April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month; visit the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on Tuesday, April 15 in the LITs atrium wearing denim or teal to raise awareness and show support for sexual assault survivors.

The history of wearing denim comes from the “Denim Day” campaign, which has been coordinated for over 20 years by “Peace Over Violence,” whereby wearing denim, we are promising to practice solidarity and support survivors by renewing our commitment to exposing harmful behaviors and attitudes surrounding sexual violence. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. “Peace Over Violence” developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case. It has continued since and is the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history. Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses, and students to make a social statement with their fashion statement by wearing jeans on this day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence.

Alternatively, you can wear the color teal, the color of sexual violence prevention, to signal that you support survivors and are a safe person to talk to if they need to reach out. Our DEI table will include various resources on sexual assault support, care items, as well as teal ribbons to pin onto your clothes if you don’t have teal or denim to wear.

Co-sponsored by Athletics, Public Safety, Be Well, Residence Life, Community and Belonging, Human Resources, Student Involvement, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.