As an incoming college freshman, I’ve received plenty of advice. I’ve been showered with classic antidotes like “don’t wait until the last minute to do your laundry” or “don’t overwhelm yourself the first semester.”

As an incoming female college freshman, however, I’ve also received a different kind of advice: warnings. I’ve been told not to binge drink or to never put my drink down at a party or not to wear “revealing” or “suggestive” outfits or sometimes simply just to “be careful.”

Two days ago, Brock Turner was released from jail after sexually assaulting an unconscious woman at Stanford University just last year. It’s because of people like Turner that “be careful” has become less of a warning for female college students and more of a reality.

Today, 11.2% of all graduate and undergraduate students experience rape or sexual assault. Female college students ages 18-24 are 3 times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence.

These harsh truths are a product of our society’s stigma around rape and sexual assault. The notion that the perpetrators aren’t to blame and instead the victim brought it on his or her self is now deeply ingrained in our culture. Notice how all of the warnings given to me were staked in my own actions. I can’t drink too much at a party, I can’t set my cup down, I can’t wear revealing clothing, I have to be proactive, I have to be the one who’s careful.

Notice how Brock Turner was found guilty of three felony counts – assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated or unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person – and only spent three months in jail. His sentence was based on his lack of criminal history, show of "sincere remorse,” the fact that alcohol impaired his judgment and the "severe impact" a state prison sentence would have on an offender of Turner's age.

And we wonder why only 344 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to the police.

Not only are victims afraid that others will not believe them if they come forward, but they also fear being blamed. And even if they do report the assault, who’s to say that their perpetrator will be rightfully punished? Or worse – even punished at all?

Turner was found guilty on five accounts, but the judge still favored Turner’s wellbeing over the appropriate legal actions and justice for the victim. If we don’t start taking rape and sexual assault cases seriously in the criminal justice system, how can we expect to resolve the problem?

We can federally mandate as many online courses as we’d like or lecture college students during orientation weeks, but the bottom line is that we need real, legal action. Otherwise, Americans will see cases like Turner’s and think that they can commit rape with little to no consequences, that even if a victim comes forward, they won’t have justice, and that “being careful” is truly our only option.