As students at Michigan State University, there are two things that are basically expected of us: that we bleed green and white and that we would die for our athletic teams. And to be completely honest, there is absolutely nothing wrong with either of those two things. However, there is something wrong with putting the athletic teams and their image before the safety and wellbeing of the students at MSU.

It goes without saying that this year has possibly been the toughest one that MSU has faced yet. With allegation after allegation, the news reports seem never ending.

And as students who feel pride for their school and its programs, we are left in the sticky situation of wanting to defend our school because it's our home, but being completely aware of the fact that everything that's going on here is wrong. As members of the Spartan community who should want what's best for our fellow Spartans, we should not feel the need to defend our school in every situation.

If no one else will say it, then I will: Michigan State University has countlessly messed up and is in the wrong. I do not need to defend and continue to support this university simply because I am a student.

There is no way to defend the previous actions that occurred with regards to the Larry Nassar case. There is simply no way to justify how the very employees of this university would work so hard to protect the reputation of the school, despite the harm that it was causing to the victims who were having their rights and their bodies completely violated.

Similarly, there is no defending the actions of the sports teams who have been accused and convicted of sexually assaulting fellow Spartans. They are not above the law just because they are athletes and they deserve to have the same fate that Larry Nassar has been sentenced to.

With the Larry Nassar case, the students of MSU were outraged. Protests were held, petitions were signed and change was demanded. And rightfully so. How could we, as students, feel comfortable being enrolled in a university where sexual assault is happening and being covered up right before our eyes?

So why is it that when the allegations shift to our beloved sports teams, the rage instilled in the students at MSU seems to disappear? With the recent lawsuit against former MSU basketball players recently surfacing, the majority of Michigan State students have fallen silent and seem to be turning a blind eye to the situation. Some of the students who have spoken up on the issue have gone as far to say that they are "just allegations" that "need to be investigated further".

We cannot give rapists the benefit of the doubt. We cannot hope that evidence turns up to prove their innocence while demanding that Larry Nassar be locked up in the same breath. We cannot protest for the resignation of President Louanna K. Simon yet support the coaches who have enabled rapists return for another season.

Allegations against the athletes need to be held in the same manner that the Larry Nassar allegations were handled. We need to stay outraged. We need to continue to demand change. We cannot pick and choose which victims we are going to support. We need to stand up for what is ethically right, even if it goes against the teams we feel passionately about. We need to remain consistent with the changes that we want to see on campus.

There is no coach, administrator, athlete, student or faculty member who is above the law and deserves special treatment. With every allegation that arises, we must demand justice and we must demand the change that this university desperately needs. We must get rid of all of the enablers. Change is now. Time is up.