A pee-wee football team in Illinois followed the example of NFL stars in support of a local man killed in a police-involved shooting by kneeling during the national anthem — and, apparently, the protests of these kids offended some news anchors. 

According to CNN, former police officer Jason Stockley was acquitted in the 2011 shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, a black driver in St. Louis. Many people were angered by and disappointed by the decision. Stockley’s acquittal led to protests erupting in the city, ones that started peaceful but later grew violent. In support with the protests, the team of third graders from the Cahokia Quarterback Club Football team from in Belleville, Illinois took a took a knee while the national anthem was playing before their Sunday afternoon game, Upworthy reports.

Their actions were viewed pretty negatively by conservative media outlets. Fox & Friends went as far as to call these third graders as “shameful.”

 “These 8-year-olds don't know what they're doing,” a host said. Another host, Rachel Campos-Duffy, said that the players were “following the lead of their parents." 

"This is a very political statement that they have no idea what they're doing,” Campos-Duffy said. (Though standing for the anthem can most certainly be considered a "political statement" on its own.)

Orlando "Doc" Gooden, the kids' coach, told WILX 10 (a local NBC affiliate) that the kids came to him following the protests and asked if they could also kneel in support. He said that, after getting permission from the kids' parents and the team, he approached the demonstration as a teachable moment for his charges — who also wanted to understand why football stars like Colin Kaepernick (and many others) were kneeling at their games and showed a great deal of empathy for victims of police brutality.

"One of the kids asked, 'Can we do that?' I said, 'As long as we know why we're doing it, I don't have a problem with any of it,'" Gooden told WILX 10. "As long as I have support of my parents and team, I'm perfectly fine and I'm covered under the 1st amendent to peacefully protest and assemble."

IMO, expressing your opinions and feelings isn’t a sign of “disrespect" and you can definitely love your country and be patriotic while still recognizing its weaknesses— luckily, you can do those things regardless of how old you are.

Demi Lovato is a devoted advocate for many things: women's rights, body positivity and mental health, to name a few. The fearless singer often shares her personal struggles with the world, but some critics believe she's not open enough. 

On Wednesday, Huffington Post writer Noah Michelson "called bullshit" on Demi's refusal to publicly label her sexuality. In an op-ed, Michelson posed the question, "If the pop star is willing to be so open about other parts of her life, why not this?" He argues that the star alludes to queerness in her songs and music videos, and that the "hiding" of her sexuality is problematic. The short answer to his intrusive question, in my opinion, is Demi does not have to do anything she doesn't want to do.

The "Sorry Not Sorry" singer was incredibly unapologetic in her response, tweeting, "Expectant and rude. Watch my documentary and chill out."

In a series of following tweets, Demi emphasized that she will not label herself to appease the media's curiosity. She again encouraged anybody looking for answers to watch her upcoming documentary.

The documentary she's referring to is Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated, scheduled to debut on YouTube next month, Cosmopolitan reports. 

As Demi's tweets suggest, being a celebrity does not automatically give the public free access into someone's personal life. Regardless of fame, Demi deserves her right to privacy and can discuss her sexuality when and how she wants to. 

Sorry not sorry, Mr. Michelson.  

If you didn't think T-Bell could get any better — think again! In a launch expected by 2022, all of your alcohol and taco-related dreams will come true —because 300 brand-new Taco Bell locations will be opening up andadding adult beverages to the menu.

(Yes, that was a poem. This news is inspiring.)

These new locations will not have a drive-thru (props to Taco Bell for not enabling drunk driving), according to Washington, D.C.-based ABC affiliate WJLA, but are ultimately part of an effort to innovate their brand by appealing to customers of legal drinking age.

According to WJLA, the locations will be focused in urban areas like Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston and New York (better for foot traffic) and will serve draft beer, bottled beer, sangrias and twisted mixed drinks. #Party

Although 2022 isn't exactly around the corner, it's a pretty beautiful thing to look forward to —and it might even give you just enough time to evaluate your life choices. Cheers!  

For those following the saga of former Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort and his (and the President's) alleged ties to Russia — the plot just got a little bit thicker. And there's even more emails in involved. 

We know, we know: Politics can be quite messy. So here's a little backstory: Since Donald Trump was elected as POTUS, there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding POTUS's relationship with Russia and their involvement in the 2016 election. Back in March, congressional committees were set up to investigate the conclusion made by US intelligence agencies that Moscow attempted to sway the election in favor of Trump.

On May 18th, ex-FBI director Robert Mueller was appointed to the investigation as a special counsel after Trump sacked James Comey, the then-FBI director who confirmed the bureau had its own inquiry.

And now? Mueller has been investigating thousands of documents that have been turned over, including a sketchy email that was reportedly written by Paul Manafort, a former Trump campaign manager, to Kremlin-linked Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, offering to give Deripaska "private briefings" on the 2016 campaign, according to the Washington Post.

Manafort reportedly reached out to an intermediary for Deripaska just two weeks before Trump accepted the Republication nomination, the Washington Post reports. The email, dated July 7, to the intermediary included the statement offering"If he needs private briefings we can accommodate," according to sources with knowledge of the email. 

Although there is no proof that Deripaska received the message, the implication is this— the messages by Manafort created "a potential opening for Russian interests at the highest level of a U.S. presidential campaign," reporters of the Washington Post claim, along with the implication that Manafort  may have attempted to profit from his position.

It's also important to note that Deripaska is viewed as a significant ally to Vladimir Putin and, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks, Deripaska is "among the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis."

