An independent campus newspaper of Oregon State University, The Daily Barometer, has reported that the university will be providing female hygiene products in the lavatories on campus “regardless of gender.
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Queer Affairs Coordinator of Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU), Julian Chu, said: “With the increasing numbers of homelessness and poverty in Corvallis, this will be able to alleviate student’s budgets to other things such as food/groceries, books, gas, rent, etc.
“We are adding these resources to all bathrooms, as not all students who menstruate are female-identified, some may identify as LGBTQIA+, male, other, etc.
“Those students may not be comfortable entering a specific bathroom if we provided these resources only in a specific bathroom, and would exclude them from receiving these resources.”
First to get the female hygiene products will be the restrooms of the Student Experience and Memorial Union Center.
The campus newspaper added that the idea was originally presented by ASOSU. The initiative was led initially by Eve Selbie, the coordinator of woman’s affairs for ASOSU.
But due to other engagements, Eve couldn’t carry on with the initiative and it is now being presided by Chu.
Vice president of ASOSU, Kylie Boenisch, expressed her views, saying that menstruation is a normal physiological function and one can be in need of feminine hygiene products whether or not they have them on hand.
She added that these products are just like other things required for normal body functions like toilet paper and disposable glasses.
“Access to products is not a privilege, it’s a right,” Kylie concluded.
Chu expressed her opinion, saying: “The MU and SEC were the first ones to start this and we hope for the other buildings as well to find a way to provide these services for free as some locations have limited budgets to do so.”
Director of the Memorial Union, Deb Mott, said that these measures are just another part of the work that expresses their values like accountability and inclusion to the Oregon State University Community.
Mott said: “As the campus student union, the MU endeavors to support the differing necessities of life all students require.”
President of ASOSU, Rachel Josephson, opined: “Providing these services to all genders is absolutely necessary in serving the needs of the student body and also to shape an inclusive future students want to see, and that the world needs.”
Chu added: “What we hope to achieve in regards to applying it to all buildings and having the end goal be where OSU pays for these products otherwise students will still be paying for these menstrual products.”
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