As a faculty member at the University of Central Missouri (UCM), I come in contact with students every day who struggle to afford and access period products every month. It is a distressing reality that over 30% of menstruating students on our campus face. This not only affects our health and hygiene but also impacts our academic performance, as we often miss classes due to lack of necessary supplies.

Period poverty is a global issue affecting millions, with one in four women struggling to purchase period products due to financial constraints according to studies by Alliance for Period Supplies. Universities should be places where students can focus on their education without worrying about basic necessities like period products. Menstrual products are as necessary as toilet paper and paper towels in the restrooms. 

I believe that UCM has an obligation towards its students' welfare and must take immediate action by providing free period products for all its students. This will not only alleviate the financial burden faced by many but also promote gender equality, as it primarily affects those who menstruate.

We urge UCM administration and decision-makers in Warrensburg, MO, where our university is located, to consider this pressing issue seriously. Let's make education accessible and equitable for everyone regardless of their menstrual needs.

Please sign this petition urging the University of Central Missouri to supply free period products for all its students, not only in just 1 or 2 locations but in all restrooms throughout campus. 

Background Information

For many individuals, a period is a set back; an annoyance at least or a debilitating and day-altering event. For 1 in 3 menstruators, a period means missing work, school, or other important activities, especially for those who don’t have access to free menstrual products. We believe that not having access to free menstrual products is unacceptable. Period products are much like toilet paper or paper towels in the bathroom: they are necessary and should be free and readily available to ALL, regardless of gender. 

 Students experiencing period poverty face a disadvantage in classroom settings; a recent study in the US found a correlation between students who experience period poverty and students who experience depression: 68.1% of respondents who reported experiencing period poverty every month also reported symptoms consistent with moderate or severe depression, compared to 61.2% of respondents that experienced some period poverty, and 43.4% of respondents who reported no period poverty (Cardosa et.al, 2021).

According to data from 2022, the UCM student population is 54% women, give or take a few percentage points, considering that the data does not include gender non-conforming people and other assigned-female-at-birth (AFAB) trans people. A student population that is over half AFAB people means that there are thousands of people on our campus who menstruate. Periods are often experienced as limiting for a college student especially when they come by surprise; it’s not always easy to know when your period is starting or to plan to have period products with you at all times. Students in this case may phone a friend and hunt down a pad or tampon before heading to class or work but oftentimes that isn’t what ends up happening. Results from a survey provided to UCM community members (faculty, staff, and students) found that 74.8% (out of 237 responses) had this exact experience on more than one occasion within the last six months. Out of those respondents, 29.8% struggle to afford menstrual products every month. Respondents were also asked if they have ever had to leave class or work because they bled through their pants or underwear and 70.3% said they had and 50.6% of those stayed home instead of returning to campus. Clearly, students on our campus are missing classes and work because of their periods and lack of access to free period products.

As student and co-creator of this grant opportunity, Kylie Dannatt writes, “I care so much about UCM having free menstrual products available on campus because I struggle to afford menstrual products every month. When I walk into a bathroom I don’t have to worry about having toilet paper or soap, why should I have to worry about pads or tampons when my period is as natural as breathing? Men on this campus walk into any bathroom and have all they need and it's about time women do too.” If you care about this project like Kylie does, please get involved! 

 In Fall 2023, we received $2,500 from the Alumni Foundation Opportunity Grant to place 30 boxes throughout campus with free period products. Those boxes have been placed and refilled again and again. And now we approaching the time when the grant money has run out. So what do we do next?