Illinois State Laws:

In 2018, under the Illinois Public Act 100-0163, all public schools were required to “make feminine hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in the bathrooms of school buildings.

The General Assembly finds the following:

1. Feminine hygiene products are a healthcare necessity and not an item that can be foregone or substituted easily.
2. Access to feminine hygiene products is a serious and ongoing need in this State.
3. When students do not have access to affordable feminine hygiene products, they may miss multiple days of school every month.
4. When students have access to quality feminine hygiene products, they can continue with their daily lives with minimal interruption.”

In this section, I will defend and elaborate on each point stressed in the bill and discuss how Illinois Tech can have an impact in growing and improving future legislative decisions.

Menstrual sanitary products are basic human necessities.

The general assembly argues that menstrual sanitary products are considered health care necessities because they cannot be “foregone”. Not only is this true, but it is a crucial factor in why the university needs to consider free menstrual sanitary products. Like toilet paper and toilet seat covers, supplying MSPs supports the personal health of students.

While Illinois’s commitment is commendable, it is not enough. The state chooses when to identify sanitary products as essential. Illinois still currently taxes menstrual sanitary products at a rate of 6.25% because it is considered a luxury item in the capitalist market. MSPs do not even fall under the discounted 1% medical necessities taxation. Titled the tampon tax, the unjust taxation of MSPs decreases accessibility among lower-income groups.

98% of Illinois Tech students receive some form of financial aid. The support students need for the education on campus is clear, and if the university is truly committed to supporting their academic success past a financial level, Illinois Tech should supply its bathrooms with the necessary menstrual sanitary products to ensure equal support. Access to menstrual sanitary products is a form of inclusion and accommodation of the minority population at IIT.

Menstrual sanitary product expenses cause students to miss school.

The general assembly next argues that the affordability of hygiene products causes students to miss academic learning time. Especially when it comes to academia, research suggests there are harmful implications for students who experience period poverty. More specifically students and their ability to attend school due to access to menstrual sanitary products. A 2019 study sponsored by Thinx and PERIOD (2019) to better understand period poverty among students found that “ more than 4 in 5 teens have either missed class time or know a classmate who missed class time because they did not have access to period products,” (Thinx and PERIOD 2019) again reiterating the consequences of period poverty. By providing proper access to MSPs, the university will eliminate students’ inability to attend classes due to inadequate access to menstrual sanitary products.

Menstrual sanitary products influence the daily lives of students.

The general assembly finally argues that access to MSPs supports students and their daily lives by minimizing interruptions such as stress about where they will get their next MSP or how long they have been using their current MSP. The same 2019 research conducted by Thinx and PERIOD (2019) discovered that “61% have worn a tampon or pad for more than 4 hours because they did not have enough access to period products (puts them at risk of infection and TSS)” (Thinx and PERIOD 2019). The minimal interruption the Illinois general assembly refers to is the risk of developing Toxic Shock Syndrome, a rare bacterial infection with a high mortality rate of 30 to 70 percent. Inadequate access to menstrual sanitary products is not only harmful to the health of individuals but is deadly. If the university is to adopt free menstrual sanitary products in its public bathrooms, then like condoms they would serve to protect the health of students.

Forging Accomplishments on a National Level

Currently, multiple European countries have passed bills making all menstrual sanitary products free of expense. In November of 2020, Scotland became the first country to make all MSPs free under the Free Period Products Bill after a study following 2000 students revealed that 1 in 4 students experienced a form of period poverty (Wamsley, n.d.). That same research found that 71% of women between the ages of 14 to 21 experienced embarrassment when purchasing menstrual sanitary products. The population includes college-aged women stressing the social stigmas associated with MSPs. Again, nearly three-fourth of college-aged students are embarrassed to purchase basic health necessities.

Most notably, Scotland started by funding all universities and schools for free MSPs before moving onto the entire country. The bill also discusses the impact of menstruation on student attendance. The research supporting the bill found approximately half of the surveyed students intentionally missed school because of their menstrual cycles. Similar to Illinois, Scotland defends supplying free MSPs by identifying them as basic human rights. In the bill titled Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, Scotland is provided with 98 reasons to implement free menstrual sanitary products varying from increasing access among disabled populations to the need for MSPs in academic settings. Since Scotland, many countries have followed in their footsteps.

