Surveying the Menstrual Equity Initiative

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many in our Pack have had to manage economic and personal hardships related to COVID-19 as well as other life issues. Too often, these issues have included housing and food insecurities, and even lack of access to personal health products. Our Student Emergency FundFeed the Pack food pantryCounseling Center and Student Health Services are just a few of the resources available at NC State to help our students and the wider Wolfpack community meet a variety of critical needs. 

Our network of care expanded to include providing feminine hygiene products, such as tampons and menstrual pads, at no cost. The Chancellor has authorized a one-year pilot program to provide access to free menstrual products in select women’s and single-occupant, gender-neutral restrooms on main campus as well as Centennial Campus. The pilot program will collect the data necessary to launch a full-scale, ongoing initiative to provide free, ready access to menstrual products. 

An initiative of the We Bleed Red student organization, they, along with several university partners, have been working to assess restroom dispensers on campus. They are also working to identify locations where dispensers exist, need to be flipped from coin-operated units, or need to be repaired/replaced.

To aid in the pilot program’s launch, they need help from students, staff, and faculty in identifying types of menstrual product dispensers and potential building locations.

A survey regarding the location and effectiveness of dispensers, types of products and other related topics has been shared with the campus community to gather feedback on this program. It will stay open through Friday, April 8.