SCREENSHOT TAKEN BY JAMEJDRA HOLVERSTOTT DURING THE MARCH 26 SGA MEETING VIA ZOOM
Jamejdra Holverstott | THE RIDER
The Student Government Association is awaiting a response from the student health center on its “Pads for Pals” plan.
SGA Vice President for Edinburg Samantha Aleman provided a progress report on the executive team’s projects during the senate’s March 26 meeting.
“Vice President [for Brownsville Carlos] Flores is … waiting on response for the health center regarding the ‘Pads for Pals,’” Aleman said.
Pads for Pals is a project SGA members have been working on to bring access of feminine products, such as sanitary pads, to students on campus.
“So, it’s a project to have feminine hygiene products … at the restrooms, or accessible,” Aleman said. “It’s a project that’s been going on since 2018, and we’ve been trying to implement something like that at the university. We’ve been working with the university health center to have points for students to get feminine hygiene products. So far, I know the health center has some, the food pantry has some.”
She said “it’s a pretty far walk” from the Edinburg campus to the Health Services Clinic if a student at the Student Union needs feminine hygiene products.
“So, a point of place that we all agree on … was the library,” Aleman said. “So, the library has agreed … to be part of this. So, we’re having a pilot program. Hopefully, by the fall, by next fall … [the SGA] is working in collaboration with the library and the health center to provide feminine hygiene products for free for students.”
Berlyn Tijerina, senator for the College of Fine Arts, expressed a concern over access to pain-relief medication for students experiencing periods.
“There are some over-the-counter medications that student health services does offer,” said Delma Olivarez, associate dean for Student Involvement. “I haven’t been to the clinic myself, personally, in a long time, but I know that some of those are just grab and go, depending on what you’re needing.
“But I’m quite certain they furnished little kits for us when we’ve hosted retreats or overnight, things for students on campus. And there might be medication that they are already offering. … I don’t know what the issues are with distribution. … Because it is a medication, we want to make sure it’s distributed in a safe manner.”
Vice President Aleman acknowledged the fact that many students “face financial issues” and may not be able to purchase pain relief medication from the bookstore. She plans to communicate with the health center further regarding the matter.
Asked if these pads would be placed in men’s restrooms, in regard to making these pads accessible to all students, Aleman replied, “There was a survey that was sent out back in 2018, and a lot of the students that responded to the survey mentioned that the library was a place that they thought was a good place to distribute these products.”
Aleman said that, as of now, the SGA has not asked that question and has not been able to discuss putting these products in men’s restrooms.”
She said that for the pilot program, all students have access to the products by asking library personnel, and that the process would be “discreet.”
The next SGA meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 9 via Zoom.
For more information on the history of this initiative, read “Feminine hygiene products on campus,” on The Rider website, utrgvrider.com.
