Never did I think I needed a good weekly cry until This Is Us came along this past September. No matter how strong-willed I am at the start of each episode, chances are I’m bawling halfway through at one of the tender family confessions, the heartbreaking twists or the emotional roller coaster that was the Pearson clan as the triplets were growing up.

In honor of everyone’s favorite sob fest recently finishing its first season, here are 15 of the most devastating moments we saw on This Is Us this year. It’s safe to say that there are definitely spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution if you haven’t finished the season yet!

1. Jack being dead in the present day and Rebecca being married to his best friend

Awkward aging makeup aside, Miguel strolling in as the Big Three’s stepdad (Randall’s kids call him Grandpa!) was totally unexpected and sent us in a frenzy trying to figure out what happened to Jack. The idea of Jack and Rebecca’s beautiful marriage not lasting was too much to handle even this early in the season, and the confirmation of Jack’s death a few episodes later got a little too real for us.

2. Jack and Rebecca’s marriage hitting an extremely rough patch toward the end of the season

Admit it, we were all expecting Jack’s death in the season finale, but instead we got a heartbreaking hint at what the state of the Pearsons’ marriage was when he did pass away. 

3. Dr. K grieving about his wife

He may seem like the wise, unbreakable man who helps the Pearsons become the family they are today, but Dr. K sobbing over the loss of his wife still chokes me up.

4. Fat camp triggering Kate’s memories of Jack’s funeral

Never underestimate the power of a drum circle. Thanks to this exercise at Kate’s camp, we learned that Jack died when the Big Three were teenagers.

5. Everything about the episode “Memphis”

So when do Sterling K. Brown and Ron Cephas Jones win their Emmys for this episode? I don’t know what I sobbed over more: William making sure he said goodbye to the girls as they looked up at him, him thanking Jack at his memorial site or Randall holding William’s face and telling him to “just breathe.” If you made it through most of the season without so much as a box of Kleenex nearby, this episode probably destroyed you.

6. Kate breaking down at William’s memorial service

Kate and Randall moments are so underrated. Randall feels like Jack in this moment, acting strong and steady as Kate apologizes for him having to lose two fathers in his life.

7. Kevin ditching his play to do what Dad would’ve done and comfort Randall

Anyone who’s suffered from anxiety saw a little bit of themselves in Randall when job responsibilities and family issues began piling up for him. Kevin redeemed his teenage self by knowing when his brother would need him most.

8. Kevin trying to explain life to Annie and Tess

“There’s no you or me or them. There’s just us.”

9. Kate’s guests at her tenth birthday party hanging out with Kevin instead of her

This wasn’t one of the more emotionally extreme moments of the season, but we’ve all been in Kate’s shoes, right? The moment ends on a lighter but still heartbreaking note when Jack tries to comfort her but she asks to be alone.

10. Randall confronting Rebecca about her knowing William for her kids’ entire lives

When was the last time your Thanksgiving dinner ended with a life-altering discovery?

11. Beth finally getting her goodbye from William

Like Kate and Randall, Beth and William had an underappreciated relationship, and it came to a beautiful conclusion when Beth received the postcard William carefully picked out for her while in Memphis.

12. Rebecca talking to the babies in her belly

Pregnant Rebecca was a highlight of Season 1, and her heart-to-heart talk with her unborn children definitely made me want to call my mom.

13. Kevin reuniting with Sophie

Fans were ready to bust out the Team Olivia or Team Sloane shirts when a pep talk from Toby convinced Kevin to reconnect with his—surprise!—ex-wife and childhood sweetheart Sophie. Her introduction revealed an entirely new side to Kevin that we’re still trying to figure out.

14. When Randall hallucinates, has a vision of Jack and watches a moment from his childhood with him

There have been plenty of hints that once the triplets hit puberty, things in the Pearson home weren’t as great as they seemed earlier. Even though it wasn’t real, adult Randall watching his family play a board game with Jack at his side was a sweet reminder of how awesome those old family memories can be.

15. That final monologue, though

Brb, I’m still looking for the Jack to my Rebecca, aka my “big break.”

Despite President Donald Trump's promises throughout his campaign to appoint a pro-life justice to fill Antonin Scalia's Supreme Court seat, POTUS's nominee Neil Gorsuch made no such promises during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

According to CNN, when Gorsuch was asked by Republican senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina about whether President Trump had ever asked him to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that established a woman's right to abortion, he offered a surprising (but also relatively vague) answer.

"Senator, I would have walked out the door," Gorsuch said. "It's not what judges do."

While Gorsuch declined to speak about his personal views on the issue, he later added that the decision set a precedent that has been reaffirmed many times.

"A good judge will consider it as precedent of the Supreme Court, worthy of treatment of precedent as any other," Gorsuch said. "If I were to tell you which are my favorite precedents or which are my least favorite precedents, I would be tipping my hand and suggesting to litigants that I have already made up my mind about their cases."

While Gorsuch's answers give us hope that his appointment won't necessarily be a death sentence for Roe v. Wade, they also don't necessarily mean he'll be particularly women-friendly either. While he doesn't have much of a record on abortion rights, Cosmopolitan points out that in the 2014 Burwell v. Hobby Lobby ruling, Gorsuch sided with employers that sought to decide based on religious beliefs whether employee health insurance covered contraception - which presents a major red flag when it comes to how he may handle reproductive rights issues in general.

