The stalking trend
Jesus Ron
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Cyber-stalking has become a problem in colleges throughout the nation, and some campuses are beginning to take measures to prevent it.
After issuing surveys to their student body, George Mason University and the University at Buffalo discovered that stalking occurs more often than they actually believed, according Jayne Hitchcock, the author of "Netcrimes & Misdemeanors.
Hitchcock, who also runs the website Haltabuse.org, said that education for students and law enforcement is crucial as well as training for how to handle cyber-stalking situations.
Colleges, such as Rutgers, that do not conduct surveys are not as aware of the problem, said Hitchcock, since online stalking is often not reported.
When it is reported, authorities unfamiliar with net crimes are unsure how to deal with the situation, said Hitchcock. "The campus police often aren't any help-not because they don't want to be, but because they have no knowledge of how to handle online-related cases," wrote Hitchcock in her book.
GMU and UB also have created programs to educate students and law enforcement on how to deal with these situations.
"University and college web sites frequently have student roster lists, e-mail addresses…if they have Facebook or MySpace accounts and don't make them private, that info is available for everyone to see," Hitchcock said.
"If they've been in the school or other newspapers…that info is not hard to find. Then all it takes is a look at a white pages search engine, do some social engineering in phone calls and you get the info you want," Hitchcock said.
Hitchcock said the Internet "makes it easier for harassers/stalkers to find information, even to pay for it. Before the internet, you had to physically go to town hall or the courthouse or wherever to have access to or purchase information. Now the Internet makes it a snap to get the info."
Rutgers University publishes a lot of personal information, including addresses and telephone numbers in the university directory by default. Students may, however, make that information private if they wish.
President George Bush recently signed a federal "Cyber-stalking" bill which prevents anyone from using the Internet "without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy." The bill has also been criticized by Internet free speech advocates.
Another initiative to curb cyber-stalking is the system, Predators and Prey Alert, which allows law enforcement to interact with a victim's computer and view all incoming messages from a victim's stalker to potentially track down the criminal.
When discussing the details of Quashie's case, Hitchcock said, "I'd encourage her and her family to sit down with campus police and put pressure on them to do more and seriously consider suing the university if they do not do something about this guy."
Janice Strickland of judicial affairs at Rutgers said, "Although stalking is a violation of code of student conduct....we handle the charge of stalking infrequently."
After issuing surveys to their student body, George Mason University and the University at Buffalo discovered that stalking occurs more often than they actually believed, according Jayne Hitchcock, the author of "Netcrimes & Misdemeanors.
Hitchcock, who also runs the website Haltabuse.org, said that education for students and law enforcement is crucial as well as training for how to handle cyber-stalking situations.
Colleges, such as Rutgers, that do not conduct surveys are not as aware of the problem, said Hitchcock, since online stalking is often not reported.
When it is reported, authorities unfamiliar with net crimes are unsure how to deal with the situation, said Hitchcock. "The campus police often aren't any help-not because they don't want to be, but because they have no knowledge of how to handle online-related cases," wrote Hitchcock in her book.
GMU and UB also have created programs to educate students and law enforcement on how to deal with these situations.
"University and college web sites frequently have student roster lists, e-mail addresses…if they have Facebook or MySpace accounts and don't make them private, that info is available for everyone to see," Hitchcock said.
"If they've been in the school or other newspapers…that info is not hard to find. Then all it takes is a look at a white pages search engine, do some social engineering in phone calls and you get the info you want," Hitchcock said.
Hitchcock said the Internet "makes it easier for harassers/stalkers to find information, even to pay for it. Before the internet, you had to physically go to town hall or the courthouse or wherever to have access to or purchase information. Now the Internet makes it a snap to get the info."
Rutgers University publishes a lot of personal information, including addresses and telephone numbers in the university directory by default. Students may, however, make that information private if they wish.
President George Bush recently signed a federal "Cyber-stalking" bill which prevents anyone from using the Internet "without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy." The bill has also been criticized by Internet free speech advocates.
Another initiative to curb cyber-stalking is the system, Predators and Prey Alert, which allows law enforcement to interact with a victim's computer and view all incoming messages from a victim's stalker to potentially track down the criminal.
When discussing the details of Quashie's case, Hitchcock said, "I'd encourage her and her family to sit down with campus police and put pressure on them to do more and seriously consider suing the university if they do not do something about this guy."
Janice Strickland of judicial affairs at Rutgers said, "Although stalking is a violation of code of student conduct....we handle the charge of stalking infrequently."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Keith Covin
posted 3/14/07 @ 12:11 PM EST
I am sorry that this guy is stalking you! My daughter is a Rutgers Newark Student also and he stalked her for several years after she decided that she no longer want to talk to him. (Continued…)
Keith
Keith
posted 3/14/07 @ 6:55 PM EST
As a Rutgers College alumni, I never really thought much about the trend of stalking until it happened to my daughter who is a student at Rutgers Newark. (Continued…)
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