UCCS community encouraged to wear denim for Denim Day
Members of the UCCS community are encouraged to wear denim on Wednesday, April 24 for Denim Day in support of sexual assault survivors.
According to the Denim Day website, their story begins in Italy in 1992, when an 18-year old girl was sexually assaulted by her 45-year old driving instructor, who removed her jeans in the process.
She reported the rape and the perpetrator is arrested, convicted of rape 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. This protest was picked up by international media 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 assaulted. Denim Day in LA was born. The first event was held in April of 1999, and it has continued annually since.
There are a number of campus and community resources for the UCCS community, including confidential resources, posted on the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) website.
OIE is the campus office designated to address reported incidents of sexual assault involving students, staff, faculty and others affiliated with our campus. OIE administers the University of Colorado (CU) Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence, and Stalking Policy (compliant with Title IX), the UCCS Discrimination and Harassment Policy, and the CU Conflict of Interest in Cases of Amorous Relationships Policy. You may review OIE’s Resolution Procedures and the Applicable Policies here.
On-Campus Resources:
- Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)
719-255-4324 | Email OIE | Reporting Options - UCCS Police Department (on-campus incidents & 24/7 campus safety escort)
719-255-3111 | UCCS Police Website | Rave Guardian Mobile App - Colorado Springs Police Department (off-campus incidents)
719-444-7000 (non-emergency) | 911 (emergency) - Wellness Center (students)
Wellness Center | 719-255-4444 (medical and counseling services; confidential) - Dean of Students Office (students)
Website | 719-255-3091 - CARE Team (students)
CARE Team - Colorado Real Help Hotline (employees)
Colorado Real Help Hotline (confidential crisis support)
Off-Campus Resources:
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) | 719-365-8333 (confidential for everyone)
- UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central – 1400 E. Boulder St., Colorado Springs, CO 80909
- UCHealth Memorial Hospital North – 4050 Briargate Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
- Colorado Springs Police Department (off-campus incidents)
- 719-444-7000 (non-emergency) | 911 (emergency)
- National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
- TESSA
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
- You Have the Right
- Haseya Advocate Program
Students and employees who have experienced sexual assault, harassment or discrimination have access to multiple resources on campus and in the community for support and reporting. A full list of resources, and how to make a report, is available through the Office of Institutional Equity at uccs.edu/equity.
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