At the start of this semester, IGO has been working on creating a barbershop on campus for students of all cultural backgrounds to come together.
Jonathan Mpanzu, assistant director of multicultural access and retention, said the idea for the barbershop came due to a desire for providing inclusion to more students.
“We knew that we wanted a certain kind of student to feel like they belonged here, I felt like there was a gap for a specific student,” Mpanzu said.
Mpanzu said that they are bringing in a local barber to come in and run the shop.
“His name is Caleb Kemper, and he owns a barber shop in town in Marion called ‘Fresh Kuts’,” Mpanzu said. “He’ll be coming in and cutting hair and doing a great job.”
Mpanzu said that the barbershop is scheduled to open in mid-October and will function like any other barber shop.
“The set date for the opening is October 16,” Mpanzu said. “(Customers) will pay the same way that they would if they were at a normal barber shop in their hometown or home city.”
Mpanzu said that there will be specific events for girls, as well as opportunities for students who are gifted in other talents to come in and work.
“We’re going to have nights in particular where ladies can get in there and do their hair, braid hair, do nails,” Mpanzu said. “I think on those nights where there are specific events would be the perfect time where people who are gifted in doing and coloring hair and doing nails can come in and show off their talents.”
As the barbershop is getting closer to opening, many students are interested in seeing how it will impact the community.
Senior Will Cooper said that he believes the barbershop will draw people to campus, but could be a little less costly.
“It’s drawing people to campus and keeping students on campus, especially guys,” Cooper said. “I just think if it was a little less money I would use it.”
Junior Tiana Keen said that she is excited to see how the barbershop will benefit the campus and would like to see more options for girls.
“I’m really looking forward to the benefits that it provides,” Keen said. “It would be really cool if they could offer hair tinsel or braiding options for girls.”
Another junior, Jessi Foster, said that she is excited and would love for hair color to be offered.
“I think it’s just going to open up ways to get a good haircut, honestly,” Foster said. “I would like to see hair color available.”
The barbershop will open during Homecoming Week and will hopefully bring a more inclusive environment to IWU’s campus.
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