On Wednesday, the remaining sixteen members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) were fired by the White House, according to Huffington Post.

Kay Hayes, the council’s executive director, confirmed this to Huffington Post on Friday, stating that “current members of Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) received a letter informing them that the Administration was terminating their appointments.” The Trump administration has yet to offer any explanation for these sudden terminations.

According to HIV.gov, PACHA exists to “to provide, on an ongoing basis, recommendations on how to effectively implement the Updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy, as well as monitor the Strategy's implementation.” Members are not paid, and, as Scott Schoettes, a lawyer for the LGBT rights organization Lambda Legal, told Washington Post, they include “doctors, members of industry, members of the community and, very importantly, people living with HIV. Without [PACHA], you lose the community voice in policymaking.”

I think it's weird when people say they are vegetarians but that they do eat fish. First of all that makes you a pescatarian, and second of all…Why? Why are fish different? It doesn't help that it has been shown recently that fish live even more complex lives than we thought. They form friendships, feel lots of emotions that cause them to easily get depressed and they also have impressive long-term memories. Fish are socially intelligent and I think we should start living our lives like the Pixar classic Finding Nemo suggests when they say, "fish are friends, not food."

Here is some proof that fish deserve better:

1. Fish feel much more confident confronting other animals when they are surrounded by their school of fish.

 Just like us when we are getting ready to confront someone, we need our crew to back us up and hold our earrings if necessary.

2. Fish do all kinds of weird shakes with their body to say hello to their friends!

 This is BASICALLY the same as a handshake or a high five, right?

3. Fish hit on each other by singing and doing art to impress their potential mate

Wow, I wish that’s how it was for humans….

4. When fish are alone they feel isolated and often get depressed.

Doesn't that make you feel so much better? We aren't the only animals who get depressed and want friends to support us when we are feeling down.

5. Fish consistently recognize themselves and their friends.

You know when you meet someone new and immediately forget their name? A fish would never do that.

6. Fish use tools to get what they want. Archerfish shoot water out of their mouths to hit bugs flying through the air and then eat them once they hit the surface of the water.

How cool is that?!

People have always viewed fish as less than other animals. You can win a fish as a prize at a fair and people often don't think that is weird, even though if it was another animal people would immediately freak out about how wrong it is. With all of this research coming out about fish's emotions and their interactions with each other, people should start to see that they are just as significant to society as any other animal.

Just because they aren't fuzzy and snuggly does not mean they are not important.

(Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

While working with others can make it easier to tackle large responsibilities and projects, it can also be incredibly stressful. Whether you like it or not, co-workers are typically a significant part of your experience in college and in the workforce. Sometimes, the reality is that you can be stuck working with someone who isn’t holding up their end of the deal. We know that situations like these can be extremely frustrating, so we gathered together the best ways to deal with a co-worker who isn’t pulling their weight—because no one has time for that!

We spoke to Colleen O’Brien, a marketing and management professor at Carthage College with more than 22 years of experience in corporate finance with SC Johnson and the IIT Research Institute in Chicago. With her vast experience in process improvement, strategic planning and team leadership and management, she helped us to pinpoint five steps to approaching and dealing with this type of situation.

1. Begin with preventative measures

With any problem, especially one involving a co-worker, the best way to deal with it is to make sure it doesn’t happen in the first place. If you’ve been assigned to a group project with someone or have been given a task to take on with a co-worker or co-workers, ensure that you’re taking preventative measures right from the start!

“Group work can be very frustrating when all members are not perceived to be contributing equally,” says O’Brien. “There are some actions you can take at the beginning of the work to try and prevent this from happening.”

So, how exactly do you initially approach the beginning of the project with your co-worker(s)? The key is to lay everything out there so that everyone is on the same page.

Define your roles

Working with others typically involves splitting up into different roles. “Define and assign specific roles for each team member and allocate individual tasks,” says O’Brien. “Make sure to include expectations regarding output and timing.”

While specific roles are subjective to the specific project or task, you can typically expect to assign a group leader or group leaders. Assigning group leaders rather than allowing them to form naturally can prevent conflict and ensures that someone is there to encourage and motivate the group to fulfill their responsibilities without falling behind.

Outline a contract

Recording everything agreed upon by the group in writing is another great way to make everyone to stay accountable. O’Brien recommends outlining a contract under which all the team members are agreeing to.

“This document needs to be used on an ongoing basis to ensure that the project is continuing on schedule and all team members are delivering in accordance with what they agreed to,” O’Brien explains.

With all the roles and responsibilities detailed on paper as well as a schedule, you and your co-worker(s) know exactly what you’re responsible for—so no one should fall behind!

Establish group norms or rules

In addition to establishing roles and a written contract, O’Brien also suggests establishing norms or rules concerning group behavior that all team members think are important. That way, if one of your co-workers isn’t complying with the established rules, you can take the appropriate measures, such as giving him or her a warning.

2. Communicate early

Communication is key for a reason! Another initial step you’ll want to take on with co-workers, especially if you’re noticing a problem with their work ethic, is using your words. O’Brien explains several different ways you can approach your co-worker and communicate the situation in a helpful and positive manner.

Delay judgment

“In the event that a team member is not contributing, there are a couple things you can do,” says O’Brien. “First of all, sit down with the team member and ask if there is something getting in the way of the member meeting their obligations to the team.”

Sometimes there is an underlying reason for a co-worker’s lack of effort, stemming from a more personal issue. It's imperative that you delay your judgment and frustration to understand where a co-worker is coming from before jumping to conclusions by simply communicating with them.

Be empathetic

Showing empathy for a struggling co-worker and making it known that you’re there for them can be one of the most positive ways to communicate with them. O’Brien explains how this is helpful when figuring out your co-worker’s situation.

“Ask if there is anything the team can do to help,” O’Brien advises. “Often when individuals are approached in a very empathetic and humanistic way, they are more likely to respond in a positive manner.”

Remember, you should be fostering positive communication and relationships among your co-workers, so a little empathy can go a long way!

Don’t let the situation fester

Ultimately, the most important way to handle a co-worker who isn’t pulling their weight is to discuss it early on so that the situation doesn’t become worse. You’ll want to avoid pent-up anger or any sort of gossip about an underperforming co-worker, because it certainly won’t help in the end.

“Don't let the issue fester,” says O’Brien. “It is important to communicate early. Again, expressing concern first as opposed to contempt can help the team get to the bottom of the issue.”

Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself either! “I always confront the person straight-up,” says Karina Lee, a junior at Carthage College. “As far as group projects, this is college and we’re all adults.”

Although discussing the issue early on can be tough for many reasons, it prevents a lot of stress, anxiety and frustration that can come with an unresolved problem.

Related: 11 Things You Should Never Talk About With Your Coworkers

3. Make your supervisor aware of the situation

While communicating with your co-worker is extremely important, sometimes it doesn’t always do the trick.

“I always try asking other group members first so that we can all talk to [our co-worker] together,” says Sierra Eno, a junior at Carthage College. “If that doesn’t work, [I suggest] sharing your concerns with your professor or supervisor.”

If you’re past the point of empathizing and understanding where your co-worker is coming from and they’re still not delivering, then it may be time to consult your superior.

