Meredith Smith
Staff Writer
To shave or not to shave…that is the question Corban men may be pondering deep within themselves throughout the month of November.
The unofficial challenge of No Shave November is a battle-cry of manliness: how long can a man avoid the razor and the gentle plea from stubbly uncomfortable cheeks? How long can a beard be grown, measuring the undeniable manliness of a face?
Beau St. Peter, senior health science major and ASB Vice President, thinks all men should be participants “because it’s manly. Done and done,” he said. “Only men can grow it,” he explained. He argued that it has use: “It’s functional,” he said. “It keeps your face warm.” But his most striking defense of a scruffy beard: “The ladies stick to it like Velcro.”
As neck beards and lopsided mustaches grace the faces of Corban men participating in this manly month, duty calls the Corban women to inform men of what women really want.
Anna Bassous, junior psychology major, said: “I like it [No Shave November] because it kind of provides humor, and I don’t like it at the same time because some people just can’t pull off the look.”
Hannah Kersey, sophomore intercultural studies major, agreed. “I think No Shave November is funny for the first week, but after that, it can get gross,” she said. “They just look like bums…like they rolled out of bed.”
Alana Avila, freshman ministries major, clarified just what was the problem for her: “Scruff is okay, but when it just grows for a month it gets out of hand,” she said.
“I don’t really get the point of it,” said Gina Dahlberg, freshman psychology and youth ministries major. She said she would hate if her fiancé grew his beard out.
There is hope for some men according to Karli Nelson, freshman youth and family studies major. “Some guys can pull it off, I think,” she said. “It’s not bad, but it depends on the guy.”
What is a good example of scruff for men to model? Bassous said, “Ryan Reynolds. He is a perfect candidate.” For other men, she warned: “If you have to question whether or not they are doing No Shave November – if there’s, like, a haze around their face that you can see in the sunlight, but you’re not sure – they are not good candidates to have facial hair.”
Some women may tolerate the month, while others despise it. “No Shave November is fine,” said Kcenia Anderson, senior psychology major. “Mustache March is creepy,” she added.
An anonymous “stache hater” said, “I won’t kiss you until you shave!”
Perhaps being stuck together like Velcro is not every woman’s dream. However, St. Peter still holds strongly to the connection of manliness to facial hair. Although he is unable to grow a beard worthy of his own machismo and therefore not a participant in the No Shave month: “I still have hope,” he said.