Up until Monday night, executive assistant Fred Johnson was the token "blast from the past" contestant for Rachel Lindsay on The Bachelorette. Back in the day, Rachel was the camp counselor that Fred had a soft spot for, and when he showed up on night one with Rachel’s middle school yearbook in tow, you definitely either loved him instantly or were completely turned off. Reminders of middle school are never welcomed, even if you’re trying to be cute about it.

Although it seemed like poor Fred would always be in the background as the naughty camper Rachel still has nightmares about, this week was his time to shine. On a group date, he hit The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he realized that at least three other guys had kissed Rachel already. Okay, so Fred clearly doesn’t get how this show works if this reveal surprised him (It’s week three, buddy!), but his quest for his childhood crush’s love suddenly became…endearing. Saying that Rachel is “deeply rooted in my soul,” Fred stirred the equally rooted, admittedly suppressed Nicholas Sparks fan in me. Who says he has to be that bad kid from camp forever?

Unfortunately, Rachel seemed to believe just that. When Fred stole her away to share his feelings, he asked if he could kiss her. Rachel was less than thrilled with the question, and Fred made the moment a little awk when he decided to kiss her anyway. But please tell me I wasn’t the only one that felt a little hopeful for an ecstatic Fred after the kiss. Is it weird for a grown man to ask if he can kiss you? Yes. But is it sweet for him to show that he’s nervous and wants to make sure he isn’t overstepping boundaries? Yes.

While the kiss gave Fred butterflies, Rachel still couldn’t move past their history together, ultimately sending him home before the group date ended. I understand her reasoning and love that she wanted Fred to leave before he got even more emotionally invested, but part of me still feels sad for Fred. Rachel said their kiss was, “like a little boy was kissing me,” hinting that despite the grown guy in front of her, perhaps Fred was never a man in her eyes.

To others, maybe you’ll always be that kid from camp or the annoying little sister, no matter how much time passes. And that’s okay. Perhaps I’m too idealistic, but I still want to believe in love forming between people over time, no matter what weird connections you had in the past. I want to believe in awkwardly interacting with a cute guy in math class but then running into him at a bar years later and something just clicking. These are the kinds of love stories that make me hopeful. 

While a casting coincidence on The Bachelorette isn’t exactly on the same level, Fred represents that stroke of luck for me (especially if I ignore the fact that he probably could’ve easily pursued Rachel prior to the show). He saw his opportunity to make a childhood dream come true and did the best he could. Rachel’s views on the situation are totally valid, too. But this week, Fred appealed to all of the secret romantics in us, and sometimes we just need some good old-fashioned hope. 

Ariana Grande’s One Love Manchester concert brought together some of the biggest names in music, but support for the event didn’t end with the performers at the show. During an interview on Sirius XM's Morning Mash Up on Monday, Selena Gomez had nothing but compliments for the singers who participated, including her ex, Justin Bieber, who sang "Love Yourself" and “Cold Water” and gave the most sincere, touching speech.

After letting us all know that she watched the show, Selena said, "I thought everyone did such a beautiful job. It was so gorgeous. I love how [Ariana] ended it. I thought Justin did great. It was really beautiful."

It seems as though the rift between Selena and Justin is finally over, and, of course, Jelena fans couldn’t be happier. I mean, look at these tweets—fans are so here for this. And, to be honest, so am I!

I’m obsessed with the modern-chic look that Bella Hadid sported at the 2017 CFDA Awards, on June 5. Hadid’s lob hairstyle had a vintage feel to it, with tucked-in ends and piece-y bangs. The style was created by Jen Atkin, the founder of OUAI Haircare. Atkin is famous for the gorgeous styles she has created for celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Chrissy Teigen, as well creative hacks that will lead you to your best hair. Read below to learn exactly how she styled Bella's hair for the awards:

1. Start with damp hair, and prep it using the OUAI Wave Spray ($26) and OUAI Hair Oil ($28).
2. Blow-dry damp hair using the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($499.99), or you go-to dryer. 
3. Brush the lower half of your hair with the FROMM Hot Paddle Brush ($19.99) while you blow-dry to create a smooth, straight look. 
4. Using the FROMM Copper Thermal Round Brush ($17.99), add volume to the top of the head and crown. 
5. Part hair down the centre once hair is dry, and use the GHD Curve Soft 1.25" Curling Iron ($199) to gently bend hair inwards, towards your face, to achieve a tucked-in look. 
6. Not ready to commit to permanent bangs? Use a Beauty Works Clip-In Fringe ($5.62) at the front of the hairline to get the look. 
7. To get a better hold on the fringe, first back comb the small section of the hair where the clips are placed. 
8. Smooth and add shine by applying a small amount of the OUAI Finishing Crème ($24) with your hands. 
9. Keep your locks in place by finishing with the OUAI Medium Hair Spray ($26).

