Student activists participate in Denim Day to close out Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Allison Lauter ~ Arrow Reporter
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), Southeast student activists participated in International Denim Day on Wednesday, April 27, by crafting a denim square that will be added to a collective quilt.
The month of April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Campus Violence Prevention Program (CVPP) tied large teal ribbons — the color associated with the movement to end sexual violence — around trees on campus to raise awareness. CVPP, Iota Chi, Redhawks Against Sexual Assault (RASA) and Redhawks Rising closed out SAAM with the final events Denim Day and a unity walk on Thursday, April 29.
The roots of Denim Day trace back to Rome, Italy, in 1999, when an 18-year-old girl was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. According to denimdayinfo.org/history, the court ultimately ruled since the girl was wearing tight jeans, making it harder for them to come off, it was consensual. Today, activists around the world show support for sexual assault and domestic violence victims by participating in Denim Day.
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Campus Violence Prevention Program, Iota Chi, Redhawks Against Sexual Assault and Redhawks Rising members came together to show support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence through collaboration. Denim Day is a day where people purposely wear denim to support survivors and educate people about sexual assault and domestic violence awareness.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Vice President of Chapter Development for the Panhellenic Council Raegan Thompson poses with a sexual assault and domestic violence awareness wreath. “Our goal is to raise awareness and come together as Greek women to stand against domestic violence and sexual assault,” Thompson said.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Students and community members pin purple ribbons for domestic violence and teal ribbons for sexual assault on a cloth wreath. The plan, according to Thompson, is to hang the wreath where people can see it, such as in front of the Title IX office in Academic Hall.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Junior and president of Iota Chi Kate Appleman poses with Thompson with the sexual assault and domestic violence awareness wreath. “Iota Chi’s goal is to help educate people and eliminate sexual assault on campus,” Appleman said. “We are raising awareness by making denim squares people can paint, an awareness wreath, and we have the 2021 unity walk tomorrow [April 29].”
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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The awareness wreath sits next to a few of the denim squares on display, which were sewn into a quilt.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Freshman Avery Clubbs is a student activist involved in bringing awareness to sexual assault and domestic violence. Here, Clubbs cuts squares out of old jeans so people can paint them.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Clubbs, while running the denim and paint table, painted awareness symbols on a jean jacket for herself.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Student activist Asia Marion takes her time painting a pair of jeans with symbols and colors next to the awareness wreath.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Kasara Faries paints the message “We stand with you” on her cutout denim square. Freshman Destiny Clayiborne paints symbols on her denim square to show support and appreciation.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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President of RASA Adelia Hancock poses with Appleman as a sign of strength and unity as multiple organizations come together for Denim Day. “Our goal is to make sure everyone knows they have a voice no matter how scared they feel,” Hancock said. “The more programs and people we have supporting projects like this, the better it is going to be for everyone.”
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Hancock works the denim table in front of the University Center with Clubbs. Students can stop by the table, grab a denim square and paint it with the colors and designs of their choice.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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Student activist Adrienne Small poses with her message “I am strong” for herself and others.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)
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The teal ribbons seen around campus are soon to come down as sexual assault awareness month comes to an end. Student activists are hopeful to have a Denim Day week next year, instead of a single day. For more information on the Campus Violence Prevention Program or how to get involved, visit Campus Violence Prevention Program.
(Photo by Allison Lauter)