AP of WP report on student protests over beard policy.
Abby Phillip, "Brigham Young University adjusts anti-beard policies amid student protests," Washington Post, January 14, 2015, accessed July 2, 2021
Students can now formally petition for exemptions based on medical, theatrical or religious needs. The university says this isn’t a change, just a clarification of existing policy in response to “legitimate” concerns raised by some segments of the student body. Previously, requests for exemptions were handled on a case-by-case basis.