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NEWS DIRECTOR YASMEEN ALMOMANI news@thecord.ca LEAD REPORTER ASHLEY BARRY news@thecord.ca

ADVOCACY

Initiative provides free period products on campus

A promising advancement for menstrual equity has been made through a 3.5 year Laurier project

EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A program at Wilfrid Laurier University is aiming to make free menstrual products readily available to students on each of the school’s campuses. This initiative is the result of 3.5 years of advocacy work that has been spearheaded by Hayley Newman-Petryshen and the Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group, with support from a collection of campus organizations including the Laurier Sustainability Office, Graduate Students Association, Indigenous Student Services, Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Facilities and Asset Management, and the Students’ Union.

Hayley Newman-Petryshen, a Laurier alum and current master’s political science student at McGill University, said she was inspired to pursue the initiative when she realized how many students were being caught on campus without proper access to the period products they needed.

“We decided to take it upon ourselves and advocate for free menstrual care products at Laurier. It’s been a long-haul initiative. We started the Menstrual Equity Committee which is a default campus group,” Newman-Petryshen said.

“We’ve been doing all of these little things to bandage period poverty at Laurier in the meantime. We’ve provided Diva Cups and menstrual care products to people since the pandemic started, as well as [hosting] other educational initiatives.”

At the start of 2022, funding was approved through the student affairs advisory committee in order to push the menstrual equity initiative forward. Menstrual care products will now be available to students in 14 bathrooms on the Laurier Waterloo, Brantford and Kitchener campuses until April 23.

The project, which includes coin-free dispensing units and new menstrual product disposals, is intended to be both equitable and sustainable. The weekly collection from the disposals will go directly to a waste-to-energy facility, diverting waste from landfills.

In order to protect the safety of trans and non-binary folks using gendered men’s washrooms locations, the product and disposal units arelocated inside accessible bathroom stalls.

The company managing the machines that provide these products will be documenting usage to keep track of how frequently they’re used.

“The intention [after that point] is that we’ll regroup, evaluate, and hopefully roll it out into all bathrooms as the ultimate goal,” she said.

“We’ll measure success by administering some sort of survey. In August 2019, we administered a survey to gouge period poverty at Laurier.”

According to the “Musing About Menstruation” survey conducted by LSPIRG in 2019, 77 per cent of Laurier students and staff who menstruate have been on campus without period products. What’s more, 38 per cent of Laurier students and staff struggle to afford the menstrual care items they need.

“We’re hoping that even though it’s only in 14 bathrooms right now that [those products] will at least provide a little bit of solace for students who are experiencing period poverty or simply get stuck without a product,” Newman-Petryshen said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated period poverty over the last two years, causing some individuals who cannot access the items they need to resort to potentially dangerous, homemade menstrual care product alternatives that could pose risks to their health.

In order to work towards starting to destigmatize menstruation, Newman-Petryshen noted the first step in breaking down menstrual shame should begin with society collectively talking about periods more.

“Sometimes it just takes someone else creating a [safe] space to talk about [menstruation]. I think there’s so much power in people sharing their experiences, because it sensitizes everyone around the fact that these are shared experiences and these are shared struggles around period poverty and the panic that just comes from not having the products that you need,” Newman-Petryshen said.

Additionally, the approach in these conversations needs to be reframed, with more emphasis placed on educational discourse surrounding menstruation and the people who are most affected by period poverty.

“There’s also intersectionality. If you’re experiencing period poverty, there’s a good chance you’re also experiencing food insecurity. If you’re somebody who’s trans or non binary, you’re more likely to experience period poverty. All of these things intersect, and I think always centering those [points] into conversations is really important as well,” Newman-Petryshen said.

“I see inclusion as the center of this conversation. When we think about the ways that institutions were built, and who they were designed for, it was often not people for people who menstruate. When I walk into places and I don’t see places where you can get menstrual care products, I see that as a historical institutional signal that this space is not built for me.”

“And whether it’s intentional or not anymore, one can debate. But the goal then is to make sure that all students now coming to Laurier and any other public place, walk in, see these products, and even if they don’t need them, that this space is for them and they have everything they need to stay here, participate, feel safe, comfortable and welcome,” she said.

