This story contains mentions of sexual assault

Students wrote supportive messages to sexual assault survivors on a banner at a campus event on Tuesday.

The Health and Wellness Center hosted the event as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to correspond with Denim Day, a national day of action that takes place on every last Wednesday of April.

“The event went really well,” Zack Buster, the Student Government Association president, said. “It’s really good that you have people to support [you] when people go through these struggles.”

In 1999 in Italy, a 45-year old man drove an 18-year old girl to an isolated area and forced himself on her, threatening to kill her if she told anyone. He was later convicted, but the Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction because she was wearing denim pants.

This is the second time that Denim Day has been held on campus, according to Katie Keys, the project director for  sexual violence prevention.

“The whole purpose is to weave our community together,” Keys, the organizer of the event, said. “When you have greater connection and greater empathy for the people around you, not only are you more likely to engage as an active bystander in a moment of potential harm, but we’re more likely to prevent violence altogether.”

According to Keys, the event is meant to “mobilize” against harmful myths about sexual assault.

“It’s not just to raise awareness but [also] to … have these conversations,” Keys said.

Buster, a third-year communications student, said he plans to attend these events going forward.