Today
This Month in the World
National Stalking Awareness Month
By Elizabeth Hunt ('23)
“Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the military and tribal lands.”
- Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC)
Everyone has heard of stalking, whether it from TV shows, the news, in thriller books, or unfortunately through personal experience. And yet it is still extremely difficult to pinpoint what exactly to look for when suspecting someone as a stalker, or how to react when confronted with such a situation. This January during National Stalking Awareness Month I’m here to give a couple tips on what to do if you witness or experience a stalker.
First things first; what is stalking? According to SPARC, stalking is a “pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others” (SPARC). Stalking can be enacted in a multitude of ways such as through social media posts, unwanted gifts, contacted family members or friends, property damage, threats, and/or multiple encounters with the stalker in question. Many of these actions are not considered a crime in the U.S., but even still it is recommended to report these incidents to your local police if feeling threatened or endangered. Just because legal action may not be possible yet doesn’t mean it won’t in the future, so making sure to notify your suspicions to the police is extremely important in establishing any possibility of future investigations. Stalking can happen to anyone, by anyone. However the most common suspects tend to be acquaintances, friends, family members, and former partners.
Just because you know someone doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous, so if you’re suspicious someone is a stalker, no matter who they are or how close they are/were to the victim—whether this be you or someone else—make sure to begin taking cautionary measures and avoid letting the situation escalate. For more information on statistics, cautionary measures, and/or common signs of stalking check out SPARC’s official website given below!
Blood Donor Month
By Elizabeth Hunt ('23)
Hospitals all around the United States have been struggling with a blood supply shortage for years now, especially during these COVID times as cases spike and donors dwindle. January in particular is discovered to have the most critical blood shortages, as most of the few regular donors stop donating over the holidays. So, beginning fifty years ago, President Nixon established January as the National Blood Donors month to commemorate voluntary donors and encourage more Americans to donate. This is especially crucial this year! Hospitals are facing the worst shortages in over a decade, and many are being forced to turn down patients from lifesaving surges like organ transplants and major surgeries. Every year, 4.5 million Americans need blood transfusions, and statistics show that someone needs blood every two seconds! So if you know you’re a part of the 37% of the U.S. population who’s eligible to give blood please do so and help save a life just as hundreds of donors may end up saving yours one day with their own donations. And if you’re unsure whether or not you are eligible for donating blood, I’d research more on the blood donor eligibility requirements many medical establishments, such as the Red Cross, provide in their respective websites. Remember, you’re not just giving away a pint of blood, you’re saving a life.