Stalking

A person commits the crime of stalking if, without lawful authority and under circumstances not amounting to a felony attempt of another crime:

(a) He or she intentionally and repeatedly harasses or repeatedly follows another person; and

(b) The person being harassed or followed is placed in fear that the stalker intends to injure the person, another person, or property of the person or of another person. The feeling of fear must be one that a reasonable person in the same situation would experience under all the circumstances; and

(c) The stalker either:

(i) Intends to frighten, intimidate, or harass the person; or

(ii) Knows or reasonably should know that the person is afraid, intimidated, or harassed even if the stalker did not intend to place the person in fear or intimidate or harass the person.

(Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 9A.46.110. Stalking. (2007))

A person is guilty of cyberstalking if he or she, with intent to harass, intimidate, torment, or embarrass any other person, and under circumstances not constituting telephone harassment, makes an electronic communication to such other person or a third party:

(a) Using any lewd, lascivious, indecent, or obscene words, images, or language, or suggesting the commission of any lewd or lascivious act;

(b) Anonymously or repeatedly whether or not conversation occurs; or

(c) Threatening to inflict injury on the person or property of the person called or any member of his or her family or household.

Though PLU does not currently have a stand-alone stalking policy, stalking behavior is prohibited through policies related to Computer Use, University Violence Prevention, and Sexual Misconduct. You can visit the Student Code of Conduct Website to view these policies in full.

PLU will uphold the Washington state policies and laws around the issue of stalking in order to protect its students and preserve their individual rights.

Stalking is not acceptable and there are services available both on and off campus. The PLU’s Voices Against Violence Program is a resource for victims of stalking to obtain a Protection Order, learn how to increase their safety, and connect with additional resources. Victim’s can also contact Campus Safety and Student Conduct.