Make him or her aware of the situation

While it may be tempting to go to your boss and complain about the situation, whining will not get you the results you desire. Instead, use this opportunity to simply make him or her aware of the situation.

“Ask your professor or boss if they are aware of any issues that could be getting in the way of the individual doing their work,” says O’Brien. “Identify what you have done to date to try to get input from the team member.”

By bringing the situation to your supervisor’s attention, you’ll receive more professional assistance and understanding if you need to bring up any further issues down the road. Plus, they just might have the solution that you need.

Ask for advice

While you’ve approached your professor or boss and notified them about the situation, use it as an opportunity to learn about how they would move forward.

“Ask for suggestions about how you might proceed from this point,” O’Brien recommends. “Approach the meeting with your professor or boss as a request for advice, not a complaining session.”

Again, we know that it’s super tempting to complain and vent your frustrations, but asking for advice to resolve the issue rather than becoming angrier about it shows a lot of respect and professionalism on your behalf.

4. Find a way to work around the individual

If at this point you still haven’t made any positive progress with your co-worker (it can happen sometimes!), it might be time to take matters into your own hands. If the project allows for it, O’Brien suggests working around your co-worker’s responsibilities.

“If you are not getting your team member to contribute, I suggest to find a way to work around the individual,” says O’Brien. Again, this is subjective to what your project calls for, but it may require splitting up their role and taking on a little more responsibility yourself.

Sometimes, it’s a necessary and last-resort effort

However, if you’re worried about taking on too much, remember that it’s better than nothing at all. If your professor or boss has already been made aware of the situation, it will be quite clear to them on who put effort into the project and who didn’t.

Related: 4 Types of Difficult People You Will Probably Work With & How to Deal

5. Consider finding a replacement 

If all else fails and you absolutely cannot find a way to make up for your co-worker, there’s only one thing you can do.

“If that person's knowledge is integral to the final deliverable, you have no choice but to ask that they be replaced with someone else,” O’Brien explains.

Remember, it’s your grade or job on the line

“If you can’t pull your weight then you’re getting kicked to the curb,” says Karina. “I never put anything less than my best out and I expect the same from the people I work with.”

While it’s certainly not easy to replace a co-worker, especially one that you have a close relationship with, it’s ultimately your grade or your job performance that’s on the line here. Don’t be afraid to do what’s absolutely necessary to fulfill your responsibilities!

Co-workers. While they can be extremely helpful in group projects and large tasks, sometimes, they can be anything but so. With these five steps in mind, you’ll be better equipped to not only prevent the situation initially, but also to approach and handle the issue if it’s inevitable!

New Year's Eve—when party-hopping, firework-watching and champagne-drinking are the only ways to ring in the new year. Tbh, it also has us doing some pretty stupid things. From unrealistic resolutions to popping bottles like there's no tomorrow, here are 12 things you're only dumb enough to do on NYE (at least we hope). 

1. Send obnoxious mass text messages wishing everyone a happy New Year

2. Dedicate your entire night to finding the perfect lip-lock partner for midnight

3. Incorporate glitter into EVERYTHING

4. Drunk-text your emotions to people 

5. Decide on the most unrealistic New Year's resolutions 

6. Drink a disgusting amount of champagne 

7. Post a super-emotional status about the past year—on every social media outlet possible

8. Kiss someone you don't like, just because  

9. Or kiss your ex when the ball drops, just because

10. Get stupidly shitfaced 

11. Stay up 'til midnight when you'd much rather be asleep

12. Drunkenly confess everything to everyone before the year ends 

Yep, that sounds about right. Have a wonderful New Year's, collegiettes!

Love is in the air — at least it is on the upcoming season of The Bachelor. After an interview withEntertainment Weekly, host Chris Harrison spilled the beans on Season 22 and Arie Luyendyk Jr. and I gotta say — the details are pretty juicy. 

Apparently he's the same man we know from 2012 on Emily Maynard's season and "so romantic."

"He’s the same great guy that everybody fell in love with on Emily’s season," Harrison told EW. "That’s something I’m excited about because some of us got to know and love Arie but a lot of [people] didn’t watch five years ago and they don’t know him as well. People have to remember how incredibly popular Arie was and how much, I mean every woman for two to three years after stopped me and would talk about how he’s the greatest kisser and he’s so romantic." OMG!

Not only that, Harrison said on this season of The Bachelor, the women absolutely loved Arie, which should make for a very interesting watch."I’m happy for the people who knew and loved Arie, but then there’s those that maybe they’re a little younger or they didn’t see the show and I’m actually more excited for them to get to know Arie," Harrison said. "I’m excited for people to get to know Arie for the first time because he’s a great guy. He’s dynamic and yeah, he is a good kisser and he makes these women feel things very quickly. They fell for him very very quickly." Well, that will make handing out roses pretty tough.

Chris may have a lot of faith in Arie, but apparently, the fans of the reality show weren't so keen on the choice. "I know some people that were like, 'Why Arie?' Trust me. I’m fine starting slow and people saying, 'Oh I don’t know,' and then word of mouth spreads and then people start talking and then the next [week], everybody’s like, 'You have to be watching this.' I know that’s the way it will be with Arie." Now that sounds exciting.

Harrison is just as excited as I am, considering he sees so much potential in Arie like he did with previous bachelors. "The beauty of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette is that every season is different. There’s a reason I still care after 16 years and it’s because it’s different every time. Doing it with Arie is not like doing the show with Rachel [Lindsay] or doing it with Ben [Higgins] or Nick [Viall] or Kaitlyn [Bristowe]. They all bring their own spin to the show so the idea is basically the same, but Arie’s take on it is 100 percent different than anything you’ve ever seen before and that’s one of the things I love about the show. It really is a new story and a new journey every time." I cannot wait to see what Season 22 offers for all of us fans.

The season premieres Jan. 1 at 8 p.m., so get your popcorn ready, this season is going to be *amazing.*

Things have been awfully mysterious in the Kardashian-Jenner world lately, considering we still have no clue if Kylie Jenner is actually pregnant or not. The rumors have been flying around since September, but no one is certain the rumors are true.

There have been a few hints that she really is pregnant, such as the KarJenner Christmas card, where Kylie is M.I.A., otherwise, we're left in the dark. But, a fan theory has taken over Twitter where some believe Kylie already gave birth. Now that's a new one. 

Seriously, though. It's not completely outlandish to consider, as some old photos from September surfaced of the 20-year old and it looks like she had quite the baby bump then. It's also blurry, so who knows, maybe it's just the quality of the photo that makes her look super preggers. 

KarJenner fans have been going crazy on Twitter like they always do, saying Kylie totally had her bundle of joy already. The reactions are hilarious. 

Believe these theorists or not, it's kind of a reasonable assumption. If the photos show what we all think they do, maybe she was farther along sooner than we thought and really did give birth already. I hope we know soon, because the drama surrounding it all is getting out of hand. 

Erica Garner, daughter of police brutality victim Eric Garner, has now died after being declared brain dead on Friday. According to NPR, Garner’s official Twitter account announced her death Saturday morning. The 27-year-old activist had a heart attack last week, which ultimately lead to her being in a coma, ABC News reports.

