Chancellor Michael Martin and former Chancellor Sean O’Keefe both have solid resumes, but their gift to bear an impressive mustache can’t be overlooked.Similar to O’Keefe and Martin,  pop culture icons like Burt Reynolds, Hulk Hogan and Ron Burgundy are also notorious for their ability to sport a mean ‘stache. But the trend is rapidly moving beyond Hollywood stars and middle-aged men’s upper lips.Since the turning of the new year, the popularity of facial hair has resurfaced among students and faculty, often strolling across campus with not just mustaches, but more beards, goatees and scruff.”It’s a free type of spirit,” said Jessica Pattison, textiles, apparel and merchandising professor. “It’s more about self-expression and making a statement about your individuality, and people are drawn to that.”As technology has advanced from shaving with razors made of stone to more powerful electric razors, growing a mustache today is a mere accessory to a man’s face and dress.In 1970, more than 89 percent of people in the U.S. accepted mustaches, according to the American Mustache Institute. From 1982 to 2004, only 16 percent of Americans found them acceptable. But today, 35 percent accept mustaches – the highest percentage since the ‘70s.”I’d say the current boom is due mostly to increased social acceptability,” said Deuce Andermann, biological science senior and member of the University’s Mustache Advocacy Network, or M.A.N. “I see a huge future for the mustache.”Recently, Brad Pitt caused a buzz in the pop culture world by growing a mustache for his role in Quentin Tarintino’s “Inglorious Bastards.” And James Franco recently grew a 1970s-style mustache for his role in “Milk.” But the trend extends beyond Hollywood.”With our economy struggling, we need someone to look to,” Pattison said. “In the 1930s, people looked to the silver screen [for inspiration]. They’re trying to mimic the people they see everyday like movie stars, actors, musicians and people who are not necessarily affected by the economy.”Andermann said he believes the bulk of this “mustache revolution” will originate in small-town rural areas and spread to large metropolitans.The mustache and other facial hair styles date back to 3,000 B.C., Pattison said. But different forms have stood the test of time through the days of ancient Roman philosophers to the Renaissance period’s British monarchs and kings to World War I American soldiers.”The period that really sticks out the most was the 19th century,” Pattison said. “To be clean shaven was not popular in the 1860s. You really saw the popularity of beards then.”Soldiers were required to have clean shaves during World War I, but growing their hair follicles out became fashionable again when the war ended. During the Great Depression, the length and style of beards distinguished men by their economic statuses.The facial hair fad faded during the ‘40s and ‘50s, but hippies’ beards and mustaches reinstated it during the ‘60s and ‘70s.”I probably would expect more people finding it acceptable [today], though it may not be the best look for everyone,” said David Riche, English graduate student. “But like most celebrity trends, it will probably end just as soon as Brad Pitt shaves.”Lawrence Cutrone, Student Union Barber Shop manager, said some students may grow facial hair for its primal purpose of warmth during the winter.”I think it’s more of a mental thing,” he said. “They think it keeps them warm, but I don’t think it does.”But besides celebrities and cold weather, on-campus occurrences including No Shave November, Mustache March, M.A.N.’s ‘Stache Lent and currently Manuary have added to the popularity. Though these aren’t official University activities, men participate in these events by word of mouth and spend each month celebrating their facial hair and inviting others to grow a mustache or beard.”Until recently, mustache wearers were looked down on by society,” said Brittan Farmer, mathematics senior. “This was the reason for founding the Mustache Advocacy Network. We wanted to free the mustache from its seedy connotations and show the LSU campus that mustache wearers are people too.”But Career Services warns students to have well-trimmed facial hair during job interviews.”The main thing is you be neatly groomed,” said Sara Crow, Career Services assistant director of communications. “We just tell people to be neat and clean.”But mustached men can go beyond campus and Hollywood. Every two years, the men bearing the world’s most elaborate facial hair come together for the World Beard and Mustache Championships.The competition will return to the U.S. during 2009 for the second time in its 14-year history. The championships will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, on May 23.The competition is open to everyone, and categories range from English and Wild West styles to FuManChu and Alaskan Whalers.  ”If you can grow facial hair, why not do something interesting with it?” Farmer said. “Staying clean shaven all of the time is rather boring. The mustache is a particularly interesting phenomenon because it is so intentional. You can’t grow a mustache by accident.”—-Contact Leslie Prenall at [email protected]