No is a Complete Sentence: A ‘Proactive’ Prevention Approach to Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence

Stalking is a violent, predatory crime that is problematic on college campuses and most likely to occur with persons 25 and under (“Stalking Fact Sheet”). Although initially linked to celebrity pursuers, stalking is currently associated with partner abuse, dating relationships, and even acquaintances. Students who are stalked live in fear, believe the stalking may never stop, move to avoid the stalker, and experience anxiety, insomnia, and depression (Blauuw, 2002). Based on the correlation between stalking and intimate partner violence it is fair to say that stalking prevention is murder prevention. 

interACT is an internationally renowned violence prevention troupe based out of California and under the direction of Dr. Marc D. Rich and Kelly Janke (M.A.). Since 2000, the troupe has reached hundreds of thousands of audience members using a ‘proactive’ (highest level of audience involvement) format. Audience members are invited on stage to intervene as effective bystanders, rather than passive observers. The interACT model has been proven effective in multiple quantitative, qualitative, and longitudinal studies. interACT has been invited to present on college campuses and U.S military bases worldwide. “No is A Complete Sentence”, the newest interACT program developed in 2014, is the first ‘proactive’ stalking and intimate partner violence prevention program in the US.