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Syracuse University will install on-campus vending machines featuring over-the-counter medicine, contraceptives and safe-sex products, including Plan B, the Student Government Association announced at its Monday meeting.

Known as “Better+” vending machines, the vestibules will accept the same payment methods as all campus vending machines — including cash, card and ‘CUSE Cash — and will be priced based on benchmarks established by the Barnes Center at The Arch and off-campus locations. The first vending machine will be installed in Schine Student Center, with others at different locations on campus to follow.

The addition gives students a direct place on campus to purchase contraceptives in a contactless, convenient and speedy manner, SGA President German Nolivos said. The machines are a partnership between SGA and SU’s Auxiliary Services.

The placement of these machines is a source of pride for Nolivos’ administration, he said, which has been in office for the past two academic years.

“One of the big issues that we have been fighting for since I became president last year was for a Plan B vending machine,” Nolivos said. “We need to make sure that it’s safe, you need to make sure that it’s private … (and) anyone feels that it’s available to them.”

Nolivos said he hopes to continue the push for these kinds of easy-access machines that provide products other than “chips and soda.”

Monday’s meeting highlighted SGA’s efforts to increase the availability of needed products for students at a moment’s notice, Nolivos said. He compared the coming products to those offered at airports.

While members desire better-quality items, there is greater pressure to modernize vending machine offerings with items such as makeup, medicine and ready-to-eat meals.

The assembly also announced its elections for executive positions, including president, executive vice president, and comptroller, which will be held from March 30 to April 3.
Ahead of the election, CitrusTV will host a debate on March 26 from 7:30 to 9 p.m., giving candidates a forum to discuss their policies and plans.

On campus, the indoor farmer’s market held at Miron Victory Court on Sunday was a “huge success,” Speaker Pro-Tempore Max Lachut said. Despite “impromptu” changes, including six to eight vendors dropping out, the event still gave SU students on-campus access to fresh goods from local sellers, he said.

Lachut added SGA is aiming to hold another market outdoors, “bigger and better” than the last.

Other Business:

• A “Donuts with the Dean” event was approved and will be held at SU’s home colleges. Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ event will take place on March 16, with all other schools — besides Newhouse School of Public Communications, the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Architecture — on March 24.
• The assembly highlighted an event that concluded Black History Month on campus with a violin trio performance at Schine, which reimagined hip-hop music in a classical performance, covering artists like Trippie Redd and Gunna.
• In coordination with Multicultural Week, SGA will provide buses for students to shop at local Asian and Latin markets in Syracuse on March 21.



Published on March 3, 2026 at 12:52 am
Contact Sean: sharri43@syr.edu