Texas State observes Denim Day USA to raise sexual assault awareness

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
April 23, 2012

Every day, millions of people wear blue jeans, but Texas State students, faculty, staff and supporters will wear their denim on April 25 to take a stand against sexual assault and bring more awareness to this issue.

A special Denim Day event will be held in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and supporters are encouraged to wear jeans and bring jeans to be embellished, decorated or donated.

“We are encouraging all members of the bobcat and local San Marcos community to wear denim on April 25,” said Elise Decker, a Texas State peer educator with the Men Against Violence organization. “This is a simple way for us all to join together to bring more awareness to this community issue.”

The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and the Texas State Student Health Center, Men Against Violence, Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, the Craftivists, the Texas State Counseling Center, the Department of Housing and Residential Life, and Staff Council have all contributed to bringing awareness events to campus.

Wearing jeans on April 25 became an international symbol of protest against common attitudes about sexual assault. In 1999, an Italian High Court overturned a rape conviction. The justices reasoned that because the victim had worn very tight jeans, her rapist could not have removed her jeans by himself; therefore the victim must have “consented” to the attack. Women in the Italian Legislature protested the decision by wearing jeans. As news of the decision spread, so did the protest.

Hays-Caldwell Women's Center helps to create an environment where violence and abuse are not tolerated in the community. The center provides education, violence prevention services, and crisis intervention to victims of family violence, sexual assault and child abuse. In addition to the denim day activities in the LBJ Ballroom, HCWC will be displaying a clothesline project for participants to read and share in the creative expressions of victims of sexual assault.

For more information about Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month events, visit www.studenthealthcenter.txstate.edu/healthycats or contact the HealthyCats office at healthycats@txstate.edu or (512) 245-9289.

Anyone requiring an accommodation due to a disability should contact Kelly Stone at (512) 245-9289. Accommodation requests should be made at least 72 hours in advance of the program start time to ensure availability.