After three days of photo shoots of students posing with natural and synthetic moustaches, Mr. and Mrs. Movember will be crowned Dec. 5.
Some students exchanged their smooth skin for bristly, hairy moustaches for Movember, an awareness campaign for men’s health and prostate cancer held annually during the month of November.
CU Relay For Life, along with the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) and the Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA), set up the photo booth in the Unicentre atrium once a week for three weeks in November.
CUSA president Obed Okyere said running the Mr. and Mrs. Movember competition with costumes and photos is “an exciting way to get students involved.”
“We raise awareness by encouraging them to understand the cause and take part in it,” Okyere said.
Those who don’t naturally grow facial hair had the opportunity to pose with an array of synthetic moustaches of all shapes, sizes, and curls.
Students posed with moustaches, pirate hats, reindeer hats, tiaras, firemen costumes and had the option of posting the photos on Facebook.
CU Relay For Life will be judging the photos, but those with more “likes” or those who use their photo as their profile picture can improve their chances of winning.
The criteria used to crown this year’s Mr. Movember depends on “how good or how bad” their moustaches are, according to James Armbruster, co-chair of CU Relay For Life.
“We’re looking to see if they’ve used some of the props provided, or if they use their own. We had one lady bring her dog along,” Armbruster said via email.
Dorothy Anuseh, RRRA vice-president (programming), said students also had the option to donate to the cause at the booth.
“Men’s health is often ignored, and Movember is a good way to put it back out there,” she said.
“The men who grow their moustaches are walking billboards for men’s health.”
“Some people can’t even grow moustaches, like females, and it helps women participate in the event too.”
Brandon Wallingford, a fourth-year history student, has been supporting Movember for three years even though he’s “generally opposed to ‘mos’ [because they’re] ugly and you look sketchy.”
“But you can look ridiculous for a month and not feel guilty about it,” he said. “Your friends can’t tell you to shave it off because you’re doing it for a good cause.”
John Mesman, a second-year biochemistry and biotechnology student, said shampoo, conditioner, and lotion don’t ease the itchiness of a moustache.
“I started growing a moustache but it was too dirty for me, so I tagged out earlier.”
Last year, $22.3 million was raised in Canada. This year’s funds are at $29 million and counting.
Kyle Iannuzzi, a Mo Bro staff member at Movember Canada, said Canada keeps coming out on top.
“We couldn’t be happier with [the funds raised so far], and we’re ecstatic that the number is going to grow until the end of the week.”
