Have you ever instantly fallen in love with the girl you pass everyday while walking to class? Or the girl you sit next to in 8 a.m. Brit. lit? You know how it goes: Our first thought is always, “I wonder if she likes girls?” And instead of doing the logical thing—you know, just asking her if she likes girls—our minds race through these nine irrational ways to figure out for ourselves.

1. Ask about her list of closet celebrities

Trust us, pretty much every girl who is into girls has her list of celebrities that she swears are secretly in the closet. We will fight someone to the death to defend this list, and no one can change our minds about it. If she does not have a well thought-out list that she truly believes in, then there’s a good chance she is not into girls.

Bonus tip: According to The Gay Women channel on YouTube, when you ask her if she thinks Kristen Stewart is straight, her answer can tell you a lot about her sexuality. Spoiler alert: Whatever she thinks Kristen Stewart is, she is, too.

2. Ask her if she has watched the Carmilla web series

There are many amazing LGBTQ+ web series on YouTube right now, and let’s be real, girls who like girls can’t resist watching characters they can relate to (can anyone, really?). And we definitely can’t resist vampires who are into girls. Enter, Carmilla. If she hasn’t watched it – or heard of it – then it is pretty likely that she does not play for your team. If she hasn’t heard of it tell her the premise and see if she is interested!

3. Ask her who her favorite character from The L Word is

Admit it, The L Word is your guilty pleasure. We have been through it all with the characters and stuck with it even though we couldn’t stand Jenny. The show hits almost every LGBTQ+ demographic, which draws all of us in. Most likely a girl won’t have watched or be watching The L Word unless she’s into girls, so ask her about it. Pro tip: Make sure Jenny is not her favorite character, because then she might be crazy.

4. Stalk her on social media

We all do it. If you know her name you can find most of her social media sites. Look at what she Tweets about, what kinds of pictures she posts on Facebook and what she writes on her blogs. Bonus points to you if you can find her Tumblr, because that’s where you will most likely find out who she truly is. In your super-sleuth mission, look for Tegan and Sara on her music likes and see how many gifs of The L Word she has reblogged. Analyze the data you collect and come to an educated conclusion.

5. Ask her when the new season of Orange Is the New Black comes on

We all love to debate whether or not Piper and Alex belong together. Find out if she’s as much of a fangirl as we all are. If she knows the exact release date, then there’s a good chance she likes the ladies.

6. Ask about the clothes she cannot live without

Keep a running tally of how many times she wears flannels every month, because according to Khadijah Thompson, a student at Johnson and Wales University – Charlotte, “There’s got to be some kind of ratio there.” We all know we can’t live without our flannels (always paired with our Birks), and if she can’t either…You know what that means.  

7. Play the “what are the odds” game

Many college students plays this game. We ask, “What are the odds you will jump in the pool fully clothed?” or “What are the odds you will go sing to that stranger?” Well, it’s time to step it up, ladies. Ask her, “What are the odds that you will kiss that girl over there?” or, if you’re feeling super brave, ask her, “What are the odds that you will kiss me?” Based on her reaction and the number range she chooses, you can pretty much tell if she likes girls.

8. Ask about her likes and dislikes

Ask if she likes any certain sports (bonus points if she plays softball or rugby). Ask her about certain books with LGBTQ+ characters. Ask her if she listens to Tegan and Sara. Has she seen Blue Is the Warmest Color? Does she fangirl about any LGBTQ+ characters in TV shows? There are countless other things we are all obsessed with that you can play off of to mention to her.

9. Just ask her if she likes girls

Okay, you realized by now that we were kidding, right? All of these ways to ask are simply based on stereotypes, and we don’t all fit into every one of them – some of us don’t fit into any! We are all unique individuals, and the only way to really know if she likes girls is to straight up ask her. So be brave and go for it.

How much jewelry is too much jewelry? Trick question, really—there’s no such thing as too much jewelry. That’s why we’ve teamed up with jewelry brand Kiss & Wear to bring you one-of-a-kind gold necklaces that will completely enhance your jewelry collection.

Kiss & Wear, a fashion and beauty blog turned lifestyle accessories brand, was founded and launched by Katrina Caspelich in fall of 2015. Kiss & Wear pieces are inspired by California and New York styles and combine west coast cool and east coast chic; so you know there are prints to match everyone’s personal taste. Each of the designs is made for everyday wear: they’re simple, timeless, and make a bold statement – much like the girls who wear them. A #KWBabe is uninhibited, inspiring and effortlessly glamorous. Each Kiss & Wear piece, like her, is unique.

One of Kiss & Wear’s most recent designs,the Stevie, was created in honor of Katrina’s father and his battle with cancer. 10% of Stevie proceeds will be donated to Bright Pink, the only national non-profit organization focused on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women.

Kiss & Wear is giving three winners a 14k gold necklace of their choice, up to a retail value of $98 each! Be sure to enter below for your chance to win, and check out Kiss & Wear on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. 

Kiss & Wear

You’re comfortable with who you are, and confident in your own abilities. All you ask is that your friends, family, colleagues—and everyone else—use singular “they” pronouns when referring to you. It’s not that hard! All they have to do is replace the usual uses of “he” or “she” with the pronoun you prefer, and voilà.

Not all people seem to agree, and from time to time, you run into frustrating situations where others disrespect your pronoun choices. These are six things you’re absolutely sick of people saying about your pronouns.

1. “Are you two people? Do you have schizophrenia?”

This is offensive for so many reasons: it’s a singular pronoun, first of all. "They" as a pronoun is meant for one person to use in lieu of "he" or "she." 

Jack Qu’emi, a writer for The Body is Not an Apology, says that this question “pathologizes non-normative gender identities,” meaning that it equates non-normative gender identities with something being psychologically wrong. This kind of question is also ableist, because it assumes there’s something wrong with being mentally ill. It’s meant to be an insult to those who use “they” pronouns by stigmatizing people with mental health issues. 

If you’re faced with this question, you can always refuse to engage with the person, if you don’t feel like educating them on the many reasons why this is offensive—both to you and to the mentally ill community.

Related: Ze as a Pronoun: What It Is & How to Use It

2. “You’re just confused.”

This is an insult that’s flung at just about any member of the LGBTQ+ community, but people who use gender-neutral pronouns such as “they,” and who identify outside the gender binary are highly susceptible to it.

People don’t understand how someone can identify this way. We’re all socialized from an early age to accept two distinct sexes and genders, when in reality, both sex and gender are so much more complex.

 “I think that kind of response says a lot about how little the individual knows about the very tangible struggles of defining a gender that isn't within a binary,” Qu’emi says. The expert uses the singular pronoun and while they haven't been confronted with this statement personally, they feel it’s still very hurtful.

Casey Alexander, a junior at Florida State University who uses "they" pronouns, says that they have been called confused by peers who just don’t understand. “I’m not confused,” they say. “I understand my gender better than anyone else because it’s my lived experience.”

If you’re faced with this kind of comment, you can try to shrug it off and ignore it. You’re the one living your life and that means you’re the only one who can say what identity fits you best.

