Free hugs were given away by Lisa Eddy and Kate Dimitry on the corner of Farm and Shaw lanes Tuesday.

Why?

Just because, they said.

"The weather is nice, the people are nice, we're nice," Eddy said of their decision to give hugs.

The two, who are suitemates in McDonel Hall, came out with their bright pink "Free Hugs" signs after seeing students on campus last week doing the same thing.

A half hour into their expected two-hour feat, they had hugged about 20 students and said they were loving every minute of it.

Smiling from ear to ear, the two continued courageously offering hugs to random passersby.

Eddy, a zoology junior, admitted the two were a little intimidated at first.

"We were standing here and we were like, 'OK, 1, 2, 3, go,'" she said, imitating how they rolled their signs and held them close to their chests when they first arrived.

It seemed to be the perfect day to offer hugs to students. Passengers in cars driving by smiled and honked, students stopped and left with smiles. Even bicycle riders paused for a quick hug.

"We are fine with people not stopping," Eddy said.

"Some people aren't touchy-feely."

The girls just said they were out to help people have a better day, plain and simple.

After an hour or so on the corner, Dimitry, a hospitality business sophomore, said they had given about 100 hugs.

Eddy said students seemed apprehensive at first — most asked why the girls were doing it.

But often students would pass, think about it and return for a hug they decided they needed, she said.

Plant biology senior Dave Rayman received a hug from the girls, and said he wished that people didn't have to stand with signs for free hugs.

"I wish you could walk up to a complete stranger and give them a hug," he said.

"That'd be great, wouldn't it?"

Joe Jonaitis, another hug recipient, said he thought it was weird at first but the weather has put people in better moods and makes them more willing to hug complete strangers.

"I think hugs are a nice way to make someone happy," the physiology senior said.

"It's a good expression of friendship."