A Soup & Substance discussion on stalking was held on Monday afternoon. Participants enjoyed free soup and participated in an activity that simulated a stalking scenario. On Tuesday, a screening of the movie “The Perfect Guy,” which deals with themes of stalking, was held.

On Wednesday night, SAPA gave a presentation about stalking awareness. More than 25 students attended. The presentation was given by four members of SAPA: juniors Megan Taylor and Elle Smith, and seniors Kathleen Trombley and Cody Gulick.

The night began with several statistics about stalking, including that one in six women and one in 19 men will be stalked in their lifetime. Additionally, 76 percent of women who are murdered by a domestic partner reported stalking prior to the murder. The laws surrounding stalking were also discussed. A few scenarios were presented to the crowd, who were then asked if the scenario would make them uncomfortable.

“For those of you sitting here, thinking about those scenarios may have made you feel a little weird or a little uneasy, but after you go out those doors, you might forget about those scenarios,” Taylor said. “But for people who are survivors of stalking, these are the things that they deal with every single day.”

The audience was then asked what they think of when they heard the word “stalker.” People answered with “someone hiding in the bushes,” “someone who doesn’t understand reality” and simply “a dude in a trench coat.” Gulick reminded people that a stalker could be anyone, and is usually someone the survivor knows. In fact, 66 percent of female survivors and 41 percent of male survivors know their stalker.

SAPA members went on to discuss famous stalking cases and recent, non-publicized cases. Taylor spoke about the use of social media and applications to aid on stalking. Trombley mentioned the term “Facebook or Instagram stalking” and discussed instances of stalking in popular culture.

“We see (the term 'Facebook or Instagram stalking') all the time, and it’s something that’s so engrained in us. It’s something that we hear and don’t really think about. But, in all reality, that can be really damaging for someone,” Trombley said. “The way we speak influences the way we think. The way we think influences the way we act, and it starts with us. It starts with making a social change and understanding what we’re laughing at.”

The program closed with the members of SAPA explaining how to get help if you or someone you know is being stalked. They also mentioned that stalking doesn’t usually end on its own, and it is extremely traumatizing for survivors.

“It’s that feeling that when you step out your front door, you’re immediately insecure about your surroundings. You don’t know whether the person is at your home or your workplace. You don’t know if they’re following you and you don’t even realize it," Gulick said. "There’s that paranoia feeling where you’re always looking over your shoulder, wondering if they’re going to show up. The things (survivors) once enjoyed in life, they no longer find pleasure in because they don’t feel safe anywhere.”