Little Mix member Perrie Edwards recently used Instagram to send a body-positive message to her followers. Posing with a smoldering smokey eye, beachy, braided hair and a low-cut top, Edwards exposed what she has called her “biggest body hang-up” in the past: her surgery scar.

After undergoing numerous surgeries as a child to correct an esophagus issue that was preventing her from eating properly, Edwards ended up with a vertical scar that stretches from her chest down to her stomach. Edwards left the impactful Instagram photo caption-less, letting it, and her bravery, speak for itself.

Fans loved Edward’s self-love message, and were even inspired by her to embrace their own insecurities and scars. One Instagram user commented, “Thank you Perrie for helping me and many other people feel more comfortable and confident about showing our scars,” while another wrote, “You have helped me to realise that showing my scar is important. It saved my life and I should be proud of it. Thank you.”

People on Twitter were no less thankful for, and encouraged by, Perrie's courage:

Edwards isn't the first celebrity to remind fans that every body, scars and all, is beautiful. After being open with her body struggles, insecurities and decision to get a breast reduction, Modern Family star Ariel Winter has publicly shown off her surgery scars, and is quick to shut down any body-shamers who try to encourage her to do any differently.

Some of our very own Her Campus writers have opened up about their journeys with scars and learning to love their bodies. Read:

• Justyn Jacobs, from Oregon State University: “#ScarrednotScared: My Journey With My Scar"
• Katie Murray, from Towson: “The Body Positivity Series: Love Your Scars"
• 30 women from Cásper Líbero: “Girls With Marks: Casperians Comment On Their Scars and How They Perceive Them"
• Jesse Lesniowski, from U Ottawa: “How to Love your Scars"

This is a shoutout to Perrie… for showing us that every body is beautiful!

They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, but what happens when the miles apart make it difficult to stay in love? When either you or your SO regularly miss your scheduled Skype meetings, don’t put in the effort to update each other on the latest events in your lives or prioritize everything but each other, then it’s time to evaluate the relationship. Here are four tell-tale signs that the LDR isn’t working and what to do about it.

pexels_couple.jpg

1. You’re getting dry responses

It’s inevitable that everyone is busy. However, if you’re in a long-distance relationship, more effort should be made to set aside time to reach out to your SO in a thoughtful way. Sean*, a senior at Mohawk Collage, says that after he flew to China for a work opportunity, his girlfriend wasn’t as responsive when he messaged her. “You don’t get to see each other in-person so when you talk, you’re not that into it anymore because there’s less to hold onto,” he says. It’s a telling sign if either partner isn’t as engaged or only making a half-hearted attempt to communicate. 

Jay Hurt, author of The 9 Tenets of a Successful Relationship, says that it is fundamental that couples in a LDR keep each other abreast of what’s going on in their respective lives and physically see each other every couple months. “It has to go beyond texts”, says Hurt, “There needs to be talking via Skype or Google Hangouts.”

How to fix it: 

While Hurt advises that it would be beneficial for couples to put in time daily to see each other using online video conference tools, he also recommends trying to “communicate in whatever your partner’s love language may be – for instance, sending gifts – because then you have a much better chance of building your relationship and helping it grow rather than trying to salvage it." 

Related: 5 Ways To Transition To a Long Distance Relationship 

2. Petty arguments are becoming the norm

The occasional fight is typical and expected. However, when both parties are always unhappy and bickering about insignificant matters, that should be a reason to pause and think about what’s really going on.

Andrea*, a junior at the University of Guelph, was repeatedly having fights with her SO. “I frequently fought with my long-distance boyfriend over the phone about what I thought were trivial things. For instance, I enjoy being social and hitting up different parties to socialize but he often wasn’t too happy about my evening plans. The time we set aside to catch up with each other would usually escalate into arguments." 

How to fix it:

Constant suspicion and reoccurring arguments could signify an underlying issue that should be immediately addressed in your LDR. Avoid contributing to an emotionally-fueled conversation by keeping the tone light and allowing your partner to respond to your comments without interrupting them. 

3. They have doubts

The two key components of maintaining a LDR are trust and faith. Alex*, a graduate from York University, stayed in Toronto while his girlfriend traveled back to Japan, her native country. He was confident that they could make a LDR possible. However, “She lacked faith that it would work,” he says.

