Principal clarifies school hugging measure

OAK PARK, Ill., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- An Oak Park, Ill., middle school principal says her school's recent crackdown on hugging is a hallway traffic measure, not a ban on affectionate embraces.

Victoria Sharts said she was surprised by the media response that followed her request to students that they refrain from clogging the hallways with extreme hugging, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday. She said she sent an emergency notice to parents after the media caught wind of the story to dispel rumors that hugging had been banned at the school.

Sharts said students have only been instructed to refrain from group hugs that clog the hallways and make it difficult for other students to get to class.

"We appreciate hugs," Sharts said. "We know there are times that hugs are needed and welcomed, but every 40 minutes in the hallway, with large groups of students -- then it's not."

She said punishments would only be meted out for hugging if students refuse to break away from each other once asked by a teacher.