Exchanges between Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik are also quite telling. Kilimnik, an employee of Manafort while he was working in Ukraine to advise a Russia-friendly political party, is Manafort's suspected intermediary to Deripaska, according to The Independent.

Manafort also allegedly believed money was owed by his past clients of his international political consulting practice in Eastern Europe, and exchanges between the two men reference "OVD" (Deripaska's initials) and "black caviar," which is believed to reference the payment. 

It's no surprise that Mueller thinks something fishy is going on — and it's probably not the black caviar.

Every college has parties regardless of whether or not it’s a “party school” — and with parties come outfit decisions! A skirt? A dress? Heels or sneakers? Don’t worry, most of us change our outfits a ton before deciding on the perfect combination to go out in. Hopefully, with the help of this guide, that perfect outfit choice will be much easier.

1. The House Party

House parties vary so much but one thing is for sure: make sure you’re comfortable. You’ll most likely be out late and around a bunch of people, so it will get extremely warm. When you feel good about what you’re wearing you’re more likely to enjoy yourself. The casual skirt look is so trendy right now especially when paired with a graphic or plain tee and sneakers.

Converse are one of the best sneakers to go with. They’re super versatile, comfy and a total classic that’ll last you a long time.

2. Pool Party

Obviously, for a pool party a swimsuit is necessary but there’s a few ways to have fun with this look and dress it up! Temporary tattoos are so cute and these metallic ones will definitely make you stand out. Try putting some on the part of your hair for a cool mermaid look.  A slip-on shoe is also a must for a pool party. One minute you’ll be in the pool and the next minute you’ll be at the BBQ so a simple shoe is important.

3. Formal

Formals are fun because you get to dress up and feel fancy AF while probably not having to worry about ruining any part of your outfit, unlike a house party where beer spillage is almost unavoidable.

Formals are also the event to wear heels to. Wedges are great because they’ll give your feet a little extra support.

4. Country Party

Get ready to square dance the night away to some Luke Bryan while sporting plaid and your favorite cowgirl boots. Whether traditional or trendy, cowgirl boots are essential to this outfit! They’re fun to dance around in too. An oversized plaid flannel is perfect because you can pair it with any type of tee or tank or tie it around your waist if you want. They’re so soft too! Paired with some cutoff jean shorts or distressed jeans (cropped so you can show off those boots!) it makes for the best country outfit out there.

5. Frat Mixer

Frat mixers tend to be a little (or a lot!) more casual than a formal so sneakers are totally the move for this party. You can also never go wrong with a T-Shirt dress, especially this one from Target that’s only $10. If you want to go the pants route, jeans and a cute top are a solid choice. Throw on some accessories and you’re good to go!

The most important thing to remember when going to parties in college is to be true to your personal style. Everyone’s look is unique and that’s what makes dressing up and going out so fun! Make sure to top it off with a dose of confidence too, which is the most important accessory!

Put yourself in a room full of Bachelor fans and you’ll still hear plenty of mixed thoughts about new leading man Arie Luyendyk, Jr. Whether or not you like this racecar driver from many, many rose ceremonies ago, the filming of his season is now in full swing. Refinery29 reports that this year's Bachelor contestants entered the mansion Wednesday night, while franchise creator Mike Fleiss shared a behind-the-scenes pic of Arie on his new turf. 

"Guess who's back?" Fleiss tweeted alongside a photo of himself with Arie and host Chris Harrison. "Arie's back. Tell a friend." 

 "Fantastic group of women,"Fleiss shared afterwards. "[Arie] has got some tough choices to make tonight..."

Although he has posted even more detailed photos of the show's first night in the past, Fleiss has stayed quiet on any other Bachelor happenings. Meanwhile, spoiler guru Reality Steve has already revealed a few women from this season and responded to one of Fleiss's tweets with a new nickname for Arie: "Not Peter." Thanks for saying what we're all really thinking, Steve!

Other responses to Fleiss's photo also aren't very positive. Production overlooking Peter and other potential Bachelor contenders clearly caused some broken hearts. 

Okay, so that room of Bachelor fans may feel more negative towards Arie than indifferent. Nonetheless, we wish him the best as filming proceeds!  The Bachelor returns to ABC this January. 

President Donald Trump's administration is planning to undo some of former President Barack Obama's limits on drone strikes and commando raids, likely leading to counterterrorism missions in areas the United States has yet to kill or capture Islamic militants in. 

The New York Times reports that Trump's top national security advisers are aiming to ease two older rules, one of which includes targeting drone strikes at "foot-soldier jihadists with no unique skills or leadership roles" rather than just militants who are huge threats to the States. Relaxing the second rule from Obama's presidency would allow these strikes to occur without high-level vetting. 

Although the administration isn't changing the rule that protects civilian bystanders from being harmed in strikes, The Times says that these changes will likely draw some criticism. Concern for the results of the proposals, which Trump still needs to sign off on, is definitely understandable, as they could lead to the losses of many innocent lives. On the other hand, less strictness surrounding drone strikes would mean more opportunities to defeat threatening extremists both in combat zones and areas outside war zones. 

A committee of national security representatives have discussed the proposed rules under the name "P.S.P," or "Principles, Standards and Procedures." According to The Times, an official pointed out that P.S.P. was similar to that of the Obama administration but allowed for "fewer internal hurdles" preventing specific missions. However, starting strikes or raids in new countries would still need to be approved, while the States will likely need a country's permission before targeting lesser militant threats within its territory.

It's still unknown if Trump will agree to the committee's decision to keeping civilians' protection during drone strikes. 

