The Naval Reserve Officer’s Training Corps showed their support for Sexual Assault awareness month by wearing denim on the first-ever ISU Denim Day.

Denim day originated after a woman was raped in Italy and her perpetrator was found not guilty because she was wearing jeans that their supreme court found would’ve been too tight to take off without her consent and help.

People all over the world wear jeans on April 28, 2013, during Sexual Assault Awareness month, in protest of the ruling.

Senior Joe Couillard and junior Knute Klinker both in NROTC wore head-to-toe denim yesterday to show their support.

“If wearing denim gets [awareness] out, then I don’t see why not,” Klinker said.

They found their outfits at a church basement garage sale and only paid $6.

The outfits may have only cost $6, but their meaning and effect on the ISU campus may be priceless.

“We’re a part of the navy, but we are also a part of the [ISU] community and if there is anything we can do to support and prevent these things from happening, it’s something we should do,” said Couillard, one of the main planners of the Denim Day event.

Along with Denim Day, the NROTC also made posters promoting Sexual Assault Awareness that are around campus, said Charles Latour, assistant marine instructor.

“It’s important because we need to make sure we build officers and that they understand the severity of sexual assaults that may happen under their command and how to prevent them,” Latour said.

Latour said that both the Navy and Marines looked for events around the world to promote prevention and awareness around the campus.

The NROTC isn’t the only place on campus supporting Sexual Assault Awareness month. The Margaret Sloss house is also hosting events throughout the month to educate students.

Last week, the annual Clothesline Project took place, which raised awareness about gender-based violence and gave survivors a chance to express their experiences, said Jenifer Roberts, graduate assistant at the Sloss House.

At the Clothesline Project, participants may paint a shirt to write a message the advocates Sexual Assault Awareness. 

The shirts are usually displayed on campus just outside of the Sloss House, although this year the event was moved inside, Roberts said.

“These Hands Don’t Hurt” is a philanthropy hosted by the Greek Fraternity Alpha Kappa Lambda that also takes place during the month of April. 

Alpha Kappa Lambda collaborates with the Sloss House, and all proceeds go to Access.

Take Back the Night, an ISU tradition, will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2013, at the Memorial Union to promote sexual assault awareness on the ISU campus.

“The idea of it is to bring people together, unify together, to take a stand against gender-based violence. It’s to really empower people, to share their stories, and to recognize resources that are available in campus and the community,” Roberts said.

“It’s important to talk about this issue all the time, but it’s nice that one month out of the year is dedicated to sexual assault awareness, because it is so prevalent, especially on college campuses.”