Crista Thyvelikakath, Vice President of The Period Project at UT Dallas, wrote that Oct. 7 is National Period Day and they’re planning a rally on campus from 11 a.m.-noon asking for access to free menstrual products.
The rally for free menstrual products in campus restrooms will take place at The Plinth in front of the campus Student Union. “We believe that all students, faculty, and staff should have access to free menstrual products in campus restrooms, so our advocacy team is writing a letter to UTD Administration,” she wrote.
The lack of access to menstrual products is a serious problem among college students. When The Period Project conducted a small-scale survey among menstruators at UT Dallas, 97 percent of them said they have had to create makeshift menstrual products out of paper towels, toilet paper, etc., because they did not have access to menstrual products in bathrooms.
A lack of access to menstrual products affects the mental and physical health of students. UT Dallas must create equitable restrooms for menstruators and provide free menstrual products.