Everyone wants to have full, Kylie Jenner-style lips. Whether it’s for that favorite lipstick or to have major kissable lips, we all want ours plump and luscious. The question is then, how do we get them without lip fillers or injections? I found the answer.

JuvaLips! JuvaLips is a natural lip plumping device that will give you fuller lips in only 60 seconds. All you have to do is put your lips on the mouthpiece, press the power button and wait for one minute, preferably while making funny faces at yourself in the mirror or your roommate. You could even take the device on-the-go and make faces at the cars next to you.

I'll admit, I was a little skeptical to try this at first. What if I mess up and it doesn't work? Or what if it just doesn't work in general and I'm left with my lips the exact same as before?! My fears subsided after seeing some of the reviews and how well it worked for other people. Now, I had some pretty high expectations and it was time to go for it.

After two, 60 second intervals, my lips were full and plumped. They felt a little tingly, which was a pretty cool sensation, so I knew it had definitely worked. In my review video, you can see how totally crazy the results are! I was almost speechless. My lips were so cute and plump and I was so ready to apply my favorite gloss.

It’s so easy and at just $130, totally worth it. You can use it every day, anywhere, at any time and have luscious lips for hours. Check out my review on it and see for yourself!

Protests over actors' lack of provided transportation have occurred on the set of CW hit Riverdale after star KJ Apa was in a early morning car accident following a routine 16-hour work day, Cosmopolitan reports. Responsible for driving himself home, Apa fell asleep at the wheel during his 45-minute commute last week, hitting a light pole with his car. Although he was unharmed, Apa's car was completely destroyed, raising questions of Riverdale actors' safety. 

The Hollywood Reporter says that Apa's costar Cole Sprouse was reportedly supposed to ride with him that night, but changed his plans at the last minute. Thank goodness he wasn't with Apa, as the car's passenger side was totaled in the crash. Although it's apparently common for TV cast and crew members outside of the United States to drive themselves to set, Sprouse is now asking for Riverdale production to provide transportation for those working late into the night. The show and its cast shot to a crazy level of fame after premiering this year, but it seems that such success has led to a pretty pressuring work environment. 

"They're working these kids from morning until night," a source told THR. "Someone's going to die."

In response to the controversy, Warner Bros. Television released two statements clarifying details of the team's work situation. "In accordance with industry standard policy, if any cast or crew member feels tired or unsafe at any time after working, the Studio will provide a taxi, a driver or a hotel room upon request," the first message read. "This is communicated to all cast and crew...and is reiterated continously throughout the duration of production."

The second statement disputed initial reports of Apa's work schedule on the day of the accident, perhaps suggesting that the incident going public has caused tension between Apa and Warner Bros. "Our actors do not work every day," the statement said after expressing gratitude for Apa's lack of injuries. "On the day of the accident, KJ worked 14.2 hours. The previous day he worked 2.5 hours...KJ has repeatedly been informed about making production aware if he is tired or feels unsafe, and if so, either a ride or hotel room will be provided for him."

The statement also revealed that first responders tended to Apa at the scene of the accident and that production sent a doctor to his home later that day, just in case. Despite the studio's own remarks, SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union, will investigate the case. "This is an extremely troubling situation and we are deeply concerned about the safety of performers on the Riverdale set,” an union statement read. “We are sending a team to Vancouver to review the circumstances surrounding safety issues affecting performers on this production."

Neither Apa nor Sprouse has publicly commented on the issue yet, but it's clear that as Riverdale prepares for its Oct. 11 return, the well-being of its actors will be closely observed. 

If you're in Greek life, have friends in Greek life or are hoping to join this year, then you know what time of year it is: sorority rush! Hoards of girls all over the country will line up in front of chapter houses with the hopes of finding new sisters and a place to call home. This week can be exciting, stressful and everything in between, so here are the feelings you're likely to experience if you're going through recruitment this year.

1. Excitement

You've likely been waiting years for this, and the time has finally come!

2. Panic (as you decide what to wear)

Does this look cute? Promise? Promise????

3. Nervousness

You're likely going to start freaking out a little as you walk up to your first house. Don't worry, everyone is feeling the same way!

4. Wonder

As you go from house to house, you'll start thinking about which girls you liked and which houses probably aren't the best fit.

5. Exhaustion

At the end of each day (or round), you'll be so tired from girl flirting that you'll just want to collapse on your bed until you have to get up and start again.

6. Forced Happiness

At a certain point, you're going to have to get your best fake smile ready. All you'll want to do is go home and lay in bed, but the extra hours will be worth it in a few days!

7. Disappointment 

You're likely to get cut from a few houses that you were sure were your top choice, but this happens to everyone. Relax, go with it and try to trust the process!

8. Relief

At the same time, houses are going to invite you back that you did not expect at all!

9. ~All the feels~

On the last night of recruitment (usually called preference night), the sororities will share with you what they value and love most about their sisterhood, and it's bound to get emotional.

10. PURE JOY

At the end of a long week of rush, there's no better feeling than running home to your new sisters on bid day!

Recruitment is definitely an emotional time, but it's worth it to find a community of love and friendship on campus. Stay strong during this hectic week, collegiettes!

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

Bernie Sanders Will Debate Against Lindsey Graham & Bill Cassidy About Health Care

Sen. Bernie Sanders will have a chance to defend his "Medicare for all" health care bill at a town hall debate on Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. ET. Appearing alongside Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sanders will debate against Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy. Graham and Cassidy have been the center of intense media attention this week for their last-ditch effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, particularly after Jimmy Kimmel called out Cassidy for lying to him about the kind of health care he wanted in place. 