3. “That’s too difficult. I can’t be bothered to use ‘they’ pronouns.”

Difficult for who, exactly? People with non-binary gender identities are the ones who have to go through the long process of figuring out who they are and asserting their self-identity in a widely unaccepting and gendered society.

“A lot of my friends and family members didn’t want to ‘make the switch’ to gender-neutral pronouns when I came out in high school,” Casey says. “It took a few weeks of me explaining how much it meant to me for them to come across. I understand that it’s a process, but I wish they’d thought about how it felt for me.”

Basically, if someone doesn’t come around eventually and realize that your identity is more important, they’re missing out on a great relationship with you. Changing their speech is only a minor inconvenience in comparison to disrespecting the personhood of someone they care about. 

4. “That’s not grammatically correct.”

“They” as a singular pronoun has been around forever, and it’s coming back into use more now. You may have heard, growing up, that using “they” as a singular pronoun was absolutely incorrect, but those rules are arbitrary. In fact, the American Dialect Society chose singular “they” as their word of the year.

“I have often repeated to people that singular they/them has been around forever, used by Shakespeare, and that my gender expression and well-being is far more important than their obnoxious grammatical preferences,” Qu’emi says.

If someone can’t come around to acknowledging that “they” is grammatically correct, they should at least respect your basic identity enough to use it anyway.

5. “Can’t you just pick a side?”

This essentially negates the entire point of a non-binary gender identity and “they” pronouns. The person saying it probably doesn’t realize that gender and sex don’t work in black-and-white terms and that there are more options than just “woman” or “man.”

Are there ways people with non-binary gender expressions can fight the binary, and make the public more aware that gender isn’t always a this-or-that decision? “We ‘fight’ it by being visible,” explains Qu’emi. “Our very existence is a political act and being vocal when we can about who we are does a lot to expose others to people not like them.”

Of course, if you’re not in a place where you can safely be open about your gender identity, don’t feel obligated to! Do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable and safe.

6. “What are your REAL pronouns? What is your real name?”

Depending on whether you use a name different from the one you were given at birth or not, these two questions can come in tandem with each other.

“I don’t go by the name my parents gave me at birth," Casey says. "I chose a more gender-neutral name and I’ve changed it legally—three years ago, actually. But people who find out that I changed my name and use ‘they’ pronouns still become obsessed with this idea of my ‘real name.’”

It’s nobody’s business whether or not you changed your name, or what your name was previously, and you don’t have to tell anyone what sex you were assigned at birth. If you want, you can just say, “’They/their/them’ are my real pronouns, and those are the only ones you can use.”

You probably know from experience that using “they” pronouns isn’t always a walk in the park, between correcting new professors and coworkers to bringing it up at professional interviews to having to re-educate peers on a daily basis. But it’s your identity, and it matters to you, so it should matter to the people in your life. Hopefully, as time goes on and gender-neutral pronouns and non-binary genders become more visible, there won’t be as much of a need to explain their purpose.

Spring break and moderation tend to be like Kim Kardashian and low-key: mutually exclusive. Between the club scene, the drinks, the endless waves of attractive people, the drinks, the real waves on the beach, the drinks, the copious amounts of sun, the drinks, the bad-for-you foods, and, oh, the drinks, it’s easy to have a fantastic time during spring break—but hard to end it without feeling like your body needs a lifetime of detoxing to get over it all.

After one too many “I need a vacation to recover from vacation” experiences, we’ve learned how to have an awesome time without the awful side effects. Read on to discover our top tips and tricks for having a healthy spring break.

1. Don’t try to lose weight “for spring break”

In the weeks leading up to vacation, the gym is usually full of collegiettes trying to lose weight before they head to Cancun or Miami Beach. We’re big fans of exercise and wanting to look and feel your best—but setting out to drop a couple pounds too quickly for one trip isn’t healthy.

“College women might have expectations of a certain size or swimsuit they want to fit into before they go on break,” says Malia Mattox, a nutritionist and wellness coach. “But they can put unrealistic goals into play and set themselves up for disappointment,” she says. “When losing weight, you want to focus on overall healthy patterns, not just how you look in a bikini.”

You don’t want to have visions of a perfectly flat stomach or toned arms dancing in your head before break, only to be inevitably disappointed when you don’t achieve your “ideal body” in time. Instead, Mattox says you should focus on building confidence and self-love at your current weight. Focus on the attributes you’re super proud of, whether they’re physical or mental.

Plus, if you’re working out extra hard or restricting your diet before break, it will be even harder not to overindulge once you get there. You might think, “What the heck, I’ve earned this,” to that chocolate lava cake… and that strawberry daiquiri… and that late-night pizza run… you get the picture.

Rather than going from “fasting to feasting,” Mattox recommends establishing permanent lifestyle changes, like staying active and indulging in moderation, that will have your body naturally settling at a healthy weight.

2. Drink lots of water

Okay, so you’ve heard this nugget of wisdom before. But according to Mattox, remembering to drink water is extra important on vacation, because we’re distracted by the new place, friends and activities.

When your body’s running low on water, you get grumpy, tired and headache-y—not exactly the best ingredients for a day sightseeing with friends or dancing at the club. That’s why Mattox recommends always keeping water with you. “Make your water bottle just as important as your phone,” she says. “Some of my clients will leave it right by the door so they can grab it on their way out.”

She says you can also use digital reminders. For example, set an alarm on your phone for lunchtime asking if you’ve drank 32 ounces (or four cups) of water. Mattox says you should be consuming around 64 ounces of water a day. “If you’re behind at lunch, you can figure out, ‘Okay, how am I going to get those 64 ounces in by the end of the day?’” she says.

Alcohol is dehydrating, so should you drink more agua with your alcohol? Mattox says yes! She suggests having one glass of water in between every serving of alcohol—you could have one glass of wine, and then sip some seltzer, then another glass of wine, another glass of seltzer, and so on. Not only will this help you pace yourself when you’re drinking, but it will help you avoid a hangover the next day!

3. Make sure your food intake is balanced

It’s easy to go crazy on spring break. Not only are you with your friends 24/7—which can encourage you to eat more—but you’re surrounded by delicious food. Mattox says there are two aspects to keep in mind: sodium and calories.

What do salty fries, loaded nachos and stuffed quesadillas all have in common? Yup, they’re worth drooling over… and they’ve all got super high sodium contents. Sodium makes us bloat and causes the body to retain fluid. No one likes feeling like a too-full water balloon, so Mattox shares her tips on avoiding sodium while in a foreign land. “Sodium is a preservative, so it’s usually really high in restaurant food, because their food sits around longer,” she says. “Instead [of chains], go to local restaurants, where it’s more likely they’ll have fresh food and unprocessed ingredients.”

