In Randwyck, there are already hygiene products in cupboards that have been put in place especially for this purpose. On the other side of the river, only the School of Business and Economics (SBE) still has to instal them. The student fraction of the faculty council asked for them during their latest council meeting. It is most likely that they will be installed, because responded positively. “We are now working on it”, SBE director Pien Versteegh says later when asked. The university libraries have also agreed to participate.
Bloody Serious, FoM’s committee leading this project, wants to put an end to menstruation poverty by offering the products free of charge: when women don’t have enough money to buy tampons and sanitary towels. The free products lead to a more “inclusive environment”, the group writes in a reaction. “Because it would grant equal access to these resources.”
In addition, they want to reduce the stigma surrounding menstruation – that it is embarrassing and unclean. Visibility of the selected toilets – see Instagram (@bloodyserious_um) for the exact locations – helps with that, but as well as that, Bloody Serious is going to organise a series of workshops and discussions on the subject next year. If the trial turns out to be a success after a year, the feminists hope that the UM will continue the project.