WOU clubs and organizations promote awareness of sexual assault by participating in Denim Day
Sydney Carpenter | News Editor
For 22 years, Denim Day has been dedicated towards promoting awareness of sexual assault.
At Western, various organizations on campus ⏤ such as Abby’s House, the Student Health and Counseling Center and University Housing ⏤ are taking to social media on April 28, opening their space for students, staff, faculty and members of the community to participate in wearing denim.
Denim Day was first celebrated in Los Angeles, California in 1999 after a 1992 Italian court case conviciting a 45-year-old driving instructor of raping an 18-year-old was overturned by the Italian Supreme Court on the premise that victim was wearing tight jeans and had to help the assailant remove the garment, constituting under Italian law as consenual sex. In over 50 countries, this is now known as the “jeans alibi,” according to denimdayinfo.org.
“We believe survivors. Survivors are never to blame for experiencing sexual violence,” said Abby’s House Advocate Rocio Avalos. “Wearing denim on Denim Day shows support for survivors and those who have experienced sexual violence by pushing back on harmful narratives, victim-blaming rhetoric and rape culture … We can change the conversation, express our support and belief of survivors and end sexual assault and interpersonal violence.”
To participate this year, community members are invited to take pictures of themselves on Instagram using “#DenimDay” and tag @abbyshouse_wou in the photo.
For Western community members interested in learning more, visit the Abby’s House website, wou.edu/abbyshouse/.
Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu
