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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: January 25, 2023
Every year, National Stalking Awareness Month is observed in January and serves as a reminder to learn how to recognize and respond to the serious crime of stalking. According to the US Department of Justice, stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause that person to feel fear for their safety or that of another, or to experience substantial emotional distress. “Part of building healthier relationships with others is learning how to accept the word ‘no.’ People have the right to set boundaries and choose who to date or spend time with,” said Wellness Empowerment Center, VOICE health educator, Susannah Fulling-Smith.
Some movies have romanticized stalking behaviors, such as “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “Twilight,” and romantic comedies, like “You’ve Got Mail.” Often these movie genres feature manipulation and depict that wearing down the defenses of an unsuspecting victim demonstrates that “love” knows no boundaries.
The romantic storyline of slowly wearing someone down over time through repeated and unwanted interactions is one that is oftentimes held up and admired as unrequited love. According to Fulling-Smith, “When this storyline is romanticized and is shown to be effective, it perpetuates the notion that if a person is persistent enough and puts in the time to woo someone, regardless of repeated rejection, they are still entitled to be with the person.”
According to the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC), at least one in six women and one in 17 men have experienced at some point during their lifetime stalking victimization severe enough that they feared they or someone close to them would be harmed. Wellness Empowerment Center, VOICE Advocate Jennifer Gagen categorized stalking as often falling into two categories at Georgia Tech: stalking that occurs after a breakup and stalking that involves repeated, unwanted attempts to get someone to be in a relationship or friendship. “A student may think they can handle the situation on their own by reasoning with the person. We encourage students to ask for help before the stalking impacts their safety,” said Gagen.
Stalking often occurs as a larger pattern of intimate partner violence and can be an indicator of potential escalation and danger. Many abusers use stalking behaviors to intimidate and control their partners or to try to convince them to return to the relationship. Stalking in real life can manifest in more subtle ways than what is portrayed by Hollywood so it’s important to understand behaviors and red flags. Gagen and Fulling-Smith compiled the following tips to consider:
Stalking is a terrifying and psychologically harmful crime, as well as a predictor of potentially lethal violence. The Wellness Empowerment Center, a department in the division of Student Engagement & Well-Being, provides upstream, innovative, and relevant programs, services, and initiatives to help students thrive. For more information regarding stalking and other forms of sexual violence please visit https://wellnesscenter.gatech.edu/voice.
