Anybody know the new Presidents position on Bonfire, for or against?

doesn't matter if shes for or against... the BOR will not allow any comments for now

I would say it matters a lot what she thinks. It would be a lot better for Bonfire's future to have a proponent rather than an advisary. I hope she is at least as considerate about it as Dr. Gates was.

The ability for Bonfire to come back to campus will come down to money. Nothing but money. I'm sure there is considerable economic impact of having 70k people attending an event on campus.

We also need to get it out of heads that the "Student led, Student built, Student burned" idea will be allowed with an on-campus Bonfire. Regardless of what the Linebeck report said concerning this...I don't think the Administration will ever be willing to risk another occurance again.

Honestly, I've given up on the "on-campus" bonfire idea. I'm not saying that it will never happen, or that I don't really want it to happen...but really, the ONLY way I see the Administration willing to risk it again...is that we have done it safely for 20+ years, we average 50-60k in attendance...and they want a piece of the financials.

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It would be a lot better for Bonfire's future to have a proponent rather than an advisary.

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Actually I think they would benefit from an advisory, what they don't need is an adversary.

Something I find amusing is how some members of ASB think they're gonna hold the university and the administration by the short and curlies with their unimaginable financial prowess.

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Something I find amusing is how some members of ASB think they're gonna hold the university and the administration by the short and curlies with their unimaginable financial prowess

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I don't think any members of ASB think they are going to do that. I don't speak for ASB, or pretend to.

Furthermore, there's no "power struggle" going on right now anyway. There won't be...for a very long time. My point was simply that the University will not consider moving Bonfire back to campus, AND let us build it until we have basically "brought it back" off-campus...regardless of who the president is. It's not about dangling Bonfire over the University.

It's not about OUR "financial prowess", it's about the economic impact of that many people in College Station for an extra day (home game), or their presence to begin with (away game).

Bonfire is not going to happen on campus again, at least not in the time that many of us will be here and possibly not in the time that many of our children will be at A&M.

It will take a lot of time for it to happen, but by then, if it becomes more and more successful off-campus, it will just stay off-campus. The University doesn't sense the importance of Bonfire the same way, and would rather leave it off campus then deal with the financial fiasco and legality issues that arose in '99 and after.

There are already too many new students that don't understand Bonfire and as the years go on, it will be harder and harder to explain why it is/was so important to the campus.

I think the best bet would be to keep it off campus and leave it be. Keep up with the donors supplying land and resources and help them remember why their gift is so important. And keep telling the new Ags to get out there and get grody.

It would take an awful long time for ASB's economic impact to start to even be considered to outweigh financial liaility associated with Bonfire on campus.

However, while ASB is growing by the yer now, what happens when the other northside dorms go the way of Moses? How many of those young co-e fish came out? What's gonna happen when Moore and Crocker are torn down? And Walton? What's gonna happen when those modern, fashonable, comfortable (co-ed) (by room), dorms start cropping up on the north side of campus? You're gonna have massive pulls like you have from Eppright and Underwood, right?

Having driven around campus a few times during my last visit to College Station with the whole Bonfire issue in mind, I think there may be a rather large issue with "Bonfire's Return to Campus".

There isn't any room. It wouldn't be PC to build on the Polo Fields. Period. The golf course wouldn't allow it on their grounds. Every other place on the main campus is covered in concrete and tan bricks. The little corner on West Campus across from Reed is slated to be the new Ag center.

The only real on-campus site is all the way out to GB Library. This spot is 500ft away from the actual library and 1500ft away from a major airport; both issues that would probably make the site un-useable.

The only other places that I could imagine Bonfire being built and considered "On-Campus would be either at the Ag extention or on Riverside Campus.

In short, unless the BOR decides to knock down some buildings or annex the land south of GB; an on-campus Bonfire falls very short of reality.



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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

dh03, I don't understand what you mean by "and they want a piece of the financials".

If anything, the University would contribute the land and offer to pay a contractor to facilitate the insured construction of Bonfire (as well as manage logistics of Burn night). In the same way that a licensed, insured, and bonded contractor can get paid to build classrooms and dorms on campus, the group that the University deems able to build Bonfire must pass on the costs of bonding and insuring to TAMU.

Sure, there would be some benefit to the surrounding area as far as commerce and vendors and such, but I think it would be an overall large expense to TAMU and the majority of that expense would be insurance (charged to the contractor, paid by the University).

The only way that the University will consider such an expense is if the current and former students want it and make their wants heard.

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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

At the very basis of this thread is a very valid question, does the new president support Bonfire and to what extent is she willing to compromise or what foresight will she implement for its return to campus? These questions will not be answered until TAMU as an entity decides to open the conversation or at least make SOME statement. But don't think that the President, be it this one or any future one if it came to it, has no say in the issue. Financials attached to the process and event itself have no bearing on the decision, only a valid and endearing want to host one on campus will provide an on campus Bonfire. That includes thinking and planning for an area for burn in the campus plans, even if it be on terrain owned by the school that has yet to be even clear cut. TAMU owns a lot of land around all parts of campus, including a lot of currently densely forested property. Even if plots are not available for Burn, most people's idea of "on campus Bonfire" is truly just a "A&M sanctioned Bonfire" if you have to have it off campus in a more ideal location, so be it. Case in point, if they want to host one, they can and they will, but the leadership in place when the decisions get made are crucial. Just as crucial as the outcry of the current and former students at that time. An indifferent response by either party and it doesn't matter how hardcore the other one is in favor.