Since your normal eating patterns will be thrown off, it’s also likely you’ll be taking in more calories than usual. Going to local restaurants won’t just help you avoid excess salt—it’ll also help you make healthy choices. Mattox says you should look for whole foods (in other words, foods that are pretty close to how they appear in nature). For example, grilled fish with veggies and brown rice on the side would be an easy, delicious lunch or dinner you could get almost anywhere in the world. “You can also go to a grocery store—either before or after you arrive—and stock up on healthy snacks,” Mattox suggests. “I love raw nuts, veggies like snap peas and carrots, string cheese, Greek yogurt, dried fruit and fresh fruit that’s not as perishable, like apples and bananas.”

However, watching what you eat doesn’t mean you can’t indulge. If you’re in Spain and you’re craving some flan—go for it! If the majority of your choices are good for your body, the rest of them can be good for your soul.

4. Stay moving

No, you do not have to wake up at the crack of dawn to go for a run on the beach. It’s surprisingly easy to incorporate exercise into your vacation, and you’ll feel much more energized as a result. Plus, some cardio will help you balance out that flan and those margaritas while making unique memories.

“I encourage people to think of the world as a fun playground for exercise,” Mattox says. “There are opportunities all around. If you have a chair, you can be doing triceps or bench steps. If you have a wall, do floor or wall push-ups.”

Mattox also suggests creating a travel circuit ahead of time that’ll be easy to do in a small hotel room or shared house—check out HC’s fave travel workouts! If you’re staying in a hotel and it has a gym, that’s a convenient way to get your heartbeat up as well.

If you’d rather incorporate exercise naturally into your day, suggest activities that involve movement. “Go for a walk on the beach, or do yoga, or hike, or kayak, or surf, or bike or take a local dance class,” Mattox says. “There are so many fun activities!”

She says dancing at the club definitely counts as exercise—so when you and your friends arrive, make a beeline to the dance floor and shake it, shake it like you’re supposed to do.

Mattox advises you not to concentrate on how many hours of exercise you’re getting. After all, you won’t enjoy your vacation if you’re constantly tallying up how many hours of cardio you’ve logged. Instead, just focus on staying active throughout the day.

5. Recruit your friends

You don’t have to go through the battle to stay healthy alone, collegiettes! According to Mattox, having a partner or partners is one of the best ways to ensure you’ll keep that promise to yourself about being healthy. “Social support is huge,” she says. “Accountability is the number one reason why people choose to work with personal trainers or nutritionists!”

Obviously you can’t bring your trainer on vacay (we wish), but Mattox says recruiting a friend is a great way to re-create the effect. She recommends committing to a plan beforehand with your friends—whether that’s drinking enough water, making smart food choices, getting enough exercise or all of the above. “Making that affirmation ahead of time is very powerful,” she says. “Also, you can figure out what you’ll need to do to make that plan happen.”

Even if your friends don’t want to join in, consider saying something casual like, “Last time I had a crazy vacation, I felt awful for so long after. This week, I’m definitely going to do everything in moderation!” When your friends know you want to have a healthy trip, they’ll be way less likely to pressure you into, say, eating something you’re not hungry for or having more drinks than you’d like. They might even be influenced by your choices.

With these tips, you can have a super-fun spring break without sacrificing your health! Have a great vacation, collegiettes! 

Can Donald Trump be stopped? That’s the question establishment Republicans and liberals keep asking. After a second-place finish in Iowa, Trump bounced back to win his third straight victory in the Nevada caucus. With Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada as key litmus tests, it’s clear that Trump is a major contender for this year’s nomination.

This comes with chagrin to establishment Republicans, who banked on the hubbub around Trump eventually dying down. Quite the contrary: he’s only gained strength and momentum throughout these last few weeks as an anti-establishment outsider.

Source: NBC News

With Jeb now out of the race, that leaves Rubio and Cruz to battle for second place, with big name donors flocking to both candidates. It will be incredibly difficult for either candidate to break his momentum, even with more contribution dollars. It appears that only a united front and a direct confrontation will slow Trump down, yet the two candidates are attacking each other more than ever.

Trump isn’t just some fringe candidate anymore challenging the status quo. He’s real and here to stay, with either optimistic or devastating consequences, depending on which party you support. His victory—by nearly 22 points, according to the The New York Times—puts him well ahead of anyone else as a clear favorite going into Super Tuesday next week, when 12 states have their primaries.

This signals the depth and breadth of Trump’s appeal, highlighting the increasing divide between politicians in Washington and the will of the people. His base is far from traditional, stretching across generations, geographic locations, and evangelicals. Trump’s message taps into a wide-reaching fear of big government trampling on the little guy. More controversially, his radical statements capitalizing on hatred, racial tensions and class issues clearly appeal to voters itching for revolution, and not the kind Bernie Sanders is promising.

His unorthodox campaign strategy only proves this point, according to Reuters. After trading shots with the Pope (who, for the record, historically NEVER gets involved in an American political race), receiving crazy endorsements, skipping debates. calling for bans on Muslims, and telling the media that he loves “the poorly educated,” Trump is a candidate hard to pin down or predict.

As Trump continues to win more races, his momentum will only increase, signaling to the establishment that he might be the candidate to back. Only time will tell whether mainstream Republicans will continue trying to block him or support what appears to be inevitable. The primary concern of the establishment is electability, and it isn’t clear that Trump could beat Hilary or Bernie in the upcoming general election.

According to the The New York Times, this victory will only encourage an already overconfident and brash candidate, who declared his victory by saying, “We might not need the two months, to be honest,” to clinch the nomination. HIs style, though alienating to Republican officials and mainstream voters, resonates deeply with many Americans, speaking to an overarching sentiment echoed on both sides of the aisle: The government isn’t working, and someone needs to fix it. 

The most important part of all this? Get out and vote. Make sure your voice is heard—for whomever you support! Not sure how to get started? Check out Her Campus’ guide to voting in the primaries and get out there!

Kesha has already received an overwhelming amount of support amidst her court battle with Dr. Luke. Now, Lady Gaga is joining the #FreeKesha campaign, which she made perfectly clear when she posted this photo of a heart-to-heart moment with the embattled singer on Wednesday.  

Later, Lady Gaga took to Instagram to defend Kesha against victim-shaming and shed some light on how often situations like hers occur in the industry. This isn't the first time Gaga has publicly declared her allegiance to Kesha. Earlier this month, she shared an uplifting message on her Twitter account, applauding the pop star's bravery during this troubling time.

Other female celebs—like Adele, Lena Dunham, Reese Witherspoon and, of course, T. Swift—have stood up for Kesha in recent weeks, as well. Women supporting women? That's what we like to hear.

Keep up the fight, Kesha, and know that the masses are standing in solitude with you.

Facebook looks like they're taking a page from Buzzfeed with the new 'like' button.

If you hover your mouse over the 'like' button on someone's post, six different options appear with accompanying emojis: "Like,""Love,""Haha,""Wow,""Sad" and "Angry."

Instead of showing you simply how many 'likes' a picture or a status update has at the bottom, Facebook Reactions shows the three most popular emoji reactions along with a number of how many total reactions there were. 

In an interview with WIRED, Facebook's product design director Julie Zhuo said, “Mark gathered a bunch of people in a room and was like, ‘Hey we’ve been hearing this feedback from people for a really, really long time.’”

