Aarykah Navarro/ THE RIDER
The Intersectional Feminist Organization, the Student Government Association and the Youth Democratic Socialists of America collaborated on menstrual equity legislation that could provide free menstrual products to people on both campuses, according to an IFSO official.
The Free Period Products Resolution has been in development for two years and passed the SGA Senate on April 10. The next step is for Ismael Amaya, dean of students, to review it, said Cindy Ruiz, president of IFSO.
As of press time, Amaya was unavailable for comment.
Emily Clark, YDSA chair, said there were two petitions, and the organizations collaborated to pass it as one.
“[The previous one] would [have menstrual products] in every single restroom, and it wouldn’t raise the cost of tuition,” Clark said.
She said, in case the legislation is approved, the organizations would work with on-campus facilities, so it would not be student-run. The resolution also asks the university to create a budget under $40,000.
“[The petition] was slightly changed [so] it wouldn’t be all restrooms at first; it would be a more gradual process,” Clark said.
She added the current petition states menstrual products would be available in female and family restrooms.
Dispensers would be located on both campuses in high-traffic areas, such as the Student Union and the University Library, according to Ingrid Gonzalez, a senator for the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Torres said the IFSO’s End Period Poverty Campaign inspired them to create the legislation because she noticed the dispensers for menstrual products on campus may not work.
She added one in four women experience period poverty, and two in three college students worry about where they are going to get their next menstrual product.
“You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your well-being to manage your period,” Torres said.
The resolution states 58.2% of the student population identifies as female or of a menstruating body, demonstrating a need for free menstrual products across UTRGV.
Ruiz said period poverty in the Rio Grande Valley is significant compared to anywhere else in the nation because some students may face financial hardships.
She added even though organizations do not always agree, they worked together to have the legislation passed.
YDSA collected over 1,000 signatures in a month to present to Amaya and the UTRGV administration, along with the resolution passed by the SGA, according to Dresden Sanchez, YDSA second co-chair.
Sanchez said YDSA worked on two calculations to present to the university.
He said one was based on another university that provided free menstrual products to its students and accounted for its yearly expenses. The other calculation focused on the price of menstrual products in bulk.
According to the resolution, universities such as the University of Texas at Austin have successfully installed free menstrual-product dispensers around campus.
The Free Period Products Resolution states limited access to menstrual products forces students to miss lectures, fall behind academically, and endure harmful impacts on their health, well-being and dignity.
Gonzalez added the organizations are in support because they understand hygiene is a human right.
“As a student myself, I would feel immensely proud of the university, just feel like they have our back,” she said.