Let's be honest, dad jokes are the best. They're cheesy, well-timed and straight up laughable. Having the same sort of sense of humor is both a blessing and a curse—the latter because not everyone understands your awesome knock-knock jokes. If you can relate to any of the following, you definitely have a "dad" sense of humor: 

1. You love puns.

2. Some of your jokes don’t really make sense.

3. Or take way too long to set up.

4. You live for situational humor.

5. You think you’re super cool.

6. Mostly because you integrate pop culture into your everyday dialogue.

7. You always have a joke up your sleeve.

8. When in doubt, you add motion to your joke.

9. You tend to exaggerate.

10. You think your humor is a carefully crafted art form.

11. Even if it’s sometimes a little misplaced.

12. You really get into character.

13. You think your jokes are legendary.

14. Even though sometimes, you’re the only one laughing.

15. But in the end, at least YOU think you're funny.

It’s that time of year again — college admissions season. Whether you’re super excited or super nervous about heading off to college, there are some things to keep in perspective when you’re waiting to hear back from the schools you applied to. We talked to current collegiettes about what they wish they knew when they heard back from colleges. Be sure to keep these five things in mind when opening those long-awaited decision letters.

1. Dream schools aren’t always realistic

Having a dream school can end up hurting you down the road. There's nothing worse than disappointment.

Abby Piper, a junior at the University of Notre Dame, thinks the idea of “one perfect school” is a little insane. “It's cool to have a dream school, but keep in mind that college is whatever you make of it,” she says. “Where you are accepted [or] rejected really should not and cannot determine the fate of your college experience.” She’s so right!

Even if you do get accepted to your *dream school*, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t always mean you can go there. Elizabeth Wolfe, a sophomore at Agnes Scott College, was thrilled when she got accepted to New York University, but then she “quickly realized that I would not be able to go because of the minute amount of financial aid I had received,” she says. “I think if I had been more realistic, I would not have been so devastated.” Keep in mind that dream schools don’t always work out, and that’s okay!

2. Rejection doesn’t always mean you weren’t qualified

There’s no denying it — getting a rejection letter hurts. But don’t let those rejections discourage you. Colleges take a lot into consideration when accepting students!

“I wish someone had told me how much some schools take in-state/out-of-state status into account during their decision making process,” says Caitlin Barkley, a sophomore at Clemson University. “That can become a major factor in some rejection letters, and it's easy to get discouraged if you don't realize that.”

Abby had a similar experience. She applied to a lot of top-tier schools and the rejection letters she got killed her confidence. “What I would advise to people applying to Ivy League or really competitive schools is that the admission process is actually pretty arbitrary,” she says. “Not getting in doesn't necessarily mean you weren't qualified, but at some point, so many applicants have all of the credentials [and] it boils down to the preference of the admissions people, which can be pretty subjective.” Had Abby realized this sooner, she may not have ended up so upset. It’s all about perspective!

Related: 4 Tips for Surviving Second Semester of Senior Year

3. Apply for scholarships

While you’re waiting to hear back from schools, applying for scholarships is super important! There are tons of scholarships out there that can help cut down college costs.

Ashley Drayton, a 2015 graduate from Georgia State University, wishes she “applied for scholarships, took them seriously, and actively looked for ones that would have helped with tuition.” Unfortunately, getting acceptances won’t be meaningful unless you can afford to go to the school. Check out websites like Fastweb and Scholarships.com.

4. Don’t focus all your attention on college

Don’t let worrying about college applications take over your senior year. It’s your last year of high school, so you want to be enjoying it!

“Try to find a balance between submitting applications and talking about college-related things with enjoying senior year by going to sports games, doing activities in your home town, talking to your friends about things other than college and just generally staying present where you are!” says Molly Crum, a senior at James Madison University. This is your last year of high school. Don’t let it pass you by!

5. Remember that everything will work itself out

Waiting to get acceptances (or rejections) may seem super daunting, but there’s something you should remember: Everything turns out exactly how it’s supposed to.

Taylor Carson, a senior at Temple University, had always dreamed of going to college out of state. “After a lot of discussion with my mom about waiting to hear back from schools where I was waitlisted, I decided to stay in state and go to Temple on scholarship,” she says. “I don't regret my decision for a single second. At the time, I remember wondering if I was settling, but I have since realized that it doesn't matter where you go. What does matter is what you do with the opportunities in front of you when you get there — wherever ‘there’ might be.”

We love this advice! No matter where you end up, it’s all about your attitude and taking advantage of what’s in front of you.

There’s no denying that college admissions season is nerve-wracking, but there’s no reason to stress — you’re going to end up exactly where you’re supposed to be. If you keep these things in mind, you won’t have any regrets later. Don’t forget that college is all about what you make of it. Good luck, future collegiettes!

While we know that every body is a bikini body, most swimwear ads don't always show an appreciation for this sentiment - but luckily, Target is changing the game this year, and not just with its swimsuits (which as usual, are killer), but with with its latest swimwear campaign.

The campaign features four models, all representing different body types and ethnicities - so we can all see ourselves represented somewhere in the campaign - and the best part? The ads feature absolutely no retouching. As in zilch. Zero.

"Target is committed to empowering women to feel confident in what they wear by offering a variety of style choices," Jessica Carlson, a Target spokesperson, told ​Refinery29. "We loved working with these women because they embody confidence and inspire women to embrace and be proud of who they are, regardless of their size or shape. It was important to us to use photography that represented their true beauty, without filters."

As Mashable notes, Target also practices what it preaches, as their plus size options include bright brightly colored and printed bikinis - no boring, plain one-pieces here!

In a world where Instagram filters offer us an unrealistic, super-curated version of other peoples' lives (and bodies!), Target's new campaign is a message we can totally get behind.