She's right—Wonder if Facebook kept a running tab of all the comments saying, "OMG I wish there was a love button!!" 

On one hand, the new feature can seem a bit clunky, and takes some time to adjust to. On the other hand, now you can avoid the intense mental conflict of trying to figure out whether you should 'like' someone's post about their cat dying (like, do they know I'm just trying to be sympathetic? Or will they think I'm happy that their cat died?!). You can also quit worrying people will think you actually support Donald Trump when you 'like' an article about the latest inflammatory thing he said.

Just choose the appropriate reaction and you are good to go, girl! Gone is the ambiguity of a single button to acknowledge that you read or appreciated something, or felt literally anything about it. 

The one reaction that seems missing is the one people seem to have been asking for the most—a dislike button. "Angry" and "Sad" can probably articulate that well enough, though.  

What do you think of the update?

The Zika virus, which made headlines a few weeks ago when the virus was first found to be possibly sexually transmitted, might have a higher possibility of being passed through sex than previously thought.

Previously, the virus was thought to be spread almost exclusively by mosquitos, but new cases suggest otherwise.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently has a travel alert out for people wishing to visit the 20 countries where Zika is spreading, and according to CNN, 82 people have returned to the U.S. with Zika after going abroad.

“It’s beginning to look as though Zika can be more readily transmitted sexually than we first anticipated,” Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical School said to the The New York Times.

The CDC is currently reviewing 14 cases of the Zika virus possibly being sexually transmitted, according to the Times. Two of the fourteen women tested positive for it, as well as four women in preliminary lab tests.

NBC reports that the only possible way these women could have contracted Zika is through sexual contact with ill men who had just returned from countries where the virus was being spread. The effects on the men who possibly transmitted it to them are not yet known.

The CDC is urging men who may be infected to abstain from sex with pregnant women or use a barrier method of contraception, like a condom. That's because the Zika virus is the possible cause of severe birth defects, like microcephaly, which leads to babies being born with underdeveloped heads and brains. Many of these babies die young, according to NBC.

As of now, over 100 people in the US have been diagnosed with the Zika virus, and the CDC says that there is a 1 in 5 chance for someone with the Zika virus to actually get sick.

Kesha’s concert at Loyola University Chicago—originally scheduled for tomorrow—has been canceled. The university’s Department of Programming released a statement on Facebook citing personal reasons for the “Tik Tok” singer’s cancellation. Representatives of the department say, “Kesha has expressed her disappointment in having to cancel, but she feels that this is the best decision for her at this time. We respect her decision and wish her well.”

By now, you’ve probably heard about Kesha’s legal battle against producer Dr. Luke, whom the singer claims sexually and mentally abused her for years. Following this week's denial of the injunction that would have allowed Kesha to record music for other labels, fans and activists have taken to Twitter to #FreeKesha from what they deem to be a perpetuation of rape culture.

Celebrities like Adele and Lady Gaga have also rallied around Kesha. And if you’re in Chicago this weekend, you can, too. Members of the university community are said to be organizing a rally in Kesha’s honor on Friday. 

Students who have already purchased tickets to the show will be entitled to a full refund. 

In August, students at Texas public universities will be able to legally carry guns on campus, according to state Senate Bill 11. The "campus carry" bill, which was signed into law in June 2015, does not allow public universities to ban weapons on their campuses. Of course, this new legislation comes with widespread fear and paranoia among the faculty and staff at these institutions.

The unofficial proposed solution by the University of Houston faculty senate? Stay away from sensitive topics and discussions during class sessions, and be careful meeting with students privately. This suggestion was brought about in a slideshow during a campus carry dialogue at the University of Houston, according to the The Houston Chronicle.

While this proposal could decrease some of the anxiety associated with the new law, faculty at the University of Houston have voiced their concerns about the limiting of academic freedom that comes with it. What should be considered 'too sensitive' or 'off limits'? Part of college is grappling with tough, potentially upsetting topics, and managing to educate potentially armed students while feeling afraid to offend them is no simple task.

But Texas isn’t the only state where university faculty are stuck with this dilemma.

Tom Hochschild, an associate professor of sociology at Valdosta State University in Georgia, told The Valdosta Daily Times that he worries about teaching his subject to students with guns. Georgia's campus carry bill has been passed by the House and will go to the Senate next, according to Reuters.

“A lot of sociological topics are emotionally charged: race, sexism, classism, inequality, poverty, heterosexism, drug use, religions, violence," he said. "By having guns in the classroom while talking about these issues, it would make me extremely nervous and apprehensive to broach certain subjects."

Although the University of Houston has not yet decided specifically where guns will be allowed, a working group is expected to introduce its recommendations in May, according to the The Houston Chronicle.

In response to the signing of the new law, the UH faculty senate passed a resolution opposing the contents of the law, stating that “Weapons designed to end human life have no place in the academic life of the University, except when carried by duly authorized law officers.”

Jonathan Snow, president of the faculty senate, told the The Houston Chronicle that safety concerns from faculty are intensifying as the the working group’s deadline approaches. The final say lies with the UH Board of Regents.

"It’s a terrible state of affairs," Snow told the Chronicle of Higher Education. "It’s an invasion of gun culture into campus life. We are worried that we have to change the way we teach to accommodate this minority of potentially dangerous students."

Republic Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the U.S. Senate will not consider, confirm, hold a hearing for, or even meet with any Supreme Court nominee that President Obama puts forth. This adds to the list of obstructive actions of the Republican-lead Senate during Obama’s last year in office.

“Presidents have a right to nominate, just as the Senate has its constitutional right to provide or withhold consent. In this case, the Senate will withhold it,” McConnell said, according to Reuters. “The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter after the American people finish making in November the decision they’ve already started making today.”

These comments answered any question to whether to Senate was willing to allow Obama to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Judge Antonin Scalia, one of the most conservative judges in the Court, died unexpectedly on Feb. 13 at the age of 79. 

The Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee also issued a written vow to not hold a hearing for any of Obama’s SCOTUS nominees. McConnell, along with several other Republican senators, urged the President not to even submit a name for nomination. “I don’t see the point of going through the motions if we know that the outcome is going to be,” said Texas Senator John Cornyn told the The New York Times.

Those who are fighting Obama’s right to nominate anyone have cited Joe Biden as a supporter of their position. In a 1992 speech while in Senate, Biden argued that presidents should not nominate Supreme Court Justices during an election year. Vice President Biden has defended his claim since, saying it was hypothetical and completely taken out of context.

Filling Justice Scalia’s seat could have been a chance to change the balance of the Supreme Court. The SCOTUS only has eight judges at the moment, which could lead to four vs. four ties on issues that reach the court.

Many Democrats and scholars see the Republican Senators actions as obstructionist.  Julian E. Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told The New York Times, “What is remarkable is the opposition is not to a particular candidate or even to the notion Obama will nominate someone too extreme, but that he should not have any right to have a nomination considered.”