There certainly is a benefit to the city economics to have it and have it as close to campus as possible, but when it boils down to it, it really depends on who is making the decisions, how they feel on the issue and pre-existing notions of Bonfire, and the response they receive from others.

The answer to []1's post on what do you do if/when Northside gets demolished can simply be stated as this:

You adjust.


I'll be it, it is no Taj Mahal but Lechner is modular, co-ed, Honors Office ran, and still got a Perimeter pole this year. New dorms will pop up, old dorms will be demolished, and life will go on. Puryear and Law were demolished, and life went on. There once was no such thing as non-regs, but they seem to have taken up the cause. As for comprehensive Southside dorm activity, it may or may not come around, but trust me that the reason Rudder, Eppright, or even Appelt, aren't out there is NOT because they are afraid to leave their "mansions". In the end, as an entity all Student Bonfire can hope for is as punches come, you roll with them and hope for the best.

I think those involved in ASB and those who support it should be direly concerned if their expectations of the future are relatively unsure and their plan is just to "roll with it". Campus as we know/knew it is trending away from a Bonfire-Friendly campus, and each and every one of you knows this and bemoans it. However, it's the case. This matter, above all others, might very well be the downfall of bonfire. Who knows? I don't, but it's something very real to consider.

Well, I beg of you another option? Complete and utter deconstruction.... scrap it for parts? The idea of "If this thing might fail, what's the point in doing it at all?"

Things both good and bad will happen in any person's/company's/couple's existence, real strength, determination, and commitment is shown in how you either embrace or respond to adversity.

I'm not saying scrap the whole project now, not at all, I'm just saying this is an inevitable speed bump in ASB's future. Sure you can argue that an organization's true colors are shown in how it responds to adversity and obsticles, but if the bodies aren't there to fill up the woods, man axes, slam logs, fill swings, and most importantly from a financial aspect, be present at burn, then it doesn't matter how much zeal participants show.

I also beg to differ that "just roll with it" and "roll with the punches" are completely different from one another.

The former has a strong "wtf" ill-prepared connotation, while the other shows strength in the face of hard times. But that's just me.


Your word twisting and semantics arguments are weak and tired, although I did appreciate your baiting of Eppright and Underwood in the hopes of "But those are All Girls dorms." Your "Bonfire is sexist" argument is my favorite.

The participation is on the upward incline as of now, BUT if in the future the demands altogether ceases and quite literally NO ONE goes out... shut the bad boy down (if by then there is even an overall structure to shut down). If I were picking, I would say the hemorrhaging of money will kill it before anything else, BUT (I am under the impression at least, and maybe you could ask your roommate the validity of this next statement. I apologize if I am wrong and WOULD like to know the real story.) current sponsorship completely pays for the land issues, supplies, and Burn event, so everything from dues to Burn entrance/parking revenue goes completely into pocket. If that IS the case, the financial status should be stellar and alleviates the cost to the "administrators." The way I see it, if you got the money even with a scaled down workforce, you make the best of it. If you got an overwhelming debt and no donors/sponsorship even with all the workers in the world, it is simply not gonna happen.

For the record...

I am from Eppright.

...and Eppright is Co-ed by the way...

If you look back...Northside didn't build Bonfire...Bonfire built Northside.

Reslife can tear down the buildings, but they can't separate the people. Once the recruiting strategy of OC becomes necesity...others will become involved, and other recruiting methods will be used.

Folks will also begin to actively recruit more people that aren't from the same dorm.

Even if there are only a handful of people with the desire to build it, Bonfire will be built and open to those who want to help...if they choose not to...it just means that Ol' Amry is dead...and so is New Army.

[This message has been edited by TexasRebel (edited 12/12/2007 12:18a).]

My case still stands... you're a nancy boy.

(edit because Nancy Boy was funnier)

[This message has been edited by DoctorSnoball (edited 12/12/2007 12:24a).]

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I also beg to differ that "just roll with it" and "roll with the punches" are completely different from one another.

The former has a strong "wtf" ill-prepared connotation, while the other shows strength in the face of hard times. But that's just me.


Your word twisting and semantics arguments are weak and tired, although I did appreciate your baiting of Eppright and Underwood in the hopes of "But those are All Girls dorms." Your "Bonfire is sexist" argument is my favorite.

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Whoa whoa whoa...geez, relax. There was no word twisting or baiting involved. You're the one creating the rift between "rolling with it" and "rolling with the punches". That, to me at least, is a little absurd.

As far as the "baiting" of those dorms because they're female isn't true. Initially because Eppright is co-ed, but don't let the facts get in the way. I referred to them because that is going to be the new face of on campus housing. Nicer, roomier, more comfortable, and co-ed.

