Original article written by Maya Geving
Picture this: You’re a broke college student scanning the Target shelves for a box of tampons. The cheapest ones you can find are eight dollars. Between tuition, rent, utilities, groceries, and other expenses, you wonder how you’ll be able to afford it.
This scenario describes the reality for many people in the United States. Period poverty is often overlooked due to its taboo nature. However, the lack of access to period products remains a large problem for many people including college students. Luckily for St. Cloud State, there is a PERIOD. chapter that is determined to solve this issue.
The PERIOD. Chapter at St. Cloud State
The PERIOD. chapter at St. Cloud State was founded in 2021. Chapter President Kara Cowell and Vice President Lydia Krueger saw the issue at hand and took action by working with the Women’s Center to create the chapter. Their student organization focuses on three main topics: education, advocacy, and service.
The Lack of Access to Period Products Presents a Lot of Challenges
According to Cowell, “Students have had a need for free menstrual products for a long time. Many students won’t go to class or will miss tests because they don’t have the period products they need.”
This need for period products among students inspired the Aunt Flow pilot program. The PERIOD. chapter worked together with the SCSU Women’s Center and introduced dispensers with free period products that were put in all the bathrooms at Atwood Memorial Center.
Inclusivity Matters
Cowell and Krueger stress the importance of inclusivity and how it plays a huge role in the chapter. That’s why they avoid female-oriented words and put dispensers in male bathrooms as well.
“Not all people who menstruate are women, and not all women menstruate,” said Cowell.
A Driving Force in Creating Social Change
The PERIOD. chapter has also made great strides toward menstrual equity at St. Cloud State and in the greater Minnesota area. For example, they have hosted period drives to collect period products to put in all the residence halls. They are also working to place free period products in all the bathrooms at St. Cloud State. More than one hundred students have signed up to be involved in the chapter so far.
However, most notably, Cowell got the opportunity to speak in front of state legislators while the Minnesota Menstrual Equity Bill was being proposed. This included two separate bills, one for making period products free in all K-12 schools and another for providing funding to colleges for free period products for students. Both of these bills were passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate.
