As the final month of autumn approaches, a dramatic change can be noticed among the males of Liberty High School. The once boyish, baby-smooth faces of the religious shavers slowly morphs into a dark, fuzzy underbrush of facial hair. Yes, the Liberty student body is engaged in the latest school spirit trend: No-Shave November.

Despite the fun of testing one’s masculinity and shaving (no pun intended) time off our daily-routine, there is a strong force building against the still-in-infancy No-Shave November.  Male students fear that they will not be able to grow a full enough beard and female students complain that the scraggly beards are “gross” and “prickly”. It’s normal to have dissenters during school spirit events, but the movement against No-Shave November has grown so strong that students trying to keep a tradition alive and enjoy the Liberty holiday season are now in the minority.

These people are missing the spirit of No-Shave November. No-Shave November is not for the testosterone-riddled few capable of growing a luxuriant beard in a month. It is for the common pubescent teen who grows some scattered, patchy facial hair if he skips shaving for a while. The pathetic, unattractive beards are part of the fun – it’s like an ugly-sweater day.

Some students also complain that it is annoying to have the beard for the month. I’ll admit, there are a few times when I feel the prickly beard against my shoulder as I sleep or read a book and I begin to wish I could just shave it off. But that’s another aspect of what makes No-Shave November great! It’s like fasting: a challenge. Also like fasting, the reward of ending the ordeal is a sweet one that makes it all worth it.

So when you see your semi-fuzzy patriots walking through the hall, don’t deride them with calls of “gross” and “is that even a beard?” but rather greet them with applause and words of encouragement. They are keeping a school tradition alive. Sometimes it’s better to just go with it rather than complain and be a stick in the mud.