Our residence hall vending machines should sell tampons, not just condoms

This is what pretty much every single vending machine in a Rutgers residence hall looks like.

So Rutgers is going to acknowledge that sex is a regular occurrence – and that’s a good thing – but for 53 per cent of its student population so is menstruating.

Condom, condom, napkins, Advil, condom, condom, gum, condom.

I want to know why every time I walk up to a vending machine in a dorm or apartment building it’s fully stocked with condoms but I can’t find a single pad or tampon.

Why does no one want to talk about the P word? It’s natural for crying out loud. If sex is going to be deemed a natural thing people shouldn’t get squeamish or uncomfortable when talking about menstruation.

If we are going to remove the stigma around it, we need to start selling tampons just as readily and openly in our vending machines as we currently do with condoms.

Gea, an SAS senior Anthropology major, agrees. “Everyone knows women menstruate, but nobody ever wants to publicly acknowledge it. While it’s great that safe sex is being supported, it wouldn’t hurt to have a few tampons and pads in the vending machines that would help out half of the Rutgers population.”

Obviously I’m not saying Rutgers is sexist or has it out for their female students, but hey, if I’m at that point in the month and my stash ran out it would be nice to not have to leave the building to get some. But like c’mon help a sista’ out.