Pembroke Day.
Daniel Vivar, a sophomore computer science major, has a different experience on campus from his friend Martina.
“For me as a male, nothing has happened to me, but for other people it might be more concerning. And people not really wanting to use the resources I can see that causing issues as well,” Vivar said. “I have a few friends who’ve experienced [stalking] but I don’t think they reported it.
If you are or someone you know is being stalked
- Keep a timestamped summary of events including sightings and locations, emails, social media contact and voicemail messages.
- Inform Campus Police immediately if the offences happen on campus, if the stalking is off campus, you should make a report with the local police.
- Address the stalker and demand them to stop either in person or through the Office of Title IX and the Clery Compliance or Police and Public Safety. If you chose to interact with the stalker directly, it may add to their courage and places you in a potentially dangerous situation. Do not intentionally put yourself in harms way.
- Work with Title IX to create a safety plan which includes escorts if wanted and necessary.
Other statistics included in the report
Included in the safety report are fire statistics for the 2022 calendar year which lists location, number of reports, the cause and injuries, deaths or damages caused by the fire.
The report also included the number of sexual assaults, rape, domestic violence and stalking cases that occurred on campus property which are all listed under the Violence Against Women Act category. All of these crimes have seen an increase in cases up to 60%.
VAWA is a federal law which provides housing protections for people, living in federally subsidized housing, who experience domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or stalking to try to prevent victims from becoming homeless.
Although the name specifies women, it includes protections for any victim regardless of sex, gender identity, or orientation.
The reporting process
Once a report is made, Title IX will reach out to the victim of any report up to three times. If the victim chooses to not go forward with an investigation or press charges, Title IX will respect their wishes and no investigation will be initiated.
The only time Title IX will launch an investigation into a report without speaking to the victim is if there are multiple victims for the offender.
If the student is stalked at home or off-campus, Title IX doesn’t have jurisdiction and cannot report the issue. Students in this case should reach out to their local law enforcement to make a report. Title IX in this case can be used to get in contact with a support system.
Support Systems available to students
It is recommended by Title IX that all students download the LiveSafe app to stay up to date on campus safety as well as making a report of their own.
Counseling and Psychological Services is the on campus mental health services clinic. They have a counselor on staff who specializes in sexual violence.
Students who wish to not make a report with Title IX can speak to a counselor. Their personal information will not be shared with Title IX and the only information that will be shared is a total number of instances that CAPS has encountered for categories listed in the report.
CAPS offers counseling services including orientation to counseling groups, psychotherapy groups, individual counseling, and medication management. Consultation and referrals are also available.
Intake services are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Each session lasts 1-hour.
Advocacy services are free and confidential for any student who are survivors of, or accused of, sexual misconduct including stalking, rape, bulling, cyber stalking etc.
Crisis Services are available through a 24-hour crisis line at 910-775-4749. These services are also available in the office on the s=2nd floor, Brave Health Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The “988” Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24-hours a day in both English and Spanish.
For students who are struggling academically because of stalking, sexual or domestic violence, or pregnancy, Title IX can give the student a Withdrawal for Extenuating Circumstances or an Incomplete for their enrolled courses. Any courses marked as Incomplete are required to be completed by the following semester.
Students can make a report or request assistance for themselves at uncp.edu/safe.
Recommended Preventative Measures
- Download the LiveSafe app. LiveSafe is a free, university safety app that included the contact information for campus police, safety policy and features usable by students and their families.
- Walk in groups of three or more if possible when walking on-and-off-campus.
- Vary your routes and arrival times to buildings you go to often. Doing so will prevent creating a predictable itinerary.
- Don’t post personal information online and be careful with how much you post on social media.
- Let your family and friends know where you’ll be and the routes you take if necessary.
- Students are allowed to carry pepper spray and under North Carolina Law (G.S. 14-269.2) any person with a concealed carry permit can keep a handgun in their vehicle if it is “…in a closed compartment or container within a locked vehicle and the firearm remains in the closed compartment at all times.”
If you believe you or a loved one is in danger, make a report at https://www.uncp.edu/safe.
UNC Pembroke has over 30 outdoor call boxes in high traffic areas across campus. The call boxes have a blue light post to make them easier to spot. You can view the interactive map below:
The Laws
For more information, definitions and regulations related to the Jeanne Clery Act, visit:
https://www.clerycenter.org/the-clery-act#:~:text=The%20Clery%20Act%20requires%20colleges,place%20to%20improve%20campus%20safety
For more information, definitions and directions on what to do if you are being stalked, read NC General Statute section 14-277.3A. It is available at: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-277.3A.pdf .
For more information and definitions on laws for keeping firearms on a higher education campus, read NC General Statute Section 14-269. It is available at: https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-269.2.pdf.