West Chester, Pa – Yesterday, First Lady Lori Shapiro visited West Chester University to highlight the university’s new program that offers free menstrual products across campus. She met with students, faculty, staff, and administrators to discuss the importance of ensuring students have access to period products and learn more about student needs.
“Period products are a basic hygiene necessity for students, yet too many young people across the Commonwealth face uncertainty about access during the school day,” said First Lady Lori Shapiro. “I was grateful to visit West Chester University today to learn more about how they launched the Period Project to help provide free menstrual products in campus bathrooms and hear directly from students about how it’s impacting their lives. This program will help move past stigma, provide essential health products, and give students the dignity and peace of mind they deserve.”
West Chester University has taken significant steps to help meet their students’ most basic needs in and out of the classroom. Inspired by a capstone project led by West Chester students collecting data on the need for menstrual equity on campus, West Chester leadership approved the installations of brand new dispensers in highly frequented bathrooms on campus at no costs to students. West Chester’s Facilities Department will provide all the inventory, distribution and maintenance for multiple dispensers found in on campus bathrooms to provide free menstrual products.
“It was a great honor to welcome First Lady Lori Shapiro, Senator Comitta, and Acting Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe to our campus yesterday,” said Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, President of West Chester University. “Thanks to the First Lady, the engagement with our students who are working to address basic need insecurities among their peers was both inspiring and affirming. The visit not only validated the important work that our students and the University are doing, but also created a valuable opportunity for the students to share their experiences directly with those who are equally concerned with ensuring the success of all students throughout the Commonwealth.”
“We all have basic needs to live safe, healthy, and productive lives. As a West Chester University alumna, I am so proud that our campus is a leader in ensuring that students have access to the nutrition, period products, and other basic necessities they need to live, learn, and grow,” said State Senator Carolyn Comitta. “No student should have to miss class because they cannot access menstrual hygiene products. No student should have to go hungry to access the dream of higher education. Thanks to the work of our student leaders, WCU staff, Dr. Bernotsky, and Governor Shapiro and First Lady Shapiro, they won’t.”
Governor Shapiro is committed to ensuring that students have the necessary tools to succeed in the classroom, which is why he secured $3 million in his 2024 budget to provide free menstrual products for students in K-12 schools. In his 2025 budget proposal, he called for another $3 million to continue providing these products at no-cost for students.
“Access to period products is about equity, dignity, and removing barriers to education,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “No student should have to choose between their health and their education. I commend West Chester University for taking this important step and setting a powerful example of what it means to truly support students’ well-being inside and outside the classroom.”
“The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement applauds West Chester University for launching this program and providing free period products to ensure no student has to miss class due to the lack of access,” said Ruby Mundok, Executive Director, Governor’s Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement. “It’s great to see more Commonwealth universities prioritizing students’ basic hygiene needs and working to destigmatize the topic and amplify student voices.”
Pennsylvania’s young women deserve peace of mind so they can focus on academic learning, attendance, and health. This is an issue First Lady Shapiro has engaged on directly, visiting nonprofits that work to distribute feminine hygiene products in communities, inviting stakeholders to the Governor's Residence, and visiting schools across the Commonwealth to hear from students directly. She has also heard directly from young women about the importance of access to these products.
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