According to the The Washington Times, Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat, suggested that Obama nominate “the most qualified, the most confirmable, the most centrist candidate possible” in order to increase the chances that a nominee is confirmed by both Democrats and moderate Republicans.

However, the Republicans in Congress seem opposed to anything Obama is trying to do: As The New York Times points out, they have refused to consider the President’s plans to shut down the prison in Guantanamo Bay, authorize new military force against ISIS, and even to hold a hearing on his budget for 2016. Will President Obama be able to get anything to pass through Congress during his last year in office? 

Is it just us or is Khloe Kardashian looking better and better every day? On Wednesday, Khloe posted this Instagram photo of her post-workout body. But of course, people were quick to scrutinize her hard work and dedication, with some even claiming Khloe photoshopped the picture. Really?

The photo didn’t stay on Khloe's account very long before she decided to delete it. But to put those nasty rumors to rest, she reposted the photo later with the caption: “If only hatin burned calories how dope yall would be. Too bad it doesn't. Here's the OG shot. The petty movement ain't cute. Oh and I almost forgot.... Namaste,” taking aim at all her haters out there. Totally badass, right?

The 31-year-old has struggled with weight loss over the years and has been publicly targeted by the media and Internet trolls on many occasions. Being the determined and strong-hearted person she is, we’ve seen Khloe persevere and slay the world one day at a time, though.

Keep up the hard work and dedication, Koko! 

While the bonds of sisterhood may last a lifetime, their campus chapter may not possess the same immortality. At the University of Michigan, the 137-year-old chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta has been kicked off of campus, by order of the sorority's national chapter.

Greek life is notorious for its celebration of tradition and history—so what the heck happened to get the oldest sorority on campus kicked off? Rick Fitzgerald, a university spokesperson, told The Michigan Daily that this chapter of Theta had already been on suspension since January for "violations involving hazing and under-aged drinking."

Liz Rinick, a spokeswoman for the national chapter, had told The Detroit Free Press that "Despite ongoing support and education provided to the chapter by Fraternity officers and staff, recent chapter activities constituted serious violations of Fraternity policies and were contrary to the Fraternity's principles." Basically, the chapter was already suspended, and then they violated the terms of their suspension. This vague response isn't exactly the tell-all info that we were hoping for, but it's typical that the national chapter is keeping the events that transpired under wraps.

Whether you’re saving up to buy a home, afford grad school, pay off student loans or just to have savings to keep you on your feet, it’s always nice to know you have some form of money to depend on once you’re out of school.

Unfortunately, with tuition and living expenses, sometimes saving money is a lot harder than it seems. Thankfully, with the right tools and frame of mind, you’ll be filling up your piggy bank in no time!

We spoke with Jean Chatzky, financial editor for NBC's Today Show, and Beverly Harzog, credit card expert and author of Confessions of a Credit Junkie: Everything You Need to Know to Avoid the Mistakes I Made, and found the best tips and tricks to help you save up for post-graduation!

1. Build credit as early as possible

While this one involves spending more than saving, it’s something to think about while you’re looking toward the future. By having a credit card, you can spend what you usually would spend out of your checking account or wallet, but build credit at the same time. By building credit early, you’re preparing yourself and your credit rating for the real world. That way, when it’s time to buy a car or even rent or buy your first house, you’ll get a better rate when it comes to deposits and insurance.

Harzog suggests that while having a credit card simply for building credit seems like a good idea, you want to make sure that you’re 100 percent ready for the responsibility of paying off your bills. If you don’t think you are ready to be completely on your own, talk to your parents about being an authorized user on their card so you can see what it’s like before getting one yourself.

Be careful, though— a credit card can be very easy to abuse. At first, try buying simple necessities such as your groceries or gas, and pay it off right away. This way you’re still getting the benefits of having a credit card without getting into trouble.

2. Practice budgeting for post-grad while still in school

This seems like an obvious solution, but sometimes budgeting is a lot harder than spending money!

Harzog suggests taking a look at how much money you have coming in each month, as well as what you spend your money on, and going from there. Set aside specific amounts of money for each situation, such as savings, rent and groceries, and stick to that amount. If you really feel like you’re going to need some “splurge money,” reserve a small amount for that, too.

You can budget your money electronically with a budgeting app or just in your mind, but if you really want to see where your money is physically going, Harzog suggests the simple yet effective envelope method.

Grab a few envelopes and label each one with your monthly expenses. Once you’ve decided how much money should go to each expense, put the physical amounts in each envelope so you can see how much you’re spending instead of just digitally seeing the number dwindling in your bank account.

If you’re spending money mainly through your credit card, don’t rely on your brain to work out your budget. There are so many apps out there for your phone that you can download to help do the work for you. Check out Pocket Expense or Monny to help balance your budget digitally.

3. Save a certain amount of the money you have coming in each month

We all look forward to payday so we can go out and spend our hard-earned cash, but that’s not exactly the smartest thing to do when you’re on a budget.

Instead of keeping all of that money in your checking account where you’re more apt to spend it, Chatzky suggests putting a certain amount of money from your paycheck into a savings account. You can have the bank set it up so that you have five to 10 percent of your paycheck go straight into your savings account, instead of doing it manually. This way you can still spend your money each month, but you also have a little bit saved away. If you’re finding that the percentage you’re putting in is too little and you want to save more, increase the amount by just one or two percent, and your savings will grow that much faster.

Related: The 8 Highly Effective Habits of Money-Saving Queens 

4. Open your own consignment shop

After four years of college you will probably find yourself with an overwhelming amount of…stuff. Whether it’s old textbooks from your first year biology class, clothes that are so freshman year, or some dorm décor you’ll never actually use, instead of throwing it out, Chatzky suggests trying to sell it!

There are so many ways you can go about doing this. From opening your own Etsy shop to selling to friends, there are practically endless options for you to get rid of your old stuff. If you’re moving on from college, check out the younger classes' Facebook pages. There are usually tons of students who want to buy things for cheaper prices, and this way you can meet them in a safe place on campus to sell your stuff.

By selling all your unwanted items, you’re both making room for your fresh start out of college and making money to contribute to your post-grad experiences.

5. Visualize your savings

“Saving for savings sake is hard,” says Chatzky, and we couldn’t agree with her more. Knowing you have money sitting around that you cannot touch but have no plans to spend? That’s just cruel.

So instead of just saving to save money, Chatzky suggests visualizing what you are aiming to afford and set a goal for what you’ll use the money for. Whether it’s a new car, your dream house or a vacation getaway for graduation, try finding a picture of it so you can see what the outcome of this money is going to be.

Make your own digital dream board—add this picture to your Pinterest board or phone lock screen so you can see it every day and have a positive reminder of just why exactly you’re saving your money instead of buying those adorable boots you saw the other day.

6. Make use of lump sums of money

You know that check you always get from your grandparents for your birthday? Or that government check you get from your taxes? Deposit it straight into your bank account! It’s unexpected money, so by putting it into your savings account straight away you aren’t losing out on anything to begin with. Plus, it’s a really easy way to save without even having to work for it.