They eventually parted ways and reflecting back on the experience, he notes that especially for a LDR, “It can’t be one-sided and there has to be a strategy on how you two can stay together.” When there’s doubt at the onset of a LDR, then that’s one indicator that a LDR with your SO is not likely to last.

How to fix it:

“You have to set expectations properly”, says Hurt. “Then you want to make sure to follow up to those expectations by creating a plan on how you both move forward. If there’s a plan, then there’s something to work towards." 

Related: 5 Signs You & Your SO Just Aren't Meant to Be

4. Your SO wants something different

Alex* and his girlfriend had a six year age difference which he says “put her on a different time table.” They were at different phases in their lives; she was contemplating the idea of beginning a family while he was just starting his career. While the physical distance was a challenge, another was the difference in future priorities.

How to fix it:

Ask yourself the following questions: Why do I want to be with my SO? Do I still want to be in a relationship with him/her? Have I done what’s possible within my means to make this long-distance relationship work?

After you figure out how you feel about the situation, call your SO to talk about what you both want in the future and how they currently feel about the state of the relationship.

While you might still be fond of your partner, it is important to acknowledge when a long-distance relationship may not practical because of the circumstances. For Sean* and his girlfriend, they both agreed that it wasn’t feasible to continue the LDR. After a candid talk on Skype, they ended the relationship amicably. “You just have a feeling that it isn’t going to work out”, he says. “I told her that ‘It was great knowing you’ and wished her all the best.”

Ending a relationship (long-distance or not) isn’t easy, especially if you’ve been together for a while. However, in the eloquent words of iconic American bombshell Marilyn Monroe, “Everything happens for a reason...sometimes good things fall apart so better things can come together.”

*Names have been changed. 

Bella Thorne would like you to know that she doesn't give a fuck. After enduring her fair share of trolling (because the internet is a dark place), the 19-year-old actress is committed to being herself and, honestly, she kills it. Among all the cool things she does, her fashion sense doesn't go unnoticed. Although she doesn't always take risks, when she does, she goes all-out. The celeb broke out one of her most daring looks to date while out in L.A. this weekend: satin track pants, star-print white booties and, the pièce de resistance, a completely sheer top.

Bella is far from being the first celeb to free the nipple. Kendall Jenner, for one, is particularly fond of the no-bra life:

Even though other people are doing it (as they damn well should if they feel like it), it does take an inspiring amount of confidence to pull of the totally sheer look. So props to Bella for doing her, no apologies needed.

This article has been syndicated to Her Campus from Coffee With Summer, an InfluenceHer Collective member. Read the full post here.

Self-confidence is something that I will always be growing in, and I think it's safe to say that I'm not alone in this, right? We're always growing and becoming better versions of ourselves. I'm definitely no confidence pro, but I have learned some key ways to always be growing in it. Today, I want to share five of those with you.

1. Think Positively & Talk Positively to Yourself

One of the most important things I have been doing for myself in my confidence journey is learning to not just think positively about myself, but to also talk positively to myself. I have never been someone who's overly optimistic, especially when it comes to myself, so it's always been hard to refocus my thoughts from negative to positive, but it's something that I have to keep on training myself to do. Whenever the negative thoughts creep in, I have to teach myself to combat them with positive truths.

The way you talk to yourself creates your reality. This is something I have learned the hard way over the years, and I'm sharing this with you so you don't have to go through the same thing. Kick the negative self-talk out of your life for good. You're so much more than what your thoughts might narrow you down to be. Choose to speak life over yourself. Choose to speak love over yourself. Choose to speak purpose over yourself.

2. Accept & Learn From Your Mistakes

We are all human. None of us are perfect. We have all made our fair share of mistakes and troubles. And you know what? That's totally okay. It's okay to make mistakes, but it's not okay to dwell on them. Take the time to acknowledge and accept your mistakes. Reflect on them, but only in the context of wanting to learn from them. The mistakes we make in life are all ones that we can learn from. Some mistakes may be messier than others, but it's a sure thing that we can always learn at least one new lesson from each mistake we make. Mistakes are awkward and uncomfortable, but let those feelings challenge you to learn and grow from them. In the midst of what looks unfortunate, always look for opportunity for growth.

The more you choose to learn from your mistakes, instead of dwelling on them, the more free you'll feel. When you're free and growing, your confidence will be constantly illuminating all the more.

3. Zone In on Proper Self-Care

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm a huge self-care advocate! I believe that in order to grow and be healthy, you have to dedicate yourself to investing in proper self-care. Self-care is everything from getting the proper amount of sleep at night all the way to treating yourself when you need a pick-me-up.

