This article was originally published prior to June 2, 2013.  Due to a change in content management systems, the initial publication date is not available.

If you are among the many students who swear the person next to you has pink hair, don’t rush to the doctor just yet.

No, you don’t have glaucoma or some other debilitating condition. There really are more than 70 students and faculty sporting a new, flashier hairstyle this week to promote breast cancer awareness.

Last week, in an effort to collect information to distribute to students about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ruth Sarna, director of student health services, contacted the Breast Center at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was then introduced to Emily Willis, a stylist from Salon Hawk in Lawrence, who said she would visit Baker to sell pink hair extensions to students.

Hair extensions were sold for $10, and after just two hours on campus, Baker had raised $750, all of which was donated to the Breast Center at LMH.

Baker needed to have 40 people guaranteed to purchase the hair extensions in order to bring Willis to campus. Initially believed to be a potential problem, the number surpassed 40 people in the first hour alone.

It seems the knock on college students these days is their lack of involvement in social issues. Election campaigns plead for the 18-24 demographic to take action in the world around them, and that’s exactly what Baker students are doing during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The fact that Baker was able to raise $750 for this deadly issue – one that affects nearly 2 million women every year – displays the quality of character of students on this campus.

While breast cancer awareness is a predominantly female philanthropy, males on campus are also getting involved.

Junior Josh Morgan even put a pink hair extension in his beard. <br/>Baker students and staff should continue to support these difficult social issues.Baker students and staff should continue to support these difficult social issues.
Baker students and staff should continue to support these difficult social issues.