This type of money could include gifts from family members for a special occasion, scholarship money or even a bonus from your job. It may seem like something that should be spent right away, but what is the harm in saving it? You didn’t expect to have this money, so put it away so you can’t touch it anymore!

While saving money can be hard, it’s definitely not impossible. Don’t focus on being broke or always being money conscious; just make sure you’re not going too crazy on the spending. Think of all the things you can do with your newly saved money—rent a new apartment, buy a new car (and not your family’s used SUV) or even leave college without any student debt. By saving just a dollar a day, you will end up with $365 by the end of the year! Start by thinking small and the number in your bank account will end up bigger.

1. People keep writing songs about us. 

And not gonna lie, we actually love it. California Girls by Katy Perry is our undeclared anthem.

2. Our national foods are In-N-Out and avocados.

Unfortunately, this is also what we spend 90% of our money on.

3. There is a huge difference between NorCal and SoCal girls.

Beyond just Birkenstocks and flips flops.

4. We get annoyed when everybody assumes we are all blonde and wear bikinis.

This assumption quickly alienates us Bella Swans of the world.

5. We are huge snobs about eating organic.

Juice cleanses recently replaced eating acai bowls for our most beloved bonding activity.

6. Everybody asks if we know famous people, despite the fact that barely any of us actually live in Hollywood.

Contrary to popular belief, our Saturdays are not spent getting mani-pedis with the Kardashians.

7. The concept of seasons is really exciting to us, because we don’t have them.

When it rains all we can do is sit at the window and stare as if it’s a new rom-com starring Ryan Gosling.

8. Despite popular belief, the guys we date aren’t just surfers and beach bums.

They’re also hipsters and skaters.

9. The perfect weekend activity is a road trip to San Francisco with the besties.

And definitely don’t forget to Instagram a picture with the Full House houses.

10. Earthquakes.

Everywhere. All the time. Ruining our beauty sleep because the world is shaking.

11. It actually is a common activity to suntan at the beach in winter.

We will shamefully admit to this being a thing.

12. 21st birthdays consist of central coast wine tours and trips to Vegas.

Because classy alcohol is only a five-hour drive away.

13. The absurd amounts of rush hour traffic mean that we get to scream-sing Taylor Swift in the car…a lot.

SHAKE IT OFF, SHAKE IT OFF!

14. It’s perfectly acceptable to binge eat burritos.

Mess with our Mexican food, and we’ll find a way to jeopardize your personal safety.

15. We’ve all taken that classic Disneyland castle selfie.

Featuring sparkly Minnie ears, of course.

16. We actually do use “like” in most of our sentences, but get mad when people point it out.

Along with “hella”, “dude” and "bro."

17. Depending on where we’re from, we either say "get on five" or "get on the five."

There is no in-between. Choose your side wisely.

18. We are unashamedly proud of where we live, and love being considered "California Girls."

Are you sassy and sarcastic, like season two with its introduction of Jess? Or are you a bittersweet finale filled with wacky drama like season seven? Or maybe you're more in the middle, like season four, a transition year of change that ends with cliffhangers galore. Take our quiz to find out the answer to the most important question: which season of Gilmore Girls are you?

While feeling a bit adventurous I decided I would pursue seven different dates from seven different dating apps over the course of seven days. Unfortunately, I only got to do five dates — but, man, did I figure things out about myself.

Some quick notes: people are flaky, boys suck and I’m picky.

I was so excited when I took on this assignment. I thought I would separate the dates between people near home and those near school. In retrospect, neither were really good when it came to the quantity (don’t even get me started about the quality) of people I could come across. I downloaded 24 different dating apps — yay for non-city living and also, who knew there were that many?! Yeah. After a while, I just felt sad scrolling through each of these apps trying to find somebody to go on a date with me.

I was torn between just going on a date with anybody or going on a date with somebody that I would actually enjoy talking to.

I found out that I have extremely high standards and I am very picky when it comes to boys. Good thing? For the most part. For this article? Not so much.

Even though I downloaded a crap ton of dating apps, I only ended up using a handful. A lot of them wanted me to pay so that I can message my matches, if I didn’t already have to pay to see my matches to begin with. How crazy is that? It’s wild. Also, I’m not as technology savvy as I thought I was. Some apps just frustrated me as I tried to navigate it, so I gave up on those and focused on a core set of apps, which ended up being the more popular apps (and now I understand why!).

Date 1: Hinge

I’m convinced I’m going to marry this guy. We met up when I was home, so he’s far far away now. The date was fun, like really fun. We met up to go ice-skating and we got drinks after. Also, we are interested in the same things. Plus, he works in the field that I want to work in. And he’s so cute and smart! Really, I think this was a match made in the online databases. I didn’t want the date end, at all. Unfortunately, he had work the next day, like a real person outside of college and had to go home. We talk every now and then, we mostly Snapchat, but I’m excited to hang out when I go back home, assuming we’re still talking then! I wish I had met him here at school, because maybe we’d continue seeing each other.

RELATED: I Went On 7 Blind Dates in 7 Days & Here's What Happened

Date 2: Tinder

After the first date, I had such high hopes for all the others. This one, he will forever be the f*ckboy that got away. Whenever I look back upon the best and the worst Tinder (or online dating app) stories, his name easily makes the short list for both. He was so nice and seemingly perfect. We talked via text and FaceTime for a good couple of days before finally meeting up for lunch at a cute bakery.

It was awkward but also not at the same time. I already knew a great deal about him through talking and I was struggling to think of new conversations. Luckily, he stepped up to the plate and filled the silence with some really great topics. We hugged bye after lunch and we continued to talk for a while. He’d text me good morning and ask me about my day. So sweet. And then one day… he asked for nudes. When I said no, he got so mad and started calling me a slut. Okay, calm down. Then a week later, I kid you not, he goes “When can I slide in that black p*ssy?”

Oh. Definitely not. Deleted. Blocked. Bye bye, forever. This whole thing happened as my friend was writing an article about black beauty and how it’s perceived by people — especially non-blacks, so I definitely told her about this incident.

Date 3: Bumble

I didn’t really want to continue after that, because I felt so self-conscious. Plus, some of the messages I was receiving on Tinder were just very annoying. “I’ve never had sex with a black girl before” and well, you won’t be any time soon with that attitude! Luckily, with Bumble, I got to initiate the messages and they were all very thoughtful.

While talking to the Tinder boy, I was also talking to a Bumble cutie. We bonded over the fact that he knew where my hometown is and he played lacrosse at a school one of my friends goes to. Small world. He was nice and we had so much in common. We met up for some tea and the conversation was so simple and easy. He came over after — to finish the conversation of course. And we did talk… for five hours. That’s it… talked. Nothing wrong with that, but I felt weird sitting in my apartment while he just talked my ear off about all the different types of drugs he’s tried and the ones he just wants to. And then we never really talked again.

