Members of the Queer Unity Project hoped to force people to take a stand - even one of indifference - on lesbian, gay and bisexual rights yesterday by proclaiming the day as a a time for supporters to wear jeans.
Organizers said they understand that wearing jeans is not exactly the most self-sacrificing form of activism.
"A lot of people make jokes about Jeans Day, they say they're going to start a straight day where everyone who doesn't support (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered) rights wears shoes, etc.," QUP member Jen Trudell said in a written statement. "The point is it's not about the jeans, it's about inspiring discussion."
"I think it's good that they have something that people can do," said LSA first-year student Julie Keller. "I think a lot of people will be able to support it."
Those who organized the day of subtle activism said they felt the goal of stirring up dialogue on gay issues was achieved. "I think it was (a success), although I would have wanted to have had it more widely publicized," said LSA sophomore Neela Ghoshal, who is on the QUP planning team.
Ghoshal and other volunteers helped spread the word by handing out denim patches to interested students in the basement of the Michigan Union from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. yesterday.
"There were some people who just looked at the table and walked away, but there were others who came up," Ghoshal said.
Although fliers and e-mail messages were intended to reach students, many said they had not heard about the campaign. Some students said they doubted their denim would make much of a difference.
"I think it's difficult because so many people wear jeans," LSA senior Sara Miller said at the Angell Hall computing site yesterday afternoon. "I don't think a lot of people knew about it. I didn't know about it and I read the paper pretty much every day."
LSA senior Brad Rosenberg, who was not wearing jeans, said he was not aware of Jeans Day, but had to dress up for other reasons.
"I'm going to a formal banquet in a few minutes," he said in the Fishbowl yesterday afternoon. "If I didn't have to go to that, I probably would've (worn jeans)."