Christy Ferguson, instructor in the Department of English Language and Literature, was recognized as a SIUE Campus Partner of the Year for her initiative, the Mensi Project in June 2020.
In this interview, you can learn more about the Mensi Project.
What motivated you to undertake the Mensi Project?
For many years, I struggled with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). I, like so many others with the same issue, would never know when menstruation was going to disrupt my day. I tried to "be prepared" but as with most things in life, the one day I wasn't was the day I needed them. In December of 2017, I was finally approved for a hysterectomy after a cancer scare. When I came back to campus in January, I had an entire drawer of products I would no longer need and contemplated what I could do with them.
A few years earlier, SIUE had removed most hygiene product dispensers from campus bathrooms. They were replaced by a sign reading, "feminine products can be found in the first-floor bathroom" (or something to that effect). I decided to tape up a few plastic bags in each women's room in Peck Hall for the products I had left. It was accompanied by a note: "FREE: Since we can't all rush down to the first floor when we need an EMERGENCY tampon or pad, feel free to take what you need or add to the stash to help others out!" It had such a wonderful response, I decided to spearhead this program. 
What has been the community’s response?
The response has been incredible. I have students and faculty stopping me on campus to tell me how grateful they are! I have sororities regularly pitching in to help fill bags and gather donations. Folks are literally seeking me out to share their own "period emergency" stories. It is incredible. I truly believe this program has allowed a much-needed conversation to take shape on campus: menstruation is not shameful or dirty; it is a natural part of the human experience that we share. I wanted to help, but I also wanted to squash the stigma.
Who are the main beneficiaries?
All women's, family and non-gender specific bathrooms on the main campus have a mensi bag. Therefore, all students, faculty, staff and visitors have potentially benefited from the program. In this chaotic upheaval of societal expectation and oppression, we are always looking for ways to help each other on a more personal level. This project is one simple way to do so. It takes little to no effort to drop a few tampons from your purse into the bag for others to use.
As well, the program has been beneficial to students who struggle financially with their monthly needs. Tampons and pads are EXPENSIVE. By having these available free for those who need them, my hope is that they don't have to worry or scrape together change to buy a box of tampons. Instead, they can just grab what they need from any campus bathroom.
What challenges/needs does the project have in times of COVID-19?
Thankfully, COVID-19 hasn't had a huge impact on this project. However, I am in process of making extra bags so we can appropriately launder them a few times a year without removing the bags completely to do so. I make the bags myself, so it takes a bit of time to accomplish, but it will certainly be worth the effort.
How can one get involved in this Project?
Getting involved is easy! You can put individually wrapped products (pads, tampons, wipes) in any mensi bag at any time. If you would like to contribute on a larger scale, email me at chrferg@siue.edu and we can set up a donation drop off/pick up or set up a "fill the bags" day where you gather volunteers to take on filling bags all over campus!
