By Alastair Tian
PARAMUS, N.J. — The Student Government Association has installed five feminine hygiene dispensers at Bergen Community College’s Paramus campus as part of a trial run during the fall 2025 semester.
According to SGA President Liam Setti, the dispensers — stocked with tampons and pads — were installed around the start of the semester. Two are located in the Pitkin Education Center: one in the upstairs women’s restroom in the Student Center, and another outside the library on the second floor. A third dispenser is in the second-floor women’s restroom near the elevator in West Hall. The fourth is located in the first-floor restroom of the Technology Education Center, and the fifth is in the Health Professions building.
As of now, there are no dispensers in Ender Hall or on the Lyndhurst campus.
The SGA hopes the initiative will become a permanent service, offering free hygiene products to both students and staff. While the association facilitated the rollout, it is not responsible for funding the program. Instead, Bergen’s facilities staff will monitor usage and restock the dispensers.
Each bathroom includes a QR code that allows users to notify the facilities team when a dispenser is empty.
The long-term goal is to expand the program across all campus buildings and restrooms, to reach “as many bathrooms as possible.” Setti said it remains unclear whether future installations will be limited to women’s restrooms or include all restrooms, but emphasized that the intent is to make the products available to anyone who may need them.
The effort has been in development for several years, dating back to the 2023–24 academic year under then-SGA President Kaylie Quezada. According to Gregory Fenkart, director of student life, delays were primarily due to administrative planning and ensuring the program’s successful launch. He added that the college has been supportive of the initiative from the beginning.
