As menstrual products hit shockingly high prices, the less people are able to buy these necessary products. Period poverty has become more common, with nearly 17 million women in the United States affected by it. I have witnessed at our university, specifically at the Tampa campus, women not being able to access period products. These products are vital to our health, and should not be treated as a convenience, but a necessity.

I decided to start this petition with making a formal submission to the University in mind, asking to provide free menstrual products to students. We already have the Feed-A-Bull Food Pantry at the USF Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota-Manatee campuses, which all rely on food and monetary donations from individuals and is supported by the Student Health & Wellness Center. If we have this kind of support regarding food and nutrition, then why not set up support for menstrual products? Whether it be potentially expanding this initiative or creating our own specifically for menstrual products, change is essential for the health of this institution's students.