I Know Someone is Watching Me: Evaluating the Impact of Dating Violence and Stalking on College Campuses and Universities and the Hesitation of Informing the Title IX Office

Abstract: We are currently living in a digital age where social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and TikTok have made it easier to target one’s partner. Between 6% and 39% of college students report being stalked since entering college (SPARC, 2017). When such intimidation occurs on campus, many students of color, particularly African American students have been hesitant to notify the Title IX Office. This research assessed students’ perceptions of and experiences with on-campus dating violence and stalking to better describe its prevalence. The study reports on a non-probability quantitative sample of 421 questionnaires, and a qualitative sample of fifteen one-on-one in-depth interviews. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) results yielded differences in students’ experiences with dating violence and stalking. More attention should be spent on dating violence, stalking, stalking laws, the Title IX process, available resources, and school policies. Additionally, prevention efforts such as assistance with academic housing accommodations, referrals to ensure the safety and security of the victim/survivor, and the implementation of a Campus Climate Survey should be considered. Such techniques will aid to create and evaluate effective strategies when addressing dating violence and stalking on their campuses.