Steps Taken Toward Access to Free Menstrual Products on Campus

By Ava Diaz

In October 2024 this newspaper reported on “A Move to Change the Cycle to Gain Access to Free Menstrual Products on Campus” in which concerns were raised about the lack of accessible and affordable menstrual products available to Adelphi students. Students shared their personal experiences and faculty talked about the world-wide movement to ensure free access to feminine hygiene products. There’s even a state law as of August 2024 requiring all public colleges and universities to offer menstrual products free of charge in restrooms. As a private university, Adelphi doesn’t have to abide by this law. Nevertheless, Nicole Gaudino, executive director of University Health and Wellness, said she has been advocating for this issue annually and has been seeking additional funding for better access. 

While free products are available at the Health Services Center at Waldo Hall, they’re still not easily accessible when urgently needed. And Gaudino confirmed in an email this month that the university is still without a new grant to replace the one that previously funded menstrual product distribution. Gaudino was unable to confirm a specific timeline regarding progress on the matter.

However, in response to this issue being highlighted in this newspaper, she did report that Health Services had gained access by way of the locksmith to four vending machines in the Center for Recreation and Sports and stocked them with fragrance-free products, equal amounts of tampons and maxi pads available at no cost to students. 

In addition, Health Services received a donation of menstrual products and is working on managing distribution to students. Gaudino said that there are four other bathrooms on campus that are stocked and equipped and that she hopes to increase this number by the fall semester.

In response to reporting about the lack of affordable and varied products in the UC Bookstore, Gaudino said she has requested an update to the product selection and has visited the store to confirm there are both maxi pads and tampons with the addition of cotton organic offerings for both. 

Gaudino said there are plans to stock any vending machine on campus with both tampons and maxi pads and to increase the number of dispensers to include other buildings such as Nexus and the UC.

The attention to this situation can’t come soon enough for students like Bianca Aglibot, a junior nursing major, who recalled a frustrating experience in early fall 2024 when she was wearing her scrubs.

“I got my period in the middle of class and felt I was bleeding through my uniform,” she said. “I ran over to the Health and Wellness Center, hoping they would be able to provide for me. Pads and tampons were not available at the time. But to my surprise, I found a vending machine full of condoms instead. How does that even make sense? I just feel as though my needs, as well as the needs of other students that menstruate, are not being prioritized.” 

The future for complete access to free products on campus remains uncertain. By highlighting the challenges throughout this fight for equity, Gaudino said she hopes to influence both policy and perception. 

“If the pilot program is successful the university will seek to expand the programming, to offer in all on-campus restrooms at Garden City, satellite and Manhattan Campuses,” she said. “For future initiatives I'll seek to publish program successes in a peer-reviewed journal to help destigmatize menstruation.”