KIRK HALL — Amidst mounting pressure from both society and his mirror, geology professor Merv Donaldson made the decision to throw away his remaining pride and shave his head over the holiday long-weekend.

“I figured it’s not like it’s going to get any better,” Donaldson said. “Why not go all out and really embrace it? Plus, I hear this is the look these days, so I guess I’m a bit of a trendsetter.”

The new look has been received with mixed reviews from students.

“It’s just kind of sad, I think,” said Brogan Henry. “It’s pretty evident that he thinks this is a game changer, but really, he’s still the same guy up there with the stain on his tie, adjusting the overhead sheets.”

Donaldson’s wife, however, views the change positively.

“It’s great,” Donaldson said. “He’s just got this new vitality and hope in his eyes. You can tell this really means something to him.”