By Vicky Chu

Summer is coming. Bryn Mawr’s trees are shedding their pink cherry blossom petals and their students are shedding their winter clothes.

And while we’re shedding things, we might as well shed our hair.

“We’re in a recession,” said Anne Bugnaski ’10. “If you shave your head, shampoo costs are reduced.”

Although not the sunniest or warmest of days, hundreds of students showed up on Thursday, April 23 to buzz or cut off their hair, volunteer or support their friends. Buzzing4Change is a non-profit corporation that runs one-day events for students to donate their hair to Locks of Love, which makes wigs for chemotherapy patients out of human hair.

Bryn Mawr students have raised $4,662 as of April 26, 2009, and are still receiving donations until May 15 at buzzing4change.org/brynmawr. Over 50 students volunteered, 29 students buzzed their heads and 22 cut and donated their hair to Locks of Love. 100 percent of the money raised is being donated to a children’s hospital in Philadelphia.

Although a noble act, and even though many girls have been preparing themselves for months, many still had been struggling with the questions: to buzz or not?

Bugnaski admitted it was actually more of a challenge to convince students at a women’s college to shave their heads. “It’s very interesting how women’s attachment to their hair is very strong,” she said. Through buzzing your hair, Bugnaski explained, it was a demonstration of the ability to part with something that at first seems to be an integral part of your visual appearance.

Celia Turner shaved her head last year at the Buzzing4Change event at Drexel, and buzzed it half an inch this year. “It’s very liberating,” said Turner. “It shows solidarity, and that anybody can take the plunge.”

Bugnaski had also shaved her head at Drexel last year and was inspired to bring the event to Bryn Mawr. Although the purpose of shaving or cutting your hair is to show solidarity and support for cancer patients, Bugnaski felt especially strong about buzzing her hair.

“The first time I shaved my head, I was about 16,” said Bugnaski, whose father was going through chemotherapy at the time. “Cancer is a universal disease. Everyone has someone, who’s had it, or is somehow connected to it.”

Ruth Goodlaxson ’10 also had a personal experience that led her to buzz her head. “My little brother had leukemia, and was in and out of the hospital,” Goodlaxson said. Of her newly shorn head, she said, “It’s a symbol. It’s support—it raises awareness of what’s going on.”

Some girls had no problem buzzing or cutting off their hair. “I generally like having shorter hair,” said Bugnaski. “I didn’t feel any loss when I shaved my head. Hair will grow back. I was excited for the opportunity and definitely felt proud I was able to raise a lot of money.”

Of course, not everyone was as eager to part with their hair. Rayna Andrews ’11, who was too afraid of buzzing her hair, cites the times she tried on short-haired wigs and had a pixie-cut at the age of four as reasons to believe a short-haired look would not suit her well.

However, she still decided to have ten inches chopped off and volunteer at the event. “As much as I like my long hair, it’s a good cause,” Andrews said. “As long as I can do something.”

Other students still managed to be a part of the cause through donating, supporting and volunteering at the event. Caroline Kenward ’12 was a volunteer this year, helping register people and accepting students. Although she did not cut her hair at this past event, Kenward has previously donated to Locks of Love.

“The first time, I was eight,” said Kenward. Since then, she has donated her hair four times.

For those who missed their opportunity, there is no need to fear. Buzzing4Change will definitely be back soon. “A lot of people aren’t open to the idea of shaving their heads,” said Bugnaski. “It’s so ingrained in our society that females must primp their hair, dye it, treat it.”

Still, Bugnaski stressed the amazing feeling of being female and not having hair. “It’s something that every woman should do once in their lives. It’s college and it’s the one time where shaving our heads is not completely inappropriate.”

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