Stephanie Steiner | Arts & Life Co-Editor

November has come and (almost) gone, and “No Shave November” has hit Buena Vista University’s (BVU) campus yet again. Why participate in this strange ongoing event?

No Shave November may just seem like something fun and random to do, but there is actually a very meaningful purpose behind it. Senior Austin Gibbs explains why he participates in No Shave November.

“I am participating in No Shave November because I learned a couple years ago what the true reasoning for it is. It was started to help raise cancer awareness by allowing people to grow their hair out because some cancer patients cannot grow hair,” Gibbs said.

Another senior, Greg Sibenaller, is participating in this event as well.

“Most of the time I have facial hair because it hides up my baby face. The best part about No Shave November is I can shave crazy designs into my beard once it’s all over,” Sibenaller said.

Although not shaving can seem glamorous, there are some downfalls to participating.

“I am not used to having facial hair, and it can grow itchy and annoying,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs works at Fareway and workers are not allowed to have facial hair there.

Although Sibenaller is used to facial hair, growing it out is always a process and reflects the old saying that it must get worse before it gets better.

“The hardest part is dealing with the patchy scruff until it gets long enough to be a beard,” Sibenaller said.

The Student Activities Board (SAB) at BVU put on a No Shave November contest, where students, staff, and faculty were to submit a clean-shaven picture of themselves at the beginning of the month and then another picture at the end to show their progression. There will be different awards such as “The Perfect 10”, “It just didn’t work”, and “Best Combination”. Be sure to watch out for the winners. The final submission is to be in by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1.

“It’s a lot of work to shave, and when I can win prizes for being lazy, I’m in,” Sibenaller said.

Be sure to learn more about No Shave November and how to help raise awareness for cancer by visiting www.no-shave.org. Participants in this event can even go a step further and donate the expenses they normally use to shave to aid those who are fighting the battle of cancer.

Graphic by Krystal Schulte
Photos by Justice Gage