A Columbia University student is suing her school after she claims apathetic university officials failed to protect her or properly investigate her two alleged sexual assaults—both of which occurred in her Manhattan dorm room.

Amelia Roskin-Frazee, now a sophomore at the Ivy League college, claimed she was raped during her first semester on campus, BuzzFeed News reports. In her lawsuit, Roskin-Frazee said she woke up on October 5, 2015—less than two months into her college career—and found a man pinning her down from behind, raping her. She could not identify the man.

“I felt ashamed of it,” Roskin-Frazee said. “I felt like it was my fault, because why would he target me?”

“I was scared that because I couldn’t identify him,” she continued, explaining why she didn’t immediately report her assault. “Columbia wouldn’t investigate him.

Although Roskin-Frazee did not file a report with the university initially, she did seek medical treatment and psychological counseling. The then-freshman also sought help moving out of her dormitory. However, according to her lawsuit, the Sexual Violence Response Hotline nurse at the time never informed Roskin-Frazee of her “rights and options under Title IX or any ability to receive academic or housing accommodations.” When she attempted to move out of her dormitory, the complaint says the school told her she’d need to move out with just 24 hours’ notice, pay $500 and alert her parents as to the reasons for her change of housing.

This was enough to deter Roskin-Frazee from changing dormitories. According to her complaint, she also had to take it upon herself to inform her professors of the alleged rape in order to receive some leniency for classwork.

In early December, Roskin-Frazee claims she was again raped in her dorm room.

The complaint alleged that a man pushed her to the ground as she was entering her dorm room. He then, according to the lawsuit, removed Roskin-Frazee’s clothes—using her underwear and an iPhone cord to tie her hands above her head, and using her own shorts to gag her.

“Still a dyke?” The man whispered to Roskin-Frazee, according to the lawsuit, while penetrating her with a hairbrush, a pair of scissors and a razor. It was dark, so she couldn’t identify her assailant. But she believed it to be the same man who assaulted her in October.

Roskin-Frazee was treated the next day for vaginal tearing, cuts on her thighs and bilateral wrist sprains.

Just a few weeks before, Roskin-Frazee reported her rape to Columbia’s Executive Vice President for University Life. However, the lawsuit claims the official never forwarded the complaint to the Gender-Based Misconduct Office.

Following her second assault, university officials said they would not be able to investigate the crime if she couldn’t identify the assailant. Roskin-Frazee claimed that she would come across threatening and harassing messages on her dorm’s bulletin board, including “Isn’t it fun to wake up to someone fucking you?” and “I’ll buy you a new phone charger.”

Finally, nearly a year after her first assault, the university opened an investigation in September 2016—only to be concluded a month later.

“To be blunt, I’m suing Columbia because I’m angry,” Roskin-Frazee told BuzzFeed News Tuesday. Her lawsuit claims the university didn’t interview anyone in her dormitory, nor review swipe logs or security camera footage due to the time that had elapsed.

School officials declined to comment on the truthfulness of the claims to various news outlets. “None of this diminishes the deep concern we feel about any allegation of assault on our campuses,” said university spokesman Robert Hornsby in a statement.

This isn’t the first time the Ivy League university has been accused of mishandling sexual assault cases. In what may be the most famous instance of this, student Emma Sulkowicz carried a mattress on her back in protest against her accused rapist, who was never disciplined and allowed to remain on Columbia’s campus.

According to Reuters, around two dozen Columbia students filed Title IX complains with the department of education over the issue. The department still has four open cases involving the school, while 229 U.S. colleges are currently under investigation for sexual violence-related Title IX violations.

Morgan Tookers, Mindy Lahiri's right hand man on The Mindy Project, is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Mindy's always been hard on Morgan—making him do her chores, not inviting him to her parties and hating on his bad manners and questionable smell in front of everyone at the office. But let's face it: When things go wrong in Mindy's life, Morgan is the first person she runs to.

So when Morgan starts dating Mindy's childhood friend Elena in this week's "Mindy's Best Friend," Mindy kiiiiiiiind of freaks out. As she explains it, she always just assumed that no matter what crazy shenanigans are going on in her life, she could count on Morgan's life being crazier. So even though Mindy sabotaged his new relationship, Morgan forgives her—because Morgan is the best! Mindy even admits that Morgan is her best friend, finally giving in to the fact that Morgan is hilariously awesome. Here are seven reasons we love watching him on The Mindy Project. 

1. He's SUCH a generous friend.

Morgan's always the first one to take the fall for Mindy and Co.'s crazy schemes and always does it with a smile.

2. He's honest… maybe too honest. 

Although his oversharing can be pretty hilarious sometimes. 

3. He loves dogs as much as we do. 

Who doesn't want to live with a dozen rescued pups?

4. He's always supportive of Mindy. 

He practically worships Mindy, so it's no surprise he always supports her. Now if only she could return the favor!

5. He's actually pretty wise sometimes. 

When he's not goofing around, he's actually laying down some serious wisdom when Mindy really needs it. 

6. He loves his job.

Morgan truly loves helping people, whether they're his patients or his friends. 

7. He always makes us laugh.

Morgan's a weirdo for sure, but he's a weirdo we definitely love. 

My sister, who is three years my junior, has had sex. I, however, have not. When this happened and she told me, I wasn’t all that surprised. She was always the one with a boyfriend, the one with more experience and the one who my extended family liked to interrogate about her dating life (after attempting to interrogate me with poor results, I think they realized her romantic life was more exciting). This rarely bothered me. I knew my time would come and I knew that I would have my fair share of romantic endeavors. That was until I realized that, among my group of friends from high school, college and beyond, I had become the last fish in the barrel. That is to say, I am the only one who has yet to have sex.

