If you’re like me, or most of America, there are some subjects that are considered too sensitive, too hurtful, or too controversial to discuss. There’s nothing wrong with treading lightly and being cautious about what you say, that is, until others start suffering. In 2015, 23 percent of women reported sexual abuse in colleges across the nation, and even more go unreported. No matter what you do or don’t believe regarding the recent allegations against Bill Cosby, this highlights the epidemic that is sexual assault in our country. Ninety-five percent of sexual assault cases on college campuses go unreported because the women in those colleges, just like the women who are accusing Cosby, have been told all their life that the rape was their fault.

Whether it’s a boy getting distracted in class by a girl or a grown woman being followed home from a bar after accepting one drink, it was always their fault. Because of this, victims of rape never really feel like victims. Outsiders conclude that the women were leading their attackers on, that they instigated this type of response, and therefore never speak up due to the shame associated with what happened. Rapes and other forms of sexual assault are one of the most underreported crimes in the U.S. and we can’t allow this to go on.

Let’s go back to that 23 percent. If a college campus has 60,000 female students, over 13,000 of those women will experience some form of sexual assault in their four years at the university. Tell me why such a growing problem isn’t discussed more? Why can’t we all identify the signs of sexual abuse? This issue goes much farther than just one-time sexual assaults; too many perpetuating domestic violence victims stay quiet as well.

We need to break the silence. We need to talk about this, because if we continue to tread lightly upon a heavy topic, we become a part of the problem.

Here is how we break the silence:

Don’t Be Afraid:

Don’t let the fear of what others might say, deter you from speaking your mind and say what you’re thinking. Your voice is one of the most powerful weapons you have.

Speak Out:

If you’re at a party and you see or suspect someone taking advantage of another, speak out. Never make assumptions about whether an act is consensual or not. Report what you see.

Become activists on campus:

Every college campus needs an organization dedicated to helping out sexual assault victims. Does your campus not have one? Be the one to start it.

Be the one to commit to change & lead the discussion:

This is by no means an easy task. It's an undertaking people have been trying to accomplish since the one in five statistic was released back in 2007, but it’s time to join the fight. We have to show these victims that they aren’t alone and they shouldn't feel any shame. We have to show these victims that they are not defined by what they endured. We have to show these victims that they can speak out with our support behind them and that they don’t have to keep their experiences hidden. With this new year, let’s bring up the discussion about the growing amount of sexual assaults in our society.