Garner’s mother, Esaw Snipes-Garner, told the New York Daily News that the heart attack was brought on during an asthma attack. According to NBC News, the activist had suffered a heart attack in August, due to an enlarged heart, after giving birth to her son.

Garner became an activist after her father, Eric Garner, died in 2014 after being placed in a chokehold by New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo, ABC News reports. According to ABC News, chokeholds are prohibited by the New York Police Department. The coroner ruled Eric Garner’s death as a homicide due to compression of the neck, NPR reports.

According to ABC News, Eric Garner’s final words, “I can’t breathe,” became a rallying cry for those protesting police brutality.

Erica Garner became an outspoken activist to end police brutality and a supporter of then presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, NBC News reports. She also appeared in a campaign advertisement for Sanders.

In the campaign advertisement, Garner explained why she became an activist, NPR reports.

“I'm just trying to get the truth out there to tell his side of the story. He was being a loving, caring man that he was, and he was murdered. For a whole year, I've protested every Tuesday and Thursday. I feel like a representative for people throughout this whole nation because I'm doing this, I'm speaking out, me being his daughter. And that's what I want to do, I just want to tell my truths,” Garner said of her father.

“I'm never giving up,” Garner added. “I'm never going to forget. And I don't want the world to forget what happened to my dad.”

It has almost officially been a year since President Trump took office. Throughout this past year, Trump utilized social media more than any past president ever has, and his tweets often took center stage in the news cycle. According to CNN, Trump tweeted nearly 2,300 tweets this year, mainly using them to attack critics, denounce the media for their spreading of “fake news” and talk about his policies, such as the travel bans.

But even when critics and supporters alike told Trump that perhaps he should tone it down a notch on the tweeting, Trump ignored the criticism and declared his tweeting to be “modern day presidential.”

Here is a look back at Trump’s most memorable tweets of 2017.

1. Name-calling Kim Jong Un

“Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me “old,” when I would NEVER call him 'short and fat?' Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!”

The president’s tweet came during his five-country tour in Asia, where he emphasized the importance of complete demilitarization of North Korea, ABC News reports. Trump warned North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, to not test the United States and its allies and threatened that there could be military intervention if North Korea persisted with its pursuit of nuclear capabilities.

2. Fraud News CNN

“#FraudNewsCNN #FNN”

Trump has continuously been critical of the media, and has often argued that the media spouts “fake news.” In this particular tweet, Trump took aim at CNN, labeling them as “fraud news CNN” and “fake news network.” CNN took the tweet as a threat, NPR reports. “It is a sad day when the President of the United States encourages violence against reporters,” CNN said in a statement.

3. Covfefe

“Despite the constant negative press covfefe”

This tweet spawned thousands of jokes, according to The Washington Examiner. Unfortunately, Trump ended up deleting this one. This internet sensation became such a hit because it just didn’t make any sense and people were wondering if Trump had fallen asleep at the keyboard. To our dismay, the mysteries of “covfefe” were never solved.

4-6. Trump in Saudi Arabia

Trump visited Saudi Arabia in May as his first trip overseas as president, according to NPR. A few of his tweets during his trip there were highly retweeted.

“I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing....”

“....Some of those they are harshly treating have been “milking” their country for years!”

This tweet about Trump’s “great confidence” in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia caused some raised eyebrows since it came after the widespread arrests by the latter in what was deemed an anti-corruption investigation, Politico reports.

“Great to be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Looking forward to the afternoon and evening ahead. #POTUSAbroad”

While this was a basic tweet, it was his initial stop on his first tour abroad as president, ABC News reports.

7. The Women’s Marches

“Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”

The day after the inauguration, thousands of women took to the streets to protest Trump becoming the president, NPR reports. Trump’s Twitter account remained quiet, but the next day, Trump took to Twitter to criticize the protestors, “Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.” However, a few hours later Trump wrote this tweet instead, saying that protests are the “hallmark of our democracy.”

8. The College Basketball Players

“Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!”

While on his tour of Asia this past November, three UCLA basketball players were detained in China for allegedly shoplifting, NPR reports. Trump worked to get the basketball players released, but wrote on Twitter, “Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!” After the basketball players thanked them and Trump acknowledged their gratitude on Twitter, Trump criticized the father of one of the players a few days later since the father claimed that Trump wasn’t as big of a factor in getting the young men released as Trump had suggested.

9. The London Terror Attack

“We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don't get smart it will only get worse”

After the devastating terror attack on the London Bridge in June, Trump took to Twitter to push for his travel ban, urging that events like this one was the reason that a travel ban was needed. “We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!” The following day, however, he was criticizing London Mayor Sadiq Khan after taking something the mayor said out of context, according to NPR.

10. #StandForOurAnthem

#StandForOurAnthem

Trump tweeted this controversial tweet during his feud with the NFL and its players who kneeled during the national anthem. For months, according to The Washington Examiner, Trump urged the players to stand for the national anthem or for the NFL to fire them for refusing to do so.

Everyone feels a little glum during those dark, cold winter months––but could that sadness you’ve been feeling actually be something more serious? When winter rolls around each year, something else rolls around too: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a clinical form of depression that can result in fatigue, overeating, loss of interest in daily activities and difficulty concentrating.

Do you want to know more about SAD and what to do if you think it’s affecting you? We’ve recruited the help of Hilary Katz, SSW, LCSW, a clinical social worker at Equilibria Psychological and Consultation Services, to find out the truth about the disorder. Read below to see what we discovered:

What is seasonal affective disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that is linked to changes in the seasons. Most often, an individual with SAD will see symptoms start in the fall, according to the Mayo Clinic.

"SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year," Hilary says. "If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer."

Hilary says that many people will have an encounter with SAD at some point in their lives, but those with a predisposition for depression are the most susceptible. "In addition to having a predisposition, research has indicated that women are approximately 4 times more likely to experience SAD than men," Hilary says. "There has also been evidence that people who go to work in the early hours of the morning during winter months, and leave work when it is dark outside tend to be more inclined to experience SAD symptoms."

What are the causes of SAD?

There is a lot of speculation as to what exactly causes SAD. While the list can be quite lengthy, Hilary sums up the causes into three points:

1. The effects of lack of light on our retinas, which then send messages to our brains.

2. Lower levels of “feel good” chemicals released in our brains during winter months.

3. Higher levels of Melatonin (the sleep hormone) during winter months.

RELATED: 7 Ways You’re Compromising Your Mental Health

What are symptoms of SAD?

SAD is a form of depression that comes and goes during periods of seasonal change. It is normal to have days where you don’t feel your best––but if you feel unmotivated for an extended period of time after a new season begins (usually the winter, but occasionally in the summer), you should visit your doctor.

"Similar to depression, people who have SAD may experience some or all of these symptoms: low energy, loss of interest, anxiety, overeating (crave more carbohydrates), increase in alcohol and/or substance abuse, disinterest in sex and apathy," Hilary notes.

How serious is SAD?

