Student Handbook: Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking

The crimes of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking can also constitute sexual misconduct when motivated by a person’s sex. These types of conduct, no matter the motivation behind them, are a violation of this policy and will be addressed pursuant to the Complaint Resolution Procedures below.

Domestic Violence

“Domestic violence” includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of a victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

  • The definition of domestic violence under Kansas law can be found at Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-511.

Dating Violence

“Dating violence” means violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of the relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

  • Kansas law does not specifically define dating violence, but conduct of this nature is covered by the definition of domestic violence found at Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-511.

Stalking

Stalking” means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (A) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; or (B) suffer substantial emotional distress.

  • Stalking can include conduct that occurs via electronic communications, including social media (i.e., cyberstalking).
  • The definition of stalking under Kansas law can be found at Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-5427.