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Stalking and Sexual Assault Awareness

Stalking Information

Stalking is a prevalent crime, including on university campuses…and most victims know their stalkers.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 46 percent of stalking victims experience at least one unwanted contact per week and nearly three in four victims know their offender. Stalking impacts 6.6-7.5 million people a year in the U.S., where one in seven women and one in 18 men are targeted.

Stalking is a Crime

In Michigan, stalking is defined as a “willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, and/or harassed.” Stalking is any unwanted contact between a stalker and their target that directly or indirectly communicates a threat or places the victim in fear.

Some stalking behaviors include:

  • repeated and unwanted contact by phone, text, or social media;
  • following a person or showing up unexpectedly at locations; or
  • leaving gifts for their target.

These types of behaviors are unacceptable and illegal; therefore they should be taken seriously and reported.

Sexual Assault Information

Sexual assault will not be tolerated at the University of Michigan-Flint. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, call the Department of Public Safety at 810-762-3333. 

Sexual Assault Facts

  • If you are sexually assaulted, you are not to blame, regardless of the circumstances.
  • If someone has unwanted sexual contact with you without your consent, this is sexual assault, which is a crime.
  • About 90% of sexual assaults on campus involve survivors and perpetrators who knew each other (Fisher, et al, 2000).
  • Approximately 50% of reported cases of sexual assault involve alcohol consumption by the survivor, the perpetrator or both (Abbey, et al, 2001).
  • Many rapists attack more than once—one unreported assault may allow one or more additional rapes to occur (Lisak, et al, 2002).

What Consent Looks Like

University of Michigan-Flint policy states that “Consent is a clear and unambiguous agreement, expressed outwardly through mutually understandable words or actions, to engage in a particular activity. Consent must be voluntarily given and cannot be obtained through coercion or force.”

Additionally, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, consent doesn’t have to be verbal, but verbally agreeing to different sexual activities can help both you and your partner respect each other’s boundaries. It’s important to recognize that consent:

  • Is about communication
  • Should be given every time
  • Can be withdrawn at any time

Positive consent can look like this:

  • Communicating when you change the type or degree of sexual activity with phrases like “Is this OK?”
  • Explicitly agreeing to certain activities, either by saying “yes” or another affirmative statement, like “I’m open to trying.”
  • Using physical cues to let the other person know you’re comfortable taking things to the next level.

Consent does NOT look like this:

  • Refusing to acknowledge “no.”
  • Assuming that wearing certain clothes, flirting or kissing is an invitation for anything more.
  • Being under the legal age of consent, as defined by the state.
  • Being incapacitated because of drugs or alcohol.
  • Pressuring someone into sexual activity by using fear or intimidation.
  • Assuming you have permission to engage in a sexual act because you’ve done it in the past.

Protecting Yourself in Social Situations

While the responsibility and blame for sexual assault lie squarely with the perpetrator, there are proactive steps you can take to protect yourself:

  • Socialize with people you trust. Agree to watch out for each other and plan ahead how you’re getting home. If your plans change, make sure to tell the other people in your group. Don’t leave someone stranded in an unfamiliar or unsafe situation.
  • Know your limits. According to the National Institute of Justice, alcohol is the substance most frequently used to facilitate sexual assault. As such, it’s important to know your limits. Keep track of how many drinks you’ve had. Also be aware of your friends’ behaviors.
  • Protect your drink. Don’t leave your drink unattended. If you go to the bathroom or step outside, take the drink with you or throw it away. Drink only from containers that were given to you unopened or drinks you watched being made and poured. Perpetrators of drug-facilitated sexual assault may use substances that have no color, taste or odor.
  • It’s okay to leave. You are never obligated to remain in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, pressured or threatened. Excuse yourself from these situations. Potential excuses include: needing to take care of another friend or family member, an urgent phone call, not feeling well or having to be somewhere by a certain time.
  • Be a good friend. Trust your instincts and stick together. If you notice something happening with your friend that doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

The University of Michigan is committed to getting our students, faculty and staff home safely, even late at night. Learn more about the university’s Safe Ride Services.

Stalking Prevention Strategies

  • Take stalking seriously. Report it immediately.
  • Be mindful of where your personal information may be publicly available. Consider removing or shielding your private information on social media sites and the U-M online directory.
  • Disengage – do not meet, respond to, or contact your stalker in any way, including through other people.
  • Let others know about the stalking behavior: friends, family, co-workers.
  • Document all contact or stalking activity in a log. Record the date, time, location, and details of what happened, include a description of incident and any witnesses.
  • Preserve all evidence of activity such as saving emails, text, or screen shots.

How to be a Proactive Bystander

When bystanders take action, sexual assault may be prevented. The U-M’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center lists “The Four D’s,” or strategies for bystander intervention if you notice a situation and interpret it as problematic:

  • Direct: directly intervene
  • Distract: distract either party
  • Delegate: get help from others
  • Delay: continue to check in

The key message: If you see something, say something. Take care of your fellow Wolverines.

For Survivors by Survivors

In March 2018, SAPAC created and shared a survey as a part of a project entitled For Survivors by Survivors: A Healing Resource Co-Creation. The anonymous survey was an opportunity for survivors to share what materials have been helpful in their healing process; these are the results. In here, you will find books, poetry, songs, movies and shows that survivors have found helpful as a part of their healing process. If you are a survivor, this resource is for you. Not all of these answers will speak to you, but some may. Our hope is that you can use it to find resources that will be helpful in your healing.

Resource Guide

Our Community Matters: Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking

  • Immediate Help
  • Reporting
  • Protective and Interim Measures
  • Assistance and Support
  • Resources

Click HERE for a printable version of the Guide.

University of Michigan-Flint Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Resources

Resources and Reporting Options: For Survivors

Special Victims Services at the University of Michigan-Flint Department of Public Safety was created to help survivors of interpersonal violence navigate the criminal justice system.

Other campus resources and reporting options include: