CINCINNATI — Xavier University will soon provide free feminine hygiene products on campus in response to a unanimous vote from its student government.
“I think it’s really important,” freshman Kourtney Williams said Monday. “The bookstore offers pads you can buy, (but) they’re really high in price.”
“Those little costs add up throughout your course of four years,” added fellow freshman Robert Goldsberry. “Being able to have those provided by the university, it shows that they care.”
Student leaders weighed the issue of providing free pads and tampons for years, student body vice president Mahnoor Zahra said. How much would it cost? Would it be sustainable?
In the end, they agreed to take the cost out of the student government association’s budget: About $4,000 to provide free tampons and pads in women’s and gender-neutral bathrooms in two campus buildings for three years.
Zahra said it’s a common-sense measure to ensure the entire student body can access the products they need.
“It’s not our choice,” she said. “Like, ‘Oh, should I have a period or not?’ It becomes a struggle in your day-to-day life. You might miss your class or your meeting.”
The hygiene products will be available in the Gallagher Student Center and the Health United building, according to Zahra.
If the program is successful and people use it for the first three years, Zahra said the student government hopes the university will eventually pick up the tab.