All of a sudden, knowing my younger sister had passed this supposed “milestone” became too much for me to handle. I was no longer the cool, collected, secure-in-herself older sister I had always been. I was constantly thinking about my “virginity,” to the point where I felt like I was wearing it like a red flag. It gave me anxiety to feel like the last one, to feel like all of my friends had lapped me in the proverbial race that represented how I saw romance.

So much of our society is predicated on the prowess of coming in first (no pun intended). We are constantly compared to, ranked among and analyzed alongside one another. It seems totally logical, because it’s the way we have been brought up to see the world, but if we take a step back, we can see that it doesn’t really make that much sense. After all, how are we expected to enjoy or reflect on any of what we’ve done if all that matters is how it looks in comparison to someone else and the things they’ve done? If it’s about coming in first (or at least not coming in last), time is of the essence. Everything is timed, and we’re all pitted against each other.

If we’re looking for love in our romantic endeavors, this certainly doesn’t seem like a way to it. And even if we’re not, it still doesn’t really make sense that we’re viewing this as a competition. We reduce romance to this arbitrary end result, and lose any ability to enjoy our experiences in the process. Even if sex and dating aren’t about finding “the one,” even if it’s about satisfying desires or just having fun, what’s the point in doing any of that if it’s just for the sake of ranking yourself?

Related: How Often Are College Women REALLY Having Sex?

As I started to settle into the knowledge that I was the last “virgin,” I came to realize that that wasn’t a way of seeing sex or romance or passion or courtship that I was comfortable with. I came to realize that whether or not I had had sex meant nothing.

So, this article that I’m writing is about a lot of things. It’s about how I think that “virginity” isn’t a great way to conceptualize your first time. It’s about how “first time” isn’t something we should be racing toward in an effort to out-compete one another, but it’s also about how you shouldn’t feel obligated to wait if your first time having sex is something you want to do. It’s about how I came to realize that it really didn’t mean anything that I was the last “virgin” among the people I knew, unless I wanted it to.

It’s about how, in an effort to live your life without regrets, you should make these experiences ones you’re proud of. It’s about how that means different things for different people. You can absolutely be proud of something that your friend might find completely embarrassing or regrettable. You can be proud of something I might seem to denounce in this piece. My ultimate message, though, and what I hope you take away from reading this, is that it’s about you.

While looking for pictures to accompany this article, when I searched “virginity,” the most common result was some varying image of a single flower. An orchid, a rose and other singular flowers I am not capable of identifying with my limited botanical experience came up. They all had this one thing in common—they are pictured alone.

This struck me as slightly ominous at first, and perhaps if I had a different understanding of virginity, that meaning would have resonated with me most. Maybe these pictures have some relation to the notion of “deflowering,” another highly problematic term that requires another article in its entirety for me to grapple with. So, at first, I was perplexed. But then I realized that this was the exact point I was trying to make.

Regardless of how you conceptualize your first kiss, your first time or any of your romantic endeavors, what I believe is important is the notion of you and “your.” At the end of the day, you are the one with the memories and the power to feel good (or bad) about them. You are the one to whom your experiences belong, and you can’t let anyone take that away from you. Not younger sisters, friends nor society at large.

I know that this topic may seem tired. I know I might sound like an inexperienced weirdo shouting into the void, like I’m sitting here petulant and whiny about how no one has had sex with me. I certainly know I’m not the first person to have written about this topic, but, given the amount of time I still spend thinking about how my sister had sex for the first time before I did, I feel like a reminder might be necessary. And this isn’t just a reminder that terms like “deflowering,” “v-card swiping” and “cherry,” to name a few, are completely arbitrary.

This is a reminder that, in the world of romance, in my experience anyway, we often forget to put ourselves first. We forget that, like Cristina Yang says, we are the sun. We let other people’s standards get mixed up with how we feel about ourselves, and end up not feeling too good about ourselves! This means that it’s necessary to rethink how we feel. We have to set our individual standards straight so that, when the time comes to have sex or to evaluate how we feel about having sex, we are comfortable with the terms, with ourselves and with how we feel. Only then can we be remotely comfortable with whoever else is involved.  

When I first sat down to write this, I wanted to effectively preach my position about how virginity is meaningless. And I still believe that—virginity is a concept that was made up to make women feel bad about themselves. To slut shame, in effect.

But my opinions are meaningless if they’re that one-dimensional or one-sided. After giving this more thought, I understand that there are religious, personal and other reasons why people want their “first time” to be special. Hopefully this piece has made clear that I don’t want anyone to feel bad about making that a reality. I hope your first time is special if you want it to be! I know people at all positions on the spectrum. Friends who thought they didn’t care if their first time wasn’t “special,” friends who thought they didn’t care but then realized they did after the fact and friends who did have sex for the first time with people they loved.

All of these experiences are relative, and I’ve told all of these friends the same thing. I’ve told them that, no matter how they choose to deal with the events, I’ll support them, and that no one else has any dictation over how they classify these experiences. Just them. If they feel good, that is all that matters.

So have sex with all of the people you want, or wait for Mr. or Ms. Right. Be in between, have sex with a handful of people you do or don’t like, love or don’t love. Just remember that the power is in your hands, and that, though the power that societal standards possess may seem immutable, no one has the right or the ability to decide how you feel except for you.

UPDATE: The New York Times reports that three people are confirmed dead and 20 injured after the attack near the U.K. Parliament. The attacker has died after being shot by police. A police officer who was stabbed by the attacker has also died.

