时钟上的削减

“谁是更好的NBA球员?? 勒布朗·詹姆斯或者迈克尔·乔丹?”

Veteran barber Cecil Jackson asked the client in his chair this age-old question, then answered it himself: "I never 我喜欢乔丹，我是伊塞亚(小托马斯)的球迷."

大四学生泰尔西·奥克斯从理发椅上选择 Jordan and moved the conversation to another topic: social media, as he was planning to post a selfie of his new look on Instagram and 标签大峡谷. 这个标签很适合他的发型 received was in Jackson's van, which was parked near the Cook 艾伦代尔校区的卡里隆塔.

Jackson owns a mobile 理发师范, 的 Executive Cut, and has traveled to Grand Valley weekly since December to offer free haircuts to students, particularly students with kinky and coily hair, as the closest barbershop that specializes in diverse hair 纹理在大急流城.

这项倡议背后还有更多的内容，“削减开支” Clock," than offering students a convenient service. 的 faculty and staff behind this unique collaboration said it's about supporting students, offering resources and building community.

“当你去找黑人理发师时，它不仅仅是 博天堂官方网页发型，这是谈话. 你的建筑 camaraderie with the people in your community," said Phillip Todd, assistant director for the 多元文化事务办公室. 

Last fall, Todd connected with Troy Farley, director of the 职业中心, and Jakia Marie, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies and coordinator of African and African American Studies, to find a solution to a problem all three were very familiar with: Black students who need haircuts but may not have easy access to a barber or hairstylist in Allendale. 

Marie talked with her stylist, who works at Reflections Salon in Grand Rapids, and learned about Jackson and his mobile 理发师范. 11月下旬，校园合伙人和杰克逊 created a plan that initially had Jackson traveling to the Allendale 校园每周提供一次理发服务. 学生参加活动或 seek services at the 职业中心 and receive a sticker to validate 他们的理发券. 然后他们拿着代金券去OMA 安排他们的约会.

Jackson, who first picked up a pair of clippers at age 14, said he recognizes a few of his clients from when they used to 当我还是孩子的时候，我就来到了Reflections.

“我现在一周来两次。” 杰克逊说. "I know college kids have a hard time finding a barber."

Farley said student engagement at the 职业中心 has increased but added that's not the main reason for this initiative.

"Years ago, I had a student employee from Joliet, Illinois, and I asked him if he was going to the Career Fair. He said no because he needed a haircut and had to wait until he went 首页. I learned from him the culture of the barbershop; it's more than a haircut, it's helping to instill mentorship, confidence and 学生之间的友情，”法利说.

Marie said she advocated for services for students with longer hair since the start of this pilot program. 在一个星期天 late March, Marie drove a van full of students to 反射沙龙 for services that take hours like hair relaxing, braiding and 扭. Reflections owner Jerry Wright and stylists were ready for 星期日的人群. 

“每个人，包括大学生，都需要 娇生惯养，”赖特说.

Kaneigha Embery, a first-year student majoring in film and video production, sat at a sink in Reflections waiting for 赖特去完成她的颜色处理. “从弗林特来的，”她说 normally waits until she goes 首页 to visit a salon. 她学会了 about the van to Reflections after attending a "Wing Wednesday" hosted by Marie and others from the African and 非裔美国人研究项目.

“有很多不同的风格 这里，”恩贝里说. “这真的是一个很好的氛围，我 我喜欢和不认识的学生交谈."

Marie said that type of student connection has always 一直是《博天堂官方》的目标. 

"We're seeing new faces in OMA, at Wing Wednesday 还有就业中心，”玛丽说. “一直都是这样 不仅仅是头发. 我们在满足学生的需求 不断增长的学生支持和学生参与.

“看到学生们互动真是太好了 with each other and discover things they have in common."

视图 博天堂官方接触 to see more photos from the 理发师范 and hair salon.