Stalking

Stalking is a criminal offense under New Hampshire state law (TITLE LXII of the Criminal Code, Section 633:3-a) and prohibited at Colby-Sawyer College.

Colby-Sawyer College and the State of New Hampshire define stalking as “Purposely, knowingly, or recklessly engaging in a course of conduct targeted at a specific person which would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her personal safety or the safety of a member of that person's immediate family, and the person is actually placed in such fear.”

Examples of stalking and cyber stalking behaviors may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Repeated, unwanted/unsolicited contact that includes face-to-face contact, telephone calls, voice messages, text messages, electronic mail, instant messages, written letters, or unwanted gifts;

• Repeated, unwanted/unsolicited communication on public and college community internet sites;

• Disturbing messages online;

• Persistent physical approaches and/or requests for dates, meetings, etc.;

• Threats that create fear for one's life or safety, or fear for the safety of one's family, friends, roommates, or others;

• Unwanted touching;

• Pursuing or following another person; repeatedly showing up or waiting outside a person's home, classroom, place of employment, or car;

• Using surveillance or other types of observation, either in person or through the use of electronic devices or software to track or obtain private information;

• Use of threatening gestures;

• Trespassing or breaking into a person's car or residence; or

• Vandalism and/or destruction of a person's personal property.

The scope of the CSC stalking policy applies to all students, faculty, staff, contract employees, visitors, and administrators equally. Engaging in stalking (including cyber stalking) and harassment is a violation of the CSC Code of Community Responsibility. The college reserves the right to administer additional sanctions to an offender if the incident affects the academic and/or work environment of the college. College disciplinary procedures are independent of any and all criminal procedures. A substantiated charge against an employee of the college will subject that employee to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal. A substantiated charge against a student of the college will subject that student to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.

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Policy revised August 2008 by the vice president for student development and dean of students and the associate dean of students and director of citizenship education.

Rationale

• Our living and learning community is based on equality and respect and though at Colby-Sawyer College we respect free expression, we do not condone that expression when it is demeaning or harassing behavior.

• Community members must be able to expect a reasonable level of personal safety in order to attain academic and personal excellence.

• Violence of any kind has no place in our community as it harms the targeted student(s) and, by ripple effect, instills a level of fear and suspicion that is detrimental to the community as a whole.

Values

• Community
• Connectedness
• Excellence
• Responsibility