SAD affects collegiettes differently, so it is important for an individual to stay on top of her symptoms. "Some people experience ‘winter blues' and others really get hit with more profound depressive symptoms," Hilary says. "It is important that, no matter where someone finds [his or her] self within that range, that they try and tackle [these symptoms]. More severe symptoms of SAD can lead someone into a major depressive episode that lasts beyond winter months."

Can SAD be linked to other mental illnesses?

While SAD is a milder form of depression that correlates with changes in the weather, it can be linked to other, much more serious disorders––especially if you have a predisposition or family history of mental illness. Hilary says, "Someone who has a predisposition to anxiety and/or depression may be more prone to SAD."

What is the relationship between SAD and college students?

Are collegiettes more likely to develop SAD than an older generation? Yes––and there are several reasons why!

"College students typically do not have schedules that allow for a regular sleep schedule, which can be a cause of depressive symptoms in its own right," Hilary says. "Lack of a healthy sleep schedule can exacerbate the sluggishness most feel during the winter months. There is also the reality that college students tend to have ongoing high volumes of work that creates additional stress."

In the winter, there is no option to walk in the sunlight and feel the warmth of the day––or even open a window in your dorm or apartment––to medicate even the most sluggish moment, Hilary points out. This definitely attributes to the development of SAD in the colder months more often than the warmer.

How can a collegiette prevent herself from developing SAD?

So, how can a collegiette prevent herself from developing SAD? "If a college student recognizes they are having a hard time functioning and they are unable to help themselves get out of the funk, they would probably benefit from therapy," Hilary says. "There is no doubt exercise, a good sleep routine, and reframing negative thoughts in order to see the positive, can help tremendously!"

If you find that you have been a victim of the symptoms of SAD for the past several years and are unable to manage these symptoms on your own, it may be time to consult with a medical professional. Bright Light Therapy is a common treatment for the disorder, but only your doctor can determine if you would benefit from it.

RELATED: What to Do If You’re Feeling Lonely in College

It is normal to occasionally feel down. However, SAD is a serious disorder that should not be brushed off as a simple “winter funk.” If you or someone you know is dealing with symptoms of SAD, tell a family member or seek help from a medical professional. As a busy collegiette, it is easy to neglect your health or brush a negative feeling under-the-rug––but SAD can lead to more serious mental health issues, so you should not delay in getting help!

2017 was the year of #MeToo. Women everywhere were empowered to come forward with their sexual harassment stories and call out their abusers, even if their abusers were high-ranking politicians. Some of the members of Congress that were accused of misconduct resigned, while others were called upon by their fellow politicians to step down. Here are seven members of Congress that were accused of sexual misconduct, and will not be returning to Congress in 2018.

Al Franken

After at least eight women came forward accusing Franken of sexual misconduct, his fellow Democrats urged him to resign, The New York Times reports. Franken had originally wanted to stay in office, but ultimately announced that he would resign. He will officially resign on January 2, and Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith will be sworn in as his successor, according to ABC News.

Joe Barton

Barton was going to seek another term in office when inappropriate photos and text messages that he had sent to women he was having affairs with were leaked, The New York Times reports. In a statement, according to CNN, Barton wrote, “I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election in 2018. To the people of the 6th District, thank you for your support and friendship.”

Tim Murphy

In October, it was reported that the married Congressman had asked the woman he was having an affair with to get an abortion, The Washington Post reports. According to The Post, Republican leaders had asked Murphy to resign as they focused on passing the tax bill, and on October 21 he resigned. A special election will be held on March 13 to fill his seat, The Atlantic reports.

Trent Franks

According to CNN, Franks announced that he would be resigning at the end of January after it came to light that he had asked two staff members to be surrogates for his and his wife’s child. The staff members reported that it made them feel “uncomfortable,” CNN reports. According to The Atlantic, Franks’ resignation came on the same day that the House Ethics Committee said that they would be opening an investigation into the matter.

Blake Farenthold

Farenthold announced that he would not be seeking another term after former staff members accused him of harassment and verbal abuse, The Atlantic reports. In addition, in 2014, Farenthold’s former communications director sued him for gender discrimination, sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, Politico reports. It was also reported that Farenthold used taxpayer money to settle the sexual harassment claim. Although Farenthold did not want to resign, he did after the House Ethics Committee opened a new inquiry, The Atlantic reports.

John Conyers

After several former employees accused Conyers of sexual harassment, the longest serving member of the House of Representatives announced in December that he would be resigning, ABC News reports. According to The Atlantic, Conyers denied the allegations, but ultimately resigned after politicians on both sides of the aisle urged him to resign. However, according to ABC News, Conyers still insisted that his legacy “can't be compromised or diminished in any way by what we're going through now.”

Ruben Kihuen

Not even a year into his first term, Kihuen was already facing sexual harassment allegations, Buzzfeed reports. According to The Atlantic, despite his fellow Democrats calling on him to step down, Kihuen announced that he would finish out his term in the House of Representatives but would not seek another term in 2018. He will now leave an open competitive seat.

It’s the same thing every year. You sit down before Jan. 1 and make a list of all the ways you’ll try to be a better you next year. About a few weeks in (more like a day in), you realize that New Year’s resolutions are pretty impossible and you’re content being your average AF self. These 17 resolutions everyone has will make you lol because you know how useless they are.

1. Make it through a three-day juice cleanse

2. Alter your diet to just raw fruits and veggies

3. Stop being a DAB

4. Have more relaxing nights in

5. Take a break from social media

6. Turn off the TV (sorry, Bachelor nation) and pick up a book

7. Travel the world

8. Quit being a betch to people

9. Raise your hand in class

10. Stop having extreme FOMO

11. Learn a new skill

12. Spend more time with your family

13. Be a decent person and volunteer

14. Lose weight, obviously

15. Stop blowing all your money on shoes

16. Find a bae

17. Actually stick to your resolutions

Having high expectations is naturally both a blessing and a curse. It means you know what you want from yourself and the people in your life, and you have a wholehearted belief that what you hope will happen will become a reality. Striving to put your best foot forward and assuming others will do the same isn't necessarily a bad thing; however, knowing exactly what you want leaves no room for error from anyone else. Only girls with ridiculously high expectations know that when something doesn't go the way you planned it, you're faced with a whole lot of disappointment. 

1. You're an expert multi-tasker

Your bases are always covered, and you have no problem doing extra work if it means a situation will turn out the way you expect it to. 

2. Dating itself is a world of disappointment

All too often you get lost in your daydreams of how you think your relationship should play out.

3. Relationships with friends and significant others suffer because you can't accept that they have a different mindset than you

What happened to not quitting until you get exactly what you want?

4. When a plan goes awry, it feels like the whole world is going to come crashing down 

You're one canceled plan away from having an all-out breakdown. 

5. You never give up, even when you should

No matter the state of your physical and mental well-being, you'll go to just about any length to get a good grade.

6. Group projects are the absolute worst

You can't understand how anyone can be satisfied with anything less than a perfect grade. 

7. You have a hard time relating to people who aren't as neurotic as you

Lazy people are baffling to you. 

8. Control freak is your middle name

You're laid-back as long as everything goes exactly the way you pictured it in your head. 

9. "I like to go with the flow" is not a phrase in your vocabulary

Nope, not happening.

