Cassie Forsyth | Arts & Life Co-Editor

As the calendar turns to November, the new month means many things to everyone. For some, it means it’s time for No Shave November. No Shave November comes with various names, including “Movember” and “Noshember.” During this month, some people avoid shaving and grow their facial hair out.

Many of the students on Buena Vista University’s (BVU) campus are participating in it this month. Some do this just for fun or pure laziness, while others hope to help raise awareness for men’s health. The Movember Foundation charity began in 2004, and it raises awareness for these obstacles.

Sophomore Alex Meier hopes to support prostate cancer awareness through the month of November, and he does it because of the tradition in his family.

“It’s just kind of something that we’ve always done. My grandfather used to do it a lot,” Meier said.

Meier also believes facial hair gives him a rugged look.

Some students on campus started on a clean slate by shaving at the end of October, while some are continuing to grow out an already impressive amount of facial hair.

Junior Doug Bohaty hasn’t shaved since Oct. 30, and he doesn’t plan to shave even when the month is over. Bohaty is used to having facial hair, and he prefers it because he thinks it makes him look more mature.

“It makes you look more adult, and you don’t get treated as much of a student or kid. It makes you look more grown and more mature,” Bohaty said.

Without the facial hair, Bohaty surprises many of his peers. Even people he doesn’t know comment on how different he looks.

“People come up and tell me how different I look, how much I’ve changed, that I look younger, or that I look more adult like, or more respectable sometimes,” Bohaty said, “They usually just compliment me on how I’ve changed a lot of times.”

As many people continue to grow out their facial hair throughout the month of November, be prepared for the results!

Photos by Cassie Forsyth