ORIGINAL POST:

According to The New York Times, a shooting occurred this Wednesday afternoon outside the British Parliament. After many witnesses in the area reported hearing gunfire, The Metropolitan Police in London sent officers at around 2:40 p.m. to the Westminster Bridge. Many people are wounded, and The House of Commons is currently under suspension and lockdown.

BBC News reports that a police officer was stabbed in the Houses of Parliament and Metropolitan Police are treating it as a terrorist incident. The attacker is also reported to have mowed over several pedestrians as he drove over the Westminster Bridge and to have crashed his car into railings. He was shot by police when he approached another officer with a knife.

Fear of deportation is getting in the way of justice in Denver, as shown by four cases of domestic abuse being dropped, NPR reports, since President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration.

According to Denver City Attorney Kristin Bronson, members of Denver’s immigrant community are scared that they'll be seen by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they take their cases to court, NPR reports. Unsuprisingly, this has resulted in immigrants being too afraid to report crimes or act as witnesses in court proceedings.

A video recently surfaced showing three ICE officials waiting inside a Denver courthouse to apprehend an undocumented immigrant. It proved that officers are arresting individuals wanted for violating immigration policies and finding them through the court process.

Attorney Hans Meyer, who appears in the video asking the officials to identify themselves as ICE workers and whether they have warrants, says ICE officials are being “opaque” with their operations, unlike other law enforcement jurisdiction, reports Denver News Channel 7. 

"ICE's actions destroy the trust that Denver law enforcement agencies have worked so hard to build with immigrant and refugee community members," Meyer toldDenver News Channel 7. "When people do not feel safe resolving cases or appearing in court, when people are afraid to call the police to report crimes for fear of having to come to court as witnesses, and when people no longer feel safe appearing for their rehabilitative probation meetings, that makes everyone in Denver less safe."

Bronson agrees and believes members of the Denver community should be able to feel safe to come forward if they are victims or witnesses of crimes.

"Our police department doesn't care whether people are documented or undocumented," Bronson told 9News."Whether they are citizens of the U.S or not. If they are living here or traveling through Denver, they are entitled to the protection from our police department and sheriff's department."

According to NPR, while schools, churches and hospitals are all considered “sensitive areas” by the Department of Homeland Security, courthouses are not. Since the video surfaced and proved the presence of ICE officials, undocumented immigrants in Denver don't feel safe bringing their cases to court. As a result, violent offenders from the four dropped domestic violence cases have faced no consequences for their crimes—without testimony from victims, they couldn't be charged.

“We need to maintain the distinction between the federal role and the local role and if we do not do that and that line becomes blurred, victims are no longer willing to come forward, witnesses are no longer willing to come forward, and that's trust that's so important to the law enforcement relationship erodes," Bronson told Denver News Channel 7.  

On Monday, a White House official told CNN that Ivanka Trump will not only receive her very own office in the West Wing, but also security clearance and government-provided communication devices. However, she will not be an official government employee and won't receive a salary.

This recent decision gives Ivanka Trump more access to her father’s administration—even though she holds no formal position, ever since President Trump’s inauguration, Trump has been present alongside President Trump and his senior advisors at meetings with world leaders. 

The first daughter's new role and relationship with her father’s administration has raised ethical concerns, and has left people wondering what this new role will entail. Her attorney Jamie Gorelick told Politico that Trump's role will be to act as the president’s “eyes and ears” and also to provide general advice on topics like women’s empowerment issues.

Trump’s new position in the White House is the first of its kind; being that she is the first child of any President to play a major advising role in their parent’s administration. Gorelick told Politico that the first daughter plans to follow the same rules and ethics as government employees. However, because she is not a government employee, her position does not hold the same level of accountability.

Norm Eisen, former ethics czar in the Obama administration, told Politco, “There’s recognition that they're in very uncertain territory here. The better thing to do would be to concede she is subject to the rules. It would create some outside accountability, because if she can voluntarily subject herself to the rules, she can voluntarily un-subject herself to the rules.”

Unfortunately, this new position should come as no surprise, as President Trump has appointed other family members to his cabinet and appointed Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner as his official senior advisor. Due to the nature and guidelines of this new relationship, Ivanka Trump already has several ethic watchdogs keeping a close eye on her.

Look like a modern princess in these tulle skirts. They give you that Cinderella vibe without looking costume-y!

1. The Wendy - Blush 25" Length ($84 at Space 46 Boutique) 

This company’s motto is “any day is a good day for a tulle skirt”… and I have to agree. This piece is easy to dress down with your favorite sneakers and denim jacket, or dress up with a tight-fitting shirt and a statement necklace.

2. Tied-Up Shirred Tulle A-Line Skirt - Light Pink ($17.40 at Rosegal) 

This affordable option is the definition of ballerina-chic.

3. Tulle of the Trade A-Line Skirt in Burgundy in L ($49.99 at Modcloth)

This stunning burgundy color gives the classic tulle skirt a modern upgrade.

4. After Dark Maxi Tulle Skirt - Gray ($92 at Skylar Belle) 

This skirt reminds me of Cinderella’s ballgown! The muted blue shade makes it more wearable for everyday life.

5. Tulle Midi Prom Skirt with Tiers and Tie Waist ($75.17 at ASOS)

I'm obsessed with the cute layers on this skirt!

6. Tulle & Lace Midi Skirt ($26.99 at Charlotte Russe)

These two über delicate fabrics work together to create an adorable summer skirt.

7. Tulle Midi Skirt ($19.90 at Forever 21)

Am I the only one who feels like royalty every time I wear a midi skirt?

