When The Enquirer published a photo of Brad Pitt in a beanie and with a beard, it was a big deal that the actor was so-called letting himself go. When the old circus showcased its Bearded Lady, spectators traveled across towns to see her up close and personal. When 16 members of an Amish group cut the beards and long hair of their coreligionists in September, they were convicted of a hate crime. Those are just a few beard tales.
So what is it about even the faintest of beards that make the college student (want to) appear rugged, outdoorsy and mistakenly a professor or hipster? And by beards, I’m not talking about a gay guy’s pretend girlfriend.
To answer this question, I scouted a few bearded students last Wednesday to ask them their story for growing out their facial hair one week before the autumn equinox.
Junior communications major Eduardo Pineda said he thought sporting a beard was a soccer in-thing.
However, senior mechanical engineering major Gabriel Martin looked like he was too consumed with schoolwork to notice his growing beard.
Overall, the 360-degree mutton chops will always live and grow on, as seen on Jesus, Karl Marx or the average Joe.
Photo (from top left to right)
Gabriel Martin, senior, mechanical, engineering major
Eduardo Valencia, junior, communications major
Eduardo Pineda, junior, communications major
Sean Kubota, senior, communications major
Nick Kaufman, senior, anthropology major
Dave Wrathall (center), alumnus, film major