If you're struggling in the confidence department, check in to make sure you're treating yourself with the proper amount of self-care. Often, when I'm feeling down about myself and where I'm at, it's because I haven't devoted myself to proper self-care in a while.

Read the full post here.

Amal and George Clooney are officially parents, and they couldn't have picked cuter names for their newborns. The couple welcomed their first children, daughter Ella and son Alexander, on Tuesday.

The couple released a statement confirming, "This morning Amal and George welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into their lives. Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine." The new parents joked, "George is sedated and should recover in a few days."

As USA Today reports, the heartthrob actor swore he would never settle down, let alone have kids. Everything changed for the 56-year-old when he met Amal in 2013. The lovebirds tied the knot in Venice, Italy, the following year, and now their little family has doubled.

The new dad opened up about having twins on Rencontres de Cinéma earlier this year. He said of fatherhood, "My favorite part is, you know, all my friends who are my age, and I have many of them, they're already done. Their kids are all grown up and away to college and they are laughing." 

A source tells People, "This is very good news. We’re very, very happy. George is going to be a great father of twins.”

Welcome to the world, little Clooneys! 

Remember Polly Pocket and how flippin' magical it was? Yeah, me too. These little plastic dolls and accessories were only the most fun and exciting toy of my childhood.

I hope your inner child is ready for this: there are now crossbody bags made to look like the heart-shaped Polly Pocket houses you loved so much growing up. This totally adorable and totally over-the-top accessory is available for pre-order on Truffle Shuffle for $55 and I'm excited, you're excited, we're all excited.

Yep.

Can famous females ever catch a break? It's no secret that Rihanna is flawless in, like, all areas of life—her style, her bad girl attitude, her killer vocals and musical talent. She is practically a human goddess, which is probably why so many internet trolls try their hardest to knock her down. Well, RiRi has some news for the haters: It's not going to happen.

Last week, Barstoolsports.com published an offensive article that blatantly body-shamed the singer. The article was titled, "Is Rihanna Going to Make Being Fat the Hot New Trend?"

The ridiculous post featured photos of the star that draw attention to what the author describes as Rihanna's new "high key thiccness." RiRi fans had some thoughts about the articles. 

Before now, Rihanna hadn't responded to the body shamers. But in her typical, unbothered fashion, she finally took to Instagram Monday to send a message to anyone who isn't satisfied with her appearance. Newsflash: She couldn't care less.

The star is clearly unfazed by opinions about her body. Weight gain or no weight gain, she is more than confident in her skin. And let's be real, she slays no matter what. 

Jerrod Blandino loves making makeup mavens suffer: the co-founder and CCO of Too Faced regularly teases upcoming products on his Instagram with little to no information on the release. This time, Blandino posted a pic of a mysterious palette with a range of extra glittery shadows, captioning it "I'm a slave for you."

Now this could definitely be completely innocuous: I mean, who hasn't used a cult Britney lyric as a caption? "Oops I did it again," anyone? But knowing Jerrod's love of "sneaky peaks," fans quickly jumped to conclusions. "Britney collab?? I would diiiee," one commenter said, while another wrote, "I hope this is a Britney inspired palette. 2 of my favorite things together!"

"Gimme More," Jerrod! "I Wanna Go..." to Sephora, to buy this palette.

While on her press tour for "Bad Liar" in NYC, Selena Gomez changed five times in one day, totaling six gorgeous outfits. I'm raising an incredulous eyebrow right now, because I have a hard time finding a clean shirt to throw over my jeans in the morning, but on another level, I can relate. Who doesn't love changing 1,000 times while on vacation? The thing is, Selena wasn't on vacation, since she spent the day running from TV tapings to radio interviews. So essentially, she looked like a damn princess in six different outfits, all while grinding like the HBIC of her career she is. What is this sorcery?

Of course, Selena has the means to look this good all the time: Teen Vogue reports that all of these outfits combined cost over $13,000. Yikes. I'm not gonna lie, the other day I felt kind of guilty for buying a $13 dress at Forever 21... With that being said, you can't expect a star to dress affordablyall the time. Besides, you can't put a price on all this fashion inspo: she concluded the day with a date night, for which she opted for delicate satin and lace. Ooh la la!

The summer countdown has begun, and there’s no better way to kick things off than with a list of whimsical frozen cocktails you can enjoy with your girls. Whether you’re sipping them at the beach, during a break between summer classes or after a long day of interning, these drinks are perfect for a summer ‘gram or to take the edge off!

