16 The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, Nove ember 23, 1999 AILYIN,-DEPTH "I had once told him in passing how much / loved traveling and how I would like to go to Paris one day. After I switched out of the class, he came to my discussion section one day and put (plane tickets to Paris) with a passport on my desk. / was so scared and didn't even know what to say," - "Candice" Stalking victim 0 T he d: De X IM -o - makes fr ik-omng fi- t.al a d M securiy., Vo ° : i A te u b -thm vs- Hoge qrt . "The setup of being on a college campus - living in a smaller community and having a set route - it makes (stalking) easier," said Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center Virginia Chitanda. SAPAC statistics show that stalking in Ann Arbor has increased from last year's total of 28 to 29 incidents reported as of this month. Case Study "Candice," an LSA junior who wished to remain anonymous because she is concerned for her safety, had first-hand experience with this growing problem. Candice said a classmate, who became a study partner for her sophomore year religion class, soon became a incessant, persistent stalker. "He seemed very nice and intelligent in the begin- ning," Candice recalled. But then, the fifth-year senior allegedly began pursuing Candice constantly, despite her blunt statements about having a boyfriend. After several months and literally hundreds of tele- phone calls and e-mails, Candice said she had no other choice but to drop the class two months into the semes- ter. "I was getting an 'A' in that class and really liked it. But I thought if he left and I stayed, all his friends in that class would give me a hard time. So I just decided to leave instead," Candice explained. But dropping the vlass did not dissuade the male stu- dent, she said. "I had once told him in passing how much I loved trav- eling and how I would like to go to Paris one day. After I switched out of the class, he came to my discussion sec- tion one day and put (plane tickets to Paris) with a passport on my desk. I was so scared and didn't even know what to say," she said. When Candice refused to speak to her pursuer, she said he turned violent and started yelling at her, stating she was ungrateful after he had gone to much trouble to get tickets. With the support of friends and family, Candice sought professional help in the matter and obtained a restraining order. How to cope _ Cases like Candice's are not uncommon. "From time to time we have stalkers Reported Cases: In 1998, Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Center had 28 reported cases of stalking. As of October 1999, SAPAC has 29 cases of stalking have been reported to SAPAC. that we deal with," said Department of Public Safety Det. Wesley Skowron. Under Michigan law, stalking is defined as "a will- ful course of conduct involving repeated or continu- ing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, fright- ened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, harassed, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested." Skowron explained the process legal enforcement agencies follow when dealing with a stalker. "A victim must warn (the stalker) once before making a charge," Skowron said, noting that in about 50 to 60 percent of cases of stalking some legal action, including obtaining a warrant, is necessary. Chitanda said the cases are often tough to deal with because of "the standard of proof and evidence required to prove the events." Evidence includes records of con- tact, letters, answering machine tapes and unused gifts. DPS statistics show an increase in the number of reported stalking cases on campus between 1997 and 1999. Twenty-one cases were reported in both 1997 and 1998 and as of last month 23 stalking inci- dents were reported to DPS in 1999. The alleged stalker's identity is crucial to enforcing the law, Chitanda said. Most often, the police can't prosecute in cases unless the alleged stalker's identi- ty is known. Diane Alexander, director of library and field ser- vices at the National Center for Victims of Crime in Arlington, Va., said there is a direct connection between domestic violence and stalking in many of the cases she handles. NCVA provides legal advice and referrals to local institutions for men and women who have been victims of crimes including stalking and relat- ed abuse. Stalking on Campus "One of the options we offer is at the University you can make a formal report under the judicial system or student code," Chitanda said, referring to the Code of Student Conduct, the University's internal disciplinary system. "The second option is to start collecting evidence - a log of all contacts with the stalker," she said. "An option is always to call the police" either the Ann Arbor Police Department or DPS. "A personal protection order can come from a circuit court judge can be issued to prevent a stalker" from mak- ing contact with the victim, she said. Conviction for aggravated stalking has a maximum penalty of five years in prison and up to S10,000 in fines. Chitanda said that stalking is detrimental because it instills a "fear of conducting normal business everyday" it its victims. The Code also has a provision against "hazing, stalk- ing or harassing another person." The University's Office of Student Conflict Resolution oversees the Code process and handles the cases of stu- dents, faculty members and parents in stalking-related situations. In the past three years, OSCR has handled 18 reports of stalking, where 18 University community members, including Graduate Student Instructors and faculty, were accused of stalking. OSCR offi- cially investigated 10 of the cases, and at least three of the victims were male. SAPAC and other domestic violence organiza- tions are available for student aid in situations similar to Candice's. SAPAC officials suggest taking precau- tions such as not walking alone, changing a telephone number, varying the times and routes taken to frequently visited places, notifying family, friends and employers for round-the-clock protec- tion against suspected stalkers. The harsh reality The U.S. Department. of Justice completed a report in July 1998 on the relationship between stalking and domestic violence in the United States. - Photo Illustration by Jeremy Menchik The study included the National Violence Against Women Survey that surveyed men and women. DOJ estimates show that stalkers are violent toward their victims between 25 and 35 percent of the time, and the group most likely to be violent is composed of those who have had an intimate rela- tionship with the victim. Intimate relationships are defined as those that exist between married or divorced couples, couples that live together or have had sexual relations. Nearly one-third of all women killed in the United States die at the hands of someone they know. Although no national figures are. available, it is estimated that between 29 and 54 percent of female murder victims are battered women, and a significant number of these mur- ders and attempted murders of women are preceded by stalking. Furthermore, stalkers who have had an intimate rela- tionship with their victims are more likely to experience prolonged obsession. Stalkers primarily target female victims the NVWA survey states. The survey identified 78 percent of the stalking victims as women and 22 percent as men. Overall, $7 percent of the identified stalkers were male. Young adults are more likely. to be involved in stalk- ing situations, according to the study. Fifty-two percent of the stalking victims were 18 to 29 years old and 22 percent were 30 to 39 years old when the stalking began. MARJORIE MARSHALL/Da y LEFT: "Candice," an LSA junior, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, re-reads a letter from her stalker. What Is stalking? - Michigan law states continued harass- ment that causes a reasonable feeling -of terror, fright, intimidation, threat or molestation inducing the same feelings, is considered stalking. Sanctions for stalkers In 32 -states, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, a first conviction for stalking can be a felony. In 16 of those areas felony charges -are reserved for specific types of stalking, where bodily injury, weapon use or carrying or where;the stalking constitutes a violation of a protec- tive order. In Michigan, a first-time offense can be prosecuted as a felony or a misdemeanor. U.S. Department ofiJustice, JuN 1998 Y The tJ -S. ®epaitn ,fin of bus#icae classifies The U.S Deparment o Justie clasifies Tna t' f ~w r ff " aii - - Te ainl iltae gantWme uve,- The ,14alio al Vi®1elace, Against Women" "Survey,