Original article written by Sophie Peck of The Kenyon Collegian
After spring break 2023, students returned to campus to find free period product dispensers in several building bathrooms.
These installations, which hold free tampons and pads courtesy of Aunt Flow, are the result of efforts by Sarah Ganz ’23, president of the Kenyon chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action (PPGA). 140 period product dispensers will be installed in women’s and gender-neutral bathrooms across campus buildings.
When Ganz joined PPGA in the fall of 2019, the push to stock bathrooms with menstrual products had just begun. Initially, the group took matters into their own hands. PPGA received BFC funding to supply bathrooms with products and created a committee to handle refills. However, for Ganz, the goal was to have these products treated and restocked the way toilet paper is. “I’m a senior now, and I was just like, if there’s one thing I do before I graduate it’s to get these period products free and permanent,” she said.
Ganz, as a senior, raised the issue of campus dispensers to Vice President of Student Affairs Celestino Limas. Ganz also explained to Limas how the current model for ensuring widespread access to menstrual products was unsustainable and costly. “I saw this particular issue as a need and asked if I could help, as I wanted to be a good servant to [Ganz] and the campus,” Limas said.
Limas then worked with Campus Life and Facility Operations leaders to implement permanent period product fixtures. The College and Maintenance Department now handle dispenser costs and refills, relieving PPGA of these duties. “[Ganz, Jackson and Blake] are fantastic partners who are immensely invested in the campus experience,” Limas said.
Ganz is grateful to see her vision come to life, which will mitigate the stressful experience of preparing for one’s period and securing products that are often expensive and harder to access for those without a vehicle. The group prioritized installing dispensers in gender neutral, employee, and some men’s bathrooms to ensure wide accessibility.
I’m very excited that this is something that’s going to be in place forever.
Sarah Ganz
