In a Feb. 4 email, Period Activists at ‘Deis student club announced the “huge news” that the Pilot Program — an initiative started by PAD and Student Union — is expanding this semester. The Pilot Program originally launched in spring 2023 with the aim to provide free menstrual products in the first-year residence halls, including East Quad, North Quad and Massell Quad. There were a total of 52 dispensers installed in those dorms, each supplied with both pads and tampons. 

The initiative is now expanding to provide free products in Skyline Residence Hall and The Village Residence Hall, with additional product holders or “caddies” in each restroom. PAD, the Student Union and The Abraham Feinberg Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation all worked in collaboration to make this expansion a reality. This project serves as the next step towards menstrual equity on Brandeis’ campus. 

In a Feb. 6 interview with The Justice, Student Union President Rani Balakrishna ’25 expressed her excitement at expanding the initiative outside of first-year dorms. “I'm really excited about this expansion, because, you know, obviously . . . freshmen are the youngest of us. . . . But also, we want to expand it to as much of campus as we can.”  

While the Pilot Program first reached the Brandeis community in 2023, its expansion is the most recent example of the advocacy work done at Brandeis regarding menstrual equity. 

PAD was founded in 2019 and has worked ever since to make menstrual products accessible to the Brandeis community. According to the student organization's website, PAD “fights for menstrual justice and seeks to uplift the voices of all menstruators. We strive to facilitate access to menstrual products and education, dismantle the menstrual stigma, and advocate for policies that protect the rights of menstruators.” 

Additionally, the Pilot Program is not the first time PAD and the Student Union have collaborated to promote menstrual equity on campus. Their first collaboration related to menstrual justice was in 2020 when nine free product dispensers were installed around campus, as Balakrishna explained. Now, in spring 2025, their efforts have continued and the access to free products have increased. 

The current president of PAD Sophie Glassman ’25, Balakrishna and Assistant Director of Research for ENACT Prof. Charlotte Powley (LGLS) all worked closely to put together a Community and Emergency Enhancement Fund proposal to finance the expansion and additional products. 

In a Feb. 7 interview with The Justice, Prof. Powley explained the details of the CEEF proposal, "We purchased $3,125 worth of Aunt Flow pads and tampons. We used the additional funding from the CEEF grant to purchase caddies that we are hoping to use to expand the pilot program to increase access to menstrual products in Village and Skyline and hopefully beyond.” Balakrishna estimated that the organization purchased 23 boxes with 500 pads in each.  

A large part of the funding efforts came from assessing the student need for menstrual products. The original development of the Pilot Project was based on a need demonstrated through a survey given by PAD to the Brandeis community. This survey was originally circulated in 2021, but an additional survey was sent out by the ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellows and PAD in the fall of 2024 in order to gather data for the new CEEF proposal. 

The 2024 Brandeis Menstrual Product Access Survey collected data that demonstrated students’ need for increased period product access. According to Prof. Powley, there were 191 responses, and the Research and Academic Fellows Menstrual Equity Group Report outlined the findings that ultimately helped support the CEEF proposal. The survey included findings such as, “Approximately 74% of respondents indicated that the lack of access ‘has an impact on their daily lives,’” and “97% of students expressed their belief that menstrual products should be offered in all residence halls for free.”  

Prof. Powley voiced another common argument surrounding the financial aspect of buying menstrual products. “We are not asking students to buy their own toilet tissue. We are not asking students to buy their own hand soap. So the argument that many menstrual equity advocates present is why should this be any different?"

Prof. Powley talked about the dedication and passion of the Research and Advocacy Fellows. She said that “The Research and Advocacy Fellows were really critical in analyzing the 2024 Menstrual Product Access Survey data and putting together the report.” Powley also emphasized the way the fellows engage with the topic. “The Fellows really threw themselves into the [menstrual equity] work and they have not been shy about the research or the subsequent advocacy efforts. They really embraced this sometimes taboo and often stigmatized subject. They have really been amazing.”

In addition to the research fellows, many others became passionate about carrying out the Pilot Project and its expansion, particularly Glassman and Balakrishna. 

Glassman shared her experience on PAD in a Feb. 8 interview with The Justice. She explained that she’s “really passionate about community outreach in general and, so having the opportunity to be sort of the person that’s responsible for bringing products to various organizations within the community that serves people who otherwise wouldn’t have them is . . . incredibly fulfilling.”

Additionally, Balakrishna shared her connection with PAD has been really meaningful. “... I have, like, a special place in my heart for PAD, because I also am, like, passionate about those same things [related to menstrual equity],” the SU president said.  

Balakrishna also talked about those who volunteer to help restock the period product dispensers.  She said, “…We have great CAs [Community Advisers] in North and Massell who are passionate about this and willing to do this on their rounds.” Additionally, there are “a couple of Student Union people and a couple of PAD people working on the East [Quad] dispensers. So that's the old system and how we're maintaining that.” PAD also provides a sign-up sheet where volunteers can sign-up to help restock dispensers. 

However, the reliance on volunteers can make it challenging to keep up with restocks and managing the logistics of the Pilot Project. Both Balakrishna and Glassman talked about the longevity of the program as it relates to financial barriers and student leadership.  

Moving forward, Glassman explained, PAD will be in charge of bearing the cost of buying new products for the existing dispensers and any expansions. “CEEF will no longer be able to fund, we were told. They don’t feel that it is realistic to continue to take out of the CEEF fund so now PAD is 100% responsible for the cost of all products. . .” 

While there have been efforts to have the financial aspects “built into . . . the facility’s budget and have the school carry the cost,” that has yet to be realized, making the financial future of the project uncertain. Glassman expressed that “It’s definitely a concern of how much [money] they’re [the University] willing to give us”

Balakrishna also considered the student leadership aspect and explained that she wants to help the menstrual equity efforts continue after she graduates. She talks about the need to put infrastructure in place to help the next SU president. To Balakrishna, that looks like “transition documents” that outline the role as it relates to menstrual equity and other logistical aspects of the role. 

Glassman also considered the future of PAD saying, “In terms of it becoming a sustainable program, we need to set in the reinforcements now.” So far, the “reinforcements” have looked like new executive board members who can carry on the club after she graduates. “I’m really excited about our new e-board members. . . they are providing hope, which is a beautiful thing.” 

Prof. Powley expressed her excitement at seeing the new student leadership team continue the project. “I am really excited to continue to work with PAD and theStudent Union to help support menstruating students on campus. Again, there is a tremendous legacy regarding these efforts; the fight for menstrual equity is not new at Brandeis. A great deal of work has been put into this effort over the years. I see the issue of menstrual equity as an issue of educational equity and I look forward to continuing to support students and our community overall as we together strive to reach this common goal of equal access to education for all students." 

Balakrishna echoed this sentiment by talking about the ultimate goal. “Obviously, [the]dream hope is to have free products . . . in every building on campus. But that's. . . five years down the road, probably. Because it's more so what's realistic to implement. And it's in increments,” Balakrishna said. 

Powley, Balakrishna and Glassman all look ahead with optimism and excitement, even amidst uncertainty around the funding and organization around the Pilot Project.