Shortly after second semester began, I started volunteering for the Menstrual Products Initiative (MPI), which is a student-led organization working to supply campus restrooms with pads and tampons with funding from the Student Government Association. As a volunteer, I’d make runs to various bathrooms on campus and restock bins with free period products. I started volunteering with MPI around the same time that our WR 152 semester-long projects were starting up, so, I decided to do my project on providing free menstrual products at BU! My project investigated past perceptions of periods, modern movements to increase awareness, and current initiatives working to strengthen inclusivity. I’ve never been a very good writer, so the video op-ed assignment was a great chance for me to communicate an idea to an audience with an alternative genre. I’d like to thank Marisa Milanese for genuinely engaging with my project and encouraging me to step outside of my comfort zone for this project.
ELIZABETH NELSON grew up in Maryland. She is a rising sophomore majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology and minoring in business administration and management.