An online survey of university students showed that 14.2% of women experienced period poverty in the past year. This means over 1 in 10 women in university were unable to afford period products, such as tampons and pads. (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-01149-5

Period products are just as necessary as toilet paper and so should also be offered for free. U of T started this initiative earlier this year and set up dispensers in bathrooms which require no money. Since Concordia is branded as a Next-Gen University, I think this is the perfect initiative to prove it while eradicating period poverty for all of its students.

Why should it be offered in every single bathroom? Not all women menstruate & not everyone who menstruates is a woman. People who menstruate who do not identify as women face even more stigma, which is why it is extremely important to have period products in all bathrooms; women, men, and gender-neutral. 

There is an initiative in which select reusable period products are currently being offered to students, which is an amazing step. However, not all students may be comfortable with reusable products or perhaps even with identifying themselves as someone who menstruates. Also, they are only available in a few locations. 

Period products are a health necessity for many people attending Concordia University. Both pads and tampons should be offered for free in every single bathroom so that every person who needs them can access them easily and comfortably.