CNN anchor Jake Tapper and chief political consultant Dana Bush will moderate the event. 

Fights Broke Out After Protesters in New York Called the Visiting Turkish President a Terrorist

Protestors disrupted a speech from the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at a New York hotel on Thursday. The New York Times reports that one of the protesters yelled in English, "You're a terrorist. Get out of my country!" In response, many others in the hotel ballroom began chanting Erdogan's name. Bystanders violently attacked protesters as security ushered them outside, where police briefly detained about five members of the opposing group. At least one assaulter of the protestors was removed by security. 

Protester Meghan Bodette explained that the group's goal was to "call attention to the Turkish state's war crimes and human rights abuses against the Kurdish people" in Turkey and Syria. She claimed that Americans deserved to know that the Turkish leader was "hindering the fight against ISIS."

Erdogan continued with his speech at the Turkish American National Steering Committee event, and later met with President Donald Trump. Although Erdogan's security team has a history of being violent, the fight was reportedly instigated by "competing protestors."

Kim Jong Un Has an Interesting Word to Describe President Trump With

Following the announcement of Trump's expanded economic sanctions on North Korea, North Korean president Kim Jong Un has called Trump a "frightened dog.""Far from making remarks of any persuasive power that can be viewed to be helpful to defusing tension, he made unprecedented rude nonsense one has never heard from any of his predecessors," Kim said in a televised speech responding to Trump's recent UN speech that threatened his country. 

Amidst North Korea's warnings of holding a hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific, Kim directed a strange (but surprisingly real) word at Trump that rivals any of the latter's verbal oddities. "I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire," he remarked in the speech.

What to look out for...

Today is pretty notable in pop culture history, marking the 23rd anniversary of the Friends premiere and 13 years since Lost's Oceanic Flight 815 crashed on a mysterious island. Most importantly, Sept. 22 is the 30th anniversary of Full House's 1987 debut. In honor of the milestone celebrating Olsen twins, '90s fashion and John Stamos' hair, look out for Season 3 of Fuller House dropping on Netflix today! 

The experience is a powerful one. The room is perfectly unassuming and silent, filled with stories and outfits ranging from sweats, cargo shorts to mini dresses, sleep shirts to child-sized princess dresses.

The outfits were assembled as part of an installation called “What Were You Wearing?” which opened Sept. 5 at the Kansas Union Gallery at University of Kansas. It’s a display of what survivors were wearing when their assaults took place.

For viewers used to sculpture and canvas, it’s quite surprising  to peer in the open doors and see everyday clothes pinned to the wall. But upon closer inspection you’ll find that the mundane, ordinary nature of the collection  is exactly the point.

Beside each piece is a card written by an anonymous survivor of sexual assault, explaining how the outfits have a unique connection to their experiences. The doors feature a trigger warning for the emotional experience and tissues are provided throughout the room.

The exhibit is a direct response to the loaded question people often ask  rape survivors: “What were you wearing?” The clothes, displayed together alongside the voices of survivors and victims seem to respond, “What does it matter?”

Social worker and KU alum Jacey Bishop told Her Campus that the questions about a survivor’s attire during their assault contributes to a culture that blames and shames victims of these traumatic experiences.

“By asking a victim what they were wearing the night of their assault, we are shifting the blame away from the perpetrator and to the victim,” Bishop said. “Psychologically, this has detrimental effects. Suddenly, the victim will start to question themselves and think ‘Maybe if I did this’ or ‘Maybe if I didn’t do this,' then it wouldn’t have happened.”

However, Bishop, who currently works at a mental health center and domestic violence shelter in Overland Park, Kansas, said that the culture needs to reframe conversations about sexual assault to fault the assailants and not the victims.

“The detrimental effects that self-blame can have on a person leads to a long line of traumatizing mental illness, whether it be depression, PTSD, anxiety, phobias, etc. The conversation cannot be about what a victim did wrong, it needs to be about the perpetrator what they did wrong."

“What Were You Wearing?” first made an appearance in 2013 at the University of Arkansas and has circulated a few other campuses in the Midwest before landing at KU, according to the Lawrence Journal World. A committee of students representing KU Student Union Activities and the KU Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center chose from an array of 40 stories and corresponding clothing.

Their choices reflect the different ages and backgrounds of survivors that mimic the community we have here at KU. The message is clear: This is a problem that spans far beyond class, age, race and even gender.

The exhibit encourages students to share their own stories and descriptions of what they were wearing in a private booth in the corner of the room. By asking for active and anonymous participation, the exhibit will be allowed to expand before moving on to other campuses.

“I was surprised that they would be doing this at the Union because I think a lot of students feel as though there’s not enough being done to bring awareness to the issue or to help survivors,” Haley Rowe, a junior at the University of Kansas, told Her Campus.

This past January, KSHB 41 Action News reported on three incidents of sexual assault happening within three months. Police investigators looked into the accusations, all of which took place in KU dorms, and made arrests accordingly. The question still stands, however, on how we can avoid these incidents in the first place.

“There are resources available, but I think it needs to be more of a social conversation and it needs to be an ongoing conversation,” Rowe said. “There’s sexual assault training that we go through and we try to educate students on consent, but I feel like there needs to be more mandatory in-person conversations. I don’t know how much an online assessment really does for people.”

Lauren Jackson-Davenport isn’t a student at the University of Kansas, but her sister is an incoming freshman. She told Her Campus that she came to view the installation after her mother heard about it on the morning news and she read an article online detailing what is featured.