8. Tulle Mini Prom Skirt with Multi Layers ($42.09 at ASOS)

This short version is the perfect way to still show off your legs while rocking the tulle trend.

According to the New York Post, a 15-year-old girl named Deahvion Austin was gang raped in Chicago earlier this week, and it was posted on Facebook Live for dozens of viewers to see. At one point, more than 40 people were watching the livestream, yet none of them contacted authorities or tried to get any kind of help.

Austin’s uncle came across the disturbing video while it was streaming. He told Austin's mother, who took screen shots to send to the police, WGN reports. Other family members and friends saw the stream as well.

Why didn’t any of the other viewers speak up to help rescue Austin and get the video taken down? We’re wondering the same thing.

Austin’s mother reported that her daughter was missing on Monday, according to BuzzFeed News, and Austin was found on Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. Detectives are currently working to track down the owner of the Facebook page and those who were in the video, while Austin is being cared for in the hospital, according to WGN.

“I just want her home,” Austin's mother told WGN. “I just want to make sure she’s ok cause i know she’s probably scared and embarrassed. I just want her back home.”

This article has been syndicated to Her Campus from Cocktails & Ambition, an InfluenceHer Collective member. Read the full post here.

Happiness is the goal of human existence—at least that’s what I learned in the philosophy class I was forced to take in my first year of university. Fast forward a few months after that, I spontaneously decided to download a free audible ebook and I chose The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It was my first major foray into self-help books and I loved it. Gretchen discusses what it takes to find happiness and her own journey into it. So what do happy people do?

They Let Go of the Arrival Fallacy

The arrival fallacy is when we believe that a specific destination—it doesn’t have to be physical—will make us happy, i.e. the next job, the next raise, the next shopping trip etc.The truth is that while these things might bring pleasure upon arrival, they rarely bring genuine wholehearted happiness. Happiness is not in a moment, it’s a state of being. So, getting to where you think will make you happy will feel good for a while but after that, there will always be another destination or achievement, and the cycle begins all over again.

They Live in the Moment

Living in the moment is something many of us take for granted. We place our happiness in tomorrow and with each tomorrow that comes, happiness never seems to come with it. As a start, stop freaking out over the little things that are going wrong and try to find joy wherever you are in life. You can do this by making a gratitude list at the end of each day. If you are like me and can’t commit to daily lists, try keeping it at the end of each week. This exercise helps you take a step back to reflect on your day and the little things you can be thankful for. Eventually, gratitude even in the little things becomes a daily mindset.

They Have Goals

Yes, I know I just talked about the fallacy of arrival, but hear me out. The point of having goals is not for you to place your happiness in the end result, but to enjoy the process of getting there. It’s about having a sense of purpose every day and growing into your potential. It gives you a long-term plan for your life, as well as the motivation for going out and achieving it. It allows you to constantly work on improving yourself and, in some cases, pushes you out of your comfort zone to enable you to live your best life.

Read the full post here.

I love musicals. I also love The CW’s superhero series. So you can just imagine how thrilled I was watching Tuesday’s Supergirl and The Flash musical crossover, appropriately dubbed “Duet.” Though the story can’t get lost among all the elaborate singing and dancing that takes place in a musical, it’s the songs that measure its true success.

So without further ado, let’s rank the songs from “Duet.”

5. “More I Cannot Wish You” — Jesse Martin, Victor Garber and John Barrowman

I’ll admit this Guys and Dolls song tugged at my heartstrings, but the combo of these three voices felt a bit forced. Not to mention, the entire sentiment of the song—Martin, Garber and Barrowman’s characters giving their children their blessings to be together—went to hell as soon as the tune ended.

4. “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” — Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, Carlos Valdes and John Barrowman

This is the kind of big musical number I usually swoon over. The group sing, the dance number—it’s just a good time. It could’ve been even bigger, though. And Jeremy Jordan outshined his castmates, in my opinion.

Side note: I can’t believe this is the only song to feature Darren Criss. He’s the Music Meister, for crying out loud.

3. “Moon River” — Melissa Benoist

The intimacy of this song and Melissa’s soft, understated delivery made it the perfect solo for Kara.

2. “Runnin’ Home to You” — Grant Gustin

Penned by La La Land songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, this song was sure to be a winner. Add to that the fact that Barry serenaded Iris outside of the alternate musical reality and right before proposing (again). I guarantee Flash fans won’t soon forget this moment.

1. “Super Friend” — Melissa Benoist and Grant Gustin

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Rachel Bloom wrote this catchy tune, filled with cheeky references to Barry and Kara’s super powers and friendship. It’s smart, fun and currently stuck on a loop in my head.

Listen to music from “Duet” on iTunes.

Today in Trying-To-Control-Your-Uterus News, the Texas Senate passed a bill Monday that will effectively revoke the right of parents to sue doctors who do not tell parents about fetal abnormalities, according the San Antonio Express News. The controversial Senate Bill 25 was passed with a 21-9 vote.

As Refinery29 reports, wrongful birth suits give parents the right to sue any doctor who misled them or didn't give them good advice. And this bill, written by Texas State Sen. Brandon Creighton, would take away that right—allowing doctors to lie to parents about a fetus's health without retribution, if they think the parents might get an abortion. The San Antonio Current notes that malpractice suits against Texas doctors are rare, so this law is clearly meant to target abortion rather than protect doctors.

The bill has many opponents, who stress that when expectant parents don't have all the details of their fetus's health, they can't make informed decisions about the child they are expecting. "SB 25 is a not so subtle way to give medical personnel to opportunity to impose religious beliefs on women," Margaret Johnson of the Texas League of Women Voters said.

