November: a month filled with good food, loved ones, and beards. That’s right; it’s that time of the year again, when males give up their clean-shaven faces for a more rugged look.
No-Shave November can be traced back to Australia in 2004 when a group of 30 men created “Movember” and grew mustaches for 30 days to raise awareness for different men’s health issues. By 2007, “Movember” had rapidly spread across the globe to countries such as Ireland, Spain and South Africa. In 2009, the campaign found its way to the United States, giving itself the name that it carries today.
According to their mission statement, the goal of the non-profit is to be “devoted to growing cancer awareness and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research and education.”
“I really love the idea of No-Shave November to raise awareness for men’s health,” Courtney Perkins, senior political science major, said. “From testicular cancer to mental health, I think it’s great that men are willing to support the cause by not shaving. I think No-Shave November has created a lot of talk and support for not only men, but women too, meaning they understand why they’re not shaving.”
There are also many participants that don’t understand the meaning behind November’s hairy trend, however, and use it as an excuse to put down their razor for a month.
“I think a lot of people just do it to be cool and don’t know the reasoning,”said senior international studies and Spanish major Hadley Peterson, whose boyfriend participates for the full month.
Senior exercise science major Rodney Manor is participating in No-Shave November for his fourth time, and hopes to make it through the entire month.
“I’ve always wanted to grow a beard but always was bothered by the middle stage where it’s not quite a beard but more than just some scruff,” Manor said. “I’m going into No-Shave November with a bit of a beard already, so I’m hoping to keep a beard all through winter at least.”
Some students of the Ole Miss community are unable to participate, such as those in the ROTC programs. According to Regulation 670-1, “Males will keep their face clean-shaven when in uniform, or in civilian clothes on duty.”
(Chris Marzella, a guy with a beard. | Photo by: Ariel Cobbert)
“We’re allowed to have mustaches, but I refuse to grow one,” Eddie Andrews, junior public policy leadership major, said. “Mustaches defeat the purpose of the month and even though I’m upset about it, I’ll wait it out because my day will come.”
On the other hand, there are some students who choose not to participate. Junior geology major Charles Copeland has never participated and plans to keep his face beard-free again this year. However, he does support the idea for cancer awareness.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Copeland said. “It’s a great cause and by donating the money you would usually spend on shaving and grooming, it works out to have a lot of money donated. The main thing I like about it is that it’s a visual message to others that many people are not able to grow hair because of cancer treatments.”
The organization gives at least 80 percent of their donations to charities such as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation and Fight Colorectal Cancer.
No-Shave November doesn’t just appeal to those able to grow facial hair, however. Some women are fans of the ‘mountain man’ look, while others wish that men would skip this month all together and shave.
“After a while, No-Shave November gets a little old,” Erin Keenan, senior English major, said. “Personally, I don’t think beards are attractive on all guys. Some can pull them off, some can’t.”
With the first week of November in full swing, beards are just in their beginning phases but will become bushier within the coming weeks. Now the only question is: will you ditch the razor to support the cause?
