Free Hugs now at Hanover College
Patrick Reidy
Issue date: 11/11/09 Section: Features
Started in 2004 by a man under the pseudonym Juan Mann, a resident of Sydney, Australia, the "Free Hugs Campaign" is now a part of Hanover College. "Free Hugs" is a non-profit campaign aimed at simply spreading love happiness through the world via hugging. Since 2006, the campaign has gained international attention by being highlighted in the music video for "All the Same" by The Sick Puppies and Mann making an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Rosa New, freshman and club president, began recruiting students and drafting a constitution for the club during the August Experience as a result of her homesickness from being away from California. The constitution for the club was ratified by the Student Senate in mid-September and the approximately fifteen person club has been officially giving out "free hugs" since.
Aside from donning "Free Hugs" t-shirts and signs outside of the cafeteria on random occasions, the club is also looking to expand their humanitarian efforts. The "Free Hugs Campaign" is not only about giving hugs and spreading happiness, but also to be an outlet for people who are just having a bad day.
"Everything started out basic, just giving out hugs as a way of showing love, but we've been thinking about other ways to spread happiness. In our constitution we have "Free Conversation" as a way for us to be there to talk to if anyone needs us. That part hasn't been implemented yet due to legal issues we're sorting out, but it'll eventually get out there," said New.
The club is also looking to move off of Hanover's campus and expand their efforts to local communities. Although the idea of hugging strangers may seem strange and ineffective, club members feel they have been received well by the campus and are encouraged to "spread the love".
"We are also planning on spreading the love to other cities and maybe downtown Madison. We would also like to give out free hot chocolate to warm the hearts during the cold winter," said Morgan Rumple, freshman and club vice-president.
For more information on the "Free Hugs Campaign", visit the movement's official website at http://www.freehugscampaign.org/. For more information on getting involved with Hanover College's "Free Hugs" club contact Rosa New at newr13@hanover.edu.
Rosa New, freshman and club president, began recruiting students and drafting a constitution for the club during the August Experience as a result of her homesickness from being away from California. The constitution for the club was ratified by the Student Senate in mid-September and the approximately fifteen person club has been officially giving out "free hugs" since.
Aside from donning "Free Hugs" t-shirts and signs outside of the cafeteria on random occasions, the club is also looking to expand their humanitarian efforts. The "Free Hugs Campaign" is not only about giving hugs and spreading happiness, but also to be an outlet for people who are just having a bad day.
"Everything started out basic, just giving out hugs as a way of showing love, but we've been thinking about other ways to spread happiness. In our constitution we have "Free Conversation" as a way for us to be there to talk to if anyone needs us. That part hasn't been implemented yet due to legal issues we're sorting out, but it'll eventually get out there," said New.
The club is also looking to move off of Hanover's campus and expand their efforts to local communities. Although the idea of hugging strangers may seem strange and ineffective, club members feel they have been received well by the campus and are encouraged to "spread the love".
"We are also planning on spreading the love to other cities and maybe downtown Madison. We would also like to give out free hot chocolate to warm the hearts during the cold winter," said Morgan Rumple, freshman and club vice-president.
For more information on the "Free Hugs Campaign", visit the movement's official website at http://www.freehugscampaign.org/. For more information on getting involved with Hanover College's "Free Hugs" club contact Rosa New at newr13@hanover.edu.
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