Access to free period products had been an issue for several private universities including Chapman University, Loyola University, Loyola Marymount University and Pepperdine University. However these schools are setting an example for other private universities to follow, one period product at a time.
Public universities are mandated by law to provide free period products in California, according to a 2021 CNN article. Some students, such as Pepperdine senior Katherine Bush, said they feel there is a need for free period products beyond the scope provided by The Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021.
Various private universities around the country have created their own solutions or use various pre-existing programs to provide students with access to these products, but not all private universities have accomplished this. Bush, has experienced the inconvenience that comes from a lack of period products.
“Nobody carries quarters these days,” Bush said. “Even if the machines are stocked, nobody can get anything because we all use our credit cards.”
Students like Bush said they feel the need for free period products. There are plenty of examples that private institutions can follow to learn how to implement free period products on their campuses. These examples include the new Free Feminine Product initiative at Pepperdine University, the established initiatives at other private universities and companies like Aunt Flow.
Pepperdine’s Initiative Answers The Call for Action
Bush, who was asked about free period products prior to Pepperdine’s initiative, said her friends were often texting one another for a pad or tampon if they forgot one while on campus.
Period product dispensers would be helpful to students if they were updated and stocked. The machines looked broken and Bush wasn’t sure how they worked, Bush said.
“I think they [filled dispensers] would be really helpful,” Bush said. “If they [Pepperdine] really want to profit off women’s periods, then they should add a credit card feature. However, I believe they should be free because a woman’s period should not be a detriment to their pay.”
Luckily, Bush’s desires were answered with Pepperdine’s new period product initiative.
Pepperdine University’s Student Government Association started a new pilot program in which free menstrual product dispensers replaced old machines in bathrooms around campus.
SGA allocated around $12,000 to new menstrual product dispensers and free period products for the five most populated restrooms, Student Body President Myers Mentzer said.
These dispensers were installed in the Tyler Campus Center (TCC), Black Family Plaza Classrooms (BPC) and in each floor of the Center for Communication and Business (CCB), Mentzer said.
However, since this is a pilot program, the first year is a learning curve for the program, according to Mentzer.
“They’re [facilities] just looking at a lot of research,” Mentzer said. “So if they’re like, ‘Okay, this needs to be filled faster,’ then they’re looking into that. And if they’re needing more products, I’m assuming they would come back to SGA for help with funding for the first year.”
There is also uncertainty regarding the absorption of the cost for this program in subsequent years since SGA only funds pilot programs, according to Mentzer.
“After this year, we won’t be funding it, that would go to facilities to find the funding for,” Mentzer said.
Even though SGA can only fund the first year of the program, Mentzer believes that keeping this initiative in subsequent years and possibly expanding to more bathrooms around campus is the goal of the facilities department.
“Hopefully, if it goes well, maybe there could be more implemented in the future, cause it’s only just the beginning,” Mentzer said.
Chapman University Initiative
Similar to Pepperdine, Chapman University began providing free menstrual products in 2018 to bathrooms around their campus. This initiative was spearheaded by the Chapman Diversity Project, according to Chapman News.
Alisa Driscoll, vice president of community relations at Chapman University, helped to lead this initiative on campus.
The idea of providing free menstrual products first came about through Chapman’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion project, Driscoll said.
“It’s a socioeconomic issue,” Driscoll said, “Menstrual products are very expensive.”
Driscoll said that rather than partnering with a company like BloodBuds or Aunt Flow, they coordinated with their facilities company, Aramark.
“Aramark has been incredibly supportive,” Driscoll said. “We just included those costs in the facilities budget for maintaining those products on campus.”
Six years later and there have not been any issues regarding the maintenance of these products, Driscoll said.
“I’ve never walked into a bathroom and seen a bin empty or the dispenser not working or anything like that,” Driscoll said.
To other schools looking to provide free menstrual products, Driscoll explains that the student perspective is of the utmost importance.
“I would definitely consider bringing together passionate people at the table who are really interested in advocating for something like this and making sure that your campus is as equitable as possible for as many folks as possible,” Driscoll said.
Aunt Flow Solution
Another possible solution for private schools across the country is the Aunt Flow company.
Aunt Flow was founded by Claire Coder after she got her period in public at age 18 and did not have any period supplies to help with this emergency, according to the Aunt Flow website.
Ben Weiner, an account executive for Aunt Flow, said that the company is partnered with over 800 colleges and universities.
“It’s not nearly enough,” Weiner said in relation to the amount of schools they are partnered with.
Aunt Flow provides dispensers for easy installation in schools, universities, and workspaces across the country.
This infographic details how the Aunt Flow company works for different businesses and schools that choose to partner with them. Source: Aunt Flow website
Valencia, a senior at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), said she benefits from the free period products provided by Aunt Flow.
“It is extremely helpful,” Valencia said. “Sometimes I don’t have time to go to my dorm between classes and I always find it so useful.”
LMU first partnered with Aunt Flow in 2020 to begin the first phase of providing free menstrual products in restrooms around campus.
“I love knowing that in the worst-case scenario, I have free period products and they are very easily accessible,” Valencia said.
Aunt Flow placed seven dispensaries around LMU’s campus for all students to access, as reported by The Los Angeles Loyolan.
They also have tools such as a pricing calculator which helps determine the amount of products a school will need for a year, Weiner said.
Additionally, Aunt Flow guarantees organic products, helping to ensure that menstruators always have quality products, according to Weiner.
However, there are a few areas where Aunt Flow falls short.
There is only one absorption level offered at the moment, Weiner said.
There is also the issue of how to finance the program, according to Weiner.
“Funding tends to be a barrier,” Weiner said.
Facilities does not always want to add this additional cost or student government associations may start the program, but struggle to maintain it, Weiner said.
Funding, however, is not only an issue on the university level, but for individual students too.
Period Poverty
This infographic details the percentage of different populations that struggle with period poverty. Source: Alliance for Period Supplies
Individual students sometimes struggle with period poverty.
Period poverty refers to the inability to afford or access period products. These products include pads, tampons, liners, menstrual cups and other basic hygiene items required to manage a period, according to Alliance for Period Supplies.
When people do not have access to period supplies, they may have to miss school, work or use proxy items such as toilet paper, according to Alliance for Period Supplies.
“There are a lot of low-income students that have to worry about economic issues,” Valencia said. “Knowing that they have free period products is one less worry for them.”
One out of four students has missed school due to a lack of period supplies, according to the Alliance for Period Supplies.
Four in five teens have missed class time or know someone who has because of a lack of access to period supplies, according to Alliance for Period Supplies.
“You don’t expect students to bring toilet paper down with them to campus so why should we expect them to do the same for tampons,” Mentzer said.
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Contact Mackenzie Krause via email: mackenzie.krause@pepperdine.edu
