By Erin Kelly

Sometimes people receive phone calls, text messages or visits from an admirer. But these admirers are not always appreciated and sometimes, they can cause alarm. During the past 10 years, harassing phone calls, e-mails, text messages and even unwanted visits to students from their exes have become more and more common on campus, said Jim Ferrier, associate director of the Northeastern University Division of Public Safety (NUPD).

“This has been a growing problem on campus since the residence hall population has grown,” Ferrier said.

Students who receive harassing messages are typically women and sometimes they receive dozens of unwanted text messages and phone calls a day, Ferrier said.

Some ex-significant others even go as far as stalking their lost significant other, waiting outside their residence hall, Ferrier said.

Jacqueline Quill, a freshman business major, said some students do not think texts from ex-significant others constitute stalking, and others may be afraid to report an incident out of fear of retaliation.

“I don’t know how common it is, but I know a lot of girls and guys get text after text from ex-significant others. I think people don’t report it because they either don’t realize how it is a form of stalking, or because it’s to the point where they are afraid what might happen when their ex finds out,” Quill said.

NUPD offers a variety of methods to counsel harassed students, including moving affected students to a different resident hall, contacting the person who is harassing the student and telling them to stop and even arresting the harassing person, Ferrier said. The Center of Violence Against Women can also provide support.

“By coming and reporting an incident, it doesn’t necessarily mean the person is going to be arrested,” Ferrier said. “Many times the harasser is only an acquaintance, and the student does not want to get the person in trouble. Many options come way before arrest.”

Kylie Clark, a freshman undecided major, said that with relationships, NUPD involvement is not always the right way to go.

“Some students may not think it’s the police’s place to reprimand an ex,” she said. “If the ex is not doing anything illegal, it’s not something to call the cops about.”

Nonetheless, facilities are available on campus for students who feel anxious or upset by another person’s actions. “Women on campus can be much more aware and prepared to deal with these incidents because it’s going to happen,” Ferrier said.