Good weather brings hugs, music to Hale Library

Last Friday afternoon's unseasonably good weather brought Manhattan Christian College students to the lawn of Hale Library offering free hugs to passersby.

About 10 students equipped with a tent, couch, gorilla suit, unicorn and moose costume greeted bewildered people on the sidewalk.

Chris Battelli, freshman at MCC, said he just wanted to do something goofy and reach out to the community at the same time.

"People need to be hugged eight times a day," Battelli said. "I'm just trying to do my part."

Battelli was joined by Cody Hill, also freshman at MCC, who said students should expect to see them about once a month depending on the weather.

Just 10 feet away from the free-hug group, an impromptu quintet of musicians played accordion, violin, didgeridoo, guitar and ukulele.

Danny Majard, graduate student in mathematics, said this group meets about once a week and has played outside on various parts of the campus.

With good weather, students can expect to hear them again, Majard said.