The following editorial is an edition of Fireside Chats with Ryan, a political editorial column. All views, thoughts and opinions belong solely to the author and do not represent those of The Drury Mirror. 

It’s hard not to know who Bill Cosby is. The comedian and supposed “family man” has been the focus of allegations of sexual assault for more than 13 years. On Tuesday, Sept. 25, the allegations finally culminated in Cosby’s conviction of a sexual assault committed in Jan. 2004. And today, we’re going to talk about why this is a great thing.

When the past comes back

Accusations of sexual assault have been circulating since 2005, when a civil suit was filed against Cosby for an assault he committed against Andrea Constand. Though there was no criminal investigation by the police, Constand filed a civil suit that was eventually settled out of court.

Accusations persisted for years until 2014. Finally, women came forward one after the other with allegations against the former comedian. As of today, a total of 45 women have claimed that Cosby has sexually assaulted them; some of the allegations go all the way back to the 1960s.

Cosby’s conviction last Tuesday was followed by an appropriate punishment. Cosby was sentenced to prison for 3-10 years, and the judge also ruled that the former star would pay a $25,000 fine and prosecutorial fees, as well as be legally classified as a “sexually violent predator.” This conviction was for the assault of Andrea Constand, the woman who he paid to silently go away.

The first conviction of the #MeToo era

Cosby’s conviction finally shows that there is a precedent being set for future cases of sexual assault. In the past, accusations of sexual misconduct and assault were swept under the rug or dealt with a simple payout when it pertained to high-level individuals (like Constand’s suit against Cosby).

The reason that Cosby’s conviction is important is very simple; it shows that figures in the public eye are no longer going to receive special treatment. Celebrities like Cosby, Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey can’t just ignore the allegations levied against them anymore. Not only will celebrities finally be held accountable for their actions, but so will other individuals in the spotlight, like politicians.

We’re already seeing the effects of the #MeToo movement in the hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who is currently the subject of a limited FBI investigation, and on Friday, Sept. 28, a lawsuit was filed by a masseur who claims that Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted him two years ago.

An end…and a beginning

Finally, it seems that the era where people turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct is coming to a close. Men will be held accountable for their misconduct towards women both in the past and present. Even though he didn’t intend for it to happen, Bill Cosby’s fall from grace has ushered in an era of responsibility unlike any other, and I personally cannot wait to see what other events unfold.

Article by Ryan Smith.