When most people think of the month of November, the first things that come to mind are mountains of turkey and the glorious madness that is Black Friday. But what about untamed beards and massive hair growth?

No-Shave November is a month long campaign that encourages people to grow out their facial hair for cancer awareness. Essentially, by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and not falling victim to the razor, we show support and raise awareness. The money that participants normally spend on maintaining their physical appearance during November such as shaving, waxing, trimming or threading would be donated save lives, provide aid to patients and to educate others about cancer prevention.

Despite the misconception, No-Shave November is not exclusively for men. The money donated goes toward all forms of cancer research and funding, not solely prostate. Beyond not shaving their arms or legs, women can show support by not waxing their eyebrows or lips or not getting a haircut and donating the money they would have spent.

Students who aren’t participating in No-Shave November and would like to get involved can still participate. Simply discard your razor and donate the money to the official campaign website, no-shave.org. Students who want to partake in it but don’t want to risk their personal appearance can still donate funding to the charity.

A couple of GSU students were questioned about their participation in No-Shave November and here’s what they said:

Chris Howard, freshman athletic training major

Q: What is No-Shave November?

A: It’s the month of November when you don’t shave.

Q: Why are you participating in it? Do you think it is important or beneficial?

A: I never really looked into it. I just decided to participate.

Q: Is your facial hair starting to irritate you?

A: No

Q: Are you going to donate?

A: No

Todd Mason, junior business major

Q: Do you know what No-Shave November is?

A: No, not really.

Q: Why are you participating in it?

A: I want to not shave. I wasn’t sure on what it meant. I just wanted to participate.

Q: Do you think it is important or beneficial?

A: Yes, I do because if we have the chance to participate in No-Shave November, then we should all participate.

Q: Is your facial hair starting to irritate you?

A: Not really, not yet. It hasn’t grown to its full potential.

Q: Are you going to donate?

A: No.

Russell Mullis, senior international studies major

Q: What is No-Shave November?

A: No-Shave November is all about raising awareness on male forms of cancer. Since Breast Cancer Awareness is so large, No-Shave November should be larger and more verbal in the media.

Q: Do you think it is important or beneficial?

A: It’s beneficial to help get the word out, and my beard grows fast anyway so it cuts down on shaving!

Q: Is your facial hair starting to irritate you?

A: The neck growth annoys me.

Q: Are you going to donate?

A: Yes.

Kejuan Johnson, sophomore sports management major

Q: What is No-Shave November?

A: It’s when men don’t shave because they’re supporting prostate and colon cancer.

Q: Why are you participating in it? Do you think it is important or beneficial?

Yes, I think it’s beneficial. My grandfather had prostate cancer.

Q: Is your facial hair starting to irritate you?

A: A little. My mustache is touching my nose and it feels like something is in it.

Q: Are you going to donate?

A: Maybe.

Chris James, junior psychology major

Q: What is No-Shave November?

A: No-Shave November is a cancer awareness month.

Q: Why are you participating in it?

A: I’m participating because I’m going to auction my beard off for BCM to go to missions.

Q: Do you think it is important or beneficial?

A: Yes, of course. It’s important to raise awareness for cancer.

Q: Is your facial hair starting to irritate you?

A: No, I’ve grown it a whole lot longer before. No complaints. I love my beard!

Q: Are you going to donate?

A: Maybe.

Prince Davis, junior exercise science major

Q: What is No-Shave November?

A: You give up shaving for prostate cancer.

Q: Do you think it is important or beneficial?

A: Yes, because it shows you can give up something that might be important to your physical appearance for a good cause.

Q: Is your facial hair starting to irritate you?

A: No, I’ve had it for a while. It’s pretty okay now.

Q: Are you going to donate?

A: No. Can y’all donate to me? I’m broke! But I’ll support in any other way I can.

Daniel Thorton, senior graphic design major

Q: What is No-Shave November?

A: No-Shave November is when you don’t shave to raise awareness for prostate cancer.

Q: Why are you participating in it?

A: I like to not shave all the time.

Q: Is your facial hair starting to irritate you?

A: No.

Q: Are you going to donate?

A: No.

Matthew Upchurch, junior communication studies major

Q: What is No-Shave November?

A: It’s a month where guys let their faces do what they’ve been trying to do for 11 other months.

Q: Why are you participating?

A: I’m pro beard. And you have really cool convos with people.

Q: Do you think it is important or beneficial?

A: I do! It brings awareness to prostate cancer.

Q: Is your facial hair starting to irritate you?

A: It bugs me every now and again when I’m eating. You have to get used to it.

Q: Are you going to donate?

A: Yes, but I’m donating to BCM’s Beard Auction

The Baptist Collegiate Ministries here at Georgia Southern is taking No Shave November a step further. This year they are hosting their third Annual Beard Auction. The Beard Auction is a unique fundraiser that uses the beards that were grown during NSN and auctions them off to raise money for mission trips and community outreach.

“Basically after NSN all guys line up and auction up the rights to their beard. Whoever buys it can shave it anyway they choose. The guys have to wear it in public for 24 hours,” said Matthew Upchurch, BCM’s Beard Auction Coordinator.

BCM hopes to reach their goal of $1,000 raised. The event is free for students to participate. For more information, students can emailmu00251@georgiasouthern.edu or sign up at the BCM house.