Let’s begin this post with the short story that inspired me to write this.

A few weeks ago I found myself in Indiana University’s Media School for the first time. I had never been in the building before and was surprised to see that there is a (roughly) 15-foot by 15-foot television screen suspended in the air in the commons area. I must confess that it looks really cool; it adds a lot of aesthetic to the room, but it struck me as unnecessary when I noticed that not a single person in the room was watching it. I went to the bathroom after I left the commons area and will never forget what happened while I was in there. I was washing my hands when a girl came out of one of the stalls carrying what was very obviously a used tampon. I thought it was very odd that she didn’t just throw it away in one of the used sanitary napkin boxes that are so often inside female stalls. She quickly looked around and noticed that the one, twelve inch tall trashcan in the entire bathroom was so full that paper towels cluttered the floor. Flustered, (and realizing that there was nowhere to put her tampon) she thrust it in the front pocket of her backpack and practically ran out of the door. I stood there, mortified for her. I rushed into the stall she had come out of, and then into every stall on each side of it. There was not a single sanitary napkin box in any of them. To this poor girl, whoever you are: I am sorry. I see you.

So please… tell me, IU. How is it that you justify spending money on a 15-foot by 15-foot television in the commons area instead of spending money on 6-inch by 6-inch metal boxes inside female stalls? May I remind you that having periods is not something that a woman CHOOSES? May I remind you that sanitary napkin boxes are a necessity for women? I am surprised that it has taken me three and a half years of college to realize that IU is not equitable for all people. But I am getting too worked up. Let’s bring in another example of the inequity faced by others at this institution. I have a friend who recently shared with me that because of her disability, she often uses the ramps located at one of the entrances to the many buildings on campus. She told me that during the winter, these ramps are very rarely salted and are extremely slippery because of the ice and snow (though the sidewalks and stairs entering the building are always salted). On numerous occasions, she has fallen and has had to call for her roommate to come help her up. She misses a lot of class in the winter due to the fear of falling. This is inequitable and cannot go on any longer. Education is at stake here, IU. Shame on you.