SU Elections 2025 Q&A: Period Equity Initiative Referendum

The University of Alberta Students’ Union (SU) 2025 election is giving undergraduate students the opportunity to decide on creating a fee for the Period Equity Initiative. 

The Period Equity Initiative referendum goes toward providing menstrual products across campus. This referendum proposes a fee of $1 per fall and winter semester and 50 cents per spring and summer semesters, for all full-time and part-time students enrolled at the U of A. The fee would allow students to opt-out.

Representing the Period Equity Initiative in this Q&A is Tracy Cui, a third-year physiology student.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

What is this referendum trying to accomplish?

Tracy Cui: Our Period Equity Initiative referendum is trying to make menstrual products more accessible across campus. It involves an opt-outable $1 fee that would go towards purchasing pads, tampons and liners from the Canadian brand Joni to provide organic, sustainable menstrual products. We would be putting those menstrual products into baskets and dispensers around campus.

For students who don’t know, what is the Period Equity Initiative?

Cui: The Period Equity Initiative is trying to expand the accessibility of menstrual products across campus, and our goal is also to provide access to healthier [and] more environmentally friendly menstrual products. The products from Joni [are] organic and compostable. They’re made from bamboo fibers. Making sure that when people need access to these products, they have them. Our ultimate goal is to stock every single washroom on campus with menstrual products.

If this referendum passes, how much will students be paying and how was that cost determined?

Cui: The referendum, if it passes, would be an opt-outable $1 fee during the fall and winter terms. This would apply to both full-time and part-time students. During the spring and summer terms, it would be 50 cents per term, and [also] opt-outable.

Will all students be paying this fee?

Cui: All full and part-time students, yes.

Why do you think students should care about the work being done by the Period Equity Initiative?

Cui: I think living in a place like Canada, we often overlook the idea of period poverty, especially with a student demographic. Menstrual products are super expensive, and it’s an unnecessary burden for a lot of individuals. Our goal is to just make sure that every menstruator is covered in terms of whether or not they were able to afford menstrual products for that month, or maybe they just forgot to restock their supplies. I’ve often had it where I’m just like, “oh my gosh, where are my pads? Where are they?” And then I’ve also had people asking, “oh, do you have an extra pad on you?” So just making sure that people can access these products when they need them, because menstruation is a normal bodily function that occurs, and you can’t really control it. Suddenly you’re in the washroom and you see the blood. Just making sure that people are covered when they need the necessary products.

– With files from Gabriella Menezes.