Seattle U Organizations Combat Period Poverty – The Spectator

Adeline Ong

Opened pack of Always ultra-thin nightwear pads

190.080.

This is how many period products are expected to be saved in two years from Seattle University’s recent CampusCup campaign AllMatters, a Danish company focused on reducing period waste in universities. AllMatters is working to eradicate period poverty by creating more affordable and sustainable product options for the period. CampusCup is a program that allows schools to provide free menstrual cups to their students for two weeks.

The aim of CampusCup is to provide fair and accessible menstrual care to all menstrual patients while reducing the environmental impact of single-use menstrual products. The average person with a uterus will spend Thousands of dollars on periodic products during their lifetime. For many, this cost can make a difficult choice between menstrual products or other necessities such as food, electricity, and working water that result in the Poverty crisis in the growth phase.

Period products like pads and tampons also produce a significant amount of waste. The average person produces 400 pounds of period product waste over their lifetime without the environmental impact of burning used period products in landfills.

CampusCup is working to reduce the social and environmental impact of the period. It is an easily available and affordable product for those on college campuses on lower incomes, and if used correctly, the menstrual cup will last two years.

Yolanda Cieters, the sustainability manager at the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability, led the campaign. She said CampusCup was an easy choice to get them to campus because it also reduces waste and gives students a more financially accessible option for period products.

“Hopefully the CampusCup can become a long-term program where we can offer free mugs in addition to the free menstrual products already available on campus,” said Cieters.

Cieters also acknowledged that the campaign would not have been possible without the involvement of a large number of departments and clubs on campus. PERIOD, the outreach center, the Center for student engagement, the Multicultural Affairs Office, Members of the campus Facility services and Wellness and health promotion were all instrumental in making menstrual cups available to 360 students.

Chris Fiorello, director of the health and wellness center, was keen to include his center and affiliate club when Cieters told them about the project. He stated that the health and wellness center wants to provide students with the most helpful and accurate information about menstruation.

“Menstruation is a subject that is often not discussed,” said Fiorello. “I think we have to de-stigmatize these issues.”

Madison Powell, a sophomore biology student and member of the Health and Wellness Center, agreed with Fiorello’s claim. She emphasized the positive influence of the CampusCup on ecological and social impact.

“It’s important that anyone who menstruates spread the word, and it’s a really good resource,” she said.

Although CampusCup no longer offers free menstrual cups, they do offer a 20% discount discount code for all Seattle U students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

However, the CampusCup campaign is not the only way to get students involved on campus. The Seattle U Circle K International Club (SUCKI) has started a menstrual campaign to collect menstrual products that will either be donated to a local women’s shelter or to the school to provide free menstrual products to students on campus.

Kerilyn Higashi, SUCKI’s bulletin editor, stated that Higashi realized this would be a perfect project for her service-minded club when her umbrella club West Seattle Kiwanis offered to cover the total number of period products collected.

“It shouldn’t be something people have to pay the rest of their paychecks for because it’s something we just need in our daily lives,” Higashi said.

Circle K International’s Period Promotion runs every Monday during the weekly CKI meetings through November 1st. All products can be handed in at Chardin 145 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

At many events on campus that try to alleviate period poverty, everyone can get involved regardless of their commitment. Ordering a menstrual cup or donating some menstrual products is an easy way to get involved and influence the Seattle U community.