Many see the bill as an attempt to chip away at abortion rights, as Texas is a conservative state. In fact, the House representative who will sponsor the bill admitted as much to reporters, calling it a "pro-life" in an interview with Dallas News. Rep. Ron Simmons even said that the bill isn't addressing a real problem, but that it "pre-empts there being a problem." He's said he will focus on the pro-life angle to sell the bill, as he doesn't believe abortion should be an option if doctors spot a disability during pregnancy (it's not really your choice if you don't intend on caring for the children, but whatever).

SB 25 is one of many recently introduced bills which seek to restrict and control access to reproductive rights and health. The bill must pass the House and be signed by the governor in order to become law. If passed, Texas will join the nine states that currently have wrongful birth laws on file which restrict parents' right to litigation.

There's Twitter beef, and then there's William Shatner-level Twitter beef. For those of you who stayed off Twitter during Monday's premiere of Dancing with the Stars, y'all missed a frenzy of targeted tweets from the Star Trek actor on your timeline. Here's a clue: he's not happy with a certain ex-Bachelor. 

Although Nick Viall stole many hearts during his season of The Bachelor, it's safe to say that he definitely hasn't stolen the heart of William Shatner. On Monday night, Shatner blessed his followers' timelines with a whopping 19 individual tweets condemning the reality star, essentially launching his own campaign to kick Viall off of DWTS. His Twitter tirade began with a simple message: “My goal for #DWTS is to knock Bachelor Nick out ASAP. Who is with me?” 

It wasn't long before the cultural icon coined his own hashtag to really seal the deal.

The reason for the beef is not certain, but what is certain is that Shatner is on a mission. At one point, he began to directly reply to Twitter users urging them not to vote for Nick, tossing emojis and hashtags left and right. He even brought #BachelorNation into it!

Both Nick and his dance partner Peta Murgatroyd responded to the fiery tweets with a couple of sad face emjois, garnering two completely opposite responses—oh wait, Nick got no response! Shatner obviously has love for everyone on the show besides Nick, sending sweet well wishes to Peta. "Peta, you know I love you. Congratulations on becoming a mommy. Just can't cheer you on this season. Love to Maks & Shia," his response to the pro dancer read.

It just so happens to be Shatner's birthday today, so if Nick sticks around for a little while, we definitely know one person who will be bummed he didn't receive his requested present.

Pettiness at its finest! 

It's almost festival season, which means it's time to start planning your outfits! As we all know, accessories are the key component of any successful outift, so picking the right pieces is kind of a big deal. From hair accessories to bags, to shoes, there are so many different accessories you'll need to step up your fashion game and be ready to attend any festival this year, but here are eight options you'll be dying to get your hands on!

1. Star Hair Rings ($8 at ASOS)

Braids are the go-to trend for festivals, and these hair clips will be an easy way to step up the simple style! 

2. Reba Suede Crossbody Bag ($39 at Urban Outfitters)

Carrying your stuff around all day is an important task, and one that requires the perfect bag. This suede crossbody provides the perfect arms-free ease a fanny pack does, while still being insanely fashionable beyond the festival itself. Does it get any better??

3. Light Years Gold and Pink Mirrored Sunglasses ($20 at Lulu's)

Grab your fave sunnies, because you'll be needing them! Mirrored lenses with unique frames are so in right now, so be sure to pack a few options!

4. Make Waves Gold Body Harness ($18 at Lulu's)

Jewelry is a huge part of your festival outfit, and picking the best pieces might be a struggle. This body harness will definitely make your jewelry choice stand out in all of the best ways! 

5. Gramercy Vegan Leather Baseball Hat ($28 at Free People)

Keep the sun out of your face all day with a trendy hat, like this rose gold vegan leather baseball hat. Your skin will thank you later!

6. Floral Hair Tie ($2.90 at Forever 21)

Dancing in the sun all day might make you reaching for a hairtie to throw your perfectly styled hair up, but instead of reaching for any ol' normal black band, have one of these floral hair ties on hand! 

7. Indigo Rd. Satori Whipstitch Bootie ($58 at Francesca's)

With a day filled with tons of walking, you'll want to be sure you have comfortable shoes. Picking a classic bootie with a little extra flare will be your best option!

8. NYX Cosmetics Face & Body Glitter ($5.99 at Ulta)

It's not a music festival without a ton of glitter! Mix and match colors and you'll be shining so bright.

With these accessories, you'll be ready to dance your heart out while looking fashionable AF.

With the current political climate dividing our nation, activism is on the rise. The Women’s March in D.C. had a record-breaking half-million attendees, and supporters banded together in solidarity in cities across the world. However, for many college women, finding your voice can be challenging. And knowing where to start in order to evoke change can prove to be even harder. That is why we pulled together five ways to help you become an activist on your college campus.

1. Educate yourself

Education is vital. You’re in college to learn and prepare yourself for the future. So, educate yourself on the issues that you are passionate about. Once you’ve landed on one that sparks your interest, master it. Study the historical context, the important leaders within that movement and know what you are talking about. Once you’ve become an expert on the issue, then you can tackle it from a new and broader perspective. 

2. Get involved on a local or national level

If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to local branches of an organization you’re passionate about. Once you’ve connected with them, they can let you know how to give back and join their fight.

Rachel Petty, a senior at James Madison University, says, “Attending rallies is a great way to be politically active in college! I recently went to my first one, the Women’s March on Washington, and felt so inspired. Local rallies are also a good way to stay involved.” By attending rallies and meeting new people, you are creating your own community. You may think working alone is best, but when we band together, we become stronger.

