Lewter sporting his Cougar ‘stache.
The College of Charleston is celebrating November by participating in month-long events like No Shave November and Movember. These events encourage men to increase awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate and testicular cancer, by letting their facial hair grow for the month. They also raise funds either through team-driven donations or by contributing their usual monthly grooming costs to related nonprofits. Women participate by spreading the word about issues and fundraising.
Szwarc at the CAB beard and mustache competition.
Brandon Lewter, Interlibrary Loan Coordinator and Reference Librarian at the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library, established the College’s faculty and staff 2014 Movember team, the Cougar Staches.
“We have 25 members in the group and we’ve nearly reached our $1,000 goal!” he said. “That money will go to different organizations that support men suffering from cancer, mental health issues and general men’s health concerns. We also use our beards or mustaches as a way to start a conversation with someone about these issues.”
Lewter, who hopes to rally more participants for the Cougar Staches in 2015, became acutely aware of men’s health issues in 2005, when his best friend was diagnosed with testicular cancer and succumbed to the disease a few years later in 2010. “I miss him every day, so this is something I can do in his honor.”
While some may not have such a personal tie to No Shave November and Movember causes, men and women around the world participate in the hopes of increasing awareness of preventative care methods, like regular testing, as part of their message.
Varner, a student and judge at the CAB beard and mustache competition.
On campus, Cougar Stache team members are not the only no-shave representatives. At a Cougar Activities Board (CAB) beard and mustache competition on November 21, 2014, dozens of finely groomed students showed off their facial hair and related causes while competing for prizes.
“I have a fundraiser going on right now, there’s a donation box over there,” Travis Varner, a junior biochemistry major said, pointing to a foldable table stacked with t-shirts in the Theodore S. Stern Student Center gardens. “I have two funds going, one for Team Beard and one for Team Razor. If Team Beard raises more then I’ll keep my beard, and if Team Razor raises more then I’ll shave it.”
Some, like Varner, have been growing beards or mustaches for years and did not begin growing them especially for November, however they support the sentiments behind the no-shave events.
Maass at the CAB beard and mustache competition.
“Every day is No Shave November,” Carl Maass, a junior political science major said. “I have a Movember page for donations to men’s health issues and I’m a part of the Upstate Classy Beard and Mustache Society, which has a competition called Beards for Breasts for breast cancer awareness every year.”
Maass’ fellow political science major, Ryan Szwarc, has been growing his beard for three years. “I don’t grow it for any one particular cause, I’m just glad to use it to support whatever organizations that competitions like this one are supporting,” Szwarc said.
No Shave November and Movember will end with the month of November, so the final push to meet fundraising goals will happen over the Thanksgiving break. Find out more at the Cougar Staches’ website and Noshave.org.
