Becoming a target of online harassment can be an overwhelming experience that can lead to uncertainty and a number of feelings of being exposed or having a lack of privacy. The harassment can come in many forms, from misrepresentation of character and work, direct messages that “troll” the recipient to provoke a reaction, to threatening comments or inferring of threatening actions.
Receiving this type of harassment can be exposing and isolating at the same time. St. Olaf is a strong advocate of academic freedom and supports the First Amendment while providing a safe learning and work environment. Below are resources and steps for individuals experiencing online harassment:
Mobilize Your Resources If You Experience Online Harassment
- Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or others close to you are in imminent physical danger.
- If you are a faculty or staff member, contact your direct supervisor (e.g., provost, dean, chair, director) as soon as possible. If you are a student, contact your student dean.
- Contact Public Safety at 507-786-3666
- In partnership with your leadership, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at mcdowell@stolaf.edu and the Director of Public Relations at stolafmedia@stolaf.edu.
- They can provide counsel and help coordinate response resources such as law enforcement, Provost’s Office, Information Technology, Human Resources, Student Affairs, or General Counsel.
- What To Know If You Are The Target of Online Harassment
- This harassment can be intense but is often fleeting.
- The effects of harassment often linger well beyond the immediate episode, which is why it is important to seek support from colleagues even after the harassment ends.
- Your email, social media accounts, and contact information likely will be publicized.
- To remove your photo and/or contact information from your college or unit’s webpage, contact your department’s web content administration group.
- To suppress or remove personal information from the Online Directory, visit “Privacy” in stoFaces.
- Responding to harassing messages tends to prolong and inflame incidents.
- Responding to a harasser isn’t as satisfying as it may seem in the moment. “Don’t feed the trolls” summarizes this best practice.
- Consider suspending all social media activity for a few days, even messages that have no relation to the focus of the harassment.
- Preserve all evidence—messages, emails, comments, postings, etc.
- If you would rather not continue to see these messages, consider allowing the Office of Information Technology or a trusted colleague to handle this task.
- Media outlets may contact you; you do not need to respond.
- If you receive media requests or have questions about interacting with the media, please work with the Director of Public Relations at stolafmedia@stolaf.edu, which will work with other campus resources to guide you.
- These attacks may affect your classroom environment, as well as peers or others associated with your program.
- If you believe the incident will disrupt your classroom environment, please discuss that with your department chair, associate dean, and provost.
- The harassment could involve someone who attends your class.
- This person may be recording in the classroom or lab. You have the right to prohibit audio or video recording in these settings. Please reach out to the Provost, Director of Equal Opportunity, and General Counsel for support.
- This harassment can be intense but is often fleeting.
Key Contact Directory
- Public Safety | 507-786-3666
- Dean of Students | Consult local campus directory
- General Counsel | lehmann@stolaf.edu
- Office of Human Resources | hrstaff@stolaf.edu
- Office of Information Technology | helpdesk@stolaf.edu
- Provost’s Office | sortor@stolaf.edu
- Public Relations | stolafmedia@stolaf.edu
- Office of Equal Opportunity | mcdowell@stolaf.edu
Checklist: Supporting Yourself and a Colleague Experiencing Online Harassment
- ☐ Assess immediate physical danger
- ☐ If there is an immediate physical threat, call 9-1-1.
- ☐ If there is no immediate physical threat, yet you believe the actions of the harasser are criminal, contact Public Safety at 507-786-3666
- ☐ Provide “Resources for Responding to Online Harassment” to the affected person
- ☐ Develop a plan to document the harassment
- ☐ Work with the affected person to preserve evidence of the harassment—messages, emails, comments, postings, etc.
- ☐ Be sensitive to the affected person’s emotions and offer the resources outlined here and those available within your unit, college, or campus.
- ☐ Engage with St. Olaf resources
- ☐ Leadership Support (e.g., dean, director, supervisor, group leader)
- ☐ Local leadership should be informed as quickly as possible to assist with support and lead coordination.
- ☐ Director of Equal Opportunity
- ☐ The Director of Equal Opportunity has experience managing these situations and serves as the facilitator for connecting the affected person with necessary resources.
- ☐ Director of Public Relations
- ☐ The Director of Public Relations, in partnership with campus/college/unit communications teams, will help manage communications, notably media relations and internal communications.
- ☐ Internal and external relations coordination
- ☐ Speed is important. To keep faculty, staff, and students informed, the affected college, department, unit, or center should contact local leadership as quickly as possible.
- ☐ For communicating internally, it is best practice to include:
- ☐ A statement that reiterates the College’s commitment to academic freedom and the rights of faculty, staff, and students.
- ☐ Information about how the affected person and others are being supported.
- ☐ Available resources for anyone with further questions or concerns.
- ☐ Equip those who answer calls, respond to emails, or manage social media channels with appropriate information to address harassing messages. Media outlets may contact you; you do not need to respond.
- ☐ Consider others who may be affected
- ☐ Students: Some students may not want to continue attending class. Encourage faculty and staff to listen to student questions and concerns. Consider whether a substitute instructor or a changed classroom location are appropriate (consult with your local classroom management office, as needed). Consider the possibility that students in other classes may be affected.
- ☐ Faculty/Staff: Welcome conversations about their concerns, related both to this situation and to the potential that they could become the target of harassment. Connect them with resources as needed.
- ☐ Co-Authors/Collaborators: Contact those affiliated with the work of the person targeted and offer support as appropriate.
- ☐ Keep in mind that this message will be shared more broadly than its intended audience. Write with the assumption it will eventually reach the public/media.
- ☐ Marketing & Communications can help create these materials.
- ☐ Identify ways to show support
- ☐ Colleagues may want to offer their support to the affected person. In consultation with that individual, provide guidance about how to offer support.
- ☐ Note: While publicly defending a colleague is a generous and supportive gesture, we recommend against it because it may further fuel the original harassment situation and/or result in others becoming the target of harassment.
- ☐ Even when online harassment ends, its effects can linger. It is important for leadership in units, colleges, and campuses to stay in contact with individuals who have been harassed and to continue to offer support. Things to watch out for include their losing trust in the broader community, their losing focus or motivation, or their reacting to hits to their personal and professional reputations. In extreme cases, ensure the affected person has a forum among colleagues to openly discuss these issues.