“I am a little concerned [for my sister] because she is so far away. We live in Michigan and she’s here,” Jackson-Davenport said. “You don’t want it to happen, but you have to make sure you keep an eye out for her. We usually keep in contact when she’s out of the building by herself.”

Jackson-Davenport goes to Central Michigan University and said she would welcome a similar exhibit on her own campus — and that it should be welcome everywhere.

“People have this thing where they think it’s something you wear or what you do,” she said. “It’s not. No matter what you wear or what you’re doing, it can happen any time or at any place.”

[Images: Courtesy of Hannah Strader, rogamuffin slutwalk-30.jpg via photopin(license)]

Four South Carolina students from Westside High School recently spelled out “rape” with letters spray painted on their chests as a disgusting attempt at a joke during a football game for their district’s Breast Cancer Awareness night, reports The Huffington Post.

The four boys (two sophomores and two seniors) were reportedly part of a larger group that was spelling out “BUMP CANCER” for the event during the game against rival school D.W. Daniel. Before the game started, Kyle Newton, the director of the school district’s external affairs, said the students shuffled around to form different words. Unfortunately, one of those words was “rape.”

The picture was shared to Snapchat — which is how it caught the negative attention it deserved. It was captioned, “What we do to Daniel” in reference to the team from D.W. Daniel they were playing.  

The Anderson 5 Citizens for Quality Education Facebook group shared a screenshot of the Snapchat to Facebook along with a long post that condemned the boys’ bad behavior.

The group is a “non-partisan group of concerned parents, students and citizens” in the school district. They called for action from the school and said the boys’ actions were especially concerning because of the juxtaposition of the breast cancer awareness event and the “joke” they made. Additionally, the group was concerned no action was taken at the football game when the incident occurred, especially considering “these young men were standing proudly in front of attendees, the teams, and the coaching staff.”

The post has been shared over 300 times since Wednesday morning.

Newton said all four students and their parents met with the administration Monday morning to be informed of their punishment. The school has not released the details of the punishment due to privacy concerns.

Newton also said the school is “very disappointed” in the boys’ actions, because “at best, what they did was extremely offensive ― at worst it could be traumatic to those who have suffered sexual assault. There is no place in any school or in any community for those types of actions.”

Maybe you’re new to campus or maybe you’re a sophomore who hasn’t gotten the hang of the lecture hall yet, but college professors have high expectations for all of their students. While they may not care if you roll up to class in pajamas, they will care if you aren’t paying attention. Some college professors are straightforward with their demands, and others may rely on you having common sense. No matter what side your professor lands on, there are some things that every professor expects from you.

1. Be on time

This may be obvious to most, but it’s seriously important. Your lecture, lab or discussion hall isn’t a frat party that you can arrive at fashionably late. Not only do the latecomers interrupt the professor with the sound of the door, fumbling to find a seat and getting ready for class, but it’s just plain disrespectful. 

“Being on time shows that you’re ready to learn and will also give you time to set up your laptop or notebook and get settled before the class starts. When you’re on time, you’re less distracting to your peers and you’ll never miss the attendance sheet,” says Erin Sestric, a graduate of Duquesne University.

2. Know the due dates

College professors have to memorize hundreds of students’ names, grade a ton of papers and sometimes even work on their own education. If they can stay organized, then so can you.

Autumn Dube, a senior at Emmanuel College, says, “Organization is key for maintaining success throughout your semester, and professors expect students to know this. Having a planner and writing down important dates from your syllabi is definitely a must at the beginning of each semester.”

Planning ahead means you get to give each assignment the attention it requires so you can incorporate study time and Netflix time into your schedule.

3. Know the university policies and procedures

Many colleges require their professors to outline the rules for plagiarism, university policies surrounding students with disabilities and their grading scales. Since it’s explained to you at orientation, on the university website, and on every syllabus, professors don’t want to waste their beloved lecture time outlining everything for you.

Sydnee Marie, a graduate student at Florida Atlantic University, urges students to read up. “It sounds intimidating, but lots of professors hate answering questions they feel they've sufficiently explained in the syllabus,” she says. “It slows down the class and takes away from teaching time.”

Save your first-day questions for specifics about assignments and what you need to succeed for the rest of the semester.

Related: 7 Ways to Start the School Year Stress-Free

4. Go to office hours

“I think one thing that professors expect you to know is the importance of office hours,” says Mara Hyman, a graduate of the University of Southern California. “It's easy to forget that they're there the further you are into the semester, but your professors are there to help you.”

Imagine being a professor of a 300-person lecture and having 50 students come up to you after class with a million questions. It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? That’s why professors have office hours; it’s the one-on-one time that you can’t get in between classes.

Mara also points out one bonus of office hours: “If you can establish a positive relationship with [your professors] at the beginning of the semester, you will set yourself up for success.”

5. Ask relevant questions

With only a semester worth of classes, many professors try to get in as much material as possible. Not only does that mean they’re relying on you to do your homework, but they are also relying on you to further the discussion and not hinder it. This means that you shouldn’t be raising your hand to ask what happened in Chapter Three, but you should be raising your hand to ask how Chapter Three tied together a loose end from Chapter One.

“In general they expect you to show up to class, to pay attention, take notes and ask relevant questions," says Sophia Walker, a senior at Bowdoin College. “Irrelevant questions just slow down the pace of the class.”

You may think you can become teacher’s pet by asking simple questions, but it can be frustrating to your professor and your fellow classmates if it’s clear you’re only in it for the participation points.

6. They’re more understanding than you think

Even in college, emergencies happen and teachers understand. Don’t forget—they were college students once, too. If your mental health, family issues or unforeseen circumstances are interfering with your work, it’s best to talk to your professors as soon as possible.

