Denim Day at CSC is Thursday

Denim Day, recognized nationally on the last Wednesday in April, is a campaign started by the Peace Over Violence organization in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month. The campaign was produced after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction of an 18-year-old girl because the justices ruled in their decision that the jeans of the victim were so tight that she had to have helped her perpetrator remove them, therefore making the encounter consensual.

The court’s decision became known as the jeans alibi. As a result of the decision, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work the following day in solidarity with the victim. Since then, wearing jeans on what is now known as Denim Day serves as a symbol of protest against what the organization Peace Over Violence describes as erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault. The organization’s campaign was shared by the international media, and the first Denim Day in Los Angeles started in 1999 to protest myths about why women and girls are raped.

In support of Denim Day, Every Eagle Succeeds invites and encourages everyone on campus, including students, staff, faculty, and administrators to wear denim in support of sexual assault survivors on campus and everywhere.

CSC student and Every Eagle Succeeds President Katie Hoeke said she hopes Denim Day will heighten awareness of sexual assault across campus.

“We want this event to unite our students, faculty, and staff in solidarity against sexual assault and in support of our campus survivors,” said Hoeke. “By wearing denim, we show our survivors that they are not alone and have the campus's support.”

In correlation with Denim Day, Cardinal Key, Every Eagle Succeeds, and the Title IX Office will set up a photo booth Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center for students to take photos while wearing denim and raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Every Eagle Succeeds encourages photo booth guests and all who participate in Denim Day to share their photos with the hashtag #CSCDenimDay2024 on social media platforms to raise awareness against sexual assault.

Members of The Nest will sponsor T-shirts for Denim Day at the photo booth. Students will have the opportunity to fill out the Denim Day Pledge online and will receive a T-shirt in exchange for taking the pledge. Every Eagle Succeeds members will be present to provide other teal swag to help promote the Denim Day event and raise sexual assault awareness.

The DOVES Program, an independent non-profit organization providing services to victims of sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence, will also have representatives at the photo booth event to provide resources to students who need them.

According to Hoeke, Title IX, and Every Eagle Succeeds believe that this event will be a valuable experience for students and employees.

“It will allow us to unite together as a campus for one common cause,” Hoeke said.