Friday night was a fun one. As the organizer of the Bike for Beards event, I simply felt relieved to know that another event I had planned was done, and there were no major hiccups. Beastie Boys, The Beatles, and other tunes still played in my head. I could rest easy, I had some local new coverage and photos from friends to keep as souvenirs… or so I thought.

As I was waiting tables Saturday morning(proof that I am in fact a poor college student) I received a call from an East coast area code. I stepped outside to listen to the voicemail and was shocked to hear that another national news outlet wanted to talk to me about the event.

By the time I got off work I had received more invitations to talk and began to lance myself into the flurry of internet and facebook comments revolving around the articles that had been written.

Many were supportive but there were a few recurring arguments to the contrary. One of which really struck a nerve with me, “If they don’t like it, then they should go somewhere else.”

I worked hard to get into BYU. It is a competitive process and I have enjoyed, and I continue to enjoy my experience there. One of the main reasons I chose to attend BYU was because of the Honor Code. Is, “Go somewhere else” our automatic response to questioning the status quo in our culture? I asked people to look at the reason why this beard policy was instituted, then judge if the reason is still relevant today. Instead many people chose to question motives, and my personal obedience and confidence in Church leaders. A BYU policy is not by force a church policy.

The reason for the beard ban is clearly outlined in Dallin H. Oaks’ talk from 1971 at BYU. “Unlike modesty, which is an eternal value in the sense of rightness or wrongness in the eyes of God, our rules against beards and long hair are contemporary and pragmatic. They are responsive to conditions and attitudes in our own society at this particular point in time.” This point in time… The speech was given in 1971.

I think the event was a success, largely because something so trivial as beards have asked us to step back and think through a cultural lens. I tried my best to do it in a lighthearted manner and I hope that a lot of people were able to laugh about it all. I love the honor code, and value the doctrinal practices that it promotes. I love being a student at BYU and am proud to be a cougar. If all of this attention led to a change in this, “contemporary and pragmatic” practice then that would simply be icing on the cake.

~Shane Pittson Founder of Bike for Beards Rally