If you follow the news or occasionally browse through social media, you'll run into all sorts of current trends. Lately, the news has been dominated by Brock Turner, a newly convicted rapist and former Stanford swimmer, a title that is irrelevant to Brock's name nowadays.

If you read the Brock Turner case, you'll learn that he has done nothing wrong according to himself, his lawyer and his father. According to him, girls willingly like to have sex behind a dumpster unconscious with pine needles in their hair. That females don't deserve to "point fingers" at men and convict them of sexual assault when they are intoxicated. That, because of these accusations, Brock's father feels that his "Olympic-hopeful son" doesn't deserve the punishment for the mere "20 minutes of action" he got. Although the jury convicted Brock for all charges and recommended maximum sentencing, the judge believes that six months in jail would suit him better because his prior record was clean before deciding to become a sexual predator. So that in six months time, he can prey again. The victim wrote a moving, 12-page statement and presented it to the jury and judge; the letter brings us deeply into the attitude, emotions and state of well-being that this rape victim is in; yet, the judge was not as moved. (To read the full statement, click here.)

This is just the beginning of the wrong doings this case has brought forth. Ideas of white privilege, athletic advantages, and rape culture have all directly contributed to this case and thinking behind the ruling. I'm not here to bitch and complain, but more so to get your attention. Athletes continually get treated in our court systems differently as they are more highly regarded and more of an image for organizations and institutions. White individuals get the benefit of the doubt in court and the idea that they are above the law. That rape is a "he said, she said" account and that those who have consumed alcohol cannot make accusations against others because of hearsay. For some crazy reason beyond my understanding, people are actually DEFENDING rapist Brock Turner of his actions, including his father, because he was drunk. "He didn't do it, the alcohol did." "She shouldn't have been blackout drunk." Just for a second, imagine your best friend, daughter, son or whoever you care about celebrating a night with drinking and, because they were drunk with other people, gets raped. Imagine people blaming the alcohol and the victim, not the one who sexually took advantage of this person you care about, who was also drunk. Just because one person gets drunk and passes out, doesn't make it okay for someone else who is also drunk, to decide to be a rapist. Where on earth did we begin to understand that only alcohol is to blame for sexual assault? It's a deranged mental state, a set of morals horribly wrong, and a person that doesn't have a very good conscience. Would you not also be outraged with a six-month sentence for a boy like this, receiving only a three-month sentence if "he has good behavior" ? I didn't think so.

We must change these standards.

We need to recognize that we, as a society, can use our social media platforms to make a difference. To make a move to change the privilege and culture we find in society. We should not blame the victim. That being drunk isn't an excuse (or a reason to be taken advantage of). To not blame the victim. To know that it's on us to help those that are victims of rape and sexual assault. The Brock Turner case mishandling is an awful spotlight case. The justice system had the opportunity to serve justice. They had the opportunity to set the standard that athletes, specifically white athletes and college students in general, will not be treated lightly in court in regards to sexual assault and rape accounts. But they have failed. They have failed to set the precedent, and they have failed to serve justice. They have failed women and men everywhere that have been a part of a sexual assault in which they feel they can't come forward about because they know they won't receive justice. Or those that have come forward and continue to feel unsafe as those who are accused and convicted get off on light sentences and are back on the streets.

We, as a society, have failed. It's time to make a difference and change the idea behind rape culture and white privilege. Let's use this case to make a difference, make our judicial system stronger, and protect those that are taken advantage of. So thank you Brock Turner and company. Thank you for being a glaring example of what is wrong with society and our judicial system. Thank you for reminding us that rape and sexual assault is not taken lightly. Thank you for allowing the victim to come forward and remind us that you have completely altered her life. Her social, mental, and physical well-being is forever harmed. Thank you for showing us that men and women everywhere struggle to get protection from you because of our failing court system. Also, screw you, Brock Turner. Screw you for taking advantage of a helpless woman and having your father defend you for only getting "20 minutes of action." Screw you for actually thinking what you did isn't wrong. Screw you for reminding us that there are people like you everywhere, and every day, people like you are getting off easy because they can twist the story in their favor. Screw you, Brock Turner.