Inside Iowa State

Feb. 10, 2006

Feminine hygiene products are provided in all buildings

by Samantha Beres

There are a lot of things we take for granted at work: heat in the winter, cool air in the summer, toilet paper in the bathrooms.

Recently, Iowa State added feminine hygiene products to that list of "for-granteds." (You read it right, feminine hygiene products. Those things you see goofy commercials for when you're home sick watching the soaps. Men, read on. This story has to do with economics, customer service and making the university a welcoming place.)

Last summer, when the task of filling the machines was handed off to Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M), staff did a survey of machines on campus. Basically, some updating was in order.

"What we found was frankly just unacceptable," said director of FP&M operations Dave Miller. "The placement of machines had no rhyme or reason. Some were damaged, some had had no products in them for years." The prices ranged from 5 to 50 cents.

Miller thought he should consult some experts on the subject. The University Committee on Women (UCW) was "more than happy to take this up as an issue," said associate provost Susan Carlson, who sits on the committee.

There was the issue of pricing. Miller's department found it more cost-effective to provide the products for free. Profit from the machines was hundreds of dollars, but it cost thousands to pay staff to fill the machines and collect money.

"Our first response was, 'why are we even charging at all?'" Carlson said. The UCW thought providing feminine products on par with providing toilet paper. "And can you imagine not stocking toilet paper?" she asked. "Of course not."

Lauri Dusselier, chair of the UCW, did some informal internet research and found that many other universities had policies and procedures about who provided the product and how it was installed.

In response, the UCW drafted guidelines for FP&M to use. The guidelines, which are in place today, recommend that all restrooms on the main floors of buildings have a stocked dispenser that is serviced by custodians and that there be at least one dispenser in every building. A sticker can be found on the mirror of every women's restroom to state where in that building products can be found. And, the products are free. (The cost is covered by funds Facilities uses for upkeep of the buildings.)

Miller said the guidelines provide consistency and help to serve the whole university. "It's a win-win situation," he said.

"It's recognition that women need to have a work and study environment in which their basic physical needs are attended to," Carlson said.

According to new guidelines, all restrooms on the main floors of buildings will have a dispenser of feminine hygiene products that is serviced by custodians. There will be at least one dispenser in every building. A sticker can be found on the mirror of every women's restroom to state where in that building products can be found.