The month when you run into stubble

The Spartans disciplined cowards by shaving off their beards. This past month, dozens of Stanford students have bravely forgone shaving in the annual tradition of “No Shave November.” Why would anyone do that? Well, it depends on whom you ask.

Austin Keeley ‘11, a prominent veteran of No Shave November, explained the old-school rationale for “this wonderful occasion.”

“I do it because I think beards are cool — everyone should take a time in their lives to grow a beard,” Keeley said. “No Shave November is about celebrating what you can do in a month. I see lots of guys walking around with scraggly beards, and it warms my heart.”

This year, an outbreak of No Shave November among freshmen has turned a few heads around with over 60 freshmen saying they’d partake in the event. Alok Vaid-Menon ‘13, who rallied freshmen to join through Facebook, explained that part of the reason for the success lies in an expansion of the motivations behind No Shave November.

“We decided that as an incentive you could say you’re doing [No Shave November] for peace by tying it to ‘Beards for Peace,’ an organization which began during the Vietnam War that promotes not shaving as a means of protest against war,” Vaid-Menon said.

Indeed, across campus people have proposed that No Shave November addresses, practically and symbolically, a variety of personal and global issues.

“It’s a rough economy; not shaving saves me a fort une on shaving supplies,” Keeley said with a smile. “There are so many good things about it: peace, saving money and saving water.”

Despite the good-natured and joking character of No Shave November, it is still about facing fears and overcoming obstacles. Chase Ishii ‘13, a three-year veteran of the event, stresses the difficulties that accompany participation.

“It is always a good test of self-discipline,” Ishii said. “It’s almost like a dating sabbatical for one month. The danger zone is the neck beard, which is itchy as whatnot. I’m blessed to not have to deal with that situation.”

Keeley agreed with Ishii, but also stressed the importance of perseverance.

“A week or two in, you start getting an itchy face,” Keeley said. “It doesn’t really fill up in spots. That’s really a dark period. But once you get past the first two weeks, the sky’s the limit. Or rather, the ground.”

For girls, social convention offers a particularly strong deterrent from participating. Holly Fetter ‘13, who abstained from shaving for three weeks and stands as one of the sole examples of women attempting No Shave November, decries the lack of female participation.

“I think it’s a shame that I was one of the only girls who observed this sacred holiday, especially since I failed,” Fetter said. “The double standard of men’s and women’s expected shaving habits is absolutely ridiculous, and I think more women need to stand up for the rights of their hairy limbs and crevices.”

Some girls, on the other hand, think that No Shave November is just another justification males use to excuse their laziness, and they strongly reject the practice.

“Guys created No Shave November as an almost-clever near-alliteration that marks their laziness about shaving all the time,” said Emily Pollock ‘13. “I choose not to be lazy, and I dislike being hairy.”

There may be some truth to that statement, as some guys have moved beyond No Shave November, seeking to expand it throughout the year.

“Sometimes I’ll observe different events like Manuary or Febearduary or Marchstash,” Keeley said. “This past summer, I rode my bike across the country and I let it grow. We came up with July-to-your-girlfriend-and-tell-her-you-lost-a-bet, which is a bit too long.We’re still looking for more concise, short names for months.”

Joseph Victor ‘13, a proud owner and lover of beards, explained that for people who grow beards almost all year long, No Shave November is really for amateurs.

“When someone asked me if I would do No Shave November, I said sure — it would be the perfect follow-up to No Shave October and No Shave August,” he said. “It’s not a big deal for someone like me. I already have the beard.”

No Shave November is one of those good-natured college eccentricities that defy simple explanations. Yet, whatever the reason for it, one thing is certain: the Spartans would be proud.