All posts by Monica Chenault
TIP OF THE WEEK: STALKING 2.3.17
Stalking is a course of conduct, targeted at a particular person that causes a reasonable person to feel fear. On college campuses the stalker is often not a stranger to the victim. These perpetrators often have an intimate relationship or close friendship; they may be classmates, co-workers, neighbors, acquaintances, or relatives to their victims. If you or someone you know is being stalked, contact a 24 hour NOVA Sexual Assault Services Coordinator for free confidential support. Please call 703.338.0834 or email NOVA.SAS@nvcc.edu. For more information and resources about stalking, please visit http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/sas/stalking.html
Tip of the Week: 1.26.17
Tip of the Week:
The start of a new semester can be stress-producing. NOVACares offers many resources to members of the NOVA community. One such resource is Half of Us. This website is devoted to college students who are experiencing stressors and emotional challenges that often come with campus life. Testimonials, resources, and coping strategies are offered to students to remind them that they are not alone in their struggles. For more information on Half of Us please visit: http://www.halfofus.com/. For more stress management tools, please visit http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/program/index.html , and click on the “Stress Management” tab. There you will find helpful tips to manage stress and useful links to more information.
Upcoming Events: NOVACares and NOVA SAS
NOVACares/ Sexual Assault Services Spring 2017 Events
Wednesday, January 18 – AL Welcome Week Resource Block Party (11:00am-2:00pm) Bisdorf Cafeteria
Monday, January 30 – AL Stalking Tabling (11:00am-2:00pm)
Monday, February 13 – AN Create Your Own Valentine (11:00am-2:00pm) CA 3rd floor
Tuesday, February 14 – AL Create Your Own Valentine! (11:00am-2:00pm)
Wednesday, February 15 – LO Healthy Relationship Tabling (11:00am-2:00pm) LC Café
Thursday, February 16 – WO Healthy Relationship Tabling (11:00am-2:00pm)
Wednesday, March 8 – AL Posting Red Flags
Monday, March 13 – AL The Red Flag Campaign (11:00am-2:00pm)
Wednesday, March 15 – LO Stalking Tabling (11:00am-2:00pm) LC Café
Thursday, March 16 – WO Staking Tabling (11:00am-2:00pm)
Tuesday, April 11- AL The Clothesline Project (9:00am-4:00pm) outside Bisdorf Cafeteria
Wednesday, April 12 – AL The Clothesline Project (9:00am-4:00pm) outside Bisdorf Cafeteria
Monday, April 17 – WO Posting Red Flags
Tuesday, April 18 – WO The Clothesline Project (9:00am-4:00pm)
Wednesday, April 19 – WO The Clothesline Project (9:00am-4:00pm)
Thursday, April 20 – WO The Red Flag Campaign (11:00am-2:00pm)
Tuesday, April 25 – LO The Clothesline Project (9:00am-4:00pm)
Wednesday, April 26 – LO The Clothesline Project (9:00am-4:00pm)
Thursday, April 27 – MA The Clothesline Project (9:00am-4:00pm) Howsmon Patio
Friday, April 28 – Denim Day
TIP OF THE WEEK: Cyberstalking: When It Gets Personal and Digital
Common indications of online harassment include: Threats via email, posts, and any form of online messaging and communication. Any public online publication of vicious posts that expose or attack you. Attempts to defame or slander your reputation by posing as you online. Harassment of friends, family, and colleagues in order to frighten or isolate a person, family, or organization.
Search for yourself online, using your name, username, phone number, or any other personal information. Is there anything out there that’s too revealing? Worse, is there anything out there that you haven’t created yourself?
If you’ve recently broken up with a spouse or significant other, ensure that you change each and every password that they do (or might) know about—particularly if the person or break-up was difficult, abusive, angry, or otherwise troublesome.
Change your passwords to something that person wouldn’t be able to guess.
Have your computer inspected by a professional if you believe that you may be targeted. They need to check for spyware and other viruses, too.
Check your credit report status regularly, particularly if you’re in the public eye (as a businessperson, professional, celebrity, etc.).
Ignore annoying but non-threatening messages. Sometimes a stalker just wants some attention; when you refuse to give the attention, the person will choose an easier target.
Avoid responding to any suggestive messages or comments, even if it seems fun, tempting, or harmless.
Do you believe you have a cyberstalker? Then trust your gut about that. It’s better to be wrong than to be… in a very bad position. Consider the following internet safety tips:
Record and report each incident.
Change your screen-name.
Consider closing your account altogether.
Don’t panic; reach out for support from people whom you trust.
The faster you block that person’s ability to hurt or harass you,
the sooner he or she will leave you alone.
If you’re worried about your safety and well-being, don’t hesitate
to contact police and law enforcement authorities. NOVA Police are available 24/7 at 703-764-5000.
http://www.atlantictraining.com/safety-tips/internet-safety-tips.php
TIP OF THE WEEK: Resources for Homeless Community Members
NOVACares provides information for local emergency shelter for homeless community members. There are several options for housing in NOVA such as, off-campus housing, Arlington County Assistance Bureau, and Alternative House to name a few. For more information on homeless housing in Virginia please visit http://www.nvcc.edu/support/_files/HOMELESS-SHELTER-REFERRAL-LIST.pdf. If you or someone you know is homeless and you are seeking guidance submit an online report at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?NorthernVirginiaCC
Managing Election Stress: Tips from the JED Foundation
TIP OF THE WEEK: Veteran Support Resources
TIP OF THE WEEK: NOVACares is committed to providing services for our veteran students and their families by ensuring they have access to support to inspire student success. Virginia Veteran & Family Support (VVFS), formerly known as the Wounded Warriors Program, provides each campus with peer specialists who can meet with students individually on or off campus. For information about veteran support groups, click the link below http://www.ptsd.va.gov/…/treat…/cope/peer_support_groups.asp. To visit our website go to http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/program/index.html
Tip of the Week: Stress Management
NOVACares offers several resources for members of the NOVA community. If you are having a hard time managing your stress, you can visit our website http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/program/index.html , and click on the “Stress Management” tab. There, you will find helpful tips to manage stress, and useful links on more information. Click below to try out our deep-breathing exercise. http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/_img/tumblr_nexv126czE1ql82o1o1_500.gif
Tip of the Week: Consent
Consent is a voluntary and sober agreement to engage in every step of a sexual activity. The absence of a verbal “no” does not indicate consent. If consent is not present then a sexual assault has been committed. Consent can be withheld at any point and must be given for each act along the path. Individuals who are intoxicated cannot give consent. Even if permission to have sexual activity is gained through force, an imbalance of power, use of coercion, the threat of violence or is perpetrated against someone who is not able to give consent, because that individual is sleep, incapacitated, unconscious, legally intoxicated or a minor, consent is not actually given.
For more information about consent please visit http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/sas/sexual-assault.html. To contact a 24 hour NOVA Sexual Assault Services coordinator for free confidential support, please call 703.338.0834 or email NOVA.SAS@nvcc.edu.