The SAVE Program is committed to educating our community, eliminating violence, and empowering individuals to foster a safe and supportive environment for all. By providing comprehensive education and proactive initiatives, we strive to prevent sexual assault and violence while empowering everyone to take an active role in promoting respect and safety. Simply put: Educate. Eliminate. Empower.
As previously highlighted, our focus is on implementing prevention strategies to address domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. These strategies are integrated across various student-facing groups, including first-year orientations, athletics, Greek life, and clubs. They are also implemented within university departments such as the University police and conduct offices.A pattern of behavior where one person repeatedly harasses or threatens another person, causing them to feel fearful, harassed, or in danger. This behavior can include following someone, unwanted communication (such as phone calls, texts, emails), surveillance, making threats, or any other form of intrusive contact that causes fear or concern for safety. Stalking is often characterized by its persistence and the psychological impact it has on the victim, disrupting their sense of security and daily life. It is considered a serious crime and a violation of personal boundaries and safety, with the perpetrator often seeking to assert control over the victim's life.
Examples of stalking include:
- Following and showing up uninvited to see an individual
- Making repeated and unwanted contact at someone’s home, work, school, or other location
- Sending repeated and unwanted emails, letters, or other communications (e.g., texts, social media messages, phone calls)
- Using technology (e.g., phones, hidden cameras) to monitor and track someone’s location and activities
- Sending unwanted gifts
If you think you are being stalked:
- Contact police if you are in immediate danger. If off-campus, dial 911. If on-campus, call 455-5497.
- Don't communicate with the stalker.
- Develop a safety plan. Change your routine, arrange an alternate place to stay, and have family/friends go places with you. Also, decide in advance what to do if the stalker appears at your home, work, school, or somewhere else. Tell family, friends, roommates, and coworkers how they can help you if the stalker appears. A crisis hotline or advocacy center can help develop a safety plan, provide information about local laws, explain the process to request a protection order, and make referrals to other services.
- Keep evidence of the stalking. Maintain a log of times, dates, and places that the stalker appears. Retain text messages, emails, voicemail messages, letters, or notes. Photograph anything of yours the stalker damages and any injuries the stalker causes. Ask witnesses to document anything they hear or see.
- Contact the police for assistance and information about available protective orders.
- Seek support from family, friends, roommates, and coworkers.
Bystander intervention is the act of stepping in to prevent or stop harmful behavior, such as harassment, assault, or violence, when someone witnesses it. It is important because it can disrupt harmful situations, support victims, and contribute to a safer community by holding potential perpetrators accountable. Effective bystander intervention can help prevent escalation and promote a culture of responsibility and care.