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These baskets contain products stocked by ASG
STORY AND PHOTOS BY REBEKAH THOMPSON
STAFF WRITER
First it was the dinosaurs, then went the
payphones — thanks to the Associated Student
Government, we say can now say farewell to
bathroom hygiene vending receptacles.
Brandon Orick, the ASG Vice President, said
that last spring the ASG decided to use their
funding to start a new program which is now
dubbed the “ Hygiene Project.”
. The Hygiene Project allows for an estimate of
$1,00.0 per year to be used solely for the purchase
of sanitary napkins and tampons,, which are
available to all Clackamas Community College
students free of charge.
The project was inspired by several other
similar programs in both Oregon and New York;
according to Oregonlive.com, Oregon prisons
became one of the few to offer free tampons to
inmates in 2018. In New York State, Governor
Andrew Cuomo passed legislation that went
Clackamas Print
into effect July 1, 2018, which required school
Alexandra De La Torre, who serves as the Clubs
districts to provide free hygiene products in Chair for the ASG, has the jobof restocking the
restrooms.
baskets in the Community Center, Dejardin,
The Hygiene Project supports students- who and Paulingbuildings. De La Torre counts every
may have issues with affording care products basket and keeps track of how many items were
due to their high cost; these necessities, which used and restocked. These measures are taken
ate taxed in all but 12 states (including Oregon;) to observe the effectiveness of the program,
can be quite spendy for students. A 30-count which appears to be Successful thus far.
box of cotton cowboys could cost anywhere
The program, which started out as the
from $7 to $12, and a box of maxi-surfboards “ Feminine Hygiene Project” dropped the word
costs just about the sam’e.
“ feminine” to be more inclusive to nonbinary
Not only is the cost an issue, but it’ s also students, is expected to be ongoing. The
about convenience. In the world of bebit cards responses to the project have been very positive
and Apple Pay, not many students walk around from CCC students and staff alike:
carrying the exact change that is usually
“ I saw them ih the bathroom early this term
required to purchase hygiene products from a and it was the first time I had seen the bins
vending machine.
actually full. I was happy to see them they
“ I think it’ s cool that for once girls don’t definitely come in handy,” said Olivia Jaynes.
have to pay for stuff, considering products are
normally super spendy,” said Rylee Salvey.
Olivia Lynch contributed to this story.
Any student can identify with how frustrating
it can be to have to borrow a pen from a fellow
student tt - imagine the frustration that was
once felt while going around asking others for a
tampon or a spare quarter.
theclackamasprint.com
January 29,2020