It is extremely important to understand the influence academic institutions have on working towards free menstrual sanitary products on a national level. Ultimately it is clear that the first step in nationally providing free MSPs is to provide them in academic institutions.

New Zealand recently followed suit and announced all academic institutions would be required to provide free menstrual sanitary products, in hopes of eventually transitioning their mission to a national level. Countries such as New Zealand and Scotland notice the impact academic institutions have on supplying MSPs.

Providing menstrual sanitary products on campuses undoubtedly academically supports menstruating students by caring for their uncontrolled basic human needs.

The pattern of initially supplying academic institutions and then upgrading to a national level signifies the impact academic institutions have on achieving the ultimate goal of free MSPs. By partaking in the mission, Illinois Tech will be one of many universities in the United States to stand ground and show their commitment to providing access to equal learning opportunities.

The global waste impact of menstrual sanitary products

Another common concern revolves around waste caused by menstrual sanitary products. Menstrual sanitary products are currently a large contributing factor to plastic waste. I suggest that while it can be more expensive, the university should be mindful of its global footprint and opt for biodegradable sanitary napkins if budgeting allows.

Traditional sanctuary napkins are composed 90% of plastic, and the time which it takes for the products to degrade is longer than the lifespan of any individual. It is the environmental implications of MSPs that are encouraging reusable menstrual sanitary products such as diva cups. While there are more environmentally friendly products being produced by companies focusing on minimizing plastic waste in plastic wrapping and applicators, the expenses associated with products can be used to argue against their use.

Part of providing free MSPs is about battling the stigmas that surround periods. Stigmas surrounding menstruation perceive women as “dirty” and incompetent during their menstrual cycles. They create harmful stereotypes around women’s behavior and invalidate their experiences and emotions as byproducts of “PMS.”

Research already proves increased anxiety among individuals who struggle to have proper access to basic needs limited to housing and food. Period poverty is directly correlated with mental health well-being (Cardoso et al. 2021).

The biggest challenge in supplying menstrual sanitary products is ultimately the cost institutions are burdened with. The same way institutions bear the financial burden of toilet paper and toilet seat covers, they should be expected to fund menstrual sanitary products.

Ultimately in an academic setting, while it is important to be mindful of the plastic footprint, accessibility will almost always win. Until more efforts are made to produce affordable environmentally-friendly menstrual sanitary products, the waste produced by MSPs is worth the positive impact free MSPs will have on its student body.

Important factors

The following factors were researched and accounted for in this study:

• American Disability Act
  • Locations of dispensers in bathrooms need to be accessible by all, it is best to locate MSP dispensers at the same height as soap dispensers to abide by ADA guidelines
  • Add braille signs on bathroom doors to differentiate between supplied bathrooms
  • Supply bathrooms located on the first floor for quick and convenient access
• Environmentally Friendly Products
  • If allowed for with a proper budget, the university should opt for tampons and sanitary napkins packaged in cardboard to minimize plastic waste

Main Campus Buildings

1. Selecting Locations: McCormick Tribune Campus Center, John T. Rettaliata Engineering Center, Herman, Galvin,
   • It is important to select easily accessible locations with gender-neutral bathrooms and that have high foot traffic.
2. Dispenser
   • Clear acrylic dispensers
     • Purchased at a rate of $285 individually.
     • The alternative option is to repurpose acrylic dividers previously used for social distance restrictions and build the dispensers

Figure 2: Dispensers at the University of Washington. The image was shared by Amanda Dassoff, Marketing & Outreach Specialist, Building Services Department.

3. Signs to indicate free MSPs
   • Signs should be clear and place at the door of every bathroom stocked
   • Campus maps should reflect which bathrooms are stocked and which are not by adding a symbol.

Figure 3: The University of Washington advertises the location of the supplied bathroom using a website.

On-Campus Housing

1. Community MSP box
   • Runs purely on the honor system where a pay box is placed next to a community basket. This is for accessibility and all funds will be used to repurchase products as directed by building RAs.

