Students and staff gathered in the Center for Inclusion and Belonging on April 30 to observe Denim Day, a campaign created by Peace Over Violence that encourages wearing denim to raise awareness about sexual assault.

Denim Day has been recognized nationwide since 1999 to protest misconceptions around consent and sexual violence, according to Peace Over Violence.

Denim Day takes place on the last Wednesday in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness month, according to the official Denim Day website.

The campaign was named Denim Day after a survivor whose case was overturned by the Italian Supreme Court in 1998. The court decided the jeans of the victim were too tight and the victim must have helped the attacker remove the jeans, therefore consenting to the act, according to Peace Over Violence.

The event was held in L-106 by the Student Health and Wellness staff, featuring flowers in support of survivors and empowering messages written by students and staff on pieces of denim.

Jaden Klamm, a 20-year-old psychology major, said it’s shocking that the clothing someone wears could be a determination of sexual assault. Klamm said ruling against survivors based on clothing is wrong on both a moral and governmental level.

Staff handed out stickers with inspiring messages at the event, including ones that read, “My jeans protest violence” and “I stand with survivors.”

Gilbert Gacilan, a mental health clinician supervisor, said Denim Day brings awareness to how common sexual assault is and that the campus is a safe place to reach out for help.

“I want people to know that they’re loved, that they don’t have to stay silent if they’re a victim of sexual assault, and they don’t have to be afraid,” Gacilan said. “There is help for them. We have a whole community here on campus that’s willing to support them after everything they’ve gone through.”

WEAVE Inc. provided resources for the event, including healthy relationship pamphlets, numbers to its support line and a guide on how to obtain a forensic exam under the Violence Against Women Act.

Kat Gaston, a mental health advocate, said Denim Day at Cosumnes River College is important because it brings people together as a community and encourages them to keep an open mind about what others might be going through.

Gaston said Student Health and Wellness offers resources, including six free therapy sessions, to survivors of sexual assault.

Students can find Student Health and Wellness resources on the CRC website and in- person resources can be found in the Operations building, located behind the Learning Resource Center.

“Keep having conversations about consent, know what that means, and if you see something, say something,” Gaston said.

Information about consent, sexual assault and how to get help are available here.