A student walks up to her friend down the long school hallway and gives her a hug, though before she can let go, she gets a tap on the shoulder and is handed a piece of paper. The next thing she knows, she has detention Thursday morning in the cafeteria.

Pines Middle students are saying that the HBO policy is unfair. Some students have received detentions for a peck on the cheek or a hug. However, our principal, Mr. Campbell, states that our HBO policy keeps students safe.

Over the last few months administration has been strongly enforcing the HBO rule, which stands for Hands, Body, and Objects to be kept off other students and faculty. The HBO rule has been around for a while, and was implemented for everyone's safety, and for no one to get hurt. The HBO policy has been talked about all over Pines Middle regarding why students are receiving detentions or Saturday school just for hugging.

Some students are afraid that a hug would get them detention or even suspension, but Mr. Campbell said, "It is possible if they have already been warned by a teacher or faculty member, because it's defiance of authority. Some students also don't want other people touching them - it can be harassment."

On morning announcements at Pines Middle, aside from upcoming events and that day's lunch menu, students are reminded to follow the HBO rule, and students think that the school is trying to enforce the policy immensely. However, that's not all the administration is trying to do. When this was bought up to Mr. Campbell, he stated, "Some students just need to be reminded; they forget, also there are new students arriving at Pines so they need to know (the rules) just as well as the other students."

Talk among Pines students is that the administration is being too hard on them. One 8th grader told us that, "The principal and teachers are just waiting to give us detentions. A hug and a peck on the cheek is a way to greet my friends, a way to say hi, and I can't do that anymore." We asked our principal what were his thoughts on the HBO rule. "It was already established when I became principal of this school," Mr. Campbell said. "It's a good rule if enforced properly. In some cultures it is ordinary to give a hug to a friend, but there is a fine line between inappropriate touching and appropriate touching. Guys touching girls inappropriately and girls touching guys inappropriately. Also, it is good training for the future; some jobs you can't hug or kiss co-workers, you can get fired for that."

A regular conversation about plans for the weekend among students can unfortunately include a Saturday school detention because of a hug, or because they touched someone, though there may be a different side to that story. Some students might actually deserve their detentions. When asked what his thoughts were about students deserving the consequences they get, Mr. Campbell responded, "Some students do deserve their consequences. Students who violate the policy were already warned. It's their choice to go against the policy; it shows that they don't care even if they were warned before. This rule stops a lot of the little problems that can turn into bigger problems."

The HBO rule or policy should be respected, as it is mainly implemented and enforced for everyone's safety.