Rashes of 'staches

Residents are, by definition, a group of stressed-out folks in a tough job. This leads to various sorts of bonding behavior. So, for example, earlier this fall roommate J-Bomb's group of pediatrics interns proclaimed the month after October to be Mo-vember, during which they would all sport 'staches. This was eventually cancelled, however, for fear that none of their patients' mothers would allow the male peds interns in a room with their children.

Now my moment of truth has come: the EM interns have declared next month to be Manuary. We're expected to grow beards and then, when suitable bushiness has been attained, to shave down to the ever-popular mustache. Team player that I am, I stopped shaving a few days ago. (A pleasant relief from an increasingly burdensome daily chore!) However, I'm not liking the scruffy visage that greets me in the mirror. So do I take part in the testosteronulous bonding ritual? Or do I assert my clean-shaven individuality? Medicine certainly requires us to make the tough decisions.