Loyola seniors embrace Movember, leave legacy for future brohounds

     For the past month, there has been a group of young men on Loyola's campus who have been sporting a variety of mustaches. Many people associate this trend with the well-known "No Shave November." These gentlemen are not growing out their facial hair to lure in the ladies or test out the genes they inherited from their parents; they are participating in the growing Movember campaign in order to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer.

     Started in Melbourne, Australia, in 2004, Movember is a global campaign in which men grow out their mustaches, or Mo's as they are referred to, in order to raise awareness for prostate cancer while making men—young and old—more comfortable discussing and dealing with health concerns.

     After studying abroad in Melbourne and becoming more familiar and passionate about the Movember movement, senior Ernie Menold wanted to bring the cause to Loyola. Rob Summerlin, also a senior, was introduced to the cause through a childhood friend who is an ambassador for the Movember organization. Along with 15 of their roommates and friends, the two guys brought Movember to Loyola's campus.

     For these guys, Movember is not just about the mustache, it is the cause behind it. "It really became raising awareness of prostate cancer by means of growing some fuzz above my lip," said Menold. He explained that many men feel anxious or embarrassed when talking about or dealing with health issues so it is the hope of Movember that by openly addressing these issues that men will be more relaxed and proactive about dealing with them.

     With one in six men being diagnosed with prostate cancer, educating men on potential health risks is crucial when dealing with the illness. The goal of Movember is to "educate men about the health risks they face and to act on that knowledge, thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment," according to the organization's website.

     By bringing the movement to Loyola's campus, these young men have introduced these concepts to their peers who are at a very significant age; awareness for guys must start early in order to detect the cancer in its earliest stages and college is an opportune time in a man's life to introduce this issue.

     "For men like me, growing a mustache can result in looking like a catfish or huge creep, therefore you are truly sacrificing something for a good cause," said Summerlin.

     Additionally, sporting the Mo's around campus every day and using social media, the Mo Bro's, as they are referred, spread recognition to the movement not only to Loyola, but Baltimore as well.

     "I really wanted to leave a Movember footprint behind for future Brohounds," said Menold of his hope for the future of the cause. It would be ideal for Movember to one day gain the same notoriety and impact that Breast Cancer Awareness Month does in October, according to the men, since both cancers affect their respective genders in so many ways.

     "Breast Cancer Awareness Month is such a great way for women to find solidarity within their gender, and I think Movember can eventually become a large movement for men. Celebrities and professional athletes joined the movement this year, so I can only see it growing in the future," said Summerlin.

     Menold also stressed that one day he hopes the mustaches will be more appreciated and thought of on a higher level. During the month, a few participants were forced to shave their mustaches for interviews or job requirements. Their hope is that, through the growing popularity of Movember, the social acceptability of mustaches will increase and participants will not be inhibited by other obligations in their support of the movement.

     As of Dec. 1, the Loyola men's team of 60 raised $6,737 for the movement this year. At the end of the month, they also named participants BMOC (Best Mustache on Campus) and WMOC (Weakest Mustache on Campus). Ryan Mitchel, Sean Kearney and Phil Greenwood, all seniors, won BMOC. Unfortunately, Phil Fusco, senior, had some difficulties and was made WMOC.