Lady Stallion’s, if it’s that “time of the month,” there can be one thing for certain, that we as young women can all agree on: when you need to go, you need to go!

But what happens when you go to the bathroom, and you come to an awful realization, that you don’t have your back-up plan? That’s right, ladies, your sanitary napkins.

From past years of visiting South Pointe, and leading up to attending the school in 2012 as a freshman, the sanitary napkin dispenser has been empty as far back as I can remember. Why are the dispensers in the bathroom if they are going to remain empty?

But the deeper question would probably be: Why are the dispensers empty at all?

Lisa Boyd, the school’s registered nurse, hands out sanitary napkins to the female students who are in need, but for some girls, it’s embarrassing to have to ask another teacher, student, or nurse for help during these times.

Science teacher Susan Fields is well known for her generosity towards female students by dispersing the feminine hygiene items to females who get caught off guard.

“Well, I have always bought pads and passed them out to female students,” said Fields.

So, why did the school stop putting sanitary napkins in the machine?

Custodian Carol Hemphill is not unfamiliar with the question either.

“I really don’t know why they stopped putting pads and tampons in the dispensers,” stated Hemphill.

“Either they weren’t making any sales, or probably girls needed a specific size or type. Then again, in times of emergencies, I guess it doesn’t really matter.”

Ms. Hemphill is absolutely right. If it is an emergency, girls immediately go straight to the bathroom. Those who forget may not have time to visit the nurse, a fellow friend, or teacher. The dispenser needs to be made available for those young women who need them right then and there.

Creative Writing teacher, Carlo Dawson also commented on the issue.

“The sanitary napkin dispenser should not be empty. It’s in there for a reason, that way females have it there in case they forget certain toiletries,” stated Dawson.

Juniors Armani Truesdale, and Cor’Tionna White, stated their frustrations with the empty dispensers as well.

“It’s just taking up extra space,” stated White.

“That space can be used for something else if that’s the case.”

Truesdale chimed in.
“I agree. There should be pads and tampons, in the dispensers. Personally I bring my own toiletry items, to help girls who forget theirs. Not only should we have dispensers, but I think we should have wipes in there too,” stated Truesdale.

The price for a tampon or napkins according to a sign on the dispensers is 25 cents each. It would be a lot less embarrassing to ask for a quarter, or even more if the price should be a bit more since the sign was probably posted eight or nine years ago, when an emergency arises than to have to ask for the feminine products.

What is the harm in helping the ladies be prepared in case of an unexpected need?

Curriculum and instruction administrator Elissa Cox, stated she was never made aware of the ongoing issue in the bathroom.

“In all honesty, it was never brought to my attention that the dispensers were empty,” stated Cox.

“I always use the faculty restroom; the only time I go in the girls’ bathroom is to make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be, or if there is a mess, I direct the custodians to it. But never once did I think to look at the dispensers,” Cox said.

It can be very frustrating when problems such as this go unnoticed, but in all truth, no one can be blamed in this situation.

We as female students deserve more than an empty sanitary pad dispenser in the bathroom. But if we choose to ignore the disconcerting issue, it makes it difficult for the adults to help us.

The faculty and staff here at South Pointe High School genuinely do care about our well-being. But they are not always available to notice the flaws that are within our school.

We as students must be their eyes and ears as well.

It is time to take the stand. ladies, and we must start appropriately taking care of ourselves by all means necessary.

“A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want,” Madonna reminds us.

Let’s put some pep in our step, and get what we need in those bathrooms as soon as possible!

By Giovanni Gibbs, assistant opinion editor