Frozen Cherry Cosmos, serves 2-4 people

Recipe courtesy of howsweeteats.com

If you love a good cosmo, then amp your recipe up a notch with this frozen, summer recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail ice cubes

• 1 cup regular ice cubes

• 1/2 cup tart cherry juice

• 1/2 cup vodka

• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

• 1/4 cup Grand Marnier liqueur

• Fresh cherries for garnish

• Lime slices for garnish

Directions:

1. Pour 2 cups of cranberry juice into ice cube trays to freeze overnight.

2. The next day, take the cranberry cubes and blend them with the remaining ingredients in a blender to create your cherry cosmo. You’ll know it’s blended when it looks like a slushie!

3. Pour into glasses and add some garnishes.

Blue Raspberry Nerds Cocktail Bowl,serves 32

Recipe courtesy of Tablespoon.com

If you love sour drinks, you have to try this icey-blue drink! It’s equally sour and sweet just like a pack of Nerds, which you’ll actually need to top this off. Serve it at the next backyard barbeque!

Ingredients:

• 19 ounce jar of lemonade powder

• 1 bottle of UV blue raspberry flavored vodka

• 1 gallon of water and 10-12 cups of ice

• 2 cups of fresh raspberries

Directions:

1. Mix the lemonade powder, vodka, and water into the punch bowl. Stir well!

2. Once you can see that the lemonade powder has dissolved, add the raspberries and ice cubes.

Frozen Coconut Mojito, serves 2

Recipe courtesy of Wishesndishes.com

This drink is like a sip of summertime: a perfect blend of coconut vibes and mint.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces of cream coconut

• 6 ounces of coconut rum

• 3 ounces fresh lime juice

• 8-10 fresh mint leaves

• 4 cups of ice

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients (including the ice) into the consistency is smooth.

2. Pour into glasses and add extra mint leaves for decoration!

Frozen Honeydew Margarita, serves 4

Recipe courtesy of  Reciperunner.com

If you aren’t sure about margaritas, this is the perfect beginner option. The taste of honeydew will overpower the tequila, leaving you with a sweet taste!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cubed honeydew

• 1 cup ice

• 2 ounces good quality white tequila

• Juice of a lime

• 1 tablespoon agave nectar, use more or less depending on how sweet you want your margaritas

• Salt for the rim of the glass (optional)

Directions:

1. Cut the melon into 1 inch cubes 8 or more hours before you plan to serve the drinks.

2. Place the cut melon pieces onto a foil lined baking sheet one layer at a time. Cover each layer with plastic wrap and freeze.

3. Run a piece of honeydew along the rim of each margarita glass and then add salt before blending ingredients.

4. Mix all of the ingredients (except the frozen melons) into a blender except for 15-30 seconds.

5. Add the frozen melon cubes and blend until smooth or for 30-40 seconds.

6. Pour, garnish and serve!

The “I Cannot Tell a Lie” Cocktail, serves 1

Recipe courtesy of townandcountrymag.com

This is the perfect cocktail for whiskey lovers. Plus, it’s rimmed with orange slices for that perfect tang!

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce Do Good Distillery 3 Mile Rum

• 1 ounce Do Good Cherry Smoked Whiskey

• 2 dashes absinthe

• 2 dashes bitters

• .25 ounce simple syrup

Directions:

1. Shake all ingredients over ice using a cocktail strainer. Once done, pour the liquid into a glass and add ice.

2. To top it off, add orange peels and a cherry!

The Pink Señoritas,serves 4

Recipe courtesy of delish.com

The perfect tequila cocktail for southern belles!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups ice

• 2 cups pink lemonade

• 1/4 cup lemon juice

• 1/4 cup triple sec

• 1 cup tequila

• 4 lemon slices

• Lemon wedges and salt for rimming glasses

Directions:

1. Rub a lemon wedge around your glasses, then dip the rims into salt.

2. Add ice, pink lemonade, lemon juice, triple sec, and tequila to every glass. Then stir.

3. Put lemons on the rims of every glass then serve!

Plum-Cherry Ice Pops, 6-8 ice pops

Recipe courtesy of Cookingchanneltv.com

This drink combines the best of two worlds — dessert and drinks!

Ingredients:

• 3 plums pitted and cut into quarters

• 8 ounces fresh or frozen pitted sweet cherries (about 40)

• 3 ounces of red seedless grapes (about 16)

• 1/3 cup confectioners sugar

• 1/8 tablespoon almond extract

• Champagne

• Eight 4-ounce ice pop molds

Directions:

1. Mix the plums, cherries, grapes, sugar and extract in a blender until smooth. Once finished, pour the mixture into the ice-pop molds to freeze overnight.

2. Pour champagne into glasses and put the frozen popsicle in the glass. As the ice melts, your drink will turn into a slushie!

