Getting
clipped: NU barber shop creates friendly atmosphere
By Scott Craven
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer
A lot has changed in the Norwich University barbershop since Madonna Commo began working there over 17 years ago.
"It was a very cold place," said Commo. "People were afraid of the barber shop. It was a very different atmosphere back then."
The gentleman who ran the shop at the time had a "very different" idea as to how things should be done, she said.
"It was like running an assembly line. You just sort of got them in and got them out," Commo said. "Doing a good job was not what the owner wanted. He just wanted you to get the haircuts done."
According to Commo, the shop was nowhere near as relaxed as it is now.
"The cadre at the time could come in here and line the freshman up against the wall and holler and scream at them," Commo said.
"Some barbers at the time actually thought that was really funny," Commo said. "They just went along with the whole military game."
Commo, however, was the shop's first female hairdresser and found the working atmosphere to be anything but a joke.
"That type of atmosphere was very intimidating for me," Commo said. "Being a civilian, it was tough to do my job while people are yelling and hollering all around you. You don't need a nervous atmosphere like that to work in," she said. "It just doesn't belong in the barbershop."
It was such a problem that the university hired Commo so that the females would actually go and get their haircuts.
"Females wouldn't even go to the barber shop," Commo said, explaining that the women would be "terrified" to come down there, she said.
Now the barbershop is taking a much "friendlier" approach, she said.
"Everybody is at ease in here," Commo said. "The cadre are not allowed to do any of their disciplining in this shop."
According to Commo, this became a rule when she took over the barber shop nearly 10 years ago.
"Our whole idea of running the shop was more professional," said Commo. "We can cut hair quickly, but we can do it nicely, too. There's no need for that type of roughness while you're getting a haircut," Commo said. "That happens outside the doors."
According to Commo, she wants the barbershop to be a nice place to go.
"Over the years we've tried to transition the barbershop to be a much friendlier place," she said.
According to Commo, they have made an effort to do that by installing a television, which would have been unheard of 10 years ago. They also have a radio and a variety of magazines, as well.
"I'm all about getting haircuts," said Joseph Ruf, 18, a freshman criminal justice major from Chicago, Ill. "During rookdom, and even now, the barbershop was a good place to just chill," Ruf said. "No one would mess around with you, even if an upperclassman came in."
Freshman Christopher Jewel, 19, agreed.
"The barbershop was a good place to relax during rookdom and get
away from the cadre," said Jewel, a criminal justice major from Northboro,
Mass. "Even if there was nothing on TV, you at least got the chance
to see one."