UW to Participate in Denim Day April 22

The University of Wyoming is participating in Denim Day, the world's longest-running sexual violence prevention program and education campaign, Wednesday, April 22.

During Denim Day, community members across UW campus are encouraged to wear jeans and any other denim to show support for survivors of sexual violence, as well as participate in a "Pro-Active Green Dot." These small actions promote cultural change surrounding power-based violence on campus. Donations also can be made to UW's Violence Prevention Center.

Denim Day began in 1999 after a controversial court ruling in Italy overturned a sexual assault conviction, claiming the victim's tight jeans implied consent. The decision sparked international outrage, and women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to protest the ruling and stand against victim-blaming.

The movement spread globally. Today, Denim Day is recognized as a day to raise awareness about sexual violence, support survivors and challenge harmful myths surrounding assault. A 2022 UW campus climate survey found that 18.2 percent of responding students reported experiencing at least one instance of sexual assault during their time at the university, underscoring the importance of continued awareness and prevention efforts on campus.

At UW, Denim Day coincides with Green Dot Day of Action. This year's event will feature many activities revolving around creating awareness and prevention, as well as dozens of organizations tabling and answering questions.

In a change from last year, this year's Denim Day fundraising will support the UW's Violence Prevention Center. To donate, visit www.givecampus.com/campaigns/77341/donations/new.

"We decided to switch our fundraising to the Violence Prevention Center rather than the Survivor Emergency Fund simply because the survivor fund is currently in great shape thanks to our supporters," says Bob Vines, UW violence prevention coordinator. "The Violence Prevention Center could use a little help this year."

The Violence Prevention Center, part of the Dean of Students Office, focuses on education and prevention programs that work to reduce sexual and interpersonal violence on campus.

"Requests from students, staff and faculty for our programs continue to grow every year," Vines says. "This is a good problem to have. But we don't want to get to a point where we don't have the ability to meet all of the requests."

The community also is encouraged to attend a Green Dot training to gain skills as bystanders using one of the "3 Ds" -- direct, distract and delegate -- to prevent sexual and interpersonal violence. The final student bystander training this semester will be from 4:30-8 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in the Family Room of the Wyoming Union. To register, visit https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.

"If you or someone you know is in need of support related to sexual assault, relationship abuse, sexual harassment or stalking, please know you are never alone and support is always available," Vines says.

Confidential resources can be found at UW's University Counseling Center, Psychology Centerand Employee Assistance Program; Albany County SAFE Project; and the Ivinson Memorial Hospital SANE Program.

Nonconfidential resources can be found at UW's Dean of Students Office, the UW Police Departmentand Equal Opportunity Report and Response/Title IX.

For more information, call Vines at (307) 766-3475 or email [email protected].