“I had to drive home for a family emergency the day I had a big paper due, and my teacher was only accepting hard copies,” says Emily McMullen, a graduate of Temple University. “But instead of taking the bad grade, I emailed my teacher, and she was more than understanding and ended up letting me turn the paper in when I got back to campus.”

Sometimes your professors may seem like they’re the most frigid people in the world; however, at the end of the day, they’re people too and they know life happens. As long as you’re not lying to them and constantly finding excuses to turn in late work, your professors will work with you to help you succeed in their class.

7. They trust the TAs for a reason

If a professor is teaching multiple classes with a bunch of different sections, then they will most likely get help from teaching assistants. TAs can be responsible for grading, holding discussion sections and hosting review sessions. You may not think it’s fair that you’re receiving a grade from someone who isn’t an actual professor yet, but TAs are incredibly knowledgeable about the subjects they teach.

Alexandra Rodwick, a senior at Slippery Rock University, says, “My TAs gave me the one-on-one attention I needed before tests and quizzes. I had a lot of huge lectures, so it was impossible for me to get help from my actual professor when I had a quick question.”

Creating a good relationship with your TA doesn't only help you in class; it can help you in the future as well. TAs are a good resource for recommendations because they know you as an individual and a student.  

Set yourself up for success by being prepared on your first day of the semester. Whether it’s your first semester or your last, knowing what your professor wants from you will help you get that A—and make the class a more positive experience.

All 50 of the state Medicaid directors signed a two-page letter Thursday in united opposition to Graham-Cassidy, the GOP’s latest attempted replacement for the Affordable Care Act, reports Splinter News.

The National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) is a bipartisan group. It says something about Graham-Cassidy when 50 people from both sides of the aisle can come together and agree that a bill is terrible. According to the directors, it would force states to come up with their own healthcare systems by 2020 — about two years from now.

It would be a Herculean feat to say the least, and the NAMD directors are united in believing it would be nearly impossible. Not only is the creation of an entire healthcare system incredibly labor intensive, it’s also costly. That’s yet one more problem, says the NAMD, “especially considering the apparent lack of federal funding in the bill to support these critical activities.”

Also, considering the fact that Graham-Cassidy plans to slash funding for Medicaid by $215 billion between 2020 and 2026, you really do have to wonder just where those who support the bill think the money to fund the bill’s drastic changes will come from. The letter warns the bill is “the largest intergovernmental transfer of financial risk from the federal government to the states in our country’s history.”

The bipartisan opposition for the bill is also present in the Senate, as Arizona Senator John McCain also announced that he couldn't "in good conscience" support the bill. 

On Twitter, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut summarized how most of us are probably feeling about the bill and the NAMD uniting against it, calling the situation, “BANANAS.”

Same Chris, same.

I know, we're all still in the process of recovering from Fenty Beauty's first amazing release (and Rihanna's fantastic launch party outfits), but the brand is already back with a holiday collection! According to Allure, the new products will be available on October 13, and tbh, we're already planning to buy everything. 

In a post shared by Rihanna, there appears to be an eyeshadow palette, lipsticks and even more lip glosses making their debut. The only names she's released so far are lip products called "Supermoon" and "Spacesuit," and a few eyeshadow shades called "Nepturnt,""Sublime" and "Xtraterrestrial." Nepturnt is probably the cutest name for an eyeshadow, ever.

As far as price, each individual product is expected to be in the middle to high range, just like the first launch. However, we know many holiday collections are sold in gift packages, so keep your fingers crossed for a bulk deal! While you wait, Fenty Beauty's current collection is sold online, and at Sephora and Harvey Nichols stores to tide you over. 

In a statement on Friday afternoon, Arizona Senator John McCain made the much-anticipated announcement about where he stood on the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill that has widely seen as the final attempt to repeathe Affordable Care Act (ACA) by Senate Republicans. In a tweet accompanying his statement, he said that he could not "in good conscience" vote for the bill and urged lawmakers to take "a bipartisan approach" to developing a solution that impacting so many people. 

As previously reported, the controversial bill —sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham, Bill Cassidy, Ron Johnson and Dean Heller —  would look to replace ACA’s tax subsidies with block grants, stop the individual insurance mandate, scale back its Medicaid expansion and allow states to fund health insurance programs outside of ACA mandates. 

For McCain, the issue is less the content of the bill, but moreso with the process of getting it passed — echoing his previous sentiments during the voting process for the Better Care Reconciliation Act.

“As I have repeatedly stressed, health care reform legislation ought to be the product of regular order in the Senate. Committees of jurisdiction should mark up legislation with input from all committee members, and send their bill to the floor for debate and amendment," McCain said. "That is the only way we might achieve bipartisan consensus on lasting reform, without which a policy that affects one-fifth of our economy and every single American family will be subject to reversal with every change of administration and congressional majority."

McCain said that he might've been open to supporting legislation similar to what Senators Graham and Cassidy put together "were it the product of extensive hearings, debate and amendment." However, he said that as that wasn't the case—and the pressure of the September 30 budget reconciliation deadline has played such a powerful role — that he was forced to pull back.

“We should not be content to pass health care legislation on a party-line basis, as Democrats did when they rammed Obamacare through Congress in 2009. If we do so, our success could be as short-lived as theirs when the political winds shift, as they regularly do," McCain said. "The issue is too important, and too many lives are at risk, for us to leave the American people guessing from one election to the next whether and how they will acquire health insurance. A bill of this impact requires a bipartisan approach."

