EIU Media Relations

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). April is dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and promoting education about sexual violence and prevention. Sexual violence impacts people of all genders, backgrounds, and communities. In the United States, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime, and many survivors never report their experiences. Awareness, education, and community support are critical steps toward creating safer environments for everyone. 

There are several ways you can help raise awareness this month: 

• Teal Day – Tuesday, April 7 
  Teal is the official color of sexual assault awareness and prevention. On Teal Day, wear teal to show support for survivors and to stand against sexual violence. Whether it’s a shirt, ribbon, or accessory, every visible show of support helps spark conversations.
• Denim Day – Wednesday, April 29 
  Denim Day began after a controversial court ruling in Italy that overturned a rape conviction, claiming the victim’s tight jeans implied consent. In protest, people are encouraged to wear denim to stand in solidarity with survivors and challenge harmful myths about sexual violence. Denim Day is recognized worldwide as a statement against victim-blaming.  

We encourage you to participate by wearing teal on Teal Day and denim on Denim Day. Take a photo, share why awareness matters to you, and tag @IVAT on Instagram to help spread the message. Selected posts may be featured on our page to help amplify awareness and show community support. 

Be on the lookout for additional campus events hosted by members of the Interpersonal Violence Awareness Team (IVAT) throughout the month. We will be distributing teal ribbons at various tabling events across campus. If you would like a teal ribbon for yourself or your organization to show support for survivors, you can also contact IVAT at IVAT@eiu.edu. 

How to Support Survivors: 

For more information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month and resources for support, visit nsvrc.org.