Join the USC community in supporting survivors of sexual violence, and sharing awareness of prevention efforts that can reduce violence and promote equity for people of all genders.
See all USC events related to sexual assault awareness month at calendar.usc.edu. If your USC department, club, or organization has a related event, please enter it into the calendar and use the tag “usc_saam” for it to be listed among these activities.
How to show your support?
- Use Zoom backgrounds and Instagram templates to raise awareness.
Learn more about the educational programs of Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services in USC Student Health, including the 24/7 accompaniment services of Advocates for survivors (call 213-740-9355/WELL).
Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services, a unit of Counseling and Mental Health Services in USC Student Health, is a campus resource for students; providing advocate services (24/7) to survivors of sexual assault and gender-based harm; providing mental health services, and promoting prevention education programs for students and student-serving departments. Licensed clinical mental health care is provided through clinician faculty members of the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Denim Day is the last Wednesday of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), raising awareness and encouraging people to wear jeans with a purpose, support survivors of sexual assault, and educate themselves and others about all forms of sexual violence and gender-based harm.
WHAT are the origins? The campaign began after a ruling in 1998 by the Italian Supreme Court, where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices assumed the victim was wearing tight jeans, therefore she must have helped the perpetrator remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. Outraged by this assumption, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work the next day wearing jeans, in protest of this decision and in solidarity with the victim.
HOW can I participate?
Wearing jeans, wearing a button (available at testing sites and entrances to campus) to raise awareness and have a conversation about consent.
Wherever you see the pins on these boards at the campus testing locations (Engemann Student Health, Jefferson Lot, Pardee/Marks, other locations) take a free pin to wear and show your support.
Participate in the digital space
- Download the informational toolkit for discussion and education.
- Use the Zoom backgrounds to show your support.
Learn more about Denim Day and USC’s Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services, a unit of Counseling and Mental Health Services in USC Student Health, the campus resource for students, providing advocate services (24/7) to survivors of sexual assault and gender-based harm; providing mental health services, and promoting prevention education programs for students and student-serving departments. Licensed clinical mental health care is provided through clinician faculty members of the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Call 213-740-9355 (WELL) for 24/7 access to counseling and mental health support, advocate accompaniment to crisis centers and medical care. Questions? Contact us at studenthealth@usc.edu.