Mermaid Lemonade, serves 4 people

Recipe courtesy of delish.com

Goes perfectly with your mermaid, trendy hair!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of ice

• 1/4 cup Blue Curacao

• 1 cup white rum

• 2 cups lemonade

• 4 lemon slices to garnish rims

• 8 cherries for garnish

• 4 paper umbrellas

Directions:

1. Add ice, blue curacao, rum, and lemonade to each glass. Then stir.

2. Skewer the lemon slices and cherries to each paper umbrella.

Watermelon Tequila Cocktail, serves 2

Recipe courtesy of foodandwine.com

If you take nothing away from this list, remember that tequila pairs well with basically every fruit/melon out there!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup water

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 8 cups diced seedless watermelon

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

• 1 3/4 cups blueberries

• 3/4 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves, plus 8 sprigs for garnish

• 1 1/4 cups silver tequila

• Ice

Directions:

1. Pour water in a small saucepan then add sugar. After, bring the water to a simmer and stir over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved. This will take about 1 minute. Once finished, let the sugar syrup cool.

2. Blend the watermelon until it has a smooth consistency. Strain the water into a bowl, avoiding large chunks and the pulp.

3. Combine the sugar syrup with the lime juice, blueberries and mint leaves in a pitcher.

4. Lightly muddle the blueberries and mint. Add the watermelon juice and tequila.

5. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until chilled.

6. Pour and garnish!

Unicorn Cosmos, serves 1

Recipe Courtesy of Cosmopolitan.com

If you don't 'gram these after you make them, did you even make them? 

Ingredients:

• Edible glitter

• Cotton candy

• Grape juice

• Vodka

• Rainbow candy canes

Directions:

1. Rim the edge of your glass with edible glitter. It helps to dip the rim into water first!

2. Add a handful of cotton candy to the glass.

3. Using a shaker, add ice and equal parts vodka and grape juice. Shake.

4. Pour into a martini glass, then garnish with a rainbow candy cane!

Drink up, collegiettes! 

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

Recently, incoming college freshmen, students, educators and academics have been abuzz with news of Harvard’s decision to rescind a few students’ admission to the oldest college in the United States and one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. The decision comes in response to the students’ online activity within a private Facebook group, in which they shared both racially and sexually offensive memes. The group, known online as “General Fuckups” or “Harvard memes for horny bourgeois teens,” allegedly “mocked victims of sexual assault, made light of the Holocaust, and debased members of certain ethnic groups,” according to Teen Vogue. In fact, Mic reports that to gain access, incoming students were asked to post a similar meme as proof of their solidarity. In an effort to preserve the integrity of the college, to teach the incoming students a harsh life lesson in Basic Human Decency 101 or both, Harvard revoked the acceptance of 10 participants.

I imagine one of the quickest and easiest responses to my stance would go something like this: “The world is not perfect; the world is not here to protect you or make you feel welcome. Safe spaces are for radical liberals who, in an ironic twist, fail to recognize their own privilege.” Or perhaps, like this: “There are bigger problems, real problems. Stop being a crybaby. Life doesn’t come with a trigger warning.”  This debate is not an unfamiliar one, especially since the election of President Donald Trump, when emphasis on and support for free speech arguments became mantras for a life without consequences, a world without morality.

As for Harvard, I say this. Ivy League colleges, often because of their historical and cultural origins as well as their financial privilege, bring with them longstanding traditions of discrimination, whether it be racial, sexual or otherwise. Rather than an attack on these academically outstanding institutions, I recognize this as an opportunity for great improvement. Here, in 2017 and in this particular case, lies an opportunity for a powerful, national institution to be exemplary not only in its academic prowess but also in its social impact. I, for one, would love to know that 22,000 of the nation’s best and brightest stand not with hate but against it. If these are the students in whom many place the future of the country and of the world, is it not incredibly damaging to cultivate in them an alarming tolerance for inhumanity?

I am not suggesting that all colleges the world over implement policies to track and monitor their students’ social media presence; that would be absurd, almost certainly impossible and, how could we forget, unconstitutional. But in the event that such hateful action becomes known to college officials, I believe that they should be able to respond as they see fit in ways that reflect the college’s code of ethics. Speaking with NPR reporters, incoming Harvard freshman Wyatt Hurt echoes this sentiment, “You have your First Amendment rights. But when you apply, you sign an honor code to be good and virtuous. Why would we want to have those people in our class?” Simply put, when did invoking your right to free speech become synonymous with being a complete and public asshole?

And what of the rights of the victimized in even more severe situations? Who has more rights? Whose are more important? Why am I asking these questions?

