If you’ve ever had a period, I’m sure that you’ve also experienced the panic that comes with starting your cycle unexpectedly and not having a pad or tampon on hand. That’s how it is for many Moravian students when they discover empty period product bins or limited options in bathrooms across campus. 

Now, I know that menstrual products are not a guaranteed right or a free product often provided by institutions. Neither are condoms. But condoms are provided for free to Moravian students at the Health Center, and at events such as the condom parties in the freshmen dorms. 

Is having safe sex more critical than the hygiene of menstruators? Don’t answer that. 

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Providing condoms (a nonessential) for free while not providing period products (an essential) for free is a whole different conversation. 

The hygiene products initiative was originally a collaboration between USG’s Internal Operations Committee and the Gender Equity Club (GEC), intended to keep campus bathrooms stocked with free menstrual products for students to use when needed. 

However, as many probably have noticed, many of these bins have been empty for the bulk of this semester. When there are products, they are often tampons with cardboard applicators, which are sometimes difficult and uncomfortable to use, or thin panty liners. Many will agree with me when I say that panty liners are not the same as pads. 

Believe me when I say I understand how expensive period products can get. As a full-time college student working a part-time job making just over minimum wage, I know how a singular box of tampons can inflate a trip to the grocery store. It’s often the most expensive item on my receipt. 

Some resident advisors on campus have tried to keep the bathrooms in their halls stocked with products. Many have used their personal funds to provide what their residents need. 

Danielle McEaddy ‘26, an RA in Rau-Hassler, used to keep her hallway’s bathroom stocked. She has since stopped providing pads and tampons to her residents, as it proved to be a significant financial burden to maintain. 

She said there is the option to use the resident life budget to pay for the products. However, she said, “Even if we did [use the budget], it wouldn’t really be feasible to keep the bathrooms stocked because the budget isn’t really that big.”

So, I get that the initiative may have been too expensive for USG to maintain. However, USG is committed to this initiative. They should have followed through and continued to maintain their period product bins. 

And on top of empty bins, there aren’t even dispensers for pads or tampons in many bathrooms. And if there were, most people don’t carry coins anymore.

Ultimately, this was supposed to be a USG-funded and run initiative. Instead, a group of students, backed by Gender Equity Club, SPECTRUM, and Mo’s Cupboard, have taken it upon themselves to collect period products to keep campus bathrooms and Mo’s Cupboard stocked. 

Their flyer reads: “No student should have to choose between food and menstrual products.”

This is the reality many people face. Any donation helps. 

And thus: the praise within the rant. Thank you to those students who organized this menstrual product drive! You are doing great work! Keep it up, and I hope the best for your drive.

If you would like to donate to this student-led initiative, donations of unopened period products (including pads, tampons, period underwear, and menstrual cups) can be dropped off at the following locations: Mo’s Cupboard, with Jaclyn Rodick in the Center for Career Success, with Dr. Stacey Zaremba in PPHAC 229, or boxes by the USG, MAC, and Student Life offices until Nov. 22. You can also make monetary donations at this link: https://moravian.crowdchange.co/53117. 

Clubs with limited funds should not have to bear the burden of purchasing period products for the campus community. While their efforts are appreciated, it should be the responsibility of USG to follow through on its commitment.