By Cameron Kerkau, Staff Reporter.
Stalking is a problem that isn’t always on the mind of the general public. In recognition of that, Underground Railroad, Inc. of Saginaw has teamed with the Equity Office of Delta College to inform students of the facts on the issue. On Wednesday, Jan. 21, Prevention Education Coordinator Dana Houston delivered an educational speech in the commons area of the Red Brix Café.
“(We) put any educational materials out there just so people are more aware and have more resources and know where to go and kind of be able to easier identify that it’s going on,” says Houston. “Knowledge is power.”
In her speech Houston described what stalking can look like. She mentioned that someone following you, texting or calling you repeatedly, using social media to contact or post about you, sending unwanted gifts, destroying things that belong to you, trying to start or keep an unwanted relationship, or threatening your safety and the safety of those close to you can all be considered the behavior of a stalker.
“Stalking is defined as a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continued harassment of another individual that will cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested and that actually causes the victim to feel those ways,” Houston says.
Houston also spoke on what an individual’s options are if they believe they are a victim of stalking such as making a cease and desist request that notifies the stalker to end all contact.
Houston says to refrain from all contact from your stalker, as even yelling at them could be taken as encouragement. You can also file a personal protection order, take civil action against your stalker, or file a report with the police. Houston also recommends that victims of stalking refrain from traveling alone.
If you feel that you are a victim of stalking you can contact Public Safety at 989-686-9113, or Title IX Coordinator Loyce Brown at 989-686-9547.
If you’re in Saginaw County, you can contact the Underground Railroad, Inc., at 989-755-0411. In Midland County you can contact Shelterhouse at 989-835-6771. In Bay County you can contact the Bay Area Women’s Center at 989-686-4551.