Illegal Contact

(Fox News) - A couple of junior high students in Illinois and Alabama have been punished by school administrators for the offense of hugging their friends.

Thirteen-year-old Megan Coulter of Mascoutah, Illinois was given two days of detention for bidding some friends goodbye for the weekend by putting an arm around them and squeezing their shoulders. This follows a warning from the school after the girl was seen hugging a student at a football game.

And in Autauga County, Alabama — a female student was given detention after she hugged a male friend who had recently lost a parent.

In both cases — administrators say they were just following policies against public displays of affection.