Campus has free menstrual products

Students at Vancouver Island University are now able to pick up free menstrual products on campus.

The university and its student union teamed up last year to begin offering a range of products in the cafeteria, gymnasium, and library.

The need for such items was demonstrated and now the program is expanding.

“This is a barrier to accessing education that VIU is pleased to be able to remove,” said Irlanda Gonzalez Price, university associate vice-president of student affairs.

“No one should have the experience of going without these necessary products while learning.”

Period poverty is a reality that forces many to choose between buying menstrual products or buying necessities for their families, Gonzalez Price said.

“For students preparing for exams or for a big interview, not having access to menstrual products can prevent them from being successful,” she said.

“We wanted to make these products accessible to all that need them, when they need them, in a dignified and private manner.

“Not having a loonie or some change shouldn’t prevent you from accessing the products.”

The university and the student union have signed up to support the United Way’s period promise campaign (periodpromise.ca/pages/makeyour-promise), which strives to increase access to menstrual products at no cost.

The term “period poverty” refers to the lack of money to pay for such items.

Bins are being installed on campus in women’s and genderneutral washrooms on VIU campuses and facilities. Free products will include tampons, pads and panty-liners.

Sean Desrochers, student union director of external relations, said: “Everyone deserves access to menstrual products, just as they do toilet paper or other necessities.”

VIU’s announcement comes as the United Way of B.C.’s period promise, sponsored by Pacific Blue Cross, launches a campaign to collect 700,000 menstrual products — or the equivalent amount in donations — between today and June 7.

It is working on getting free items into B.C. public schools, public washrooms and elsewhere.

Half of everyone who menstruates in B.C. have struggled at one time to pay for products, the United Way says.

More than one-quarter of have gone through a period without any menstrual products.

Organizations and agencies backing the period promise effort include the City of Victoria, the B.C. Federation of Labour, the City of North Vancouver, Houle Electric, and Community Savings Credit Union.