A lifelong, non-confrontational individual, a college teaching assistant and, hopefully, a soon-to-be PhD candidate, I am often wary of taking an absolute stance. I try, just as much in my everyday life and in my work, to be as open to diversity as I ask of the world around me. And even then, I struggle to look past the actions of the students in question. Reckless adolescence, youthful indiscretions, and freedom of speech… each of these has real and recognizable consequences in the real world, Harvard and Facebook included.

Rachel Lindsay's season of The Bachelorette, may have only just gotten underway, but we're already excited for the juicy drama of Bachelor in Paradise - and based on the season 4 cast list that was released on Tuesday, there's going to be plenty of it.

People reports that ABC's initial cast includes some of the names we were all wanting to see most to see on the list. Most importantly, yes, Corinne Olympios will be gracing our TV screens again - and even better (or worse, depending on how you look at it), her sworn enemy Taylor Nolan will be on the island with her.

As for the rest of the female cast, there are a lot of names from Nick's season in general. Raven Gate's, Nick's first runner-up, will be appearing on the show, as will Alexis Waters - a.k.a. dolphin-slash-shark girl.

As for the guys, it turns out that we're not escaping the cringey-ness of DeMario Jackson any time soon - he'll be returning for BIP, along with Robby Hayes, the first runner-up from Jojo's season, and Nick Benvenutti, the guy who made Jojo sit on his lap while dressed as Santa Claus. (I can't.)

ABC has plans to add to the cast, but TBH, I don't even need to know anything else to know that this season is going to be insane. I mean, sand, sun, booze and Corinne and Taylor stranded on the same island, all while former Bachelor contestants try to find love - what could possibly go wrong?

While Kendall Jenner's outfits are always on-point, her latest look has people talking for a completely different and OMG-major reason.

Cosmopolitan reports that the model and Kardashian-Jenner sister was spotted in New York City Monday night leaving Kanye West's apartment alongside her rumored boyfriend A$AP Rocky, wearing jeans, an oversize gray hoodie, sleek white booties - and a huge rock on her left ring finger.

Naturally, people have questions - not to mention the fact that A$AP Rocky himself was reportedly sporting a matching one. It could also be nothing to freak out over - after all, the Kardashian sisters are spotted in plenty of diamonds all the time, and the placement and size of Kendall's bling could just be a totally innocent coincidence.

Engaged or not, Kendall was outfit goals regardless, as per usual.

Few things manage to cheer us up more than dessert and baby animals. Tell us about your ideal cake, and we'll tell you what kind of puppy you are. It's really the answer to all your questions.

Heading into Tuesday night’s episode of Pretty Little Liars, we knew there was going to be a proposal. Ezria is already engaged, so we could mark them off the list. Spencer is currently single, and I didn’t expect a grieving Toby to turn back up for the first time since his wife died and pop the question. With Alison (one half of the just reunited Emison) out of town visiting Jason, that only left Hanna and Caleb.

There were little hints throughout the episode that a Haleb proposal was coming. When Ezra was talking to the pair about the sandals and gelato wedding he wishes he and Aria were having. When Hanna’s mom turned back up questioning Caleb’s intentions.

Then in the middle of Lucas’s apartment, with Caleb describing to Ashley what his long-term plans with Hanna are, he admitted that he wants to marry her. It didn’t seem planned—more like something he realized as he was talking. It was all so utterly adorable, but Hanna didn’t exactly say yes. In fact, she didn’t say anything.

Cut to later in the episode when Hanna met Caleb in a tent in the woods. I immediately knew this moment was going to be knock-you-off-your-feet special. The perfect callback to Haleb’s Season 1 rendezvous in a tent under the stars.

Inside the tent, they made it official. They couldn’t exactly find an ordained bear to perform a legal ceremony, but Hanna and Caleb exchanged cigar wrapper rings and shared a kiss. Only A.D. could suppress an “aww.”

Relive the heart-melting moment below.

Uber fired 20 employees for sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior on Tuesday as a result of an investigation into the company's workplace culture, the New York Times reports.

The company announced the firings at a staff meeting in San Francisco, where employees were told that the company had looked into over 200 claims of discrimination, unprofessional behavior and bullying. 31 of the company's employees are already undergoing counseling or training for the incidents and 57 of the cases are still open

The investigation into Uber's workplace culture began after accusations of sexual harassment surfaced when former Uber engineer Susan Fowler published a blog post about her experiences at the company - and in short, they weren't good. Fowler repeatedly reported sexual advances made by her manager to human resources, who told her that her boss would only be given a warning. Yikes.

