The Period Project is a critical initiative supported by the President's Office, aimed at combating period poverty and cultivating a nurturing atmosphere for menstruating students within our campus community. The Period Project is a strategic partnership with the esteemed international company Aunt Flow. Through this collaboration, Aunt Flow will serve as the dedicated supplier for our menstrual product vending machines, boxes, and an array of high-quality, organic period products.
The Project's Purpose
The Period Project was pioneered by Megan Handle in 2022 when she served as the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs in the Student Senate. She had begun with collecting extensive data raising awareness of the major issues that menstruators across campus were facing and how it was impacting their academic success and student experience on campus.
Student Senate presented their analyses to the President's office in the Spring of 2022, which was followed up as an agreement from the President’s office to financially support the installation of menstrual product vending machines and the respective period product supplies across the entire campus. Throughout the summer of 2023 a committee comprised of representation from the President's Office, Women’s Center, Student Senate, Dean of Students Office, and Facilities and Maintenance to work on the Request for Proposals process for companies to apply to be the leading supplier of the entire Period Project.
By August 2023 it was decided that Aunt Flow in conjunction with Classic Solutions will serve as Ohio University’s supplier of vending machines and period products and the committee began working on a rollout strategy.
Facilities have estimated that it will take 2 years to complete the installation and stocking of all university bathrooms.
The Period Project: How It Started
Planned Product Locations
With over 1,285 on-campus bathrooms, the Student Senate decided it is essential to provide free period products to further inclusivity at OHIO.
- All Aunt Flow dispensers are free to vend.
- Dispensers are ADA compliant with no knobs and instructions in English, Spanish, and Braille.
- Aunt Flow pads and tampons are organic.
- Aunt Flow promises for every ten products sold to vendors, one product is donated.
Availability as of January 22, 2024.
| Buildings | Address | Products Available? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Park Place, Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 30 Park Place, Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 95 Richland Ave., Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 53 Richland Ave., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 10 N. McKinley Ave., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 100 West Green Dr., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 82 South Green Dr., Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 200 Richland Ave., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 50 S. Green Dr., Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 13 East Oxbow Trail, Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 61 Oxbow Trail, Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 20 W. Union St., Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 191 W Union St, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 100 E. Union St., Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 4 President St., Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 47 E. Union St., Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 139 University Terrace, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 133 University Terrace, Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 57 Oxbow Trail, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 24 Race St., Athens, OH 45701 | Yes | |
| 25 South Green Dr., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 22 Richland Ave., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 96 E. Union St., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 20 Church St., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 79 S. Court St., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 19 S. College St., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 102 Oxbow Trail, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 111 S Green Dr, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 1 Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 51 Park Pl., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 3 Health Center Dr., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 45 University Terrace, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 42 University Terrace, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 28 West Green Dr., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| S Green Dr, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 106 S Green Dr, Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| 7 Depot St., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A | |
| Ridges Cir., Athens, OH 45701 | N/A |