Excited to see one another, sophomore Gavin laFave and juniorAndrew Frazier greet one another in the student center Sept. 26. The student centerwas a common place for friends to say a quick hello after chapel and between classes. -Jon Byron • • Student defines relationships through greetings A cotal of350 Harding studems comprised a Facebook group called 'Tve Been Hugged by Josh Searcy." But Searcy's hugs spread much further than that. Though some had no idea who he was or why in the world he went around hugging 'people, others relied on and were comforted by his famous bear hugs. "Until you've experienced the phenomenon ofJosh Searcy's bear hugs, you probably won't undersmnd how they could possibly meri t a Facebook group," sophomore Steven Barber said. "However, when you are finally blessed by his emb race and reach that ultimate real ization ofappreciation, please join this group." Sophomore Justin Kennemer said he grew so accustomed to the Searcy ritual that he no longer wai ted for even the slightest outreach from him. "You get to the point that you run and jump into his arms," Ke n– nemer said. For those who did not know Searcy, his story began in Kenya where he was raised. "Actually, I didn't start [the hugging] ," Searcy said . "When I was in high school, in ninth grade, I saw one of my friends hugging a lor ofgirls before they left to go home, so I started it and just kept doing it." Searcy said because his school in Kenya was so small, everyone was 60 people comfonable enough with everyone else to greer each other with hugs. He felt compelled to do the same when he came to college. Some may wonder exactl y how these famous hugs were executed. We re they Harding approp riate side hugs or da ring full-frontals? Did Searcy go up ro random strangers and hug them tightly or did he wait for an introduction first? . "I usually ask people," Searcy said. "When I'm introduced to someone, I say, ' Hey, my name is Josh. Do you mind if I give you a hug?'" As far as the side versus fu ll-frontal hugs. Searcy preferred ro leave that up to the hug receiver. Understandably. some people were less open to receiving hugs from strangers. "The worst reaction I've ever gotten was that someone walked away because he thought I was making fun of him," Searcy said. So if a tall blonde was spotted in the studenc center dishing out hugs left and right, one could guess with much certainty Searcy was simply do ing what he did best. A5 sophomore Harrison Cobb, a member of Searcy's Facebook fan dub, said, Searcy was "making a difference around the world, one bear hug at a time." -Lauren Mitchell
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