Finals must have made somebody grumpypants.

trust me, plans are in place within some dorms to continue these traditions once the dorms have been torn down and more dorms are showing up each year... SBK and is a great example of how quickly new crews can grow and I know that hart is directly involved in getting even more involved next year

Financials? I'll aproach this answer as tactfully as possible.

Student Bonfire continued in it's on-going tradition of prosperity. SB has a knowledgeable team of professionals on the Board of Directors and one heck of a cadre of leadership that are doing thier best to continue the prosperity Bonfire has seen in the past 3 years.

That being said, Bonfire is always in need of former, current, and future students' help. Donations of time, tools, supplies, and labor are the backbone of the organization; and it couldn't be done without this assistance.

To those who have given, thank you. To those who were waiting for the 501c3 status to come through so the donation could be tax deductable, that time has come. To those who waited to see if this was the "real" Bonfire, you have but to ask any of the participants and they will pour their hearts out to you. To those out there who were waiting (to give) for Bonfire to prove that it was really back and here to stay through any number of challenges; that time is now.

www.studentbonfire.com

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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

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trust me, plans are in place within some dorms to continue these traditions once the dorms have been torn down

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Care to expound on this? I'm sorry for being so ignorant on the matter, but I fail to see how say, hypothetically, Walton is going to have a strong crew go out in 2025 when the dorm was torn down in 2015. Saying "plans are in place" and leaving it at that always seems suspect.

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dh03, I don't understand what you mean by "and they want a piece of the financials".

If anything, the University would contribute the land and offer to pay a contractor to facilitate the insured construction of Bonfire (as well as manage logistics of Burn night). In the same way that a licensed, insured, and bonded contractor can get paid to build classrooms and dorms on campus, the group that the University deems able to build Bonfire must pass on the costs of bonding and insuring to TAMU.

Sure, there would be some benefit to the surrounding area as far as commerce and vendors and such, but I think it would be an overall large expense to TAMU and the majority of that expense would be insurance (charged to the contractor, paid by the University).

The only way that the University will consider such an expense is if the current and former students want it and make their wants heard.

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I guess I am just not convinced that even if we got a unified voice that the University would respond.

The more realistic version of how Bonfire goes back on-campus is that 50 years from now, when Bonfire has 50-60k people in attendance every year, TAMU wants to re-establish that relationship because Bonfire is now the popular thing. Maybe TAMU wants to advertise using images of Bonfire in it's current state. Or maybe they just want to appease local businesses that want all the people closer to the heart of college station. I believe that for it come to campus, it wlll have to pass the financial "tipping point"...the point at which the risk and public perception is mitigated enough that it is feasible to do. I just happen to think that it's going to come down to the numbers for that happen.

Or, maybe SquareOne is right and we will never reach that point.

well there are many plans and ideas to continue on after dorms are torn down... each crew has there own ideas and will do what they think is necessary to continue the tradition.

just because it is not discussed on texags doesn't mean that the crews arent very aware that they dont have a lot of time left in their current residency.

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The more realistic version of how Bonfire goes back on-campus is that 50 years from now, when Bonfire has 50-60k people in attendance every year

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DH, what makes you think this will be the case?

And BB, tell me then what your plan would be to keep ASB going strong from an on-campus perspective once all dorms on campus are co-ed by room, roomier, more comfortable, full amenities.

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co-ed by room, roomier, more comfortable, full amenities

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Call me crazy, but I do believe that you can live somewhere that has all of these and participate in Bonfire...

What makes you think a larger, more comfortable room will prohibit anyone from building Bonfire?

Because there is something about sleeping 2 feet from your roommate, sharing a bathroom with 60 other people, and being in cramped quarters with nothing but othe guys that builds that sort of commaraderie and brotherhood. Are you willing to argue that Underwood, Eppright, Neely, Hobby, Appelt, are as condusive to the necessary bonfire culture as dorms like Crocker, FHK, and Walton are?

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DH, what makes you think this will be the case?

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Blind faith and ambition? Holy Divine inspiration? A little birdy told me? What are you looking for, exactly?

dp

[This message has been edited by diehard03 (edited 12/12/2007 2:32p).]

Bonfire is never coming back to Campus, people- stop worrying about it.

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rust me, plans are in place within some dorms to continue these traditions once the dorms have been torn down and more dorms are showing up each year...

well there are many plans and ideas to continue on after dorms are torn down... each crew has there own ideas and will do what they think is necessary to continue the tradition.

just because it is not discussed on texags doesn't mean that the crews arent very aware that they dont have a lot of time left in their current residency.

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Really? Like Moses?

be patient, they're just biding their time. There's a plan, don't you know? Somebody said there was a plan.

What's the necessary Bonfire culture?

I never lived in a dorm, but I made tight bonds just the same. The same holds true for a large number of other off-campus students.

Yes, it's easier to recruit with a captive audience, but given the rules in place these days, I'm not sure how much an advantage that is anymore.

Scott Coker '92

Scott, so do you believe that without the dorms culture on campus, ASB will have no difficulties recruiting?