Awareness Months

January marks Stalking Awareness Month (SAM), a time recognized nationally and by UNC-Chapel Hill to raise awareness, promote prevention initiatives, and highlight the resources and support available for members of our campus community impacted by stalking.

UNC defines stalking as, "when an individual engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person under circumstances that would cause a reasonable person in similar circumstances and with similar identities to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or to experience Substantial Emotional Distress."

Stalking can take many forms. It may involve individuals who are known to one another or who have a current or previous relationship, or may involve individuals who are strangers. Stalking involves two or more acts, and may occur through direct or indirect contact, including through other people. It may be carried out through any action, method, device, or means to follow, monitor, observe, surveil, threaten, or communicate to or about another person.

Stalking behaviors can occur in person or through digital channels including phone calls, email, social media, and other online platforms.

Stalking behaviors can include:

• Sending repeated, unwanted calls, texts, emails, letters, and/or social media messages
• Creating fake social media accounts or profiles to communicate, monitor, and/or impersonate
• Using multiple social media platforms to engage in unwanted contact, monitoring, information gathering, and/or communication
• Repeatedly showing up at someone’s home, workplace, class, or social gathering space
• Leaving unwanted gifts or letters
• Damaging property
• Using technology or other methods to track or monitor someone's location

Healthy relationships require all parties to communicate, recognize, and respect boundaries. This includes recognizing when communication is unwanted or not reciprocated. For example, blocking someone on one social media platform is not an invitation to access that person on a different platform. If you are unsure whether your communication is welcomed, you should ask. Be sure to respect the response, especially if it is not the answer you hoped to receive.

There are University and community resources available for individuals affected by stalking. For more information about support and options, please visit Safe at UNC.

April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time recognized nationally and by UNC-Chapel Hill to raise awareness, promote prevention initiatives, and highlight the resources and support available to members of our campus community impacted by sexual assault and violence.

UNC defines sexual assault as, "having or trying to have Sexual Contact with another individual without Consent."

Consent is the communication of an affirmative, conscious, informed, and freely made decision by each individual to mutually engage in agreed upon forms of Sexual Contact. Consent requires an outward demonstration, through understandable words or actions, that conveys a clear willingness to engage in Sexual Contact.

Healthy relationships are built on clear communication, mutual respect, and consent. This means recognizing and honoring personal boundaries, including those related to physical and sexual contact.  Each of us has a right to consent and the expectation should be our partner seeks and receives our consent before engaging in sexual contact. This also applies to behavior we initiate with others. Consent is affirmative, informed, responsive, conversational, and dynamic.

There are University and community resources available for individuals affected by sexual assault and violence. For more information about support and options, please visit Safe at UNC.

October marks Relationship Violence Awareness Month (RVAM), a time recognized nationally and by UNC-Chapel Hill to raise awareness, promote prevention initiatives, and highlight the resources and support available to members of our campus community impacted by interpersonal violence.

UNC defines interpersonal violence (including intimate partner violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and relationship violence) as, "a broad range of abusive behavior committed by a person who is or has been:

• In a romantic or intimate relationship with the Reporting Party* (of the same or different sex);
• The Reporting Party’s spouse or partner (of the same or different sex);
• The Reporting Party’s family member; or
• The Reporting Party’s cohabitant or household member, including a roommate."

Interpersonal violence can include physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions, attempted actions, or threats of actions that would cause a reasonable person in similar circumstances and with similar identities to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or to experience substantial emotional distress. Such behaviors may include, but are not limited to, physical violence and threats of violence to one’s self, one’s family member, or one’s pet.

*Reporting Party: Any individual who reports experiencing unwanted or discriminatory behavior (including interpersonal or relationship violence, sexual violence, sexual exploitation, and stalking) prohibited by UNC Chapel Hill’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct or Policy on Prohibited Sexual Harassment under Title IX.

There are University and community resources available for individuals affected by interpersonal violence. For more information about support and options, please visit Safe at UNC.