Alternatives to Violence observes stalking awareness

A victim advocacy organization on the Palouse is getting the word out on stalking throughout January, Stalking Awareness month.

Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse is hitting up small towns around Whitman and Latah County with bookmarks and posters advertising the organization’s contact information.

Their hope is to reach people struggling with stalking or domestic violence.

“It’s not romantic. It’s not funny. It’s stalking, and it’s a crime,” said outreach advocate Margaret Mount.

They will conduct a seminar on stalking next Thursday, Jan. 21, in the WSU CUB, at 5 p.m. Mount said they will show clips from the movie Twilight, to illustrate how the vampire’s so-called “love” is straight-up stalking.

Often the characteristics of stalking could be labeled “romantic,” Mount said, but the results are decidedly not romantic. Victims suffer anxiety, fear, and even depression.

Stalking can include unwanted phone calls and e-mails, following and leaving unwanted gifts.

Approximately 392 victims and survivors were served by Alternatives to Violence between July of 2008 and June 2009.

Of those cases, 94 were associated with stalking.

Of those 94, over half came involved some type of sexual assault or domestic violence.

“Any action that can track or frighten a person can be called stalking,” Mount said.

The organization offers advocacy-based counseling for victims. Counselors also offer medical and legal advocacy for victims. The agency also offers shelter.

They have a 24-hour victim hot-line: 509-332-4357 for Pullman or 208-883-4357 for Moscow.