Ok, I admit we missed that fact that Free Hugs was an international movement…which, I suppose, is what we get for neglecting to tape Oprah. Thankfully, the Technician and students of North Carolina State’s Sociology 440 class have caught us up on the significance of this social happening. The class, which is—you guessed it—giving free hugs, is hoping to have a wider impact on the campus community, thereby influencing student efforts in environmentalism, peace work, identity politics, and myriad other issues. And since this is a social science class (rather than, say, the weepy dregs of a Phish show) we’re hopeful they’re on to something….

11/28/06 Read More from N.C. State