As one of the four remaining GOP senators who were undecided on the bill, McCain's vote was crucial to its survival. However, his refusal to support the bill puts him alongside Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, Maine Senator Susan Collins and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul who were up in the air. 

While the aforementioned Senators' reasons are primarily political, it does help that the healthcare industry isn't wild about the bill either: McCain's announcement also follows a letter from all 50 State Medicaid directors opposing the bill. 

While this may just signal the end of the Graham-Cassidy Bill in its current form, it remains to be seen what any potential bipartisan solutions to the national healthcare debate might look like. 

We're quickly entering crunch time for creating a Halloween costume! Coming from someone who always has elaborate costumes organized by the end of August, no time is too early to start planning. For those of you who are struggling to discern what costumes wil be popular this year, Polyvore has your back. Basically our Halloween fairy godmother, they mined their data to find the most searched costumes of 2017. Grab one of these ensembles, and you're set.

Harley Quinn 

This costume was the most searched in 2016, too! The reign of Harley continues, which is good news for anyone who missed the opportunity to sport some multicolored hair and short-shorts the first time around. Now, all you need to do is find your Joker…

1. DC Comics Suicide Squad Harley Quinn Daddy’s Little Monster Girls Raglan ($26.50 - $30.50 at Hot Topic)

 2. Halloween Harley Quinn Skater Dress ($58.90 at Torrid)

Witch 

This one is a classic, but that doesn’t mean it's outdated. Rather, witch costumes has stood the test of time. We’re not talking about your mother’s witch costume, or a floor length dress, fake mole and broom. Using a few of the hottest trends of this season, you’ll be sure to stand out as the chicest witch of 2017! 

1. Witch Way Slip Dress ($18 at DollsKill)

 2. Witch Worldwide Moon & Stars Fringe Kimono ($105 at Dollskill)

Fairy

2017 has seen another rise of mythical creatures: unicorns, mermaids and now fairies. Take inspiration from some of your early childhood faves for a guaranteed way to look cute this Halloween season. 

1. Shimmering Butterfly Wings - Pink ($18.99 at Buy Costumes)

2. Fairy Pink Chiffon Maxi Skirt ($32.18 at ChicWish)

Evil Queen

Sometimes being the villain is a lot of fun. Halloween is the perfect time to let your alter ego shine (or just embrace your true personality). Move over princesses, there's new royalty around. 

1. Maleficent Deluxe Christening Black Gown Adult Costume ($59.99 at Buy Costumes)

2. Disney Villains Lace Print Leggings ($29.17 at Torrid)

Bunny

With the number of Pennywise costumes I’m sure we'll see this year, we need some adorable costumes to offset the terror. And nothing is cuter than a bunny, right? 

1. Minna Parikka 20mm Leather Bunny Tail Sneakers ($386 at LUISAVIAROMA)

  2. ASOS Velvet Bunny Ears Headband ($12.63 at ASOS)

Gamora

Do you have a lot of guy friends you can’t stand to see sporting another last-minute DIY costume? Organize them into the Guardians of the Galaxy gang, and be the star of the show as Gamora.

1. Secret Wishes Gamora Deluxe Coat Adult Costume ($59.99 at Buy Costumes)

 2. Jeffrey Campbell Gamora Thigh High Boot ($189.95 at Nordstrom)

White Queen

Looking for the perfect costume for you and your best friend? Be the evil witch’s counterpart with this stunning costume idea. Just be sure to take plenty of regal photos to remember your reigning night as the best dressed on Halloween. 

1. Diamond Sparkling Crystal Rhinestone Hair Chain King Queen Tiara Wedding Party Headpiece ($18.99 at Newchic) 

2. Lotus Queen Maxi Dress ($244 at Revolve)

Wonder Woman

Unsurprisingly, this amazing female superhero broke the top 10 list this year. Who wasn’t pumped full of adrenaline watching Gal Gadot star in the film? Channel your inner badass with these costume ideas. 

1. Wonder Woman Logo Tank Top ($24.43 at Torrid) 

 2. Wonder Woman Baseball Cap ($12.90 at Forever 21)

Mermaid

All I wanted to be for Halloween when I was a child was Disney's Ariel. However, my mom wasn’t prepared to turn my brunette hair into the signature red needed for the costume, or let me out in a costume that created even the slightest possibility of me catching a cold (seashells don’t seem like the warmest choice). For those of us who weren’t able to live out our Ariel fantasies in elementary school, these pieces are the perfect way to give the costume a grown-up spin. 

1. As I Am Lucky Charmz Skirt ($52 at Dollskill)

2. Mermaid Printed Leggings ($30 at Dollskill)

Corpse Bride

Lets be honest, the quickest way to ensure that you actually scare all eligible, single guys this Halloween is by donning a wedding dress. With a quick couple of changes, you can turn yourself from the run-of-the-mill blushing bride to a dead one that will scare guys for the right reasons this season. 

1. Black Stylish Cartoon Print Leggings ($11.99 at Maykool)

2. Grave Proposal Bride Costume ($38 at Dollskill)

Alien

Want a costume that's out of this world? Since no one knows what exactly aliens look like, you can be creative with your costume and truly design the alien of your dreams. 

1. Alien Sequin Bodysuit by Tee & Cake ($48 at Topshop)

 2. Alien Costume Kit ($39 at Urban Outfitters) 

Pirate

A pirate is a Halloween classic and a staple at any costume party. Since it's so versatile, this should be an easy costume to put together last minute.