An anonymous current employee told BuzzFeed News that he was "not surprised about the number" of firings that took place on Tuesday - meaning Uber's problems with sexual harassment were probably even more widespread than Fowler's blog post made them out to be.

Hopefully this is a sign that Uber will finally start to take sexual harassment and discrimination seriously. In addition to looking into the claims made by employees, the company plans to continue using a confidential hotline that allows employees to report issues, and now has a system in place for following through with employee complaints.

Orientation is a great time for you to meet potential friends, get to know your school and ask any questions you may have, but there’s still a lot to learn . As great as orientation is for giving you the basics, there’s a lot that you’ll learn along the way during your freshman year. So, we talked to some collegiettes to give you all the details about what you won’t learn during orientation, but what you should know before you head off to freshman year.

1. Pre-orientation is important

Okay, this is cheating a little because it’s before orientation even happens, but scheduling orientation is super important.

Casey Sweeney, a senior at the University of South Carolina, says, “I didn’t realize it freshman year, but when you go to orientation is really important because that determines what classes you get.” A lot of schools have multiple days of orientation, and although you might think it doesn’t matter when you go, it might impact your freshman year schedule. If you go to an early orientation, there’s a better chance you’ll get classes you actually want, so keep that in mind.

2. Lock your door

You might hear people say that leaving your door open is a great way to make friends and get to know your hall, but be wary. This is a good tactic for when you’re in your room and aware, but always lock your door when you’re gone and when you’re sleeping.

Olivia Murray, a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire, says, “Definitely lock your doors, especially when you’re sleeping, because one night I left mine unlocked and someone came into my room and stole my laptop.” Of course, this is pretty extreme, but it’s better to be on the safe side. College dorms are pretty secure, but you’re still living with strangers, so get into the habit of locking your door.

3. Don’t fall into a food routine

It’s super easy to always go to the dining hall closest to you, but that might not always be the best choice or healthiest option.

 “You get sick of the food so easily, so try to switch up the dining hall you eat at to make things more interesting,” says Ally McNeil, a sophomore at James Madison University. “I went to the dining hall near me for a really long time out of convenience, but I basically just ended up eating pizza for two months. It gets old fast.”

It’s hard to force yourself to make the trek to other dining halls, but not only is it good exercise, it also allows you to switch up your meals and prevents you from being tempted by unhealthy options all the time.

Related: The Dos and Don’ts of Freshman Year

4. Don’t bring your entire wardrobe

When packing for college, it can be so tempting to just shove everything in trash bags and trek it to your school. “Don’t bring your whole closet,” Olivia says. “You’ll only end up wearing half of it anyways.”

Trust us, there’s no way you’ll end up wearing your snow pants and high school track suit at school—leave them at home. Only bring the things you’ll wear on a daily basis. And don’t bring a ton of winter clothes either, bring them back after winter break to save you the hassle of dragging a bunch of clothes back and forth.

5. Lanyard = freshman

You know how everyone gets that cute lanyard to attach his or her school ID to? Dead giveaway that you’re a freshman. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you want to seem a little more integrated, switch it out for a different lanyard. Plus, it’s less likely that you’ll lose it if you don’t have the same exact looking lanyard as every other freshman.

6. You’ll have a lot of downtime

College is all about managing time. Chances are, your days won’t be as filled with classes as they were in high school. The great thing about this is you have a lot more time for extracurricular activities, working out, getting homework done and making friends. The bad thing is that you’ll probably just want to take a nap.

Don’t get us wrong, taking naps are important and we’re all for them, but you don’t want to become a recluse. Try not to go back to your dorm room all the time; instead, go to the library, the quad or any other place on campus. The less time you spend in your dorm, the better your college experience will be.

7. You might not love it at first

College is a huge transition from high school. Suddenly, you’re living on your own, eating on your own and managing all your time. Sure, on paper that sounds pretty sweet, but it can feel lonely at times.

There’s tons of pressure to make college the best time of your life, but it might not feel that way in the beginning. “When I first started college I didn’t really like it,” says Marie Knoll, a senior at the University of South Carolina. “I thought there was no way these people could replace my high school friends and I found myself dying to go home.”

It gets better, though. “Now, I have a hard time leaving,” Marie says. “The friendships I’ve made are so much different than the ones at home and I love my routine at school. It took me a while, but once I got used to it I actually did love it.” Don’t feel pressured to love it at first. Change takes time, but if you put your best foot forward and get involved, you’ll be sure to love your college experience.

Orientation is a great way to learn about scheduling classes, campus activities and basic rules, but it doesn’t give you the ins and outs of campus. With these tips, you’ll be a little more prepared than you were before and ready to take on freshman year!