According to the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC), stalking is “a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress.” People who stalk act in ways to monitor, track, harass, or intimidate. They may follow students, wait outside of their classrooms, by their cars, or frequently drive by their workplaces, residence halls, or homes. Cyberstalking is another form of stalking and may include harassment online; frequent texting, voicemails, or picture messages; installing programs to track internet use; using anonymous accounts to contact someone; or using GPS to track location. People who stalk may also call and hang up, deliver unwanted notes or gifts, or damage a person’s belongings. There are many other actions people who stalk may use to intimidate or to monitor behavior.
People may struggle to recognize stalking as a crime, because it is often a series of non-criminal offenses; however, stalking is illegal in the state of Idaho, against the student code of conduct and/or Title IX, and very serious. Stalking may also be perpetrated in combination with sexual violence and/or relationship violence.