J.R.

InSupportofPlacingMenstrualHygieneProductsinHighTraffic
CampusCenters

INTHEUNIVERSITYOFTEXASATAUSTINSTUDENTGOVERNMENT

Authors: REPRESENTATIVEFABIOLABARRETO(CollegeofLiberalArts),CASEYBRENNAN(President,
CommunicationCouncil),REPRESENTATIVEKATARINADELAROSA(CollegeofLiberalArts),
REPRESENTATIVERAPHAELJAQUETTE(CollegeofLiberalArts),JULIAOHANLON(Financial
Director,CommunicationCouncil),JORDEERODRIGUEZ(President,LiberalArtsCouncil;Member,
TexasOrangeJackets),ANDUMAVAIDYANATHAN(Member,TexasOrangeJackets)

Sponsors: SPEAKERMADISONHUERTA(StudentGovernmentAssembly),REPRESENTATIVEKENWOO
KIM(CollegeofLiberalArts),TEXASORANGEJACKETS,ANDREPRESENTATIVEMAHER
RAHMAN(University-Wide)

WHEREAS, TheUniversityofTexasatAustinhasastudentpopulationthatcomprisesof51.1%
females;1and,

WHEREAS, Menstruatingindividualsbegintheirperiodsaroundtheageoftwelve,andenter
menopausearoundtheageoffifty;2and,

WHEREAS, TheTexasConstitution'staxcodedoesnotexemptfemininehygieneproductsfrom
salestaxes,despitethefactthattheyaredeemedmedicallynecessarybymedical
professionals;3and,

WHEREAS, TheNewYorkCityCouncildeemedtamponsasnecessaryastoiletpaper;4and,

1https://www.utexas.edu/about/facts-and-figures
2http://www.huffingtonpost.com/?icid=hjx004
3http://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2016/12/26/texas-lawmakers-want-help-women-removing-tampon-tax-period
4http://www.smh.com.au/world/theyre-as-necessary-as-toilet-paper-new-york-approves-free-tampons-20160623-gpqodv.html
WHEREAS, Tamponsandpadscancostapersonupto$7-$10everymonth,amountingtomore
than$18,000overalifetime;5and,

WHEREAS, 86%ofmenstruatingindividualsarecaughtwithoutneededsuppliesinpublic;6and,

WHEREAS, Femininehygieneproductsareamongstthemostrequesteditemsbyhomeless
shelters;7and,

WHEREAS, MenstruatingpeoplebecomesusceptibletoToxicShockSyndrome,apotentially
deadlydisease,iftheydonotchangetheirtamponeveryfourtosixhours8;and,

WHEREAS, Morethanathirdofallcasesoftoxicshockinvolvemenstruatingindividualsunder
theageofnineteen;9and,

WHEREAS, [Menstruatingindividuals]riskfindingthemselvesinasituationwheretheylose
theirdignityandfeelhumiliatedbecauseoftheconsequencesofnothavingaccessto
whattheyneed;10and,

WHEREAS, Menstruatingindividualsoftentimesmissschoolbecausetheydonothavemenstrual
productsandendureembarrassmentandbullyingbecauseofthestigmasurrounding
menstruation;11and,

WHEREAS, TheUniversityofArizona,ColumbiaUniversity,ReedCollege,andtheUniversityof
Minnesota,amongothers,havelaunchedprogramstoprovideaccessiblemenstrual
hygieneproductsoncampus;12and,

WHEREAS, StudentattendanceinNewYorkCityschoolsactuallyincreasedby2.4percentafter
NewYorkCitypassedlegislationinJulytoprovidefreemenstrualproductsinall
publicschools;13andtherefore,

BEITRESOLVED,ThattheSenateofCollegeCouncilsandUTStudentGovernment,along
withtheirrespectiveassemblies,supporttheplacementofmenstrualhygiene

5http://www.kvue.com/mb/news/college-students-are-demanding-free-tampons-on-campus/382454108
6http://www.kvue.com/mb/news/college-students-are-demanding-free-tampons-on-campus/382454108
7http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/25/the-fight-to-give-homeless-women-a-dignified-period.html

8http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/understanding-toxic-shock-syndrome-basics#1
9http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/understanding-toxic-shock-syndrome-basics#1
10http://college.usatoday.com/2017/01/04/college-students-are-demanding-free-tampons-on-campus/
11http://www.kvue.com/mb/news/college-students-are-demanding-free-tampons-on-campus/382454108
12http://college.usatoday.com/2017/01/04/college-students-are-demanding-free-tampons-on-campus/
13http://college.usatoday.com/2017/01/04/college-students-are-demanding-free-tampons-on-campus/
 productsinmajorbuildingsacrossTheUniversityofTexasatAustin(including,
butnotlimitedto:Perry-CastaedaLibrary,EngineeringTeachingCenterII,Dell
MedicalSchool-HealthLearningBuilding);andtherefore,

BEITFURTHERRESOLVED,ThatStudentGovernmentandtheSenateofCollegeCouncils
supportcampus-widemeasurestomaintainandfundthedistributionofmenstrual
hygieneproducts;andtherefore,

BEITFURTHERRESOLVED,TheWomensResourceAgencyofUTStudentGovernment
coordinatewiththeGenderandSexualityCenter,TexasOrangeJackets,Texas
Blazers,andtheSenateofCollegeCouncilstoannuallysustainthecollectionand
distributionofmenstrualhygieneproducts;andtherefore,

BEITFURTHERRESOLVED,ThattheOfficeoftheDeanofStudentsandUniversityHealth
Servicescontributetothisinitiativethroughcontinuedfundinganddistributionof
menstrualhygieneproductsinhightrafficcampuscenters;andtherefore,beit
further,

BEITFURTHERRESOLVED,ThatacopyofthisresolutionbesenttotheMr.Gregory
Fenves,PresidentofTheUniversityofTexasatAustin;Dr.SonciaReagins-Lilly,
DeanofStudents;LizElsen,InterimDirectoroftheGenderandSexualityCenter;
GeoffreyR.Bahre,BuildingManagerofthePerry-CastanedaLibrary;TriciaBerry,
WomeninEngineeringProgramCoordinator;andTheDailyTexan.