10. You're very socially and self-aware

Never impolite or out of line, you understand the basic rules of social engagement and expect the same from those around you.

11. The effort doesn't matter if the end goal isn't achieved

Success is not trying—success is all or nothing in your world. 

12. You're aware life would be easier if you could accept that you can't control every situation, but you just can't

Your brain won't let you.

13. The disappointment lasts for days when things don't work out the way you assumed

The struggle is real.

14. You often get stuck on the little things

You got an 88 on that pop quiz when you expected a 93? This is an outrage.

15. Nobody would dare call you lazy

You invest too much effort into bettering yourself and your relationships for that to be possible.

Anna Faris may have had a rough 2017 personally, given her official split from husband Chris Pratt, but she is clearly not letting that affect her views of love. Rumors about her dating again aside, the actress recently officiated the wedding of her friend and podcast co-host Sim Sarna, and her fashion choices did not disappoint. 

Refinery29 reports that Faris led the Friday wedding of Sarna and his new wife Amy while wearing a cozy pair of UGG boots and a blush pink dress. The actress shared photos of the happy couple and the ceremony on Instagram, where fans delighted in her throwback shoewear. 

While there were understandably some followers not thrilled with the choice of UGGs, others were quite excited about Faris rocking them at the couple's California wedding. One follower wrote, "Just when I thought I couldn't love Anna Faris anymore she wears UGGs while I'm sure being by far the best officiant ever."

Sarna asked Faris to officiate his wedding on a Thanksgiving episode of their podcast Anna Faris Is Unqualified, on which Sarna and his fiancée shared their love story. Faris had become certified to officiate weddings beforehand, but it appears that she hadn't put those skills to use until her friend's special day. 

I'm sure we can expect to hear more about the big day on a podcast episode in the new year. Do you think Faris will spill more tips about how to make UGGs work in 2018? 

Love them or hate them, you can’t deny that chick flicks take up a huge portion of the movie universe. While movies aren’t exactly accurate portrayals of real life, you have to wonder why they assume that every 20-something’s existence revolves around love, looks and little misunderstandings. Here are some other ways rom-coms have got you all wrong. 

1. Most of your time is spent stressing over finances, not stressing over love.

Having a SO isn’t going to fulfill you like a steady paycheck will.

2. And when someone does catch your eye, it takes more than good looks to fall in “like” with them.

Forget attractive people—the only thing your stomach flips for is pizza. 

3. Seriously, you care about other things besides romance.

Even though you often fantasize about someone wanting you as much as you want abs.

4. If someone does like you, they’re not going to tell you through some grand romantic gesture.

Expect heart emojis in your inbox versus a boom box at your window.

5. But whatever, because you’re perfectly fine being single.

How can you be sad knowing that there’s a whole world of prospects that you haven’t been rejected by yet?

6. Actually, regardless of your relationships status, your world doesn’t revolve around having a SO.

If it does, there’s this super fun thing called independence—you should try it some time!

7. You also don’t have a group of nasty girls or “rivals” that you constantly butt heads with.

Because this is not middle school and we women have to stick together, damn it.

8. There’s way more diversity in your social circle/university/town than what’s depicted on-screen.

Or at the very least, you know that not everyone in this world is strictly white, straight, financially stable and able-bodied.

9. And your friendships aren’t side plots—they play a huge role in your life.

Literally the only relationships that count are the ones that will encourage you to eat peanut butter from the jar while PMSing.

10. However, every friendship you have right now isn’t necessarily built to last.

Things get in the way—and not just a school bus inciting murder rumors, a la Mean Girls’ Cady and Regina.

11. Especially since you’ll fight over lots of things—you know, instead of fighting over, say, the same person. 

Love interests come and go, but that expensive top you let them borrow was brand new, so they better return it ASAP.

12. No one will encourage you to undergo a major makeover.

As it is, you can’t even afford a new brush set, let alone for a whole team to glamify you like Agent Hart in Miss Congeniality.

13. Because come on, you have better things to do than to obsess about your appearance.

No shade Princess Diaries, but Mia Thermopolis would’ve become the queen of Genovia with or without frizzy hair, thank you very much.

14. The movies don't acknowledge all the struggles you experience, especially when it comes to your mental health.

As if you’ve made it this far in adulthood without coming to terms with factors that affect your emotional and mental well-being.

15. They oftentimes fail to address—or completely glaze over—racism, sexism, misogyny, xenophobia…

The list, and your annoyance, goes on and on. 

16. Yet every single melodramatic problem that arises ends up getting resolved.

Whereas for you, new problems pop up and grow like bad pimples every day!

17. Some “issues” are so far-fetched, like being loved by two people at once. 

Meanwhile you can’t even get your cat to look at you most days.

18. You're also less likely to get caught stalking a crush IRL than you are through social media.

Thanks to Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram you can track their whereabouts and gaze at their face without ever leaving your house!

19. Kissing isn't always a perfect affair; it can get super awkward and sloppy.

Meanwhile you kiss people that treat your mouth like it’s an oxygen tank and they’re running out of air.

20. When it comes to sex, it rarely ends in mutual relief and pleasure.

Meanwhile the only things that can successfully arouse and satisfy you are chicken nuggets.

21. Not every person you kiss or have sex with is going to want to date you, and vice versa. 

22. And no one, at any point in time, randomly breaks out in song for no reason.

Unless Beyoncé’s lastest hit comes on in a store, because when it comes to Queen Bey, you can’t not jam out in public.

23. On that note, sad music won't play when you feel like crap.

Otherwise it would just be on a constant loop, especially when winter break ends.

24. It takes more than the length of a single pop song to clean your room.

This is by far the most unrealistic thing of all.

25. And there’s no way in hell you’d ever leave an elaborate meal untouched.

How do these fictional characters have the audacity to eat only a few bites of a pancake, when they could eat the entire stack?

26. Let’s be real: your life is more like a horror movie than a romantic comedy.

Cue the screams and gasps instead of the “heartwarming” laughs.

27. But even if it isn’t as pleasant, romantic or dramatic—at least it’s never boring.

And you’ve got friends and family to watch you grow and help you through it all, every step of the way.

The third and likely final film of the Pitch Perfect series has already been in theaters for over a week, and even if you haven't managed to see the new movie yet, it's so easy to feel nostalgic about the series and how unexpected its success truly was. Apparently, the cast members are feeling just as reminiscent, and a few of them have taken to social media to share incredible throwback footage of the franchise's early days.

Hello Giggles reports that Skylar Astin, who played Jesse in the first two films and is married to Pitch Perfect co-star Anna Camp, shared footage on Instagram of the first film's rehearsal process. The video clip shows Astin and his fellow Treblemakers going over choreography for their performance numbers. Absent from the footage is a then-unknown Ben Platt, who played last-minute Treblemaker Benji, but a choreographer is seen running through his moves.

It's clear that, without the pressure of creating a highly anticipated movie, the guys had the time of their lives practicing together. Of course, being a female-focused franchise, it wouldn't be a true Pitch Perfect throwback without a behind-the-scenes look at the Barden Bellas. Rebel Wilson, or Fat Amy, also posted footage of the Bellas putting together a revision video for one of their own routines.