3. Utilize your campus resources

Many colleges have organizations that you may not even know about. Scour bulletin boards and your school’s websites to learn more about organizations you can get involved with. Or if you see that your school is lacking an organization you’re passionate about, reach out to your student activities office or an advisor to learn more about how you can bring it to fruition. 

Hillary Li, a third-year student at UNC School of Law started a photojournalism project, Now We Speak, which featured stories of discrimination, mostly from students at UNC School of Law. “It got a ton of attention from students, staff and administration at the school, and led to a lot of great community conversations at the school about diversity and inclusion,” says Hillary. She is still actively working on diversity initiatives at the school, and thinks that one way for women to be active on campus is to look for ways that their institution is lacking in support for women, particularly women of color and women who identify as LGBTQ. She recommends that students think and learn about how their institution recruits diverse students as well as addresses the needs of diverse students on campus.

"For example, does your institution provide gender neutral bathrooms? Do dress codes or guidelines address those who wear hijabs or other religious wear? Are there scholarships and opportunities specifically for minorities?" She asks. Additionally, Hillary recently started a chapter of Our Revolution in the North Carolina Triangle area, which aims to support and educate the community about progressive political candidates on the local and state level. "I am trying to address issues in North Carolina from a policy level,” she says. “Our chapter is looking to collaborate soon with other organizations that do similar activism.” Once you’ve established a cause you’re passionate about, the sky is the limit on what you can do with it.

4. Find like-minded people

Tackling an important issue and cause can be overwhelming, therefore, finding people who are equally as passionate as you are will only foster that growth and support. Kristin Walter, co-founder and development officer ofFeel Good—whose mission is to end extreme poverty by 2030 through mobilizing the rising generation as global citizens and strategic changemakers—​says, “Ask yourself, ‘What is the more beautiful world my heart knows is possible? Answering the question: 'What is needed?' requires researching what is being done on the issues you care about. Read books, read articles (long ones), contact people at the organizations working on these issues. Learn, with passion, about the issue you care about and have fun doing it!” 

5. Create longevity

Your activism work shouldn’t end the second you graduate. Craft your work in a way that gives other college students the opportunities you had. Organize an annual march or fundraiser that can ensure your issue is relevant long after you’re gone. There’s always room for growth, so keep that in mind. 

You don’t need a college degree to change the world, but utilizing your education, your community and your campus can certainly help. Now get out there, and do work, collegiettes!

By Rawan Mostafa

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.

When I was in high school, I believed that liking things that were mainstream would be the ultimate way through which I’d conform to my friends’ idea of a “cool person.” I wasn’t encumbered with ideas of individuality or choice. I was more focused on blending in rather than standing out. After all, consuming mainstream things is a social marker; it’s a foolproof way to signal my coolness. Besides, I was raised on the idea that I shouldn’t be too different, and that my gender was linked to consuming and liking certain things. Liking these things would make me fit in better, which would make me happier. I listened to Drake. I wore yoga pants. I drank Pumpkin Spice Lattes. I watched The Bachelor. You name it. I went on a search for anything that was mainstream and popular and completely devoured it. Consequently, I was more able to relate to my friends. We would laugh at the same jokes about the Kardashians. We would indulge in celebrity gossip and be up-to-date on who broke up with whom and who got together with whom. We would go shopping at Forever 21 together. Mainstream culture was the main way through which most of my friendships were consolidated.

Fast-forward a couple of years, I decided that I didn’t need to conform and that I would shun everything mainstream as silly, irrelevant, and “basic.” I would deprive myself of the joy and enjoyment of things simply because they’re basic. In retrospect, I believe I mainly did it to enhance my declining self-esteem as I was growing older; giving mainstream things up made me feel like I knew better, like I was superior. This change in my mindset coincided with the rise of the “basic bitch” label.

Noreen Malone highlights how “basic bitch” denotes a “woman who fails to surprise us.” In accepting this description, we accept a patriarchal culture (considering the term is almost never used when referring to a male) that judges a woman only based on the value of the good she consumes and makes women judge each other on those grounds as well. So evidently, this idea of basic-ness is rooted in a social anxiety, whereby we are afraid we’ll be judged as ordinary based on the kind of things we consume. Of course, at that point in time, I didn’t critically consider and understand all these connotations and bashed others as “basic” when they simply enjoyed the mainstream.

Once I got to college and became more invested in cultural and feminist critique, I recognized “mainstream” for the depreciating label it truly is. By labeling something as mainstream or basic, we are reinforcing an elitist culture wherein only high-end, hipster or weird products and media are seen as valid and valuable. We establish a classist system wherein we judge and are judged based on our perceived superficiality and basic-ness. What we often overlook is that the mainstream is mainstream for a reason. We like watching KUWTK, The Bachelor and other reality TV programs because we get to reflect on ourselves and our lives through these shows. We listen to Top 40 songs because they reflect our feelings and help us work through our emotions. We wear UGG boots and leggings because we feel confident and comfortable in them.

I refuse to believe that enjoying mainstream culture makes me dumb or naive. I am consciously engaging in and criticizing culture through the kinds of products I consume and the ones I don’t. I agree with Emma Teitel, who presents a different interpretation of basic-ness. She argues that women now embrace being basic. They took a devaluing joke and turned it around into a form of empowerment, which is what we truly need. We shouldn’t be belittling other women for the choices they make and things they enjoy. We should all have the right to enjoy the culture and products we relate to and identify with without fear of judgement. So, I will drink my Starbucks and wear my leggings and listen to my Taylor Swift shamelessly and fearlessly.