by Bill DiFilippo

Many students, teachers, and employees at Danville High School may not know junior Caelan Perez for his kind personality or his love of the bands, The Porcupine Tree or The Mars Volta. Not many students know his family owns Brews N Bytes, the local vegetarian restaurant downtown. However, most students do know Perez for two things, his involvement in DHS’s environmentally conscious organization P.L.A.N.E.T, and his abundant head of hair.

Ever since he was a freshman, Perez has been a member of P.L.A.N.E.T., an organization at Danville with the intention of “providing opportunities for positive, environmentally responsible service for students and the broader school community.” In addition, it has been hard to not notice Perez, who has a very distinct amount and style to his hair.  Now in his junior year, Perez’s long hair has been the butt of jokes from other PLANET members, especially senior Forrest Strodel.

“It’s been that length for so long that I think it’s time for a change,” Strodel says, “and I want to help him make that change.”

This has led to the newest P.L.A.N.E.T. fundraiser, “Save It or Shave It.” For the week of May 10^th, two buckets will be set up in the cafeteria. One will say “Shave It” and the other will say “Shave It”.  Students can donate to either bucket.   When the organization accrues $150, whichever bucket that has more money will determine the fate of Perez’s hair. Perez doesn’t mind the project because “the money is going to a good cause”.

P.L.A.N.E.T. plans on using the money for many of their environmentally sensitive activities. As P.L.A.N.E.T. adviser Mr. Michael Mast told 24/7, the money donated would go towards “more recycling bins” and “planting some trees.” For more information on donating, see a P.L.A.N.E.T. member or Mr. Mast.