On-Campus Food Pantry

1. If the university were to start an on-campus food pantry to support students, it should regularly supply MSPs.

Figure 4: The map of Illinois Tech’s Mies Campus Map above was obtained from the Illinois Institute of Technology website on May 26th, 2021.

Maps such as the above should be redesigned to include a sign that indicates stocked bathrooms.

Implementation Steps

This section contains a detailed six-step implementation process proposal.

1. Survey the current environment to understand accessibility among student types at IIT. The following questions are suggested:
   1. Are you an undergraduate student or graduate student?
      1. Undergraduate, Graduate
   2. Do you live on campus?
      1. Yes, No
   3. What is your Gender Identity
      1. Open text box
   4. Do you use sanitary napkins?
      1. Yes, No
   5. On average, how much do you spend on sanitary products per semester (i.e. in a period of 4 months)?
      1. $1, $2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$9,$10, Other - fill in
   6. What do you feel is a justifiable price for a sanitary napkin?
      1. Fill in
   7. Which of the following menstrual sanitary products do you use most frequently?
      1. Sanitary Napkins (Pad)
      2. Tampon
      3. Liners
      4. Reusable Diva Cups
      5. Other - fill-in
   8. Are you aware of locations on campus where you can receive free sanitary napkins?
      1. Yes, No
   9. Are these locations convenient for you?
      1. Yes, No
   10. How often do you find yourself in need of sanitary napkins and not having access to them?
       1. Likert scale: 1 Never to 7 All the time
   11. How often do you find yourself asking close friends for sanitary napkins?
       1. Likert scale: 1 Never to 7 All the time
   12. How often do you find yourself providing sanitary napkins to your friends and family?
       1. Likert scale: 1 Never to 7 All the time
   13. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: It is important to have easy access to sanitary products.
       1. Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree
   14. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: It is difficult to access sanitary napkins during class.
       1. Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree
   15. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: It is easier to access male contraceptives on campus than female sanitary products.
       1. Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree
   16. How useful would you find free sanitary napkins in bathrooms on campus?
       1. Likert scale: 1 Not useful to 7 Extremely useful
   17. How satisfied are you with the availability of sanitary products on campus?
       1. Likert scale: 1 Extremely dissatisfied to 7 extremely satisfied
2. Implement free MSPs in previously listed locations
   1. Abide by A.D.A Guideline codes in locating dispensers at the same height as soap dispensers.
   2. Ensure the presence of trash cans in all bathrooms for proper disposal.
   3. Advertise to students that MSPs are now supplied through a formal email to the student body.
   4. Any bathrooms with remaining dispensers are to be taped off.
      1. Removing the dispensers can be difficult if it is attached to the structure of the wall.
3. Collect MSP usage
   1. Janitorial staff should be given an additional spreadsheet formatted as follows to ease the tracking of usage on campus. Tracking should be done to study how frequently dispensers are used and to analyze needs on campus.

4. Collect feedback
   1. QR codes should be attached to dispensers encouraging students to provide formal feedback on their experiences with the products and supplies.
   2. Similar questions to the original survey should be asked to compare collected data.
   3. The survey should be simple and convenient for students to complete.
   4. The survey should focus on areas of improvement.
5. Include more bathrooms
   1. Grow the number of supplied bathrooms by 2 bathrooms every year until all of campus is completely stocked.
6. Collect more feedback
   1. The survey serves to reassess the new campus environment and community.

Estimated Cost for Illinois Tech

Remarks on the data from the tables above:

• One thing to note about this data – there was a price increase on all HOSPECO products from 2018 to 2019.
• The information from 2017 isn’t complete and is missing metrics.
• 2020 numbers are not included because of low student retention on campus due to COVID-19.
• The department was eligible for a 1.5% annual rebate from their vendor per their previous contract. This rebate had a cost savings of $15 – 20,000 annually for the Building Services Department.

The Building Services Department (which oversees Custodial Services and UW Recycling) currently has a free menstrual product program in 90 restrooms across 60 buildings on the UW Seattle campus. 12 of these restrooms are all-gender restrooms.

• The university should be prepared to negotiate a rebate that encourages discounts.
• The listed estimate assumes that the usage is consistent among IIT students and UW students.