I think that in light of recently old news circulating in my hometown that I should address something that we kind of already knows, or at least should know.

Individuals in power positions do not get special passes on corruption for the sake of being in power. I think that partly with being embarrassed, I'm just very disappointed in the locality of the events that happened with people in power who I thought I could trust. In many situations like this, I think that it becomes an issue of losing faith in a system brought up to protect you, enrich you, and build you up.

I encourage you to hold your bosses, your colleagues, your teachers, your administration, your religious leaders, your politicians, your significant others, your friends, your family, and yourself accountable for actions made that invalidate others. Specifically, in the case of sexual harassment, assault, and the biggest overlooked one, "locker room talk." If it's vulgar, don't say it, don't think it, and don't defend it.

When you stand by individuals with known histories of abuse/harassment/etc. then you are one of the biggest parts of the problem. You actually become an integral part of the problem. Because you continue the cyclic behavior of sexual assault and invalidation of the seriousness of the manners. It starts with a thought and ends with an action. It's conscious. And not doing anything about it is a conscious decision.

It isn't about being politically correct, it's about what is morally right. It's about doing your part to hold the people around you accountable for their actions and making sure that there are repercussions for morally inept actions. And it's also about changing the rhetoric on big issues like sexual assault. Take down the individual, but you don't have to abolish the position. It's not anarchy. It's taking out the problem and showing everyone that there are consequences for these actions.

As I reflect on the issues of the case of my old alma mater and the complexities of the situation of sexual assault that took place there, I totally believe that they may have dropped the ball. And that's unfortunate. We've got to stop sweeping these things under the rug. You've got to start calling things like you see them and as you see them. It is not okay to excuse these things or to "normalize" them.

For those of you who have excused sexual abusers, you're a big part of the issue too.