Bullitt County freshman Steven McCain stopped on his way into the Downing University Center Wednesday morning when he saw John Alexander holding a “Free Hugs” sign in the middle of the sidewalk.

“Get one from the big guy,” McCain joked as he threw his arms around Alexander and patted him on the back.

Alexander, a Glasgow freshman, decided to spend the day giving out hugs when he got a Facebook invitation to a “FREE HUG DAY!” event about a week ago.

“It’s made my day great,” he said. “This is one of the first days I haven’t been stressed out.”

Louisville senior Christy McKinney said she was having a bad day until she and friend Jessica Patton, a Georgetown junior, saw Alexander’s sign and collected on hugs.

“It’s already made the day, I think,” Patton said, “How can you come down from that?”

Indianapolis freshman Jack Doyle and Luke Stansfield, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn., were inside DUC until a fire alarm interrupted their Plus-4 study session with the football team. When Alexander walked past with his sign, they pinned him in a hug-sandwich.

“Every day should be free hug day,” Stansfield said.

Alexander moved the hugging to Guthrie Bell Tower in the afternoon, where he was joined by Bowling Green freshman Ryan Mahaney, Rockfield freshman Josh Sanford and Alvaton freshman BJ Hunstad.

“Even people that turn down the hugs, they still smile,” Mahaney said. “That’s what we look for; we’re just looking to spread love around the world.”

The Free Hugs Campaign was founded in 2004 by a man who calls himself Juan Mann, according to his downloadable e-book, “The Illustrated Guide to Free Hugs.”

On June 30, 2004, Mann stood in front of the Pitt Street Mall in his hometown of Sydney, Australia offering people free hugs.

His outreaching efforts can be seen in the www.YouTube.com video, “Free Hugs Campaign.”

Reach Eileen Ryan at features@chherald.com.