The Argonaut – ‘Breaking Silence’ on Denim Day


Event Attendees Pose in the Amphitheater

The University of Idaho concluded their calendar of events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month by holding Denim Day and an event called “Breaking Silence’ April 30.  

Denim Day, a display of support for survivors of sexual assault to end victim-blaming, initially started due to a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned. This ruling took place because the justices felt that, since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim, according to the event’s description on UI’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month page.  

Violence Prevention Programs, the Women’s Center, ASUI and Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse hosted a denim-wearing event in the ISUB plaza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to learn more information about sexual assault prevention. Participants could also take part in a campus photo taken at noon with those wearing denim in support of survivors.  

Allies were also encouraged to post their denim with the hashtag #UIdahoDenimDay or #DenimDay2021. Individuals could also email their submissions to [email protected] to have them posted on Instagram @vandalgreendot and @uidahowc, the Green Dot Bystander Program and Women’s Center’s handles, respectively.  

Later in the evening, at 7 p.m. at the Shattuck Amphitheater, organizers, survivors and supporters alike gathered in a candlelit vigil to read aloud words of inspiration and stories of survivors in an anonymous, supportive setting with advocates and resources present.  

Lambda Theta Alpha, a Latin sorority on UI’s campus, collaborated with ATVP and the Office of Violence Prevention to coordinate Breaking Silence.  

Lambda Theta Alpha Members and ATVP | Katarina Hockema | Argonaut

“Our local philanthropy is women’s issues, so our president had an idea that there isn’t a space for survivors to share their stories,” Sophia Gutierrez, the chapter vice president, said. “She came up with the idea that we should do an event and have survivors share their stories. We partnered up with ATVP and other offices on campus to make this event happen.” 

Gutierrez, Ahtziri Arias, the chapter president, Julia Santiago, the treasurer, Laura Bernal, the historian, public relations and orientation advisor and Alondra Ibarra, the recruitment and retention officer all took turns reading paper submissions of either words of affirmation, or personal stories, to the participants of the event.  

All submissions were shredded to maintain anonymity, and the papers for each type of submission were colored differently to avoid confusion.  

Attendees could also select from an assortment of pins, stickers, keychains and informational pamphlets, as well as view an infographic display board about ATVP, courtesy of the organization. 

“It is heartwarming to see the solidarity for survivors during these unprecedented times,” Alyda Jaegerman, ATVP’s current Idaho Advocate, said at the beginning of the event. “To the survivors here, whether you’re just starting on your journey or you have been on it for a long time, thank you for the vulnerability it takes to come to an event like this. To the allies, your support is needed and I commend you for taking on such an important role. My hope is that the support you see and feel tonight shows no bounds. In this moment and beyond, you are not alone. We see you, and we believe you.” 

Katarina Hockema can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @kat_hockema   




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