RELATED: I Followed My Mom's Dating Advice for a Week & Here's What Happened

He had texted me with a sad face and said “Sorry, I was so high yesterday. I smoked the wrong weed. Still want to hang out again? I’m getting new weed laced with E, that’d be fun to try out.” Not really, dude, not really.

Date 4: PlentyOfFish

At this point, I was so tired of these dates and dating apps. I really didn’t think I would be able to continue this online dating. I was well aware what most guys want on these dating apps, but I’m not one to meet a person once and then get in the sack with that person.

The PlentyOfFish (POF) guy I met seemed promising. He is in grad school where I go to undergraduate, so yay for older men. We met up for drinks at a bar. He was so cool. Also, tall, dark, and very handsome. And at this point, most importantly, he wasn’t an asshole. We talked a lot about future aspirations — he was very professional. At the end of the night, we decided that we really weren’t meant for each other and we found the whole premise of online dating to be awkward. He has asked to hang out again — so that’s exciting (and confusing)! But he seems so extremely dull outside of being extremely ambitious and very busy. I’m down for hanging out again, seeing as we frequent the same bars I think it’s unavoidable because there are only about three super popular bars in the area that students go to. We’ll see. I’m indifferent about it!

Date 5: The Grade

This app is a bit bizarre — you get a grade based on how many people liked your pictures and the quality of your messages. If you get an F, you get kicked off the app. There were only like 10 people in my area within five miles of me since the app was so new! The Grade guy I met was only in town for one night. I’ve definitely heard the whole “Hey, I’m in town for tonight, want to hang out?” before and lo and behold, his miles away status does not change. Maybe it goes from five to nine miles, but that’s still doable. But I was feeling adventurous and I wanted to check out the bar he suggested, so I did it.

RELATED: The Pros & Cons of Online Dating: Should You Try It?

His conversations were so grating and boring, I was so glad he had an open tab. Generally, I enjoy listening to people, but I hate insects and I do not care about their mating habits, ever. He actually did not want to go home with me, which is relieving, but he is excited to hanging out when he comes back… which probably isn’t happening. Sorry. But, I did set my age and mile range to the highest bracket, and I have an A+ on the app, so at least there’s that.

I have high expectations for people I’m meeting online because I can be picky when it comes to filters. And then… well, expectations dashed. I think I’m more of a person who wants to meet somebody in real life. The dates were overall meh, some better than others, obviously. I still don’t think I’m cut out for the online dating life, but I did enjoy the free drinks and food, so no complaints there! All in all, I would probably do it again just for the experiences.

Whether you’re traveling to an exotic location or the beachfront near your campus, spring break always manages to fall short of what you expect. You spend all semester getting yourself pumped up for your week of freedom only to discover that the “all-inclusive” resort was a total rip-off or that your rented beach house was way smaller than what was advertised. No matter what’s on your agenda for your mini vacation, we’re sure you can relate to some of these spring break letdowns!

Expectation: Escaping your college town on an early flight to a tropical destination—you can practically taste the fruity margaritas!

Reality: Waiting in long check-in lines, getting held up at the security checkpoint because of the liquid foundation you forgot to pack in a quart-size bag and running through the airport like a madwoman to catch your flight.

Expectation: Meeting a gorgeous guy who just so happens to be staying in the same hotel as you. Can you say, “perfect spring fling?”

Reality: Fighting off drunk creepers at every place imaginable: the beach, restaurants, clubs and even tourist attractions.

Expectation: Waking up early to a warm sunrise to take advantage of the free continental breakfast and the exciting day ahead.

Reality: Sleeping past noon and only getting out of bed because your friends are noisy and lunchtime is almost over.

Expectation: Blissfully exploring an unfamiliar city and finding adventure around every corner. It’s like you’re in a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie!

Reality: Getting totally lost and trying to figure out your way back to the hotel like the clueless tourist you really are. And don’t forget about the inevitable arguments with your friends about whose fault it was!

Expectation: Eating delicious food from hidden gems you can’t find on TripAdvisor.

Reality: Settling for sketchy convenience store food because A) it is close to your hotel and B) you’re a poor college student.

Expectation: Hitting up parties every night until everyone goes home or the sun rises—whichever comes first!

Reality: Going too hard the first night and needing two full days in bed to recover from a cruel hangover.

Expectation: Showing off your new bikini (and beach bod) on a white-sand beach while achieving a golden-goddess tan.

Reality: Suffering from an intense sunburn (and awkward tan lines) because you forgot to reapply your sunscreen. Putting on clothes hurts and friends are able to send you into a world of pain with just one playful slap on the arm.

Expectation: Sticking to a comfortable budget by limiting your shopping and cooking some of your own meals.

Reality: Blowing all your money on souvenirs at a tourist trap and missing out on cooler, pre-planned activities like jet skiing and scuba diving.

Expectation: Realizing that the close college friends you’re traveling with could very well be your lifelong friends.

Reality: Realizing you should never spend more than two days straight with one of your friends because she complains more than all the students on your campus during finals week combined.

Expectation: Stumbling upon a picturesque spot to take the perfect “my spring break was better than yours” profile picture.

Reality: Dropping your phone in a pool or the ocean while trying to take the perfect profile picture.

On the bright side, these spring break mishaps will make for great stories in the future. Just remember that when your “dream vacation” hits rock bottom, it still beats going to class (because failing spring break beats failing a quiz!). We hope you’re able to avoid these downers during your week off, but just in case, pack a waterproof phone case, some aloe vera and a forgiving sense of humor.

As a feminist, there are many times when I publicly voice my opinion on issues, as political and risky as that may sometimes be. But not many feel as personal and intimate as what has recently happened to Kesha.

I've been following Kesha's case since she came out and told the world her story, because this—supporting rape and sexual assault victims—is something I care about. Whenever anyone steps out into this harsh world to tell their story, I listen, whether that survivor is a celebrity or a college student. Because in this world of rape culture and victim blaming, I feel it's important to stand on the side of the survivor.

Yes, people do stretch the truth about being raped and sexually assaulted. Like any other crime, there are falsified accounts. And when Rolling Stonecame under fire for their story "A Rape on Campus," my heart sank. It felt like something that was happening to me. Because people are already so quick to dismiss survivors when they come forward. Because people are already so quick to point fingers at the very few falsified accounts and say, "But couldn't this victim be lying for their own benefit?" 

These things do affect me, although I'm not Kesha. I'm a rape survivor. And what's happening to her feels sadly very familiar.

After I was raped on a college campus, I was very unsure about whether or not to seek legal action in my case. The fact that I was even uncertain shows just deeply strong rape culture is rooted in our society. If I were the victim of any other crime on campus, such as a robbery or a hate crime, I doubt I would have hesitated for very long before contacting authorities. But I knew that my case was likely to be treated with hefty skepticism, and I was right.

When I did gather up the courage to contact authorities, I was asked all the questions that rape survivors hate to hear: "What were you wearing?""Were you drinking?""Did you initiate any sexual advances or consent to any before the rape occurred?""Have you ever been in a relationship, sexual or otherwise, with your assailant?""What is your sexual orientation?"

