UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — January is National Stalking Awareness Month. Penn State and community partners will host events during the final week of January to raise awareness around this important issue and provide opportunities for the Penn State community to engage in prevention efforts and show support for survivors.
According to the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC), one in 10 undergraduate women and one in 33 undergraduate men are victims of stalking. The most common stalking behaviors experienced by college students include 45% of victim survivors receiving unwanted voice or text messages, 44% of victim survivors receiving unwanted emails or social media messages and 37% of victim survivors being approached by the stalker or having the stalker showing up where they are not wanted.
“While regularly depicted in the media, portrayals of stalking are either sensationalized, romanticized or even downplayed as a joke or harmless, humorous situation, which does not provide an accurate representation of victim survivor experiences,” said Becca Geiger Wallen, associate director of Penn State’s Gender Equity Center, a unit of Student Affairs. “Through our engagements recognizing Stalking Awareness Month, we hope to provide education and awareness on this issue that is often misconstrued and provide hope and community for victim survivors experiencing the fear and isolation that comes with stalking.”
This month’s events include the following.
Keynote Speaker: Anna Nasset
Anna Nasset is the owner of Stand Up Resources, which provides training on stalking, sexual assault, victim services, suicide awareness, workplace culture, bystander prevention and more. Nasset, who has been a victim of stalking by a man she does not know for the last decade, now turns her experience of sexual and psychological abuse into that of speaking, outreach and activism.
In 2019, the offender received the maximum sentence for aggravated felony stalking: 10 years. With her newfound freedom, Nasset said she now shares her experience and educates others on sex related crimes, trauma, victim impact and empowerment.
Nasset will be holding multiple engagements with the Penn State community to observe and honor Stalking Awareness Month. More information about the engagements can be found below.*
Solidarity Stones: Interactive Rock Painting*
- Monday, Jan. 23 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- HUB-Robeson Center Tables by the Pollock Road Entrance
Attendees will paint rocks with decorations or statements such as “I believe you,” “survivor,” and “empowered.” While painting, Nasset will be on hand to engage with participants, answer questions and offer support to survivors by sharing her own story and healing process. Penn State Libraries will be available with fiction and non-fiction books and resources about stalking.
Stalking Awareness Month Keynote with Anna Nasset*
- Monday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.
- HUB-Robeson Center Flex Theater
Nasset will share her experience with stalking, as well as educate attendees about stalking, how to respond to it and how to support a survivor.
Penn State Police training – STALKED: Case Study*
- Tuesday, Jan. 24
- 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- HUB Robeson Center Flex Theater
Nasset will host a session with Penn State Police in which her experience with stalking will be viewed through a criminal justice lens.
Through the years, Nasset has worked with countless service providers and community members and successfully experienced prosecution as a victim of stalking, with the offender now serving a 10-year prison sentence for the crime. This nuanced case study will allow service providers and first responders to understand how victims navigate the world, the legal system and building a new life. Participants will learn best practices when working with victims of crime.
True Crime Night with the Gender Equity Center
- Wednesday, Jan. 25
- 6 p.m.
- HUB-Robeson Center 134
Join the Gender Equity Center for a "True Crime" night centered around stalking, featuring a video from YouTuber and podcaster Kendall Rae. In the video, Rae shares the case of Travis Alexander, who was stalked and subsequently murdered by his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias. The video includes real life footage of the trial and case. After viewing the video, there will be a roundtable discussion about the case, bystander intervention, warning signs, and supporting a survivor of stalking.
For more information on stalking issues and ways to become involved in prevention efforts, visit this link.
To stay up to date on the Gender Equity Center, follow on Facebook and Instagram using @PennStateGenEq or visit the website. Join the Gender Equity Center listserv by emailing rxg5421@psu.edu.