In the bustling corridors of Western University, a quiet revolution is taking place—one that seeks to break down barriers and promote equity among students. At the forefront of this movement is the USC spearheading the Free The Dot (FTD) initiative, an advocacy project aimed at providing free menstrual products on campus. In an exclusive interview with Maria Farooq, the Vice President of Advocacy for the USC, insights were gleaned into the project’s mission, progress, and future objectives.
“Menstrual products are not a luxury – they’re a necessity,” Maria emphasized, encapsulating the essence of FTD’s mission. The initiative strives to ensure menstrual equity by making products such as pads, tampons, pantyliners, and cups accessible to all menstruating students, regardless of their socio-economic background. Born out of a collective desire for change, FTD gained momentum in 2016, with the initial policy paper laying the groundwork for what would become a transformative journey.
Over the years, FTD has evolved, propelled by passionate advocates like Maria and preceding Vice Presidents of UA. From securing funding from Western, to strategically placing dispensers across campus, every step has been meticulously planned to maximize impact. ‘s tenure has witnessed significant strides, from conducting student feedback surveys to lobbying university administration for sustained support.
One of the critical milestones in FTD’s journey was the acquisition of $800K from Western University in 2022 during its initial stages as a pilot project. This substantial investment marked a turning point, allowing the initiative to expand its reach and impact. However, as Maria highlighted, FTD is not just about financial transactions; “it’s about fostering conversation, gathering data, and vocal advocacy”.
Central to FTD’s success is its data-driven approach. Through the student feedback survey that ran from March to October of 2023, the initiative continually assessed its effectiveness and identified areas for improvement.
More than 500 students expressed their views on FTD, shedding light on the accessibility and effectiveness of its services. The survey revealed that although the majority of students acknowledge the benefits of Free the Dot, they expressed dissatisfaction with the availability of services. Notably, menstrual products are not uniformly available in all washrooms, and even when present, the dispensers are frequently empty. Many students expressed frustration at the discrepancy between their expectations and the reality of often finding Free the Dot products out of stock.
Additionally, students also called for greater expansion and investment in FTD’s services, including the recreation center, and other high-traffic washrooms such as the Taylor and Weldon libraries, FIMS/Nursing building, and Health Sciences building. Respondents also called for greater promotion of these services since “many students described not being aware of where to find menstrual product dispensers throughout campus.”
As Free The Dot concludes its second year as a pilot project, the focus remains on scalability and sustainability. Maria’s vision includes expanding the initiative to every washroom on the main campus, ensuring that no student is left behind: “My goal is for Citron machines to be expanded to all washrooms across campus and for Western to commit to the provision of free menstrual products in future budgets as part of its ongoing operations. The next time machines go up, we want to be strategic about it and plant them in high-traffic washrooms and not just in the corner somewhere.” With strategic planning and collaboration with the university, FTD aims to transition from a USC-led initiative to a collaborative effort with Western University.
In the pursuit of menstrual equity, FTD serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring change and challenging the status quo. Through advocacy, collaboration, and determination, the USC is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future at Western University.