Ultimately, I was told that I could take the case to trial, but it would be the word of my assailant versus my word, and I was unable to get any of my assailant's friends (who were present before and after the rape) to testify as witnesses on my behalf. 

Cases like Kesha's are heartbreaking for me, because even though our situations are not identical, when I'm listening to the media coverage of her case, I don't just stand with Kesha. I become Kesha. I've been in Kesha's shoes, just wanting to make sure that I was able to keep myself safe from my assailant, and it breaks my heart that justice was not on Kesha's side this time.

Many others have stepped up to voice their support of Kesha, because this is what we need to do with the justice system does not work correctly. Jack Antonoff, who worked on multiple songs on Taylor Swift's 1989, offered to produce Kesha's music. Zedd also made a public announcement offering to produce Kesha's music. Lena Dunham featured the topic in her newsletter, Lenny. Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to help pay Kesha's legal fees, and then Demi Lovato attacked Swift on social media. 

I don't want to make this into an issue of woman-attacking-woman, so I definitely agree that rather than take the time to debate about Lovato's comments toward Swift, we should all shift the conversation back toward our support of Kesha. The right discussion to have isn't whether or not Swift's generous donation was helpful. The discussion we need to be having, instead, is how we can all support Kesha, and how we can shift our societal mindset and legal processes in favor of victims. 

I completely agree with the idea that people are innocent until proven guilty in our legal justice system. That isn't the issue here. Some industry professionals have argued that Kesha, like many other young artists, just signed a bad contract, but that a contract is a contract and it is still a legally binding document. But Kesha was not trying to punish Dr. Luke with jail time or any other kind of sentence; she simply wanted to break a contract.

While I agree that there are situations where people regret signing contracts, I also think is one of those situations where the justice system has the option to side with the victim, or at least meet in the middle. If a regular working professional woman signed a employment contract at a company for two years, but then was raped or sexually harassed on the job and wanted to legally break that contract because she wasn't comfortable, I believe she should be able to. It's a complicated issue. But all Kesha wants is to get away from her abuser. We may not know exactly what happened between the two, but we do know one thing: Kesha is afraid to work with him. And she shouldn't have to any longer, just like a professional woman should be allowed to quite her job if she suffers from sexual harassment in the workplace. 

Others have also argued that, in the courtroom, it was stated that Kesha won't have to produce with Dr. Luke or be in any contact with him. Some people see that as a solution. But imagine this: You were sexually assaulted by your supervisor at work, and you work for a large company. You were under a contract to continue working there for at least another year or more, and you asked to break that contract prematurely. Instead, you were told that you'd have to stay, but you would no longer have to see your old supervisor; instead, you could work under another supervisor. Your supervisor still works there, though, and maybe he even partially owns the company. There's no guarantee you won't run into him, or be reminded of him, or triggerred by his existence at the company. The bottom line is that you don't trust that you're protected. That's why this isn't a valid solution to Kesha's problem.  

It all comes down to this: There are millions of survivors out there who are watching coverage of Kesha's case, terrified about the outcome. Rape culture traps us all. It traps survivors into feeling like they can't come forward about what happened to them, because even if they do—even if they endure all the prodding questions, all the negative media coverage, all the hundreds of comments on articles calling them liars and saying they wanted it—there is still little guarantee that any justice will be served. It traps supporters of survivors into asking those questions, and wondering if the assault actually occured. It traps us into an endless cycle of victim blaming, both internalized within survivors and external in every fiber of our culture.

Since I've started following Kesha's case, I've been holding my breath. Hoping that, unlike for me, Kesha was able to get some justice. She didn't even want to punish her rapist using the legal justice system. All she wanted, simply, was to be free of her contract so that she could feel physically, emotionally and psychologically safe.

She didn't even get that, and I'm furious. I'm not going to stop being furious until rape culture, victim blaming and this endless cycle are put to an end. I stand with Kesha because I am Kesha. We all are, every survivor out there. When you post comments doubting Kesha, when you derail the conversation by talking about her looks, when you say that she's a whore and she was "asking for it," you're talking about us. You're talking about every survivor you have in your life, and guarantee that you do have survivors in your life, even if you don't know it.

I hope to someday live in a world where consent is a part of public education. I hope to live in a world where Project Unbreakable doesn't need to exist. I hope to live in a world where survivors are supported, both by the justice and law enforcement systems and by society at large, by the media, by their friends and family. I hope to live a world where, when a survivor comes forward, the first question that's asked isn't, "What were you wearing?" I hope to live in a world where male-identified, transgender and other LGBTQ+ survivors feel safe coming forward because they aren't shamed into believing they don't fit the mold of a typical survivor. I hope to live in a world where stories like Kesha's don't happen, and all of this can only happen if we really take a stance. We need to stand with Kesha, because standing with her means standing against rape culture. 

Let's show Kesha our support. Let's show her that she's not alone in this battle, and that even though the legal system didn't support her this time, there are so many of us who do. 

It's here, ladies. The world's most famous cookie, reimagined. Yes, that's right. We're talking about the Oreo—you know, that cookie you buy and then eat a whole sleeve of because they are so irresistibly good? Below are 14 mouthwatering desserts made with this not-so-secret weapon. 

1. Oreo Monkey Bread

Monkey bread is a Christmas morning tradition for some families. Now, you have a reason to make it any day of the year. *currently on the way to the store to get the ingredients*

2. Golden Oreo Truffles

This recipe puts a fresh spin on traditional Oreo truffles. Why didn't we think of this?

3. Oreo Peanut Butter

Um, the new Nutella? We're just saying it's a strong possibility.

4. Oreo Donuts

Oreos in a donut—need we say more?

5. Oreo Macarons

Macarons are the BOMB. We can't even imagaine how good the Oreo-flavored ones are. Actually, we can…it's got to be heaven.

6. Oreo Popcorn

Yum, yum, yum! This is the perfect sweet-'n-salty snack for your next movie night. Netflix and chill? More like Netflix and refill our bowl of popcorn!

7. Oreo Milkshake

Forget that late-night trip to your local fast food restaurant. Check out the recipe for this classic shake to make your very own at home!

8. Oreo Dessert Dip

We can already tell this is going to be addictive—perfect for game nights or when you are hosting people at your house or apartment! It's too bad the Super Bowl has already passed. Guess we'll have to save this treat for next year.

9. Homemade Oreos

This recipe is so fun! Also, this is a great way to impress your friends with your killer baking skills.

10. Oreo Krispie Treats

Just add this to the list of Oreo recipes we can't believe we haven't thought of before…

11. Oreo Fudge

Traditional fudge is great, but adding Oreos will give this tasty dessert an added kick.

12. S'mOreos

Even the name is clever. The next time you host a bonfire throw some Oreos into the mix. Then, please send us an invite.

13. Chocolate Mousse Mini Oreo Cheesecakes

We are so drooling right now.

14. Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe is so simple yet so delicious. How could it not be? It does contain two of our favorite things.

Now instead of eating a whole sleeve of Oreos in one sitting, consult this article and whip up one of these fabulous recipes!