Title IX officials are hosting a Denim Day in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness month.
Levi Harrel, director of student engagement, said the day is a part of an international response that gives voices to women who have been sexually assaulted.
“In Italy, there was a judge that essentially told a woman who was a survivor of sexual misconduct that she deserved what happened to her because of what she was wearing,” he said. “She was explaining that she was wearing jeans. How could one be asking for it if she’s just wearing her jeans?”
On Thursday, students are encouraged to wear denim and to use the hashtag #OCUDenimDay. Students who post pictures with the hashtag will be entered in a drawing to win an Echo Dot.
Title IX has also partnered with the Panhellenic Council to do a small denim drive for the YWCA, an organization that helps survivors of domestic abuse.
“Our members of the Panhellenic Council and our Panhellenic sorority members are collecting articles to donate,” Harrel said.
Taylor Downey, religion sophomore, is the Title IX program coordinator. She said it is important to provide clothing for the YWCA to support survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
“We didn’t want to just wear denim, so we decided to ask for donations to the women’s shelter,” she said. “Something that the YWCA really needs is clothes for the families and ladies that come in. They usually can’t take anything with them whenever they get out of those situations. Jeans are a good symbolic thing, but also practical.”
Downey said she wants to continue the tradition next year and expand it.
“I think it is practical and actually makes a difference,” she said. “I think our campus likes to be involved in things that involve other people. I’d love to beef the event up next year, and have more people involved. I’d love for it to be a much bigger event.”
Harrel said this event is important in order to give voice to survivors.
“Participating in an event like this allows the community and allows survivors of sexual assault and sexual misconduct to feel heard and represented,” he said. “They should know that no one is asking for it regardless of what they’re wearing. This sends a positive, proactive and powerful message that those are not the values we stand for. We support and we believe survivors.”
Students interested in donating may bring denim to Levi Harrel’s office in room 234 of Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.
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