Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Copyright © 2003 University of Maryland.
All rights reserved.
Revised: June 30, 2003
HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?
- You are lonely
- You are hurting
- You are having a tough time socially
- You are having academic problems
- You are new to UM or preparing for graduation
- You are feeling overwhelmed or confused
What can you do when you are contemplating joining a group?
- Does the group seem to have simplistic answers to complex world issues?
- Does the group allow or encourage questions and discussion about its beliefs?
- Does the group require members to give up their traditions, beliefs and goals?
- Does the group respect a members’ commitment to family and friends?
- Does the group encourage members to continue studying as before?
- Does the group allow new members to have quiet times alone?
- Does the group require absolute obedience and devotion to its leader?
- Does the group have many names it uses to order to hide its identity?
Ask the opinion of someone you trust who is not a member of the group - a friend, professor, UM staff member, RA, parent, counselor, or member of the clergy.
- Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions. Be skeptical and don’t accept evasive answers.
- Take a stand! Learn to say no!
- Get support from residence hall administrators on how to protect your privacy.
- Examine yourself; are you vulnerable? Get the support and help you need!
- Resist attempts to isolate you. Stay in touch with family and friends.
- Consider whether or not you can get an accurate or clear picture of a group before attending a meeting.
- Tell residence hall or campus staff about overzealous recruiters.
- How difficult it is to leave the group?
- What national groups, if any, is the group affiliated with?
- What has this group accomplished during the past six months? Can this be substantiated?
- What values does the group advocate?
- How is the group funded?
- What commitments of time, money, and other resources does the group expect of its members?
- Are members expected to solicit money, recruit new members, or engage in other
promotional activities? Are the members assigned fixed recruitment quotas?
Note: For destructive groups the answers may be totally at odds with reality.
- Don’t give your name, address or phone number (or any other personal information) to strangers.
- Resist the temptation to debate strangers.
- Be rude if necessary in order to free yourself from recruiters.
- Take a friend along if you attend a function of an unknown group, and don’t let the two of you be separated.
- Don’t go away on a weekend “retreat” without checking out the sponsoring organization.
- Before joining a new group, try to find specific information about the group (from the library, a teacher, counselor, friend, or family member).
- Before joining a new group, ask the recruiters for printed information identifying the group, its activities, and its beliefs.
