Trigger warning: Sexual assault and violence.
On April 29, several health, safety and advocacy organizations at the University of Denver (DU) teamed up to host an event for Denim Day, a globally recognized day of action that promotes sexual assault awareness and solidarity with victims.
Denim Day traces back to Italy in 1992, where an 18-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her 45-year-old driving instructor during her very first driving lesson. When she reported the assault, the perpetrator was arrested, convicted and sentenced to jail.
However, years later he appealed. The Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction and released the perpetrator. The Court found that because the victim was wearing “very” tight jeans, the victim must have helped remove them, therefore implying consent.
Women in the Italian Parliament were enraged by the verdict and protested by wearing jeans to work. It quickly caught the attention of international media which inspired the California Senate and Assembly to hold a similar protest on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento.
Patti Giggans, the Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, a sexual and domestic violence prevention center in Los Angeles, saw this movement covered by the media and believed that everyone should be wearing jeans as a form of protest and display of unity. Thus, Denim Day was established in April 1999, and has been observed ever since.
Colleges and universities around the world recognize Denim Day by educating their students about the importance of consent. DU honored the day by hosting a Denim Day and Denim Decorating event in the Community Commons. Organizers encouraged participants to wear denim around campus as a way to protest victim-blaming and to show support for sexual violence survivors.
At the event, denim patches and decorating supplies were provided, as well as a consent bracelet-making station and “consent cupcakes” courtesy of DU Dining.
Some of the organizations that were tabling included Thrive Health promotion, DU’s Center for Advocacy, Prevention, and Empowerment (CAPE), the Queer Student Alliance (QSA), the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (CREO) and Campus Safety. Though additional organizations were also present to help raise awareness.
Gianna Bierman, a second-year biology and psychology major, worked the check-in table at the entrance. As a Thrive Peer Educator, she is heavily involved in promoting student health and safety on campus.
“It’s a day of action by definition, everyone gathering together in support of opposing a really unjust court ruling,” said Bierman. “Instead of wallowing in hurt and injustice, we’re turning it into a day of power… giving victim-blaming a little ‘screw you.’”
A main partner of the event was CAPE. The organization provides free and confidential support to those in the DU community who have been impacted by interpersonal violence.
Leslie Carvalho, a second-year international studies graduate student, previously worked at a sexual assault center where she saw first-hand the difficulty victims of sexual violence face following their assault.
“It reminds me of why days like this are important,” said Carvalho. “It [Denim Day] raises awareness to those who might not think about it.”
Many students aren’t aware of the significance behind events like Denim Day, or the organizations at DU that support both victims and victim advocates.
“CAPE and Thrive do a really good job, but I think we should promote these events on a more campus-wide level and let people know we’re here,” said Bierman. “Some people don’t even know what CAPE is.”
CAPE’s services, along with those of other student health organizations, are vital to the well-being of the DU community. The processes that follow reporting and addressing interpersonal violence often take weeks to months and cause significant financial and emotional distress for victims.
CAPE’s purpose specifically is to relieve some of the stress victims experience by reimbursing any financial burden and providing access to more affordable resources. They also support victims in navigating both internal and external processes — anywhere from talking to the police or reaching out to professors to solicit a temporarily lighter workload.
“Prioritizing sexual violence awareness, prevention and victim services is vital,” said Rachael Williams, the director of CAPE. “And even more so, we need leadership to invest in that.”
It’s important that the DU community knows what organizations like CAPE and Thrive offer, so that those who have suffered from interpersonal violence feel supported every day, not just on Denim Day.
