It’s 2016 and rape culture is a serious problem. Recently, someone I graduated with was charged with a felony false imprisonment charge. This person admitted to walking into the room locking the door and touching/digitally penetrating a girl.

One criminal sexual conduct count was third degree and the second was of the fourth degree. A third degree charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years, while a fourth degree charge has a max of two years. By pleading guilty to the false imprisonment charge he was sentenced to five years.

What’s really frustrating is that I knew this person, he was someone I would trust and wouldn’t think twice about. This is the case for a majority of assaults.

Four out of five assaults are committed by someone known to the victim and 47 percent of rapists are a friend or acquaintance.

So, why are these assaults being pushed under the rug? Why is a five year sentence acceptable when the charges call for something more?

In the society we live in today where conversations on Freeing the Nipples, Open bathrooms and Dress Codes we can’t talk about a conversation that’s uncomfortable?

98 percent of rapists will never spend a day in jail or prison, so yes five years is a step but this needs to be addressed.

This one occasion happened in a small town where everybody knows everyone. We trust the people we spend time with. By addressing this now we can open the conversation to spread into further city’s and college communities.

Anything but yes means no. If the person's asleep, drunk, says yes and then changes their mind then it’s a no. Their clothing, intoxication or any level of flirting doesn’t give you the right to push yourself onto them.

Stop pushing the conversation under the rug. Rape culture is an issue and it needs to be addressed openly.

Statistics from: https://www.rainn.org/statistics