By Cheyenne Bagley ’23, special contributor
LVC senior Nivedita Dubey is heavily engaged in campus volunteer work and activism.
She is currently majoring in neuroscience with a concentration in French and minoring in social Justice. Along with her demanding classes, Nivedita also finds the time to be a Valley Ambassador, Equity Representative in Student Government, and a tutor for biology study pods. With her busy schedule, it is hard to imagine how Nivedita finds the time to also do volunteer work for groups on and off campus.
Why do you make time for volunteer work?
Nivedita claimed that the answer to this question is not completely clear to her. She said, “I am not sure how to describe the feeling I get when I volunteer in something I am passionate about. It is like a fulfilling satisfaction.”
She also believes her passion for volunteering stems from her desire to work in healthcare one day.
“Healthcare was made by humans to help humans, so that is part of why I like it so much.”
Period Power
“Period Power” is the name of what Nivedita generally refers to as her “period project,” which she started during the COVID-19 shutdown. She began with research. Nivedita was learning as much as she could about the sustainability, accessibility, environmental impacts, and history of menstrual products. She was shocked to learn some of the facts that she came across.
Period products are generally not very environmentally friendly. Plus, the lack of accessibility of these products can make them seem not very community friendly either. Throughout this research journey, Nivedita kept wondering, “How do people not care about this?”
After learning so much about these products, Nivedita concluded, “Most people would care if they knew more about the products that are being sold and used, but they just don’t know. There is such a lack of education on these things.”
Taking Action
Nivedita was later enrolled in a social activism class on campus that helped her launch the project that would take all of her research to the next step. In this class, she proposed that her final activism project would be to expand the accessibility of sustainable period products on campus. With the help of her professors, Nivedita was able to present her research and project to LVC Admissions, Health, Facilities, and Student Engagement leaders.
It did not take long for the project to be approved and put into place. Thanks to Nivedita’s involvement in Student Government, she was able to get approval for monthly funding of the sustainable period products.
Making a Difference
Sustainable period products are now conveniently placed in every bathroom on campus (even in the men’s). Nivedita knows that not everyone will use the provided products, but she claims, “Even if people do not use these products, it is the educational factor that means the most to me.”
Since Nivedita is graduating this spring, many are wondering who will continue this great service at LVC. They are currently discussing giving this responsibility to the Equity Representative each year so that the accessibility continues.
“We are hoping that it is a permanent addition to the campus.”
Since the beginning of the project, LVC students have had opportunities to give feedback on the newly provided products. Nivedita was happy to tell me that most reviews have been very positive. Students are even responding to her with more ideas to create more accessibility to the campus and make LVC more sustainable.
“It is validating to hear all the good reviews!”