Sexual Assault Awareness’ Denim Day recognized at DSU
Members of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (CHBS) made more than a fashion statement on April 24 as they dressed to be consistent with Denim Day, an annual day in April in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.
“Delaware State University was proud to stand by our sisters and brothers internationally on this day to recognize 25 years of advocacy to end sexual assault during Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” said Dr. Eleanor Kiesel, Associate Dean of the CHBS. “Our faculty, students, and staff gathered today at the Hope House to recognize this day.”
The Hope House, located at 34 N. State St. on the DSU Downtown campus, is the hub for the University’s Safe Space Coalition, which is dedicated to eliminating sexual assault on campus. The Hope House also has a Food Bank for students, staff, and faculty and is the site for Circle Up programming to prevent and intervene with sexual assault.
The wearing of denim on this day is an expression of solidarity with victims of sexual assault as well as with those dedicated to its prevention.
The origin of Denim Day dates back to 1992 in Italy when an 18-year-old girl was raped by the 45-year-old driving instructor who was taking her to her very first driving lesson. He took her to an isolated road, pulled her out of the car, removed her jeans, and forcefully raped her.
She reported the sexual assault and the perpetrator was arrested and later convicted of the violent crime and sentenced to jail. Years later, he appealed the conviction, claiming that they had consensual sex. The Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction, and the perpetrator was released. A statement from the Court argued that because the victim was wearing very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans, it was not rape but consensual sex. This became known throughout Italy as the “jeans alibi.”
Enraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament launched a protest wearing jeans on the steps of the Supreme Court. International media picked up on this protest, which inspired the California Senate and Assembly to do the same on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento.
Patti Occhiuzzo Giggans, Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, saw this in the media and thought everyone should be wearing jeans to protest all of the myths about why women and girls are raped. Denim Day in LA was born. The first Denim Day in LA event was held in April of 1999 and has continued annually since.
Anyone interested in the programming and counseling services (free of charge to students) at the Hope House can reach out to the facility at //tjones [at] desu.edu">http://tjones [at] desu.edu, or at (302) 484 0831.