Stalkers: Hidden Campus Danger

(CBS)  On college campuses, many women have a false sense of security. They're either not paying attention to their surroundings -- talking on cell phones, listening to iPods, etc. -- or posting their schedules and personal information on MySpace, Facebook and similar Web sites.

All of that makes them especially vulnerable to a danger many don't even know exists -- stalkers.

More than one-in-eight female college students are victimized by stalkers, according to one recent survey. But, while 93 percent of those victims tell their friends about it, only 17 percent notify campus authorities or the police, advocacy groups say.

Many women's organizations on campuses are trying to put the word out, to increase awareness of the ever-present potential threat.

On The Early Show Thursday, national correspondent Hattie Kauffman told the story of one such victim, a 20-year-old student and cheerleader at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

Rachel Pendray was shot to death just before Christmas last year by a stalker who then committed suicide by turning the gun on himself, authorities say. They add that he was a former fellow student, and Pendray hadn't reciprocated his romantic feelings. Ironically, Pendray had saved his life only weeks before.

Pendray's family and friends have been soul-searching ever since. What warning signs were missed? What could have been done to possibly prevent the tragedy? Why didn't Pendray seek help from authorities? Was she even aware she was in danger?

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FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:

Stalking on college campuses is occurring at an alarming rate and it now appears that college students are at greater risk of being stalked than other populations. According to the most recent National Sexual Victimization of College Women Survey, more than one in eight, or 13 percent, of female college students surveyed had been stalked within a six- to nine-month period. This rate compares with the estimated one in twelve women and one in forty-five men who will be stalked in their lifetime.

Why College Campuses?

Campus Stalking, a report published by the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA), underscores aspects of campus life that increase the risk of stalking. For example, college campuses generally offer an open atmosphere that is very appealing for students, many of whom are living-likely for the first time-without direct parental supervision. College buildings and residence halls provide relatively easy access to virtually anyone who wishes to enter the premises. Students tend to follow predictable schedules, attending classes and eating meals at the same time each day, week after week.

These same features, ironically, increase the risk for stalking behavior. Campus stalkers can easily familiarize themselves with a student's comings and goings-and campus buildings that don't have 24-hour security provide stalkers with physical proximity to their victims.

Low Reporting Rates

Compounding the problem of stalking on college campuses is the shockingly low reporting rate among students. The National Sexual Victimization of College Women Survey found that 83 percent of students who were stalked did not notify the campus police or other school authorities. The two main reasons students gave for not reporting the crime were that students either thought the police would not take the stalking seriously or that they were not aware that the unwanted behavior was a crime.

For much more on this from the National Center for Victims of Crime, click here.

Most colleges and many advocacy groups have stalking awareness resources available for students.

Here is a sampling of such Web pages:

University of Texas

George Mason University

Action Ohio

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KAUFFMAN'S REPORT

Rachel Pendray had everything going for her. She was a trained singer, a straight-"A" nursing student, and a college cheerleader.

Mark Pendray, who raised her as a single dad, couldn't have been more proud, pointing out that she also worked 40 hours a week.

And she had a seemingly endless list of friends.

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[scat814]

Keithle1 obviously wants to blame victims for getting attacked instead of the perpetrator. You are the epitomy of the misogynist. You think women should all be walking around covered from head to toe and acting submissive or they deserve to be attacked? Also interesting how you compared those who attack women to "heterosexual men". It''s these pervasive attitudes that create an environment where stalking is permissible.

[rachelp4]

Thanks for that web site!!! What a wonderful girl.
http://www.rachelpendray.org

[Krazcarl]

Shoot them I''m tired of this trash it''s time we did something to make the populace safe you start stringing them up the problem will go away anything else is just talk to look liberal.

[jshmks]

Good looking girl too, *** sucks.

[bobnjersey]

[Female students don''''t report it because stalking is so common that we tend to think of it as normal male behavior, which says a lot about our culture. ]
[Posted by tngreen at 01:16 PM : Dec 27, 2007]

sorry ... it doesn''t say anything about our culture. what it''s really saying is there''s something wrong w/ your view of men.

for something to be construed as ''normal'' ... it would generally be a common trait of the majority of the population you''re speaking of.

[gunownerdan]

Criminals love easy victims who are not aware of their surroundings.
Always be aware of who''s around you and stay alert in public.
Doing this probably saved my life when I got attacked in a parking lot by two violent criminals!
I saw them coming and was able to protect myself.

[gunownerdan]

"We live in a world where more and more women are unaccompanied at odd hours, or they are vulnerable in dangerous places - a world where restraining orders are often ineffective and the police cannot be counted upon to arrive in time, if at all. In such a world, women must be able to protect themselves. In terms of both deterrence and lethal force, guns are among the most effective tools available for self-defense." -- Mary Zeiss Stange, "Guns, like abortion, are a matter of choice"
a-human-right.com

[tngreen]

Female students don''t report it because stalking is so common that we tend to think of it as normal male behavior, which says a lot about our culture. We have to raise our children to understand that they do not have a right to be in somebody else''s life if that person doesn''t want them there.

I would encourage everyone to read "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin deBecker. It will change your life and help you to see through what we think of as "normal" behavior to the real dynamics underlying stalking and other threatening behaviors. Share this book with someone you love!

[jeremyr84]

If you want to learn more about the amazing life of Rachel Pendray or find ways you can make a difference go to her website http://www.rachelpendray.org.

[justjack6]

I empathize with the family and friends, but we must not forget about the males, who also get stalked by
other women. Women are just less likely to become violent