Cyberstalking Awareness Week Promotes Internet Safety

BLACKSBURG, VA., April 7, 2006—In honor of Cyberstalking Awareness Week, April 10–14, the Office of Judicial Affairs and the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech have launched a print campaign to educate students about the potential dangers of online communication. The promotion is intended to teach students how to avoid dangerous online practices and how to respond should they become victims of online harassment, or cyberstalking.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice website, cyberstalking is the use of the Internet to repeatedly harass or threaten an individual through e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, or other forms of electronic communication. If you suspect online harassment, contact Judicial Affairs or the Women’s Center.

With the growing popularity of online directories such as MySpace and Facebook, access to other students’ personal information has increased. While these sites are intended to promote community within the campus, students need to be aware of the image they project online. The Cyberstalking Awareness Week campaign, which includes residence hall fliers, table cards in the Student Programs dining centers, and bulletin boards at various locations across campus, encourages students to be aware of any personal identifying information they put on Internet profiles.

The Violence Against Women Act grant, awarded to Judicial Affairs and the Women’s Center by U.S. Department of Justice funds training, programming, presentations, and publications that help raise awareness about sexual assault, harassment, relationship violence, and stalking. The second goal of the grant is to increase the number of reports of gender-based violence on campus. If you would like more information on cyberstalking and tips on what to do if you are being victimized

or violence against women issues, please visit www.stopabuse.vt.edu for more information.

 

 

 

E-mail this link to a friend

Back to News Releases