The end goal of the ongoing project is to ensure the availability of menstrual care products in every washroom on Laurier’s campuses.

“We’re very committed to making sure that doesn’t stop at 14 bathrooms. People need to maintain their basic dignity, hygiene and comfort to participate in daily activities on campus.”

The menstrual product dispenser locations Waterloo campus:

• Science Building: washroom across from the dean’s office • Library: gender-neutral washroom, main floor • Martin Luther University College: gender-neutral washroom, main floor

• Fred Nichols Campus Centre: gender-neutral washroom, second floor (24 Lounge) • Bricker Academic Building: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor • Arts Building: gender-neutral washroom, second floor • Peters Building: gender-neutral washroom, first floor, by Frank’s Coffee Haus • Lazaridis School: women’s washroom, gender-neutral washroom, first floor • Athletic Complex: gender-neutral washroom, downstairs along the Kinesiology corridor

Brantford campus:

• Grand River Hall: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor • One Market: gender-neutral washrooms by the lounge area • Research Academic Centre West: men’s and women’s washrooms, basement • Student Centre: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor

Kitchener campus:

We’re hoping ... that [those products] will at least provide a little bit of solace for students who are experiencing poverty or get stuck without a product.

-Hayley Newman-Petryshen, menstrual equity advocate

FILE PHOTO

All of these things intersect, and I think always centering those [points] into conversations is really important as well.

-Hayley Newman-Petryshen, menstrual equity advocate

Space science research brought to WLU through Mission on the Moon

JAMES WINSLOW

NEWS INTERN

Mission on the Moon is a contribution agreement between the Canadian Space Agency, Wilfrid Laurier University and InkSmith – a 3D printing and tech-education company founded by WLU alumnus Jeremy Hedges. Hedges also founded Canadian Shield PPE, which 3D printed headbands for plastic visors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a WLU press release, Mission on the Moon is part of the Canada Space Agency’s commitment to “investing in research and educational initiatives related to space science and technology.”

“We’re developing, in collaboration with InkSmith, this six-module space STEM educational program for Canadian youth,” sulie Mueller, associate dean and professor of education at Wilfrid Laurier University and Mission on the Moon’s principal investigator said.

The program will begin in Waterloo and then expand across Canada.

Educational modules in Mission on the Moon will focus on “the background content and knowledge across Canadian astronauts and technology like The Arm,” Mueller said.

It will also aim to teach students important computational skills that are transferable to innovative industries more broadly.

Students at WLU will play a critical role in the development of Mission on the Moon and its objectives.

“Our masters courses may undertake some of the research components … we see it as a cross-faculty ed initiative that’s very exciting,” Maria Cantalini-Williams, dean of the faculty of education at WLU and co-investigator said.

Ideal outcomes for the project include outreach to underrepresented groups in STEM fields, such as BIPOC communities and girls/ women.

They also include long-term engagement with the educational material being developed. In addition to short-term reach, “which is the outcome that is often required for government funded programs,” the project aims to inspire students for the long-haul.

Questions like “are [students] engaged and what impact does it have?” are important to ask, Mueller said.

The ultimate goal, said Cantalini-Williams, is “to find out if [teachers] see that some [students] are more interested than they used to be.”

“The short-term would be the students now, and the long-term might be to see if there’s a sustained interest in STEM education.”

Another important outcome, said Mueller, “is really looking at how teacher education approaches this.”

The Ontario K-8 educational curriculum is science was updated last week to include “STEM skills and Robotics, and AI and coding.”

Given this update, “it’s important that we may be able to develop another approach to educating teachers, preparing teachers and working within that triangle of the schools and teachers, the universities and faculty of education, and industry partners and community partners.”

Mueller is hoping for both input and output from these key players, which ensurethat “we’re not working in isolation so that kids are addressing this at school and not necessarily having to attend a camp after school to learn how to code.”

“Part of the inspiration was to make learning around STEM – both for students and the teachers – as authentic as it could be, and this is one way to do that,” Mueller said.

