The Campus, Advocacy, Resources, and Education office hosted its first ever Denim Day fair at the Student Resource Building lawn on April 29. Multiple other organizations and student-run entities such as Isla Vista Community Services District and Associated Students Trans and Queer Commission collaborated on the event.
The Campus Advocacy Resource and Education office hosted their first-ever Denim Day fair, at the Student Resource Building lawn on April 29. Julia Sanabria / Daily Nexus
The origins of Denim Day date back to 1992, when the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because of the “jeans alibi,” which stated that because the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the attacker take them off, thereby implying consent. Women in the Italian parliament then showed up to work wearing jeans in protest, gaining international attention. Since 1999, the last Wednesday of April has been dubbed “Denim Day.”
The Campus, Advocacy, Resources, and Education (C.A.R.E.) office provides confidential and free resources for sexual violence prevention and intervention. Prevention specialist Stephanie Raya described the mission of the fair as increasing awareness and knowledge in order to promote intervention when harm occurs.
“It’s a national call to combat victim blaming and to raise awareness for survivors and the impact that sexual violence has to our everyday lives, not just in the moment that situation but how it impacts people for the rest of their lives,” Raya said.
The event provided various activities including popping bubbles, painting messages on tote bags and receiving free denim clothing. The Associated Students Trans and Queer Commission (TQC) booth offered attendees a chance to make jewelry ranging from friendship bracelets to earrings.
Halee Scott, a second-year writing and literature major and TQC member, explained that TQC tabled to ensure queer perspectives were represented at the fair and spread awareness about different kinds of sex and intersectionality.
“I feel like wherever we can, we want to make sure that trans and queer folks, they feel seen and heard in many different spaces,” Scott said.
Before talking to one of the C.A.R.E. leaders, first-year economics and accounting major Tobi Olukanmi did not know what Denim Day was. After realizing the “importance” of Denim Day, she was excited to get her club, the Nigerian Student Association (NSA), involved.
Olukanmi and first-year environmental studies major Praise Akaeze represented the NSA at the event. In addition to raising awareness for sexual assault and tying their efforts back to C.A.R.E.’s mission of supporting survivors, the club was able to introduce people to Nigerian culture by selling Nigerian food.
“Especially because we’re a small club, I think being part of bigger events is good for us,” Olukanmi said.
C.A.R.E. Fair Educator Emily Burke recognized the myriad of collaborators present at this year’s fair but also shared wishes of expanding the event to encompass more organizations. This is the first year an event for Denim Day has been held at this scale, as it is normally commemorated with tabling at the Arbor with a few other organizations.
“I want our collaborators to represent the diversity of our communities, so hopefully we get more diverse collaborators and student groups. We have two A.S. groups, but having more of that support would be really great,” Raya said.
A version of this article appeared on p. 4 of the May 7 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
