By Hayley Geiger
Last week, I experienced something that every student at Stern College for Women has probably gone through.
I got my period in the middle of a full day of classes. Like many students, I carry a few feminine hygiene products in my bag just in case. But this time, my schedule ran from morning until late afternoon, and by mid-day, I had run out.
At 3:00 PM, on my way to a meeting with my career advisor, I realized I was starting to bleed through my leggings. That slow, sinking panic set in, the kind that makes you hyperaware of every step you take and every person walking behind you. I rushed to the nearest bathroom, hoping I could quickly fix the situation.
But there was nothing there. No emergency pad dispenser. No tampon machine. No small basket on the counter. Nothing.
I remember standing there thinking to myself, How is it possible that I attend Stern College for Women, an all-women’s university, and there is not a single pad or tampon available in any of the bathrooms?
What happened to me last week is not rare, nor is it dramatic or unique. It is simply the reality of being a woman.
Most women who menstruate have experienced some version of this: miscalculated timing, having a heavier flow than expected, being stuck in back-to-back classes or simply forgetting to restock their personal supply. We are students with packed schedules, internships, jobs, meetings and responsibilities. We move between buildings. We sit through long lectures. We lead clubs and attend events. We do all of this while managing a biological function that we did not choose and cannot control.
Access to menstrual products is not a luxury. It is not indulgent. It is not a “special request.” It is a basic hygienic need.
Toilet paper is provided in every stall because it is considered essential. Soap is at every sink because cleanliness matters. Why should menstrual products be treated differently?
Beyond the physical discomfort, there is also the emotional toll. The embarrassment. The anxiety. The scramble to text friends and ask if anyone nearby has a spare tampon. The fear of staining a chair in class. The distraction from learning because you are focused on your body and whether you are visibly bleeding.
No student should have to choose between sitting in class in a state of discomfort or missing academic or professional commitments to solve a preventable problem.
In Jewish thought, kavod habriyot, human dignity, is not a vague ideal. It is a guiding principle that carries real weight in halacha (Jewish law) and ethical life. The Talmud teaches that preserving human dignity is so important that it can, in certain circumstances, override even rabbinic prohibitions. Why? Because embarrassing or degrading another person is seen as a serious aveira (sin). Jewish tradition recognizes that dignity is not superficial; it is fundamental to what it means to be created b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of God.
Menstrual emergencies may not seem dramatic from the outside. But standing in a bathroom with no supplies, fearing visible stains, worrying about walking back into a classroom and feeling exposed and helpless is a direct challenge to a person’s dignity. It places students in situations of avoidable embarrassment and distress.
If our tradition places such profound emphasis on preventing humiliation and protecting kavod habriyot, then ensuring access to basic hygiene products is not merely a matter of convenience. It is an expression of our values. It is a tangible way of saying: your dignity matters here, your body is not an inconvenience, your needs are not an afterthought.
Providing menstrual products in bathrooms would not only solve a practical problem; it would embody the Jewish ethic of care. It would demonstrate that Stern does not simply teach about dignity in the classroom, it actively safeguards it in daily life.
New York City and State laws require that public schools provide free menstrual products in bathrooms for students in grade four and above. Similarly, all SUNY and CUNY universities are mandated by law to provide free menstrual products in restrooms. Furthermore, in 2025, a legislative bill was proposed that would require free menstrual products to be provided in the bathrooms of private colleges and universities. If this bill passes, the university could be required to provide these resources in the future, making this an opportunity for Stern to take proactive steps now rather than waiting for a legal mandate. This is a simple, practical step that signals care for students’ well-being. The cost of providing basic pads and tampons is minimal compared to the benefits: peace of mind, uninterrupted learning and the message that our needs are recognized and respected.
This is not about blame. It is about awareness and action.
What happened to me last week has most likely happened to many other women at Stern. Some may have quietly gone back to their dorms. Some may have missed meetings. Some may have sat through class uncomfortable and anxious. Some may have felt ashamed for something that is completely normal.
We can do better.
I respectfully urge our administration to consider installing free menstrual product dispensers in campus bathrooms or providing accessible emergency supplies in each building. Even a small, consistent stock would make a meaningful difference in students’ daily lives.
Periods are not political. They are not controversial. They are simply part of life for half the population and our entire student body. Addressing this need is not about making a statement, it is about meeting students where they are, with compassion and practicality.
Last week, I stood in a bathroom wishing that someone had thought ahead for me.
Today, I am asking that we think ahead for the basic needs of the next student.
Photo Credit: Ashley Hefner