Students have a skewed opinion of No Shave November: Many participate as a contest between friends but don’t donate to the actual charity. No-Shave.org defines the goal of No Shave November as “growing awareness by embracing your hair, which many cancer patients lose… Donate the money you would typically spend on shaving and grooming to educate about cancer prevention.”

  Freshman Jacob Schepp said, “I do it every year because I never shave. I don’t have to.” Along with this, sophomore Alex Westfall said, “I have no idea what that is but why not.” Some lowerclassmen don’t shave yet and therefore cannot realistically participate.

  Junior Luke Sendaydiego does not participate because “[his] mustache looks wack.” Cancer awareness does not outweigh teens’ need to fit in. People will look at you differently and judge you when you have a weird mustache.

  A small portion of the school participates in No Shave November, and those who  do will treat it as a competition in their friend group. Even if they are doing it to raise awareness, I have not met anyone who  is going to donate the money they saved. If you participate, you should donate—awareness is not enough.