Thanks to a new competition sponsored by the Sophomore Class Council, students desperate to stay warm this winter have extra incentive to go natural.

The Council announced its “No Shave November Photo Competition” in an email sent to the sophomore class this morning. According to the Council, it’s the “season of giving and the season of beards.” Therefore, the message asked students to “grow the craziest facial hair” they could by Nov. 30 and upload a photo of their accomplishment for the Council’s Facebook page. Voters will then select their favorite hairy photos by “liking” the picture on Facebook until Dec. 8.

The competitor with the most “likes” by the end of the competition will win a free mustache-themed “throne chair” from Chairigami and the opportunity to donate a dollar amount equal to the number of “likes” on the winning photo to a New Haven charity.

The second place winner will receive gift certificates to Blue State Coffee and Froyo World, and the third place recipient will win (appropriately) a pack of razors.

In the same email, the council announced an information session for sophomores interested in the African American Studies major on Thursday at the Fellow’s Lounge in Calhoun. The session will run from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m and attendees will have the chance to discuss the major with faculty and students in the department.