What’s the Cause?

Over a quarter of Indiana University Bloomington’s students are a part of the underrepresented minorities (URM) community, and that number is constantly increasing. From 2017 to 2021, IU Bloomington experienced a 4.6% minority enrollment increase, meaning, as seen statistically in the past, the URM percentage averages over a 1% increase annually (Indiana University: Building Futures). Although the numbers are included in the diversity percentage, somehow culture representation on campus continues to fall short. 

Who is it for?

Chrome Hair Bar LLP is petitioning with IU students, specifically minority communities, to advocate and enforce the university’s diversity and equity initiatives through a campus-wide distribution sales plan for inclusive beauty and self-care items, called “CHB Supplies.” CHB Supplies has the opportunity to place quality vending machines in centralized locations on campus that include products like Eco Styler Gel, Wild Growth Hair Oil, moisturizing lip oils, silk or satin bonnets and durags, HD lash sets, simple hair tools, and many more beauty products. These premier beauty vending services offered can provide convenience and quality care to students on a budget. Why not just go to the store? Common retail stores, like Target or Ulta, are typically catered to the white majority while being too expensive for your average college student. CHB Supplies promotes affordability to the young professional at all times, whether it's getting a quick fix after a long night at Kilroy’s on Kirkwood or stopping by for a final touch up just before your dreaded 8 am class.

 
What’s at Stake?

Ignorance to the lack of affordable and accessible self-care items puts the mental health and academic success of IU’s students at risk. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, “Americans cited benefits of self-care as: enhanced self-confidence (64%), increased productivity (67%), happiness (71%)” (Kapil). Also, an analysis from the University of Michigan quoted by Sarah Ketchen Lipson states, “We know that poor mental health is a key driver of students dropping out of college. Therefore, investing in the mental health of minority populations is likely to benefit not only individual well-being but also institutions' bottom lines" (Heinze). It is clear that investing in the physical health and wellbeing of all students, not just minorities, can spike academic endurance and rejuvenate brain focus. All that at the cost of shampoo? Yes, it truly is a simple yet effective improvement to the university campus.

Why now and How now?

We challenge you to imagine being an IU Bloomington undergraduate, and in this case, you are from out of state. As an involved student, you have a very important event to attend on a Saturday, and it is currently Friday. Unfortunately, you have been scheduled for Friday classes, and you are not dismissed until 1 pm. After walking to your dorm, you decide you want to do a nice hairstyle on yourself for the event, but you need the right hair products for your hair type. After a bit of research, your excitement and desire to attend deteriorates when you realize that from your dorm, Briscoe Quadrangle, to the nearest ethnic beauty supply store is a 2-hour round trip walk, one hour there and back. But wait! Maybe you can take the free IU transit, get close, then walk! Wrong. By using the IU Bus, the closest point would still leave you with more than 30 minutes left of walking, making its southernmost dropoff point be at Atwater Avenue. You feel hopeless. Your confidence is ruined. But then, you remember! After the most recent campus additions, you can choose from 3 different locations to pick up your necessities from CHB Supplies: the Student Recreation Sports Center, Wells Library Lower Level, or near the IMU bookstore. So after a quick bus ride to East Tenth Street, your self-care necessities can be grabbed in minutes. 

The CHB Supplies Vending Machine Petition wants inclusivity, style, and affordability for the BIPOC community. Founders Kayla Campbell and Jordan Kimbrough work hard to shepherd the community towards the postulation that beauty is luxury; beauty has a large part in cultivating happiness, which is a basic human right, and can only be described as invaluable. We need representation!

Works Cited

“2019 Report: Transportation .” Transportation Demand Management, 2019, transportation.indiana.edu/about-us/2019report/index.html. 

Heinze, Justin. “College Students’ Anxiety, Depression Higher than Ever, but so Are Efforts to Receive Care.” University of Michigan School of Public Health , 9 Mar. 2023, sph.umich.edu/news/2023posts/college-students-anxiety-depression-higher-than-ever-but-so-are-efforts-to-receive-care.html.

Kapil, Rubina. “How and Why to Practice Self-Care.” Mental Health First Aid, 14 Mar. 2022, www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/03/how-and-why-to-practice-self-care/

“IU Bloomington: Building Futures.” Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, 2022, diversity.iu.edu/annual-report-2021-22/data/data-iub.html.