'Redhead Nation' off to a rosy start

By Irene Gudmundson

December 6 | The days of redhead jokes and low self-esteem are over for the redhead nation at Utah State University.

Scott Biggs can still remember the jokes about his red hair during his years in elementary school, but he doesn't really care anymore, especially now that he's president of the BURN club.

BURN stands for Bringing Unity to the Redhead Nation, and it had an opening social last Friday night with a pretty good turnout, he said. About 20 people showed up and 13 joined, said Biggs.

"I had low self-esteem my whole life, until about the 10th grade when I started to come out of my bubble," Biggs said.

He had the idea to start a redhead club that would unite students and serve the community. He's been playing with the idea for three years, and with the help of some friends it has taken off.

"I found that when I do service I have more self-esteem," said Biggs.

BURN club members are dedicated to service, and the only requirement for membership is knowing and respecting a redhead. Of the 13 members who joined Friday night, only a few are redheads, added Biggs.

The vice president of the BURN club, identified by the pseudonym "Beezer," is excited for the service work that members plan on doing.

"I have the ideas and Beezer's got the enthusiasm," he said.

Biggs and Beezer worked with club members Friday to come up with some service ideas that they hope to start this month.

"We plan on Christmas caroling in a few weeks," said Beezer. "And it started as a joke but I think it's a cool idea if we can get [TV talk show host] Conan O'Brien to be an honorary member of the BURN club."

Biggs and Beezer are both seniors. Beezer graduates this fall with a degree in recreational therapy and Biggs is applying to dental school for next fall. The two hope the BURN club will bring students out in service projects. Then maybe the same old jokes, as Biggs calls them, will end.

"You turn really red when you're a redhead and everyone says, 'Oh look, your face matches your hair!'" he said.

Beezer added, "I've had guys just come right up to me and say straight out, 'I'd never date a redhead!'"

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