Students protest removal of tampons from men’s washrooms
Article content
University students in South Carolina are protesting the removal of tampon dispensers from men’s washrooms following complaints from a conservative students’ group.
Last month, the Clemson College Republicans shared their gripe on X.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Students protest removal of tampons from men’s washrooms Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“If you weren’t aware already, Clemson University has tampon/pad dispensers in the MEN’S restrooms located in Cooper Library,” the group wrote. “We truly live in (clown) world.”
The dispensers were allegedly vandalized and removed from the restroom within days.
In response, a group of about 50 Clemson students demonstrated last week and demanded the feminine products be made available once again in the library’s men’s facilities, WSPA reported.
Protest organizers Take Back Pride declared the dispenser was “unjustly” removed from the restroom and have asked for the College Republicans to be reprimanded for their role in the removal, The College Fix reported.
“Queer people on this campus are not just going to magically disappear,” student organizer Pan Tankersley told the website.
“So instead of working against us, like taking away menstrual products from the men’s bathrooms, making people feel unwelcomed, there should be support for the community that is already fighting to feel safe here.”
Trevor Tiedeman, chairman of the College Republicans, told WSPA: “Men are men. Women are women. Of course, men can not menstruate. Of course, we spoke out against that. Of course, these people think the opposite, and that’s why they’re out here protesting us.”
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
tap here to see other videos from our team.
He insisted: “We have simply stood up for biological reality. They reject what we believe, and so they want us to get removed from campus.”
The sanitary products were initially funded by Clemson’s Graduate Student Government and installed last November by The Period Project, a national organization that aims to make menstrual products accessible to individuals who need them, student paper The Tiger reported.
According to The College Fix, Tiedeman believes that those who installed the dispensers should be fired.
The conservative group’s social chair Bailey Nye added: “It’s unfair that they’re taking that (free menstrual products) away from females. Taking the tampons from the majority of people who actually use them is wrong.”
There are no plans to reinstall the product dispensers in the men’s bathrooms, but a Clemson University spokesperson Joe Galbraith told The Tiger the items are still available in women’s and family restrooms.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.