A number of UNA students and faculty dressed in denim Jan. 29 in support of Jeans for Justice, an annual, nationwide event promoted by the Center for Women’s Studies.

Emily Kelley, coordinator of the Center for Women’s Studies, said Jeans for Justice is an event that spreads awareness about sexual violence.

Jeans for Justice began in the early 2000s as a national outcry about a 1999 Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction because the girl was wearing jeans.

The case was overturned on the premise that it would have been impossible for an assailant to remove her jeans without her consent.

“Rape Response is hoping people will use this time to talk about harmful attitudes — not just that ridiculous, total lack of reasoning that went into the Supreme Court decision,” Kelley said.

She also said anyone could participate by wearing jeans or donating $1 or more to support Rape Response of the Shoals.

The Women’s Center was stationed at a table in the GUC from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. accepting donations and handing out flyers about sexual violence awareness.

The proceeds, which totaled $161, were donated to Rape Response to help victims of rape, Kelley said.

“For the most part, we had a steady stream of people coming to the table,” said Jean Ann Willis, a UNA senior and one of five volunteers running the table. “We had several that stopped by and wanted to know what we were doing.”

Willis, a survivor of domestic violence, said it was incredible to be able to share her story and hear others do the same.

“I think that just being there and being able to listen and provide information is empowering,” she said.

Kelley said the main goal was to combat a general lack of awareness about sexual assault and rape.

“People have been very generous,” she said. “We tell people they can give $1 or more, and a lot of people have given more. As far as I know, the amount we have raised has risen each year.”