LUBBOCK, Texas- Every 12 months, survivors of sexual violence and allies put on denim on the final Wednesday in April, Texas Tech University advised KLBK News on Wednesday.
Denim Day is about altering the victim-blaming narrative, one scholar defined.
“A young girl in Italy was sexually assaulted by a 45-year-old man. The conviction was overturned on the basis that her jeans were so tight, that there was no way he could have sexually assaulted her without assisting him in removing the pants,” stated Esmeralda Aguilera, Peer Education President for Texas Tech’s Risk Intervention and Safety Education (RISE) staff.
Every 12 months since that 1998 trial, teams all over the world, together with the Texas Tech neighborhood, have participated in Denim Day.
RISE stated it’s by no means the survivor’s fault and the Tech neighborhood is working onerous to assist them, in addition to stop different incidents by means of schooling.
“A lot of us are really thankful to the people that risked their lives and were brave enough to start talking about this topic and doing something about it,” Aguilera shared.
Aguilera and her buddy Jorgann Holgersen stated they really feel prefer it’s their duty to proceed that dialog, “and make sure students know they are not alone.”
“We know that sexual assault is happening at Texas Tech University and the greatest way to stop sexual violence on our campus is to raise awareness and educate people about what consent is,” stated Brittany Todd, the director of RISE.
In the weeks main up to Denim Day, RISE invited all college students and school to take part within the occasion, together with the a number of different occasions TTU placed on for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“A lot of departments have really strict dress codes and obviously, you can’t wear denim or jeans,” Aguilera defined.
To encourage participation from these teams, the RISE staff made and handed out greater than 3,000 home made stickers, buttons and pins.
“I know it’s reached a lot of people this year, so I’m really happy about it,” Aguilera expressed.
Holgersen, who’s the Sexual Assault, Consent And Sexual Health Committee Chair, added, “It’s definitely been an incredible response this year.”
She defined, “We truly want from the bottom of our [hearts] for students to live their most vital and meaningful [lives], and to feel supported and believed- and to know that there are people in their corner who have their backs.”
If you want assets, the RISE staff stated they’d be blissful to help you to find the correct of assist.