Alongside the video, Wilson wrote, "Anna Camp texted us Bellas this super early rehearsal video from Pitch Perfect 1 back in 2011 and it brought up so many memories...look at how far we've come since this vid."

Most adorably, Wilson revealed that the Bellas used to coordinate their rehearsal outfits. How cute!

I won't be very disappointed if Pitch Perfect 3 is the last addition to this series, but it's so nice to look back at where it all began. I'm grateful for this cast for helping to create fun, entertaining films for us all to enjoy over the past five years. 

A Colorado sheriff's deputy was killed and five deputies were injured after attending to a domestic disturbance call in a Denver suburb on Sunday, CNN reports. Two civilians were also shot by a suspect and, according to the Douglas County sheriff's office, the suspect is "shot and believed to be dead."

Occurring around 5:15 a.m. on Sunday at the Copper Canyon apartment complex in the suburb Highlands Ranch, the incident inspired police to encourage nearby residents to "shelter in place." An emergency shelter for those displaced by the authorities' presence was also established. According to NBC News, police also shut down a major highway south of Denver.

ABC News says that at a press conference Sunday afternoon, Sheriff Tony Spurlock revealed that what was believed to be a domestic disturbance call was actually completely unrelated to a domestic dispute. When four officers arrived at the apartment complex in response to the call, the suspect soon attacked and began shooting the deputies, who then called for backup. The Denver Post reports that the suspect used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds. 

"They went into the house at the same time," Spurlock said. "All of them were shot very, very quickly. They all went down."

Spurlock called the shooting "more of an ambush type of attack," as the suspect was aware of the officers planning to enter the home. Three of the wounded had non-critical injuries and, as of Sunday afternoon, were treated and released from a nearby medical center. Four others, unspecified to be officers or civilians, were taken to a different hospital. Meanwhile, a motorcade accompanied the deceased officer, 29-year-old Deputy Zackari Parrish, from the same hospital.

President Donald Trump expressed his sympathies for the victims via Twitter, writing, "We love our police and law enforcement."

With appearances on Dr. Oz and Steve Harvey, a cover spread in Health, and over three million YouTube subscribers, Cassey Ho is nothing less than a fitness superstar. She’s also the creator of Pop Pilates, an “equipment-free workout” that integrates upbeat music and an extended network of “Popsters” into the mix. Along with Cassey’s YouTube channel, where her videos help you to sweat, burn, and sculpt, she has also started a network of trained instructors, who have been taking the virtual gym to reality at 24 Hour Fitness locations around the world since early 2015.

Cassey creates a monthly workout schedule, offering six days a week and a rest day, to anyone who subscribes to her newsletter. She also offers a Beginner's Program: 28 days (including the four rest days) meant to get you ready to do her monthly calendars. Although I’d been subscribed to Cassey’s channel, Blogilates, for a while, I’d mostly done her workouts as an add-on after a run or bike. However, recently, I set out with four weeks, a yoga mat and some willpower. One month later, here was my experience:

Pilates is all about core strength and flexibility. Most of the moves only require a yoga mat and your own body weight! Along with repetition and interval training associated with the moves — there are poses to target every part of your body! —  there is also a good deal of stretching that comes with Pilates, and it really makes a big difference! Light cardio is also essential for warming up your muscles before you begin your workout. Most of what sets Pop Pilates from Pilates is the fun, upbeat atmosphere that Cassey has created, which utilized popular music to motivate your workout!

Having only done one video at the time, I was initially surprised by how short the workouts were. They ranged from around 30 to 50 minutes throughout the four weeks.

The first day, around the 19-minute mark, I was having a hard time pushing through, but I made it to the end. It was very motivating! The best part is that there is no equipment needed and I don’t need to go to the gym. The website also makes it extremely easy to find the videos to do each day. The first week, my body was sore daily, which made motivating myself to do the workouts more difficult. However, Cassey made it clear that everyone was at different levels, and even though not being able to do all the moves, or taking breaks was disheartening, it turned out that it wasn’t that difficult to make it through the first week.

I’ve heard that getting through the second week of anything is the hardest part. This is the make or break stage. Week 2 was the first time when I physically was unable to do a move (windshield wiper abs), but what really helped me was seeing all of the comments below the videos, of people sharing encouragement and similar stories as mine. It was so great to see an area of the Internet so full of positivity, which is so rare these days. I felt that I was less sore during week 2, but I also came to realize the limits of my flexibility, and set the long-term goals of arm strength and leg/back flexibility to my routine. Cassey also has a lot of videos solely dedicated to becoming more flexible, including a whole 28 days of stretching the inner legs to achieve the splits!

By week 3, I was actually supplementing some of my workouts with additional videos or cardio. However, I also had a very busy week and had to take an extra break day. It was tough to break the schedule, but I needed to listen to my body, as I was having a really bad headache, and needed rest.

Week 4 was when I re-did the video from the first day (Pilates for beginners) with no breaks. It felt like a huge improvement to me. At this point, most nights I did not go to bed feeling sore anymore. All it took was four weeks to reach that point. On one of the last days, Cassey said some pretty great stuff about accepting one’s body at every stage of your fitness journey, and that mental well being was just as important as physical, which was so refreshing to hear from a personal trainer. So, after 28 days of Pilates, I crossed off the last day on the calendar, and I was done.

The best part of all of this was knowing I could stick to an exercise schedule. What really helped was having the calendar with every day planned, and keeping it somewhere I would see often. For me, this was my desktop background. The Popster community was motivation, and I felt that I had someone to hold me accountable for this experience and completing the calendar. I also kept a journal of every day: how the workout went, how I felt about it, and what I wanted to work on. Pilates might not be for everyone, but this was a great challenge for myself. I felt such a sense of accomplishment from completing the calendar, and can’t wait to start Cassey’s monthly plans when next month starts. Without weights, without a gym, I could feel my muscles changing with only my own body weight and a yoga mat. How cool is that? Whatever motivates you, whatever you want to accomplish, don’t let fear hold you back. Try it! Go for it! Only you can decide what path you choose. Once you see that you can, nothing will be able to hold you back.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s Word of the Year is “feminism.” According to its website, the word has been the top “lookup throughout the year, with several spikes that corresponded to various news reports and events.”

Feminism is defined as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.”

There were many times this year that women, both famous and more unknown, stood-up for the equality of all. So here is our short list of the badass feminists of 2017, that by far does not encompass all of the progressive and inspired women in the world today.

1. Angela Merkel

Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, has faced gender inequality her whole career. From being called “Mommy” or “My girl” by colleagues, Merkel has fostered an images, as The New York Timesnotes, of “shunning a feminist label, offering modesty, caution and diligent preparation as an implicit contrast to male swagger.”

Constanze Stelzenmüller, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution, said Merkel has learned that “you shut up, put up, and watch out for an opportunity, all the while trying not to get hurt.”

Merkel has secured the honor of Forbes’ No. 1 most powerful woman for her fifth year in a row.

“She came to power by an act of breathtaking ruthlessness,” Ms. Stelzenmüller said.

2. Emma Watson

Watson, actress, has portrayed the nerdy girl (Hermione Granger in Harry Potter) to the princess (Belle in Beauty and the Beast), and she has empowered women each step of the way. 

