Stalking
What is Stalking?
You are being stalked when a person repeatedly watches, follows or harasses you, making you feel afraid or unsafe. A stalker can be someone you know, a past partner or a stranger. The following are some examples of what stalkers may do:
- Show up at your home or place of work unannounced or uninvited.
- Send you unwanted text messages, letters, emails and voicemails.
- Leave unwanted items, gifts or flowers.
- Constantly call you and hang up.
- Use social networking sites and technology to track you.
- Spread rumors about you via the internet or word of mouth.
- Make unwanted phone calls to you.
- Call your employer or professor.
- Wait at places you hang out.
- Damage your home, car or other property.
If you think you are being stalked and are afraid, contact campus police at 828-1234 and ask to speak to a victim/witness officer. They can help you explore your options and explain ways to document the behaviors. They can ask the person to stop contacting you and/or help you obtain a protective order that can last up to 2 years. We can help you contact the police, or go with you to get the help you need.
Online stalking and/or harassment
Stalking is not a new problem, but social media sites are increasingly being used as a tool to harass someone and to find out where people are "checking in." A person may also use threats or coercion in "sexting," threatening to post or send pictures of you to others. Again, documentation is critical and providing the police with pages from your Facebook account, for example, can increase the chances of protection for you or even your friends and family if they are being impacted.
WE BELIEVE every student has the right to feel safe on campus. Safety Planning tools are available to help anyone who experiences violence. The resources below provide you with options and information to protect your physical and emotional health and to potentially seek accountability against a person who has harmed you.
Additional Resources
Understanding Family Abuse and Protective Orders in VA
Emergencies
VCU Police
Emergency # (804) 828-1234
Non-Emergency # (804) 828-1196
VCU Escort Services (804) 828-9255
Off-Campus 911
Suicide Crisis Line (800) 273-8255
St Mary's Hospital: (804) 281-8184
VCU Health System (MCV): (804) 628-2583
On Campus
VCU Counseling Services: (804) 828-6200
MCV Campus: (804) 828-3964
"UCS" provides individual counseling services and referrals to therapists in the community if you prefer to go off-campus.
University Student Health Services: 828-8828
MCV Office: (804) 828-9220
Taking care of your physical health is important. At Student Health Services, you can be tested and treated for STI's, given a pregnancy test, and receive a physical exam.
University Safety Case Manager and Title IX Coordinator: Kendall Plageman (804) 837-8753
Sexual misconduct, including sexual assault and sexual harassment, is a form ofgender discrimination prohibited by Title IX. If you choose to report, the Coordinator can provide information and updates on sexual misconduct complaints. For more information on reporting, visit: http://www.titleix.saf.vcu.edu/
Student Conduct Office- Judicial Affairs: (804) 828-1963
Staff in this office can provide you with information on VCU's judicial hearing process for sexual misconduct violations.
Global Education Office: (804) 828-8309 For immigration issues, transportation and translation services, contact Pam Haney for assistance.
Center for Off-Campus Student Housing: Visit this office in the Commons for assistance in finding off-campus housing via an online database.
VCU Escort Services: (804) 828-9255
Disability Support Services (Monroe Park): (804) 828-2253
Disability Support Services (VCUHS): (804) 828-9782
Academic Assistance
Academic Advising: (804) 827-8648
Campus Learning Center: (804) 827-8108
Writing Center: (804) 827-8108
Professional Development Academy (PDA): (804) 828-1851
Help with ADA, skills development, and disabilities
Financial Assistance
VCU Financial Aid: (804) 828-6669
Commonwealth Catholic Charities Debt management: (804) 285-5900
Off-Campus - Counseling and Support
Richmond YWCA (804) 643-0888
The "Y" is resource for women, children, and families of all ages, races, and income levels that provides free individual and group counseling for survivors, a 24-hour hotline, hospital and court accompaniment, emergency shelter, and referral to other resources.
Henrico Safe Harbor (804) 287-7877
This organization offers free counseling, court and hospital accompaniment, a 24-hour hotline, and emergency shelter for survivors of intimate partner/domestic violence regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, gender identity or expression, faith, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity and geographic location. Services are available in both English and Spanish.
Hanover Safe Place (804) 752-2702
Located in Ashland, VA, this organization offers support groups, hospital and court accompaniment, a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, and a food pantry for survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
Criminal Justice Support (Richmond): (804) 646-5167
For assistance in understanding the criminal justice process, contact Teresa Bundy, Victim/Witness Coordinator.
Fan Free Clinic (804) 358-6343 x153
This clinic offers a wide array of services to all members of the Richmond community, including free HIV testing, STD testing and treatment, birth control, reproductive health, physical exams, Trans care, and more.
Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth (ROSMY) (804) 644-4800
ROSMY's mission is to ensure equal opportunities for success for Virginia's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth ages 14-20 through support groups, leadership initiatives and education.
Virginia League for Planned Parenthood (804) 355-4358
VLPP offers birth control, STI and HIV testing, emergency contraception, abortion services, and a variety of other resources.
Other Helpful Resources and Websites:
The Trevor Project 24-Hour Crisis and Suicide Hotline for LGBTQ Youth: (866) 488-7386
National Anti-Violence Project Free bilingual (English/Spanish), 24-hour, 365-day-a-year crisis intervention hotline: (212) 714-1141
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) (800) 656-HOPE (4673)
National Stalking Resource Center
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
Song (Southerners on New Ground)
ASHA for Women
ASHA means "hope" in many South Asian languages. ASHA for Women dedicates its services to providing community-based, culturally-competent support to South Asian women and their children who have faced domestic violence in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Deaf Abused Women's Network
A Washington, DC organization that provides direct services to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking.
INCITE! Women of Color against Violence
A national activist organization working to end violence against women of color.
MataHari: Eye of the Day
An organization of women of color, immigrant women and families who organize as sisters, workers, and survivors for personal and societal transformation, justice and human rights.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.ncadv.org) – Hotline 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
NCAVP works to respond to and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected (LGBTQH) communities.
Native Youth Sexual Health Network
NYSHN works with Indigenous peoples across the United States and Canada to advocate for and build strong, comprehensive, and culturally safe sexuality and reproductive health, rights, and justice initiatives in their own communities.
Northwest Network
An organization founded by and for LGBT survivors to end abuse in diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities.
Survivor Project
A nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the needs of intersex and trans survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
The Network/La Red
A survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, BDSM, polyamorous, and queer communities.
Contact Us
815 S. Cathedral Place
Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: (804) VCU-WELL (828-9355)
Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
VCU Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services (M-Th 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., F 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
24/7 VA Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline (800) 838-8238
