In an effort by the Diversity and Inclusion committee, free menstrual products will now be offered in the Memorial Union, William Allen White Library, Cremer, Visser and Beach Music Halls.
The committee has been working on bringing this free resource to campus since last semester. Tayler Loudermill, chair of the Diversity and Inclusion committee and junior social sciences education major, said she got the idea while at a conference at the University of Kansas.
“I was in the bathroom, and I saw that they had free menstrual products,” Loudermill said. “I was like ‘That’s a really good idea,’ and so I just emailed KU and figured out how they do it. Then I worked on implementing it here.”
The initiative was announced by Loudermill at the first Associated Student Government meeting held Jan. 23. Shortly after the meeting, it was announced on Social Media.
Products will be provided in male, female and gender neutral bathrooms on campus. During the pilot period, they will be focused in the high traffic bathrooms.
“If you don’t need to use it, then you don’t necessarily have to take part in that, but it is for the safety and the betterment of all students,” Loudermill said. “I believe it’s not harming anyone. Equal access really means equal access for everyone.”
Two new staffers were also introduced at the meeting. Jocelyne Centeno, junior elementary education major, was announced as the new chief of staff, and Sarah Lewis, freshman social science education major, was announced as the election commissioner.
A few bills and resolutions were also up for first readings at the senate meeting, including a resolution commemorating the founding of Emporia State.
The next ASG meeting will be at 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 6 in the senate chambers on the third floor of the Memorial Union.