Watson has also launched the HeForShe campaign to stand together against sexual harassment.

“I decided I was a feminist and this seemed uncomplicated to me,” Watson said in her speech at UN headquarters.

But Watson understands that feminism is not just for women.

“We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes, but I can see that they are and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence.”

This year, Watson won the first gender-neutral acting award at the MTV movie awards.

“The first acting award in history that doesn’t separate nominees based on their sex says something about how we perceive the human experience,”  she  said.

3. Gal Gadot

Gadot became a recognized superhero and role model for all after appearing on the big screen in Wonder Woman this past summer.

Gadot’s feminist career started before her cast as the titular Wonder Woman though. The Miss Israel model deliberately sabotaged her won chances to win Miss Universe, showing that she was more than just beauty.

"People always ask me, 'Are you a feminist?' And I find the question surprising, because I think, 'Yes, of course. Every woman, every man, everyone should be a feminist. Because whoever is not a feminist is a sexist,'" she said.

And since her modeling career, Gadot continues to be a heroine—comic book and realistic—for young girls.

4. Irina Bokova

Bokova, Bulgarian politician and director-general of United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is the first woman and first Eastern European to lead the UNESCO organization.

“Girls and women must be empowered at every level, in learning and research, from administration to teaching, across all scientific fields,” Bokova wrote in her message for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Bokova has been actively engaged in her position at UNESCO to advance and spread awareness of quality education, gender equality, hate speech and discrimination, and violent extremism, according to her profile.

“At the same time, girls and women shoulder the heaviest burdens of poverty and inequality – they stand on the frontlines of climate change, including the disasters resulting from natural hazards,” she said.

5. Jessa Crispin

Photo by Chuck Kuan

Crispin, editor-in-chief of Bookslut, published her book Why I Am Not A Feminist: A Feminist Manifesto in February of this year. Contrary to what the title may imply, Crispin doesn’t reject the feminist movement. She, instead, demands a revolution.

Crispin asks questions on what feminism is, writing that “somewhere along the way, the movement for female liberation sacrificed meaning for acceptance, and left us with a banal, polite, ineffectual pose that barely challenges the status quo.”

The book has 3.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

“If you’re looking for a dose of radical inspiration, this manifesto is it,” Bustle wrote.

6. Linda Sarsour

Sarsour was one of the hosts of the Women’s March of 2017.

The Palestinian-American-Muslim, as she calls herself in her Twitter bio, used her ties across the country to bring different groups together during “the disorienting period following the election,” Politico wrote.

Sarsour is an advocate of “intersectional” progressivism, meaning that as a woman who wears a hijab, she believes she should be supported as equally as any other woman by a feminist.

“I ask you to stand and continue to keep your voices loud,” Sarsour said, “for black women, for native women, for undocumented women.”

7. Patty Jenkins

Jenkins, the director of the 2017 hit movie Wonder Woman, made film history this past summer.

It took Jenkins a while to become the highest-paid female director in the world. Her vision for Wonder Woman wasn’t accepted by the studio for many years, according to Glamour, who named Jenkins a woman of the year.

She became the first woman to direct a Marvel or DC movie and only the second female director to command a budget of over $100 million.

“To inspire—even more so, to touch—others as these heroes touched me? That is living the dream,” Jenkins said.

8. Peggy Whitson

Whitson is a NASA astronaut who orbited Earth for 288 days, and she made strides for women while at it.

Whitson, 57, is the oldest woman to have been in orbit, the first female chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office and to command the International Space Station. She also holds the record for most spacewalks by a female astronaut, at ten.

“Walking in space is absolutely the most exhilarating part of a mission,” Whitson said to Glamour, who named Whitson a woman of the year . “The view is just incredible. Being out there above the earth, I always think how delicate it looks. It gives me a fantastic appreciation of how this planet is one and we need to take care of it.”

Whitson returned to Earth in September to have a cumulative space-time of 665 days, a record for any American astronaut, male or female.

9. Rowan Blanchard

Blanchard may only be 16-years-old, but the Girl Meets World actress is already making an impact in the feminist world.

In a recent interview with Coveteur, Blanchard discussed body image.

“Specific advice I give myself whenever I feel very insecure, or insecure about my body, or how I look in a dress—all of these things—I try to tell myself that a lot of it is in my head,” she said. “This is a hard one, because I’m still a teenager who’s insecure every day.”

At age 13, Blanchard was already tackling “white feminism” in an essay she wrote.

“This is such an important thing to be discussing,” Blanchard said. “I have made a very big point at making sure my personal feminism includes everyone—and educating myself and discussing these topics have really helped.”

10. Solange Knowles

Knowles is not one to be over-shadowed by her equally-impowering sister, Beyoncé. Instead, Knowles, songwriter and actress, sold out Radio City Music Hall and won a Grammy for the song “Cranes in the Sky.”

“I am a proud black feminist and womanist and I’m extremely proud of the work that’s being done,” Knowles said to Time. “I’m a feminist who wants not only to hear the term intersectionality, but actually feel it, and see the evolution of what intersectional feminism can actually achieve.”

Knowles was appointed as one of the women of the year by Glamour.

“I want women’s rights to be honored, and uplifted and heard,” Knowles said. “But I want to see us fighting the fight for all women—women of color, our LGBTQ sisters, our Muslim sisters.”

11. Tarana Burke

#MeToo has been a trending topic all year, and it all started with Burke.

“I didn’t have a response or a way to help her in that moment,” Burke said about hearing a 13-year-old girl’s sexual abuse story in 1997, “and I couldn’t even say ‘me too.’”

Burke founded of Just Be Inc. to help victims of sexual harassment and assault, as reported by TheNew York Times. Her movement: Me Too.

After actress Alyssa Milano promoted the movement on Twitter, Burke’s efforts became popular.

“I think it is selfish for me to try to frame Me Too as something that I own,” Burke said. “It is bigger than me and bigger than Alyssa Milano. Neither one of us should be centered in this work. This is about survivors.”

The year 2017 started with a new President, one who admitted himself to committing sexual assault. But he called it “locker room” talk — so it was mostly overlooked.

The problem: his behavior seemed to have become the norm of 2017. While this issue became prominent in the news this year with more and more powerful men being acknowledged as sexual predators, sexual assault has always been and will be a problem.

Sexual assault is defined by the Department of Justice as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.” Sexual harassment, on the other hand, is “offensive remarks about a person’s sex, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,” according to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Unlike sexual assault, which is a criminal behavior, sexual harassment is a civil rights issue.

The term, sexual harassment didn’t come about until 1975 by Cornell University, according to the National Organization for Women (NOW) website. It took until 1991 to amend the Civil Rights Act to allow “victims a jury trial when seeking compensatory and punitive damages under Title VII.”

Lately, people like Matt Damon may believe we have to talk more about the men who don’t commit these appalling crimes, but it is important to discuss. There needs to be an end to this behavior. And it starts with the men who committed them in the first place. They should take the blame properly, unlike these 13 people whose sexual assault apologies didn’t feel like an apology.

