2008 Woodie Awards
A Fashion Statement
Maggie Ownbey
Issue date: 3/29/06 Section: News
Wearing denim on April 19 will make a fashion statement: Stop Violence Against Women.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Valley College will hold a Denim Day rally in Monarch Square to give women who have been sexually assaulted a voice and to promote prevention education and awareness. Denim Day began as part of an international protest following an Italian Supreme Court's decision to overturn a rape conviction because the victim wore jeans. The justices stated in their decision that, "it is common knowledge that jeans cannot even be partly removed without the effective help of the person wearing them." Therefore it must have been consensual sex.
"It's not the first time, not the only time and unfortunately not likely to be the last time that a lack of knowledge about sexual assault resulted in victim blaming decisions and behavior," said Jae Weiss, director of prevention education at the Valley Trauma Center in Van Nuys which is working in collaboration with Valley on the event.
The Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women has organized Denim Day in L.A., since 1999 as a protest to the Italian case.
"The number one priority [of Denim Day] is that the students realize that the campus cares about its students and that there are resources out there," said Reed Walsh, Team Leader of the Campus Violence Response Team.
Guest speakers representing advocate groups scheduled to appear include the Violence Intervention Project and Children of the Night.
"It's a balance of both reactive and pro-active information," said Walsh, coordinator of the event at Valley.
The event will include the music of Carlos Santana performed by Valley staff and faculty members who are donating their talents because of their commitment to safety and peace for all the mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and grandmothers in their lives.
Santana's Milagro Foundation has a history of supporting advocacy agencies like Violence Intervention Project, a L.A. based organization.
"We want to invite people to wear denim with a purpose," said Weiss. "Talk about why you are wearing it so we can get the conversation going - so that we can solve the problem."
Weiss also reminds students to be aware that during spring break there's a media message about behaviors being promoted that might increase the risk of unwanted sexual activity.
Denim Day at Valley is funded though a Department of Justice grant, USC and CALCASA.
The Associated Student Union is lending their support to the event.
Denim Day: Wednesday, April 19, Monarch Square, 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information contact: Reed Walsh (818) 778-5818.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Valley College will hold a Denim Day rally in Monarch Square to give women who have been sexually assaulted a voice and to promote prevention education and awareness. Denim Day began as part of an international protest following an Italian Supreme Court's decision to overturn a rape conviction because the victim wore jeans. The justices stated in their decision that, "it is common knowledge that jeans cannot even be partly removed without the effective help of the person wearing them." Therefore it must have been consensual sex.
"It's not the first time, not the only time and unfortunately not likely to be the last time that a lack of knowledge about sexual assault resulted in victim blaming decisions and behavior," said Jae Weiss, director of prevention education at the Valley Trauma Center in Van Nuys which is working in collaboration with Valley on the event.
The Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women has organized Denim Day in L.A., since 1999 as a protest to the Italian case.
"The number one priority [of Denim Day] is that the students realize that the campus cares about its students and that there are resources out there," said Reed Walsh, Team Leader of the Campus Violence Response Team.
Guest speakers representing advocate groups scheduled to appear include the Violence Intervention Project and Children of the Night.
"It's a balance of both reactive and pro-active information," said Walsh, coordinator of the event at Valley.
The event will include the music of Carlos Santana performed by Valley staff and faculty members who are donating their talents because of their commitment to safety and peace for all the mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and grandmothers in their lives.
Santana's Milagro Foundation has a history of supporting advocacy agencies like Violence Intervention Project, a L.A. based organization.
"We want to invite people to wear denim with a purpose," said Weiss. "Talk about why you are wearing it so we can get the conversation going - so that we can solve the problem."
Weiss also reminds students to be aware that during spring break there's a media message about behaviors being promoted that might increase the risk of unwanted sexual activity.
Denim Day at Valley is funded though a Department of Justice grant, USC and CALCASA.
The Associated Student Union is lending their support to the event.
Denim Day: Wednesday, April 19, Monarch Square, 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information contact: Reed Walsh (818) 778-5818.
