November kicks off a month where laziness and charity come hand-in-hand during No Shave November and Movember.
No Shave November encourages men to go without shaving and women to cancel their waxing appointments and go au naturale for a whole month. Movember, a similar concept, features a month-long event where men (or women) grow out a mustache for charity.
While No Shave November also can incorporate donations and raise money for men’s health-related charities, some students do it just because it’s acceptable to look unkempt in November.
A University alumnus and political field organizer, Jim Howes, takes part in Movember to support his friends’ father who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“It’s kind of like a Relay for Life, it’s a really widespread thing,” Howes said. “It’s a men’s health awareness campaign.”
The two events’ websites provide users with information on how to donate to charities and to encourage others to raise awareness about cancer and other men’s health issues. Movember’s website includes links to donate to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, LIVESTRONG Foundation and the Movember Foundation.
Senior Charlie Olson, a member of the University’s golf team, said the whole team is participating in the event this year and donated to a charity two years ago.
“I like not having to be productive, to be lazy,” Olson said. “We’ve done it for two or three years now.”
The No Shave November website even provides apparel to users where all proceeds are donated to the American Cancer Society. The charity also has their own donation website stemming from the month of lonely razors and bearded faces.
First year non-shaver and Freshman Danny Cane has been loyal to the rules of No Shave November and said he hasn’t cheated once. He found out about the month through his high school hockey team and has a few friends who are doing it as well.
“I’ve been doing it since I was 18,” said Colin Fox, a junior. “All of my friends are doing it.”
Sophomore Jason Wood said while he participated in No Shave November at first, he soon encountered a “girl problem” with his decision.
“She didn’t like No Shave November so I caved,” Wood said. “I lasted four days.”
Blackbeard Spiced Rum is even sponsoring the “Manliest Beard” contest where men can win the “Black Razor” trophy or the company will host a party for the winner and their closest friends, according to noshavenov.com which has more than 76,000 likes on Facebook.
“The mustache has always been a symbol of masculinity and has also had a stigma around it,” Howes said. “Men’s health is a touchy subject.”
To learn more about the month and to donate to their sponsored charities, visit www.noshavenov.com and www.movember.com