1. Al Franken

Franken, who was a comedian and now serves as a United States Senator from Minnesota, was accused of kissing and groping Anchorwoman Leeann Tweeden in 2006 without her consent.

“I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann,” Franken said to reporters. “As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it.”

Franken seems to contradict himself a few times throughout his statement. He said he believes Leeann, but at the same time he doesn’t remember it the same way. He also stated that he respects women and doesn’t respect men who don’t.

2. Ben Affleck

Affleck, American actor and film director, was accused of sexual harassment by fellow-actress Hilarie Burton in 2003.

Affleck started his interview with Late Show host Steven Cobert by denouncing his work-companion Harvey Weinstein’s (see later on the list) allegations.

But when Colbert shot back with the actor’s own allegations, Affleck made the issue seem more of an everybody-does-this problem.

“It’s just the kind of thing that we have to as men, I think—as we become more aware of this—be really, really mindful of our behavior and hold ourselves accountable…” Affleck said.

Affleck even added a reference to his movie-persona, Batman, in his apology.

“I’m not a spokesman. I’m not a superhero. I can’t change it by myself,” he said.

3. Charlie Rose

Rose, who hosted and produced his self-titled talk show and co-anchored CBS This Morning, was accused by eight women of sexual harassment.

“I have learned a great deal as a result of these events, and I hope others will too,” Rose said in his apology statement. “All of us, including me, are coming to a newer and deeper recognition of the pain caused by conduct in the past, and have come to a profound new respect for women and their lives.”

Rose claimed to have been “an advocate” of women and their careers in the past.

Exposing yourself and groping doesn’t seem like the right way to be a supporter, but at least he now has a new respect for women.

4. George HW Bush

Former President Bush was accused of groping six women.

“At age 93, President Bush has been confined to a wheelchair for roughly five years, so his arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures,” Bush’s spokesman said in a statement.

Being confined to a wheelchair is understandable. His hand would go around people’s waists when he takes photos. But then the spokesman continued.

“[H]e has patted women’s rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner,” the spokesmen said.

It’s not football, President Bush.

5. Harvey Weinstein

Film producer Weinstein was fired from his own company when he was accused of sexually assaulting dozens of women, including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow.

But Weinstein didn’t take the blame, instead he said it was the norm.

“I came of age in the 60’s and 70’s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different,” Weinstein  said. “That was the culture then.”

This is when parents would ask ‘If your friends jumped off a bridge would you?’

“I so respect all women,” Weinstein said, even though if any of his victims had spoken up sooner he could have easily ended their careers.

6. James Toback

Toback, screenwriter and film director, was accused of sexual misconduct.

“And anyone who says it is a lying c***sucker or a c*** or both,” Toback said to Rolling Stones. “By the way, no one who’s ever worked with me would ever say anything like that.”

Well over three hundred women did say that.

When Rolling Stones reporter mentioned names of Toback’s victims, he said he never heard of them and that they were lying.

“I mean, these are people I don’t know, and it’s things I never would have done.”

Toback continued that he believed the women “gang up.”

7. Kevin Spacey

Spacey, former actor in House of Cards, was accused of “inappropriate behavior” by at least 20 people.

“I’m beyond horrified to hear his [Anthony Rapp’s] story,” Spacey said. “I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago.”

Spacey used his apology statement as a time to come out.

“I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man,” Spacey said.

He made it seem as if sexually assaulting then-teenager Rapp was ok because Spacey is gay.

8. Louis C.K.

Photo: Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Comedian C.K. admitted to masturbating in front of young women.

“At the time, I said to myself that what I did was O.K. because I never showed a woman my d*** without asking first, which is also true. But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your d*** isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them,” C.K. said in his apology statement.

C.K. seemed to have blamed society, almost like Weinstein. However, C.K. was targeting the social dynamics instead of norms.

“The power I had over these women is that they admired me,” C.K. said.

I can assure you, C.K., that they don’t admire you now.

9. Mario Batali

Chef and Restaurant Owner Mario Batali faced allegations of touching women inappropriately.

Batali admitted that he had made mistakes.

“I have made many mistakes and I am so very sorry that I have disappointed my friends, my family, my fans and my team,” Batali said. “I take full responsibility.”

But the kicker is that he added a cinnamon bun recipe at the end of his apology statement.

“p.s. in case you’re searching for a holiday-inspired breakfast, these Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls are a fan favorite,” Batali said.

I, for one, like my cinnamon rolls without a side of sexual assault.

10. Matt Lauer

Zelig Shaul/ACE Pictures/REX/Shutterstock

Lauer, who was a co-host of the Today Show, was accused of multiple sexual harassments.

“The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws,” Lauer said in his apology statement. “It’s been humbling.”

After gifting sex toys and putting a button in his dressing room to lock the door without getting up, Lauer now sees the flaws.

“Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching, and I’m committed to beginning that effort,” Lauer said. “It is now my fulltime job.”

And that makes sense because Lauer was fired by NBC.

11. Roy Moore

Moore, who ran in Alabama for Senate, was accused by multiple women of sexual harassment when they were as young as 14-years-old.

“These allegations are completely false and are a desperate political attack by the National Democrat Party and The Washington Post on this campaign,” Moore said.

Sexual harassment is not a party-affiliated problem. It has affected both sides of the aisle.

But Moore still never admitted to the allegations, and Trump even supported him (this coming from the locker room talk guy).

“[Y]ou have to listen to him,” Trump said.

12. Russell Simmons

Jerritt Clark/Getty Images

Simmons, co-founder of the hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings, was accused of rape by a model and a screenwriter.

Simmons did admit to being “thoughtless and insensitive” in some of his relationships in the past.

But since Simmons took a lie detector test to disprove the allegations, according to TMZ. Michael Sterling and E. Carlos Tanner, Simmons’s attorneys said he passed the test and plans to repeat for the other accusations.

“I never thought I was violent,” Simmons said in his statement.

13. TJ Miller

REUTERS/Kevork Djansezian - TB3EB6101JBC9

Miller, comedian and actor in Silicon Valley, was accused of sexual assault and punching a female college peer.

Miller and his wife said the “rumors” started when their “relationship became public.” Miller not only denied the claims, but he also put the women’s allegations as disrespectful against the #MeToo movement.

“Sadly she is now using the current climate to bandwagon and launch these false accusations again,” Miller and Gorney wrote. “It is unfortunate that she is choosing this route as it undermines the important movement to make women feel safe coming forward about legitimate claims against real known predators.”

If we truly want to create an environment where victims and survivors can continue to come forward and share their stories, we need to start by challenging powerful people who excuse and dismiss their actions (even in the form of one of these not-apology apologies.) 

Why people kiss on New Year's Eve. [Women's Health]

The newest trend in hair care. [PopSugar]

Best pop albums of 2017. [Rolling Stone]

You are strong for making it through 2017. [Thought Catalog]

11 body-positive moments from this year. [Teen Vogue]

Does cold weather cause stress? [Elite Daily]

The best pancakes in your state. [Spoon University]

Did Kylie Jenner already have her baby? [Jezebel]

Why champagne and fried chicken are the perfect combo. [GrubStreet]

Is 2018 the year we stop obsessing over Trump? [Vanity Fair]