loves me not
everywoman's center's anti-stalking campaign
The love me not campaign (www.lovemenot.org) was originally created by the
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and
Los Angeles Commission Against Assaults on Women (LACAAW).
what is stalking?
Stalking is any unwanted contact that communicates a direct or indirect threat and that causes the victim to fear for his/her safety and/or the safety of family members. Stalking affects people of all identities, and can occur within any community. Unwanted contact can include:
- following or surveillance
- inappropriate and/or persistent approaches, confrontations, requests for dates, meetings, etc.
- appearing at a place of work or residence
- unwanted contact including phone calls, letters, internet communication or e-mail
- threats to the victim or the victim's family and friends
- gathering information about someone from friends, post office, employer, school, internet, etc.
- unwanted or threatening gifts
- explicit, implicit, and symbolic threats
- harming or killing the victim's pets
- damage to property
- physical assault
- sexual assault
how often does it occur?
1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime. (Tjaden Report, NVAW Survey, 1998)
60% of female victims and 30% of male victims are stalked by an intimate partner (current/former spouse, cohabitant, boyfriend or girlfriend). (Ibid.)
94% of stalkers identified by female victims are men, and 60% of stalkers identified by male victims are men. Overall, 87% of stalkers are men (Ibid.)
In a 1997 survey of college women, 13% had been stalked during the current school year. (NCWSV, 1997)
who is affected?
78% of stalking victims are women and 22% are men. (Tjaden Report, NVAW Survey, 1998)
74% of stalking victims are between 18-39 years old, and 52% are between 18-29. (Ibid.)
1.4 million people are stalked annually. (Tjaden Report, NVAW Survey, 1998)
what can i do if i am being stalked?
* If you are being stalked and are in immediate danger, call 911.
* Call Everywoman's Center's 24-hour hotline for free and confidential safety planning and counseling: 413.545.0800 (voice/TTY) or 888.337.0800 (voice/TTY).
* If you feel more comfortable using Spanish, you can also call Llámanos at 800.223.5001/800.688.4889 TTY.
* If you need to seek shelter from someone who is stalking you, or your stalker is a current or former intimate partner, you can also call the Safe Passage Hotline/Linea de crisis: 413.586.5066 (voice/TTY) or 888.345.5282 (toll free, voice/TTY).
* Keep a record of the incidents (day, time, place, event, and witnesses). Or download this stalking incident log from www.lovemenot.org.
* Alter your travel routes frequently.
* All 50 states and the District of Columbia have anti-stalking laws that can be used to prosecute stalkers.
* Know that you are not alone.
helpful resources for the UMass Amherst campus
Dean of Students Office: 413.545.2684
Graduate Dean: 413.545.5271
UMass Police Department:
- Emergency: 911
- Rape Hotline: 545.COPS (2677)
- Business: 545.2121
additional community resources
Men's Resource Center of Western Massachusetts
413.253.9887
www.mensresourcecenter.org
Stonewall Center
GLBT Resource Center for UMass & surrounding community 413.545.4824
www.umass.edu/stonewall
Safe Passage
Services for battered women and their children
Business line 413.586.1125 (V/TTY)
24-hour Hotline/Linea de crisis 413.586.5066 (V/TTY) or 888.345.5282 (V/TTY)
www.safepass.org
Domestic Violence Safelink
Multilingual 24-hour MA statewide hotline
877.785.2020 or 877.521.2601/TTY
www.casamyrna.org/programs/safelink.html
Stalking Resource Center
www.ncvc.org/src
what can i do to help end stalking?
Volunteer! The Everywoman's Center's Educator/Advocate and Counselor/Advocate Programs train community educators and rape crisis counselors every fall. Visit the our websites for more information about volunteering.
Educator/Advocate Program: www.umass.edu/ewc/programs/ea
Counselor/Advocate Program: www.umass.edu/ewc/programs/ca
