Most colleges are back in the swing of things after winter break, which means the parties are just getting started. Unless of course, you're a sorority sister at The University of Virginia.

UVA has been in the headlines a lot this past year. Following the much-contested Rolling Stone article about an alleged gang rape on campus, the university's sexual assault policies were called in to question. In response, the administration placed numerous restrictions on Greek activity — even suspending fraternity events for an entire semester.

But this week, the sanctions were lifted and Greek members were stoked to resume normal activities, including Fraternity Rush Week and most importantly, Boys Bid Night. Unfortunately, only half of the Greek system will be allowed to participate, because on Monday the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), which oversees 26 national sororities, 16 of which have chapters at UVA, announced that all sorority sisters should avoid fraternity events this Saturday.

Wait, avoid is the wrong word. They were told that the sororities would risk major penalties, like having sorority-sponsored functions put on halt, if any of their sorority sisters were caught partying with boys on or off campus on January 31.

The NPC suggested instead that the sororities enjoy a "girls night in" to "help build sisterhood."

Wait, what?

Why are sorority sisters forced to stay home when they’re not the ones being accused of rape? Didn't we leave this brand of victim-blaming back in the '90s?

"Instead of addressing rape and sexual assault at UVA, this mandate perpetuates the idea that women are inferior, sexual objects," read a petition circulated throughout the school. "It is degrading to Greek women, as it appears that the [National Panhellenic Conference] views us as defenseless and UVa’s new fraternal policies as invalid."

The intervention from the NPC is extreme, for sure, and certainly on the wrong side of history - but, look at what they are dealing with here. UVA is one of 85 universities currently under federal investigation for sexual assault cases. Just today, two former Vanderbilt football players were found guilty of raping an unconscious woman, and a member of the Stanford swim team was also accused of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman in a fraternity house.

A spokesperson for the NPC responded to criticism of the mandate by saying, “Of course, NPC supports the safety of their women, so they do support those national presidents making that decision and encouraging sorority women to plan sisterhood events and other ‘safer’ options.”

When people talk about “rape culture,” a huge piece of that is the PSAs, health clinic posters, and law enforcement that aren’t speaking to men about what consent is, and how to not rape, and instead telling women how to "avoid trouble." When the responsibility is put on the victim (of any crime really) it allows us to distance ourselves from them. But we live in a country where 1 in 5 college women is sexually assaulted, so it's no longer a matter of telling women not to drink too much, but instead telling men who perpetrate acts of sexual assault that they're ruining the college experience for everyone.

If you're a guy and you want to help women feel safe wherever they go, visit ItsOnUs.org