Free pads and tampons will now be available on Barnard’s campus due to efforts from Barnard SGA.

On Monday, March 18, Barnard’s Student Government Association (SGA) announced that both tampons and pads will be made available within buildings and facilities on campus. In the email announcement attached below, SGA’s Vice President of Student Services Quan Ha and the Student Services Committee recognized the collective student need for menstrual care products. They also acknowledged the financial inconvenience and frustration with having  to spend money or Barnard points on a basic care item. The pads and tampons being placed within Barnard facilities have been tested out over the past few years and were deemed the best fit for campus and student needs, according to the announcement. A Barnard SGA Instagram post on the matter wrote that these menstrual products can be found in Barnard bathrooms.

SGA reminded students that the tampons and pads will need to be replenished constantly because the tampons have paper applicators due to sustainability efforts. As a result of this, students are encouraged to only take what they need so that other students may also use the items. Fliers will be placed adjacent to these dispensers so that students can notify facilities when dispensers are either empty or are in need of repair. 

SGA encourages students to reach out to their student representatives at sga@barnard.edu regarding further concerns. 

Email from Barnard SGA to Barnard students on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 8:30 pm: 

Dear Barnard, 

Have you ever been in dire need of a period product on campus? Felt frustrated having to spend your points on them? The SGA Student Services Committee totally gets it, so we did something about it! 

For the past few years, we have been testing out several period product companies and holders in collaboration with the Department of Facilities. We are very excited to announce that there are now free period products available to the student body—both tampons and pads! With sustainability in mind, these products use paper applicators and will be continuously replenished, so please take only as you need. 

In the coming weeks, we will also be placing flyers with QR codes around the dispensers in the bathrooms that you can scan to notify Facilities when dispensers are broken or need to be replenished. You can also always reach out to your student representatives at sga@barnard.edu with any further concerns. 

Happy menstruating! 

Best, 

Quan Ha, Vice President of Student Services 

Barnard SGA Student Services Committee

Barnard via Bwog Archives.