Most of you, if not all of you, have heard about the seemingly never-ending list of sexual harassment/assault accusations that have been pouring out of the media over the last month or so. This list contains allegations against everyone from celebrity personalities such as Kevin Spacey, Ben Affleck and Louis CK to career politicians like Roy Moore, Al Franken and former President George H.W. Bush.

Now, more than ever, awareness of sexual harassment seems to be at an all-time high, and we need to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that we stop these horrible acts of disrespect and violation to people's bodies once and for all.

Filmmakers, actors, comedians, news anchors, musicians and even politicians have all been at the center of the recent sexual harassment spotlight. Women and men, though more common among women, have had to deal with sexual harassment/assault far too often in the workplace, school or even just when they are walking down the street and they pass by the wrong person who says or does something disrespectful that violates the sanctities of a person’s body.

Sure, many of these men facing these allegations are losing their jobs, being denied further employment opportunities and some are even facing legal action in court, but has any of this really been enough to ensure that we, as a community, have learned our lesson and will never harass another human being sexually — or even in general, which is almost just as important — ever again?

“No, probably not” would most likely be the answer.

Something must be done, and it’s up to us, all of us, to get it done efficiently and effectively so we, as a whole, can understand how wrong it is to violate someone else. We’re off to a great start with so many people coming forward with their own stories of harassment and assault, but now it’s time we put the nail in the coffin so we all, especially women in the workplace, can feel safe again like we should have felt from the start.

If you see harassment happening or if you’re aware of it at least, you must do something. Talk with the victims, check in on them and make sure that they are OK, make sure that they are not alone and that you support them and then begin working in unison on how you will properly handle what’s happening so it can be stopped and the right people can be punished for what they’ve done.

A majority of the activists fighting for this cause are women. That needs to change.

Men need to be involved just as much as women are.

Both men and women are victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault, and we should all be working together to accomplish preventing any further incidents of sexual harassment and assault.

A century ago, men played a big role in women’s suffrage when the male population began publicly pushing their support for equal rights between men and women. This widespread support among both sexes was huge and a big reason why it became a no-brainer to grant women the same rights as men. This is no different, both men and women need to stand up and fight for what is right.

It’s also necessary to update and enforce sexual harassment policies in all places of employment, including schools — both for the staff and the students. Sexual harassment and sexual assault are not OK on any level no matter where or when it is happening.

I’m currently in college, and I’ve seen a great deal of harassment both in college and in high school. It is never OK, and it is never funny. Reports need to be made and taken seriously.

These victims deserve closure and to know that it is never their fault.

One way we can do that is if we install one or more representatives who are specifically tasked with dealing with sexual harassment and assault claims. A lot of sexual harassment and sexual assault cases are from a person being harassed or assaulted by someone in a position of power so they are afraid to come forward with the claims.

Having specific people dealing with these claims will help eliminate this fear, and the harassers can be punished properly. It is a good idea to have more than one representative as well in case the harasser is also the person hired to deal with those claims--ironic, I know, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen!

If you know this is happening to someone, do something because you’re involved now too, whether you want to be or not. Stand up to the harassers and correct them for their wrongdoings or at least report it to a supervisor.

Do NOT tolerate their behavior.

And if they fail to change their ways then you ultimately have no choice but to make the proper reports and have the harassers deal with the consequences of their actions. You were nice enough to give them a chance instead of getting them in trouble right away and they gave that chance away, so let them have it. They deserve it anyway.

Before filing any reports, you should keep a record of the harassment and give copies of your proof (pictures, video, email, etc.) to the person you’re reporting your claims to so they know it’s legit, and there is no chance of the harasser getting off clean.

Make sure you always have the original copies of your proof so it can never be swept under the rug, and if your claim is tossed aside by your company, school, etc. then go public with your evidence and allow the media to do what the person you reported it all to should have done in the first place.

Talk to the men and women in your life and find out if they have ever either been a victim of sexual harassment and assault or if they have been the harasser themselves. Learn about their experiences so you can know what to watch out for and have much information on how often it really happens to someone.

Lastly, to ALL of the victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault:

You are worth so much more than the pieces of garbage that were willing to violate you. Your voice matters and you will be heard! We will stand with you and fight right alongside you every step of the way!