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Purdue University will begin offering free feminine hygiene products in bathrooms

Posted at 6:28 AM, Feb 10, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-10 06:28:39-05

WEST LAFAYETTE — Soon students, staff, and visitors can get tampons, pads, and similar products for free at Purdue University.

Student advocates have been pushing to make feminine hygiene products free for several years. Audrey Ruple, the chair of the Equity and Diversity Committee, is part of a faculty group that supported the change.

"This is something that we see over and over in the U.S., but around the world too, where women are treated in an inequitable fashion than men," Ruple said. "So the fact that we have sanitary products that were charging for women, whereas we're not charging for things like toilet paper or paper towels, or even soap and soap dispensers, which are also hygiene products."

Free products will be available in every campus bathroom that already has feminine hygiene dispensers.

This is an issue RTV6 has been following for months. In November, we told you about the organization 'Project Period.'

The group distributes pads, tampons, wipes, and even carrying bags to school in downtown Indianapolis, Franklin and Perry Townships, and Decatur Central. They also make deliveries to homeless and youth shelters.