OneKU Denim Day 2026
Two films. Real voices. One powerful conversation—join us.
Register for this hybrid event on Zoom.
REGISTEROn April 29, 2026—Denim Day and National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month— the University of Kansas will host a OneKU, cross-campus film screening and dialogue co-organized by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) and the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX. The event will take place at the Lawrence campus and be streamed across campuses, uniting all campuses in a shared commitment to sexual assault awareness, prevention, and accountability. The program is open to KU faculty, staff, students, and community members.
The event features back-to-back documentary film screenings of the Oscar-nominated Black Box Diaries (2024), directed by Japanese journalist and survivor Shiori Ito, and Loud Enough (2023), directed by Emmy-award winning filmmaker Hilary Klotz Steinman, who deftly chronicles the experience of Kansas sexual assault survivor Madison Smith and her family. A moderated dialogue will follow with Ito, Steinman, Smith, her family, and detective Justin Boardman. Together, they will explore the cultural differences and structural similarities of their experiences surrounding sexual violence, social injustice, institutional responses, and the power of storytelling.
This interdisciplinary and international program bridges journalism and storytelling, law and law enforcement, gender and sexuality studies, social welfare, psychology, and area studies. By situating Kansas within a transnational feminist framework, the event models how global perspectives deepen local understanding. As a public-facing event, it demonstrates KU’s OneKU vision: bringing campuses and communities together to advance scholarship, prevention, and collective responsibility in addressing sexual violence.
12:30 PM, Loud Enough Screening
This intimate, personal film follows a sexual assault survivor and her tight-knit family as they fight for justice and systemic change. It reveals the Herculean effort still required for a survivor of sexual violence and their loved ones to hold an attacker and the U.S. judicial system accountable.
1:30 PM, Black Box Diaries Screening
Black Box Diaries is a survivor’s real-time investigation of her own sexual assault — and includes raw video diaries, surreptitious audio recordings of police negligence, and vérité courtroom footage. Shiori Itō documents her courageous struggle to navigate Japan’s patriarchal judiciary and antiquated sex crimes laws (proven lack of consent was insufficient) and quest for justice.
3:00 PM CT, Moderated Discussion
This discussion will explore the cultural differences and structural similarities of their experiences surrounding sexual violence, social injustice, institutional responses, and the power of storytelling.
Shiori's primary focus is gender-based human rights issues. In 2020, TIME magazine named her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She won the One Young World Journalist of the Year Award in 2022. In 2017, she published Black Box, based upon her own experience of rape. The book reveals the sexism in Japan’s society and institutions, and she won the Free Press Association of Japan Award for Best Journalism in 2018. In 2024, her debut feature-length documentary film, Black Box Diaries, was released worldwide—but not yet in Japan—and she was nominated for an Oscar, the first Japanese director to be honored in that category.
After surviving a life-threatening sexual assault in her hometown of Lindsborg, Kansas, college freshman Madison Smith and her parents were stunned when the local county prosecutor declined to file charges against the rapist, despite a strong case and compelling physical evidence. Traumatized by both the assault itself and her treatment by the police and prosecutor, Madison never wavered from the conviction that her attacker must be held accountable. She and her family refused to let the criminal justice system deny the facts and ignore her case, or to give up their quest for legal consequences.
Hilary has been producing historical and vérité documentary films for over 25 years, with a focus on women’s history and the impact of technology on American lives. Her work has been featured on PBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, at Sundance Film Festival, the New York Historical Society and in theaters.
Justin has conducted nearly 300 forensic child victim interviews and 140 adult sexual assault victim interviews. Boardman co-authored a Trauma Informed Victim Interview protocol for adult sexual assault victims, which uses insights from the neurobiology of trauma.
Mandy and Jason Smith
Madison's parents
Jason is a retired law enforcement officer with more than two decades of service, bringing a unique perspective shaped by both his professional experience and his role as a father. In the wake of his daughter’s experience, Jason became a steadfast supporter and advocate, standing beside her throughout her pursuit of justice. His journey has given him firsthand insight into the challenges survivors face and the gaps that can exist within the system. Jason is featured in the documentary Loud Enough, where he shares his perspective as both a former officer and a parent.
Mandy is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at KU. Motivated by her daughter Madison’s experience, her advocacy focuses on addressing secondary victimization and promoting a more compassionate, trauma-informed response to survivors. Mandy brings a powerful perspective as both a mother and advocate committed to ensuring survivors are heard, supported, and believed. Mandy has spoken at national conferences, including the Conference on Crimes Against Women and events hosted by the National Center for Victims of Crime. She also appears in the documentary Loud Enough, sharing her family’s story to help spark change.
Alignment with Jayhawk Rising Strategic Plan
This event directly supports the University of Kansas’ Jayhawks Rising strategic plan, particularly its three institutional priorities: Research & Discovery, Healthy & Vibrant Communities, and Student Success.
Together, these elements embody the Jayhawks Rising vision of an exceptional learning community that advances knowledge while strengthening communities locally and globally.
Jayhawk Rising
The program advances KU’s commitment to fostering communities that support the well-being and dignity of students, faculty, staff, and community partners. By addressing sexual violence awareness, survivor advocacy, and institutional accountability, the event contributes to a campus culture that promotes safety, respect, and belonging. Through dialogue among survivors, filmmakers, scholars, and advocates, it encourages collective responsibility for building healthier communities both on campus and beyond.
The event is open not only to KU students and employees but also to the broader Kansas and Kansas City communities. By bringing together international and local perspectives on gender-based violence and human rights, it strengthens KU’s role as a public research university engaged with pressing social issues that affect communities locally and nationally.
Featuring the work and participation of Japanese journalist and filmmaker Shiori Ito alongside U.S.-based advocates and filmmakers, the program demonstrates KU’s commitment to global scholarly engagement. The event situates local experiences within a transnational framework, showing how international perspectives enrich research, teaching, and public dialogue.
The event provides students with opportunities to engage directly with filmmakers, journalists, survivors, and advocates, connecting classroom learning in fields such as journalism, law, gender and sexuality studies, psychology, and area studies with real-world social issues.
With Gratitude to Our Supporters
We extend our sincere thanks to all of our sponsors, student organizations, and community partners whose support made this event possible. Your collaboration, generosity, and dedication help create meaningful experiences and strengthen our shared community. We are grateful for your continued commitment and proud to work together toward a common goal.
Cosponsors
Office of Civil Rights & Title IX
Office of the Chancellor
Office of the Provost
Office of International Affairs
School of Law
School of Public Welfare
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
CARE Services
Sexual Assault and Prevention Education Center
Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures
Department of Film and Media Studies
Department of Political Science
Department of Sociology
Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Center for Global & International Studies
Center for Digital Inclusion
The Commons
Alpha Phi Sigma: Criminal Justice Honor Society
Jayhawks Against Sexual Violence
Claire's Community
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center