FILE PHOTO

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Laurier set to host virtual forum on human migration and climate change

IAN SCHAKEL NEWS INTERN

Wilfrid Laurier University is hosting a virtual forum on human migration and the changing climate on April 7.

The forum will feature Dr. Robert McLeman, a Laurier professor of environmental studies, and Dr. Edward Shizha, a Laurier professor of youth and children’s studies.

It will be moderated by Ali Abukar, CEO of the Saskatoon Open Door Society which provides services for refugees new to Canada.

Topics covered will include the human impacts of climate change and the experiences of those resettling in Canada, among others.

Dr. McLeman will talk about the effects of changing climate inside and outside Canada and Dr Shizha will discuss how Canada can benefit from the skills of professionals moving here due to climate-based displacement.

The forum is part of Laurier’s Inspiring Conversations series. The series has previously hosted events on the topics of affordable housing, international conflict and the empowerment of racialized communities, among others.

Like the previous events, the forum on migration will feature a short period of the speakers presenting on their area of expertise and then a moderated question period.

It will also be open to the public and free to attend but requires registering online ahead of time.

McLeman said he plans to approach the topic in several ways ranging from events in Canada to broader global trends to predictions on what impacts climate change may have on human migration in the future.

He mentioned extreme weather in Canada and abroad throughout the last few years as evidence that the effects of climate change are already being seen, including extreme heat and flooding in British Columbia.

According to McLeman, in 2020 30 million people were displaced due to extreme weather events and issues associated with climate change.

“When we’re talking about the impacts of climate change on human migration and displacement, it’s not just thinking about what might happen, this is stuff that’s happening right now,” McLeman said.

McLeman said he hopes students from a wide range of faculties take an interest in the topic and consider attending.

“The solutions involve everybody […] because we’re talking about physical science, we’re talking about natural science, we’re talking about social science, we’re talking about human impacts, healthcare,” he said.

“So for just about every major and every student at Laurier, there is an aspect of their degree and of their learning that is relevant to diagnosing the challenges that we face because of climate change.”

For students interested in learning more about climate change and its human impacts, McLeman recommends, besides attending the forum, that they look into the IPCC report on climate change released just last February, which he helped author. More information, including how to register, can be found on Laurier Alumni’s website.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Laurier to lift mask and vaccine mandates starting May 1

As Ontario relaxes public health restrictions as part of the Roadmap to Reopen, Wilfrid Laurier University will pause its mandatory vaccination, mask policy and COVID-19 screening through the SAFEHawk app as of May 1. On March 21, the province lifted the mask mandate due to decreasing COVID-19 hospitalizations for the first time in over two years. With the support and recommendation of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Waterloo Region Public Health and the Brant County Unit made the decision to reduce restrictions, continuing to follow Public Health guidelines, as they have done throughout the pandemic. Although lifting mandatory vaccinations and the mask mandate will be implemented, if the conditions change, these policies can be brought back within a short notice. WLU recommends that staff, students and faculty remain up to date with third and fourth doses of the vaccine, and wear masks in indoor spaces. It is also important to note that many students and staff are at different comfort levels with relaxing these restrictions and everyone should be considerate of the personal or family reasons for continuing to wear a mask. Additionally, if the vaccination requirement is reinstated, WLU will not offer any hybrid or remote learning courses for students who do not meet the mandatory vaccination policy. WLU will continue to monitor any changing conditions in policies and restrictions over the next two months, and will provide free masks on campus for those who wish to wear them.

Fire causes $40K in damages to The Turret

On March 24 at 8:20 p.m., a Clubs and Associations event ended prematurely at The Turret in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre due to an active fire that was discovered in the thirdfloor prep kitchen. The fire was extinguished by a Students’ Union staff member and there were no reported injuries. Although the fire was contained quickly, there was residual damage left to materials and kitchen equipment. The SU will be asked to make a claim through property insurance. he deductible for an incident like this would be $10,000, which requires approval from the board. Commercial cleanup to cover the damages is estimated to be $40,000.