SGA bill will fund free menstrual products on campus
Senators clap at the end of the last SGA Senate meeting of the semester on Dec. 7, 2022.
The Student Government Association finalized and passed a bill that would mean the beginning of free menstrual products in restrooms on campus Wednesday evening.
This project had been in the works for years. Now, after the SGA Senate passed the “Funding Allocation for Menstrual Products,” the process of getting free menstrual products in university restrooms can begin.
“This is a five year old project that has been done by every Executive Branch for the past five years,” Kirk said. “We are now at the finish line to be able to present a bill to the Senate.”
Pads and tampons will be available in dispensers. The products will be dispensed in two forms, a wall dispenser and display boxes.
These products will be available in women’s, men’s and unisex restrooms. Dispensers will hold more and be installed in women’s restrooms while display boxes will be placed in men’s and unisex bathrooms.
Aunt Flow products were selected to be dispersed in campus bathrooms. The brand’s products are organic cotton, plastic free, biodegradable and have no toxic chemicals.
The bill will require $10,300 for dispensers, display boxes and installation costs. Currently, the yearly cost would be $5,430 for refills and upkeep.
Menstrual products, as of right now, will not be in all campus buildings. Kirk and his team hope to expand access points for the products over time.
“This isn’t just a one and done thing,” Kirk said. “This is something we want to continue doing for years and years to come.”
Kirk said he hopes to have free menstrual products in restrooms by the end of this academic year.
The statistics behind the issue
One out of five women in the United States struggle with being able to afford menstrual products. In terms of WSU’s campus, that would equate to nearly 2,500 students facing this problem.
Thirty-five states in the U.S. have a “pink tax,” including Kansas. The “pink tax” is the taxation of menstrual products, deeming them non-essential. In addition, financial programs such as WIC and Snaps Benefits do not cover or reduce the tax on menstrual products.
Where to get free menstrual products now
The Shocker Support Locker has a limited supply of menstrual products available. The pantry is located on the first floor of Grace Wilkie Hall in room 103 and is open to all students, faculty and staff.
The Shocker Support Locker is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
After Friday, the locker will be closed for winter break until Thursday, Jan. 12.
Danielle Wagner was a reporter for The Sunflower. Her favorite quote is by Kristen Costello: "And one day the girl with the books became the woman writing...
Hanna • Dec 8, 2022 at 7:31 pm
Glad to see this happening! Many dispensers become broken or empty by the end of the year and it gets more and more inaccessible, especially in emergencies. Excited to see this roll out!
WSU Student • Dec 8, 2022 at 12:13 am
My student fees are going to put tampons in the men’s restrooms. Where to men stick tampons, because I have a feeling it’s in the same place the SGA has their heads.
WSU Student • Dec 8, 2022 at 7:30 pm
A whole $0.92 of your money is going towards assisting students who experience menstruation. If you don’t wanna pay that, pretend I did and yours replaced $0.92 of my fees. In the future I hope you learn the value of equal representation.
Better Wsu student • Dec 8, 2022 at 7:41 pm
do*
another WSU student • Dec 9, 2022 at 4:30 am
cry.
WSU Student • Dec 13, 2022 at 8:03 am
It’s so that anyone can access them. Trans people, people who want to buy a tampon for a friend, people who need one urgently and can’t make it to the women’s restroom, etc. Chill out please. This is a super cool move on the part of the SGA and I, for one, appreciate them for it. Maybe putting tampons in the men’s restrooms won’t help you, specifically, but it will certainly help others. So maybe think about others instead of just yourself.