By Sam Smith
The last few years have been a pandemonium of new and experimental rule changes in Collegiate’s Upper School. From daily schedules, to dress codes, to even class locations, it seems that every year there is a new set of rules. This year, one rule seems to stand above all: the allowance of facial hair in the Upper School.
Prior to the 2022-2023 school year, boys in the Upper School were required to be clean-shaven at all times. If you were to break this standard, it was not uncommon for Upper School Dean of Students Mark Palyo to pull rebellious young men to the side and hand them a blunt razor to go clean themselves up in the bathroom. The boys would come out with irritated, with sopping wet faces, as the mediocre razor and no shaving cream would make for a very unsatisfactory shave.
Civil War Major General M. C. Meigs sporting enviable facial hair. Photo credit: “Battles and leaders of the Civil War” (1887) via Flickr.
But this is no longer the case. As of this year, any facial hair that is deemed clean and well-kept is allowed. This means that beards, mustaches, lamb chops, chin straps, and goatees are all fair game to any young man with the ability to grow one. However, opinions in the Collegiate community seem to vary regarding the rule change.
On one side, the rule has some very avid supporters. When asked his opinion, Miles Prusek (‘24) simply stated “It’s a great rule.” Jack Barnes (‘23) profoundly added, “I believe the rule has [been] great for the school, because it allows people to express themselves in ways we haven’t seen before.” The main positive sentiment is that guys can now showcase a new look and use it as a form of diversification and expression, which was somewhat hard for them before.
For males, dressing for school is not rocket science, according to Collin Kimball-Mckavish (‘23). He says, “The hardest part is figuring out if it’s a pants or shorts kinda’ day.” It is fairly typical for a guy to grab a pair of khakis, match it with the first collared/t-shirt he sees, and throw on his hoodie that he’s worn three days in a row for good measure. Especially at Collegiate, this leads to a standardized and monotonous style. “It’s nice to have something that you can make on your own, that’s completely yours and your style. I think facial hair does that,” Kimball-Mckavish continued.
However, the rule has its opponents. Upper School Spanish teacher Esperanza Soria-Nieto explains how she opposes the new rule, saying: “My preference is clean-cut. If it is because of religion… I’m fine with that. But for the other guys right now, I think clean-cut is much better. It is more professional.” This preference for a more polished and professional look is not just held among faculty members. The majority of Soria-Nieto’s AP Spanish class, notably all senior females, chimed in, agreeing they preferred a clean-shaven look.
Other students don’t necessarily oppose the rule; however, they aren’t exactly happy with it either. When asked for his input, Hank Shield (‘23) paused before sharing, “My thoughts are that if you cannot grow facial hair substantially and quickly, you shouldn’t be allowed to grow facial hair.” Despite his earlier comments, Kimball-Mckavish quickly turned to agree with Shield on the subject, adding, “If your attractiveness does not go up because of your beard, you should not be allowed to have it.”
Some students shared that they didn’t actually have much of an opinion on the rule change. Luke Smith (‘23) stated, “I don’t really care [about the rule] because I shave.” Smith later did add that he appreciated the rule being made, saying that, since he is a redhead, “If I were to grow it out, I would look like a lumberjack. It’s cool to know I have that ability. That being said, I still don’t care about the rule that much.”
Whether for or against the rule change, everyone agrees that seeing what some of the students have done with their new freedom has been exciting and intriguing to watch. Per popular request, the most notable and impressive accomplishments regarding facial hair have been gathered for speculation, and a contest.
Who has the best facial hair in the Upper School?
Our first contestant is baseball phenom Will Slater (‘23). Slater has one of the most recognizable beards in the school, and he grows it in a chinstrap style. An impressive length, along with the rarer orange flair, this contest would be incomplete without Slater’s presence. One of the fan favorites, students have very complimentary words about Slater’s facial hair. “I love Slater’s beard,” Prusek commented. Barnes also stated, “Slater’s skill, as well as his expertise, are inspiring.”
Will Slater (’23). Photo credit: Will Slater.
The next contestant is SCA co-chair Wyatt King (‘23). What he lacks in length and fullness he makes up for in his cleanliness and attention to detail. With one of the prettier beards in the contest, it is clear that King takes the time to make his beard the most presentable it can be.
Wyatt King (’23). Photo credit: Wyatt King.
Third up is varsity soccer standout Robby Aboud (‘23), who is somewhat famous, or infamous, some would say, for his well-known neckbeard. The opposite of King, Aboud finds his passion and strength in the scruffier look, with hair creeping down his neck, furthering the image of a wild look. Love it or hate it, Aboud’s ability to grow facial hair is undeniable and thus has earned him a spot in the contest. To aspiring beard growers, Aboud says, “Be confident and just do what feels right. Have faith in your beard.”
Robby Aboud (’23). Photo credit: Robby Aboud.
One of the more complete beards of the contest is owned by Senior Class President Rohan Agarwal (‘23). Agarwal has perhaps one of the most well-rounded beards. Clean and full, Agarwal never fails to turn heads when he sports his facial hair. Coupled with his luscious and wind-swept hair, Agarwal is an impressive contender. When asked why he should win, Agarwal confidently responded, “Mine is the best because it grows fast, and I can maneuver it to make it look solid.”
Rohan Agarwal (’23). Photo credit: Rohan Agarwal.
The final contestant, and the favorite to win it all, is varsity linebacker Hudson Avery (‘23). With an ability to grow facial hair that matches that of a 30-year-old man, Avery has one of the most visually pleasing beards in the Upper School. Multiple students were eager to comment on Avery’s showing. Kimball-Mackavish simply stated, “I like Hudson Avery’s beard hair,” while Barnes gave a glowing review, saying, “I think Hudson Avery has the most beautiful hair known to man in the Upper School, and he keeps it well-groomed and sharp.” Bonus: the beard comes with a mustache, which retains the same beauty and poise as the rest of the beard. When asked about his tips and advice for aspiring beard growers, Avery suggested, “A good Gillette razor and a lather brush are necessities. Also a good pair of trimmers.” Avery’s facial hair is truly an Upper School treasure.
Hudson Avery (’23). Photo credit: Hudson Avery.
Hater or lover, skeptic or believer, critic or proponent, facial hair is a reality in the Upper School for the 2022-2023 school year. But what do you think? What are your opinions on the new rule? And, most importantly, who has the best facial hair in the Upper School?
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