Sherwin's friend Jared Green, 21, says people are just jealous, himself included. He said he would grow a beard if he could. He'd settle for a "scruff" card.

"It is sweet," he said of Sherwin's fuzzy face. "There's no denying its sweetness."

The university testing center, where exams for many classes are administered, doesn't find it so sweet. It usually "cards" Sherwin. It has the right as do other services on campus to turn away students whose appearance defies the Honor Code. A sign in the library reads: "Thank you for observing the Honor Code so that we might serve you." Similar signs are posted throughout the university.

Baker doesn't know exactly when beards were banned at BYU. The Honor Code dates to 1949. But facial hair likely didn't become an issue until the 1960s when men starting letting their hair down — and out.

A university committee in the early 1990s reviewed the dress and grooming standards but didn't make any substantive changes. Baker doesn't foresee BYU's Board of Trustees making any changes in the future.

Meaning Sherwin will continue to be part of BYU's facial minority.

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