RSU students, faculty, staff and guests showed their support for survivors of all forms of sexual violence by choosing to wear jeans Wednesday, April 30, for Denim Day.
Rogers State University students, faculty, staff and guests showed their support for survivors of all forms of sexual violence by choosing to wear jeans Wednesday, April 30, for Denim Day.
Held the last Wednesday of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Demin Day is a day of awareness and action, on which people are encouraged to wear denim to educate others about sexual violence and combat victim blaming.
Denim Day began in Italy in 1999 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.
The RSU Office of Student Affairs set up a booth in the lobby of the Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center during the day, handing out information, stickers and more to raise awareness of sexual violence and to combat victim blaming.
At 3 p.m., a photo of event attendees (wearing denim) was taken on the stairs of the DCTC rotunda, after which, RSU Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Jeana Rae Conn hosted a small workshop in Conference Room A of the DCTC with a presentation of what Denim Day is for those who are interested.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
