College hosts Denim Day to protest victim-blaming

May 14, 2025

By Laura Southers

Staff Writer

April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the last Wednesday in April has become known as Denim Day.

Bethany Day, the president of the Student Government, speaks to students at the Denim Day stand. This refers to an Italian court case in the 1990s when a woman’s rapist was not prosecuted because the judge ruled the victim’s jeans were too tight, so the sex must have been “consensual.”

The next day Italian women wore jeans to work. Denim Day has been established as a protest against victim-blaming.

John Ginsberg, the college’s Director of Student Life and adviser to Associated Student Government, said the college has been celebrating Denim Day for seven years. This year the event was organized by Ginsberg, and ASG members Randi Hurt and Bethany Day. It lasted from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Wacheno Welcome Center quad.

To promote Denim Day, ASG was giving away sweatshirts, Italian sodas, stickers and lanyards at a table set up in the quad.

Erin Ritchie, Training and Outreach Coordinator for Clackamas Women’s Services, set up a table at the event to help raise awareness for Denim Day.

“CWS is the domestic violence and sexual assault services agency for Clackamas County,” Richie said. “We offer support groups and shelter."

"We also have a confidential advocate on campus three days a week.” Ritchie said, “They’re in counseling Monday through Wednesday, so students can go in and talk to them if they

have any questions or are needing some support from an advocate.“

"We’ve certainly had more students reaching out for services,” Ritchie said.