Seton Hall expanded Period SHU’s free menstrual product initiative by providing dispensers throughout the South Orange, Newark and Nutley campuses as of January.
Period SHU is a chapter of the nonprofit organization “Period.” The Seton Hall chapter carries out the organization’s mission of service education through the “distribution of menstrual products” and “promotion of youth leadership,” according to the “Period.” website.
Evelyn Tilelli, a junior diplomacy major and president of Period SHU, said there would be at least one menstrual product dispenser in every building on the South Orange campus, IHS campus and law school.
“The club is not responsible for stocking anymore, it’s the school who is ordering the products and keeping them stocked,” Tilelli said.
Tilelli added that the dispensers would soon include QR codes that students could scan when the dispensers need to be restocked.
Samantha Klein, a junior English major, said the dispensers were “a really necessary addition” to campus. Prior to the dispensers, she said there were times where it was uncomfortable to search for products if she was “in a pinch.”
“To be able to have such easy access to products and staying within the comfort of the bathroom is just necessary, I feel, for the mental and physical health and well-being of all students,” Klein said.
Samia Raza, a sophomore art history major, said having access to period products was important to her.
“Sometimes I forget to always carry pads with me,” Raza said. “You can get your period at any given time, so it’s important to have access to pads and tampons at all times.”
Julia Riolo, a junior communications major, said she liked that the dispensers were efficient and free. She said she had similar dispensers in her high school, but they required students to pay 25 cents.
“It’s not our fault we have periods, so I think it’s good they’re providing for us,” Riolo said.
Thaiba Sherwani, a junior psychology major, said the dispensers gave her a sense of relief when she needed products.
“I’m glad it’s finally been normalized and everyone has the opportunity to use them,” she said. “It’s nice that they’re easy to use and free; that’s awesome.”
Dareen Abukwaik can be reached at dareen.abukwaik@student.shu.edu.
