Every year, thousands of people wear denim on the last Wednesday of April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The purpose of Denim Day is to combat victim blaming, support survivors and educate on all forms of sexual assault and violence.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Denim Day movement and some San Diego City College students and staff are planning on joining in solidarity.
The campaign originated from an Italian Supreme Court case ruling in 1992. Muro Lucano, an 18- year-old girl, was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. Her decision to report the assault resulted in the arrest and conviction of the driving instructor, but the case was overturned.
The driver appealed to the Italian Supreme Court, claiming that the pair had consensual sex. The court judge overturned the conviction, stating that Lucano’s tight jeans suggested her involvement in their removal, implying consent.
The next day, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work in support of Lucano.
Peace Over Violence, an organization based in Los Angeles, launched the Denim Day campaign in response to the case.
City College is not clear from the dangers of sexual assault, as students have been victims of sexual assault and harassment.
Resources are available for students at City College who are survivors of sexual assault, violence and harassment.
The Student Health Center (A-180) provides mental health counseling for students Monday through Friday, offering both in-person and teletherapy options.
Michael Brown, counselor at the Student Health Center, shares the importance of utilizing these resources.
“First of all it’s free. (Resources) are really accessible here (the center),” Brown said. “Often in the community, it’s hard to find therapy through your insurance and it’s tricky to navigate. So here it’s easy to get set up.”
Crisis support is also provided.
“We do provide crisis support if it were to happen and (students) need to come get immediate emotional support,” he said.
The center also connects students to resources in the community.
“We do a lot of outsourcing to specific organizations that do (sexual assault) specific work,” Brown said.
The Mental Health/Student Health Center will also be hosting a sexual assault awareness and prevention workshop Apr. 30. from 3-4 p.m. in A-101.
Local resources for sexual assault aid:
Center For Community Solutions
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
Crisis Number: 988
