Denim Day
On 24 April 2024, NUS community members can make a social statement with their fashion statement. You can show your support for survivors of sexual misconduct by wearing denim, jeans, or a Denim Day badge distributed by the NUS Care Unit (NCU).
You can raise awareness around sexual harassment and sexual violence on social media with NCU’s #DenimDayNUS campaign. From now until Denim Day (24 Apr), post a photo of you and your denim on your social media and tag @nuscareunit using the hashtags #DenimDayNUS #DenimDay2024.
Whether you are a student or a staff of NUS, we can all do our part in promoting a safer, more respectful, and more vibrant community life!
Thank you for wearing jeans with a purpose, and for standing by survivors of sexual misconduct.
In total, over 900 members of the OneNUS community have pledged to be a responsible, caring, and active supporter of survivors of sexual misconduct. We are truly heartened by the positive support and response from students, staff and faculty members.
Thank you once again, and we look forward to seeing you in your jeans, denim and/or #DenimDayNUS badge again on NUS Denim Day 2024.
why denim?
Denim Day is an international campaign in April developed by Peace Over Violence and also falls during the Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Denim Day originated from an unjust court ruling made in Italy in 1990s which acquitted the perpetrator because sexual assault was not deemed possible if the survivor was wearing jeans. Since then, wearing jeans has become an international symbol of solidarity to end all forms of gender prejudice and sexual misbehaviours.
Denim Day is now observed across the U.S. from LA to NYC, in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Australia.
theme:step in, take action
Research shows that bystander intervention can be an effective way of stopping sexual misconduct before or as it happens.
When we intervene, we signal to the perpetrator that their behaviour is inappropriate and unacceptable. The more we intervene, the more we shift the boundaries of what is acceptable / unacceptable and perhaps even stop such inappropriate behaviours altogether.
To be an active bystander – or upstander – means noticing that someone’s behaviour is inappropriate and choosing to challenge it. Stepping in and taking action need not always be direct. Stepping in includes pretending to be lost and asking for directions as a means of diverting attention away from the victim, taking notes or recording of the incident, or checking in on the victim afterwards.
This year, Denim Day will focus on highlighting the different methods of intervening. We also invite students and staff to pledge one action to commit to to be a more active bystander in the community.
direct
Assess safety first, both the victim’s and yours. If and when it is safe. you may intervene directly in a calm and firm manner.
If it is not safe, consider other strategies. In an emergency, call 999.
distract
De-escalation can also be subtle and creative. Focusing on the victim, talk about or ask something completely unrelated. For example:
- Pretend to be lost and ask for directions,
- “Accidentally” spill or drop something
- Pretend someone is looking for the victim
- Pretend you know the victim
If you know the perpetrator, you may start a conversation with them as a distraction, provided it is safe. These can create opportunities for the victim to exit the situation.
delegate
You don’t need to be the only one intervening. It is also safer to intervene as a group.
It is completely ok to ask others for help. This includes: peers, a professor/lecturer, someone who knows the victim or perpetrator, and campus security
document
It can be helpful for the victim to have a video or other evidence of the incident. Only document the situation when:
- The victim has been / is being attended to
- It is safe to do so
- It is not against the law
Always ask the victim what they want to do with your recording/notes. Never upload it or use it without their consent.
delay
It is okay (and completely normal!) to freeze in the moment, especially if you feel unsafe to intervene.
You may still check in with them afterwards. For example:
- If you know them, text or call them afterwards
- Ask if they need anything
- Ask if they need to be accompanied anywhere
pop-up calendar
9-24 Apr
Atrium, Level 1, Med+Sci Library
9-24 Apr
Level 1 (in front of Co-Op), Central Library
23 & 24 Apr
11 AM to 1 PM,UTown Plaza
Campus Climate Survey 2022
8 Apr (12 PM) – 22 Apr (12PM)
Check your NUS email on 8 April from 12 PM onwards for a link to the survey.
There are 3000 e-vouchers worth $10 each up for grabs! All submissions are anonymous and confidential. Your participation will go a long way in helping NUS foster a more conducive campus climate.
First Responder Training
NUSSU Student Lounge
6 – 9 PM (3 hours)
This is a free event. This workshop is capped at 30 pax*.
Using a trauma-informed approached, this 3-hour workshop consists of three parts:
- Understanding Sexual Violence,
- Recognising the Impact of Trauma, and
- Response and Referral.
This workshop is open to NUS students and will be conducted by trainers from NUSSU (accredited by AWARE). A digital badge will be issued to all participants who complete this workshop.
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*This event has ended. If you wish to participate in future or are interested to have it for your students/student groups, please contact Haizer (NCU) at haizer@nus.edu.sg.
(i) Denim Day Booth
UTown (in front of Fine Food)
11 AM – 1 PM (2 hours)
Visit our booth to learn more about Denim Day, survivor support, and the services that NCU provide, or to simply show your support (in your denims, of course!).
We will also be joined by staff from NUS Health and Wellbeing (HWB), Yale-NUS Survivor Support Advisors and members of Project Parachute. Feel free to speak to them to learn more about what they do and the services they provide.
There will also the Denim Day door hangers and Denim Day badges up for grabs. While stocks last!
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(ii) Launch of Project Parachute Guide
Education Resource Centre (ERC), Seminar Room 9, UTown
2 PM – 3 PM (1 hour)
Project PARACHUTE! is a collaboration between the NUS Pro Bono Group (NUS PBG), Students for a Safer NUS (SafeNUS), and the NUS Care Unit (NCU).
Survivors of sexual assault often lack information and resources about the steps and processes they have to go through, should they wish to take further action. This research project aims to produce a one-stop information platform for survivors and friends of survivors.
The physical, in-person launch event will take place on 27 April (Wed) from 2 PM – 3 PM. The event will include a mini-panel discussion. You can also attend the launch via Zoom. To register (for either), click here.
You can download the guide here. The guide will also be distributed at the First Responder Trainings (FRTs) conducted by NUSSU.
Launch of Game Jam
Wanted something a bit more out of Denim Day? We’re not quite done yet! What’s a game jam, you ask? Think hackathon – but you’ll be designing and developing tabletop games!
More info on this will be available here from 5 May.
denim day pledge
I pledge to be,
A responsible, caring, and active member of the NUS community who supports survivors of sexual misconduct.
To help end sexual misconduct, I will:
- Speak out against jokes or attitudes that make light of or promote sexual harassment or assault.
- Recognise and speak up against statements that blame victims.
- Intervene in a situation that may be potentially harmful to someone.
To help a survivor, I will:
- Thank them for sharing their experience with me;
- Ask them how I can help;
- Listen without blame, judgement or pity;
- Keep supporting them by sharing appropriate resources
On Wednesday, 24 April 2024 I will wear jeans, denim or a Denim Day badge as a visible demonstration of support for survivors of sexual misconduct and for building a culture of respect on campus.
collaborators
We’d like to also thank the following collaborator for their support for Denim Day 2024:
