ABIGAIL JACOBSON
News Editor
Graphic by Isabella Rizzo | Art Director
Something new will be coming to the bathrooms on the SUNY Fredonia campus.
On Aug. 26, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill requiring all public SUNY and CUNY universities to provide free menstrual products in campus restrooms and buildings.
This bill was written by Senator Michelle Hinchey. Hinchey was elected in 2020 to the New York State Senate. According to Hinchey’s website, she is “making history as the youngest woman to represent an upstate district.”
Hinchey is the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, but that hasn’t stopped her from supporting issues outside of agriculture.
Hinchey is a strong advocate for women’s health and this bill shows that.
“Menstrual products are a fundamental health necessity, and no one should be held back in school, work or life because they can’t afford or access them,” Hinchey says on her website. “I’m incredibly proud that our bill making menstrual products available for free in all SUNY and CUNY restrooms has been signed into law.”
Questions regarding specific details about the bill were sent to Hinchey. The response was the quote provided above.
On Mar. 22, 2023, this bill was referred to the Women’s Issues Committee by Hinchey. On June 5, 2024, the Senate passed the bill with a vote of 57 – 2. The bill was then delivered to and signed by Governor Hochul on Aug. 26, 2024.
According to Darin Schulz, head of Fredonia’s Faculty Student Association (FSA), they planned on having a vending machine, which would hold menstrual products for free, implemented in 2025. However, since this law is now in place, Fredonia must provide them immediately.
Mark Delcamp, the interim co-director of facilities services on campus, was not able to give any insight on how Fredonia will implement this bill.
“Unfortunately, we have not heard anything further at this time,” said Delcamp. “We are, however, carefully working to do our part to start planning for our next steps but are trying to not get too far ahead of the process.”
According to Hinchey’s website, “This legislation is a huge step forward in our fight to end period poverty, reduce financial stress and stigma often surrounding menstruation and bring us closer to true equity and dignity for people who menstruate.”
As of Sept. 24, this is all the information that has been given.