1. Pirate Queen Adult Costume ($49.99 at Buy Costumes)

2. Leg Avenue Halloween Black Sea Buccaneer Costume ($50.90 at Torrid)

Bar Wench

This is a perfect spin on the classic pirate costume! However, I would advise that you make it known at the beginning of the party that you won’t actually be tending to the bar. 

1. Dark Red Beer Girl Maid Costume ($30.99 at Maykool) 

 2. Twig + Arrow Alcohol Adhesive Stickers ($4.50 at Lord and Taylor)

Harry Potter

Who hasn’t wanted to be a wizard or witch at one time or another? Put on your best green, red, yellow or blue, and show your house spirit on every witch’s favorite day of the year. Bonus points if you walk around with Hermoine hair! 

1. Harry Potter Ravenclaw Suspender Skirt ($36.7 at Torrid) 

2. Harry Potter "Mischief Managed" Embossed Clutch ($16.80 at Kohl’s)

Devil

If you're not a devil at least once during your college years, then you haven’t lived. Put on the red spandex and a pair of cheap plastic horns to participate in this right of passage. 

1. Darling Damnation Flame Mini Skirt ($28 at Dollskill)

2. Signature Bodysuit in Red Holographic, Halloween Costume, Sexy Devil Costume, Spandex Romper, Dance Leotard, Burning Man, by LENA QUIST ($275 at Etsy) 

French Maid

A maid is a fun costume to wear on Halloween night, but be sure to ditch the apron the morning after when its time for someone to clean up after the party. 

1. French Maid Apron & Headband ($17.99 at Buy Costumes) 

2. Black Maid Collar Short Sleeve Chiffon Dress ($10.99 at Choies)

Little Red Riding Hood

Lets be honest, the big bad wolf is definitely all of the skeezy men at Halloween parties who are hoping that their costumes will disguise them as nice people. 

1. LES NEREIDES Into The Woods Little Red Riding Hood's Face Adjustable Ring ($44.99 at BlueFly)

2. Gothic Red Riding Hood Adult Costume ($66.99 at Buy Costumes)

Maleficent

Move over Sleeping Beauty, we all know that Maleficent was the real star of this classic Disney movie. Channel your inner Angelina Jolie and don a pair of these magnificent horns. 

1. Disney Maleficent Multi-Color Hi-Lo Skater Dress ($68.90 at Torrid)

2. Disney Maleficent Kimono ($34.90 at Hot Topic)

Poison Ivy

Fight Wonder Woman with popular DC character, Poison Ivy. Green looks good on everyone!

1. Ivy Garland ($28.49 at NOVICA)

2. Hobbs London Maida Shirred-Hem Dress ($195 at Bloomingdale’s)

In light of DACA being repealed, President Donald Trump's nasty comments about people from foreign countries AND rampant insensitivity towards undocumented people, this store thought a ~relatable~ Halloween costume was appropriate. 

Spirit Halloween has a new "Border Patrol Agent" and "Border Babe" costume -- and they know exactly what it's hinting at. According to the Gothamist, stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn put green and gold border patrol costumes on display right next to masks with the president's face on it. The Border Babe costume was only available online and is currently sold out. Gothamist reporters even saw people taking pictures with the display and laughing.

While occupational costumes are very popular, Spirit Halloween took advantage of a conversation that is extremely sensitive for immigrant families. They are essentially enabling those who believe that stereotyping immigrants (like President Trump has) is okay. 

"Building the wall is certainly a trending conversation in today’s political climate. We believe this costume carries similar sentiments akin to that of a police officer, military costumes, firefighter, doctor and more," Spirit Halloween told the Gothamist. "We have costumes for everyone to join in on the fun... We’ve respectfully developed these costumes knowing that Halloween is a time for humor and fun." 

Sorry, Spirit Halloween, but there's nothing really humorous about this one. 

UPDATED: Nikki Reed has spoken out on Twitter. She hit back in a lengthy message directed at a writer who called her husband throwing out her birth control "unconsented bullshit." Read her statement below.

ORIGINAL STORY: Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed are a beautiful, happy, married couple. And while they both seem willing to share stories from their life together, this one is actually more scary than romantic. 

The actors appeared on Dr. Berlin's Informed Pregnancy, a podcast hosted by Dr. Berlin and midwife Blyss Young. When they got into questions about Nikki's recent pregnancy (she gave birth to daughter Bodhi in July), things got…interesting. According to Jezebel, Dr. Berlin asked when they decided to finally have kids.

“Oh yeah, when you threw out all my birth control pills!" Yeah, that's what she said, and then Ian told the story. While packing for a trip to Barcelona, they decided they wanted to have kids. So Somerhalder took it upon himself to decide what should be done with Reed's birth control. "But unbeknownst to poor Nikki, she didn’t realize that I was gonna go in her purse and take out her birth control and…by the way, it was the beginning of the pack, so I had to pop all of those suckers out." 

From what they said, Nikki and Ian both knew they wanted to have kids at this point, but something's still off. As Refinery29's Katherine Lindsay wrote, "Do not mess with someone's contraception without them knowing! Even if they're your wife, even if they've said they want to have kids, it's their decision when and how to approach it. It's not some funny joke." 

Essentially, this is pretty violating. At the end of the day, it's their baby, but it's Nikki's body. What if she wanted to change her mind? What if she wanted to wait? She had no choice in the destruction of her contraception and has a right to feel uncomfortable with that if she so chooses.

However, throughout the podcast, Reed didn't express any discomfort with the situation. She didn't even seem to mind that the whole moment was videotaped!

Try explaining this one to your daughter when she's older, Ian.