The new housing plans for A&M included a super Jester like dorm, we will lose all dorm unity with that crap.

To some of us who were there on site from when the first kids body was pulled from that pile until the last kids body was pulled from the pile, I hope we never see another Bonfire in it's original form again. The event was awsome until Nov 18, 1999 0230 in the morning when 12 sets of parents had to identify the bodies of their children.
I will never forget Nov 18, 1999 as long as I live
Gig em'

I think this letter should be sent and hundreds more just like it. There are still Ags on campus that want the Bonfire back. Yes, I grieve for the lives lost although I was only 11 when the collapse happened, but even more important than that is our promise as Aggies to never forget. IN MY OPINION, I don't think the Aggies that gave their life that tragic day would want the tradition that they were upholding and continuing to be lost.

So while some of you may think it to be trivial for someone to send an email or a letter like that I encourage it because whether we think they do or not, I believe that the Aggies that operate this University do CARE what we have to say. Even if they don't do anything about it, we are at the very least telling them how we feel. If we didn't, they would never know.

quote:

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Since the fall of Bonfire, A&M has seen a large exodus of students leaving
on-campus housing for apartments and houses.

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I remember being told that A&M is wanting to get out of the housing business when we were pushing back against the move to turn Hotard into an office building. While I see this as an issue, it doesn't carry much weight. As an accounting and finance person, you could connect the dots.

Jayci -- Murano probably has someone that screens the mail anyway. I don't know that for a fact, but most executives do not have time for many of the letters. That said, I've always had good responses from A&M officials when I've e-mailed them. Ranger65 was particularly good at this.

I have to admit that I've pretty much accepted the reality that it's probably never coming back to campus. Check out the campus master plans. Where would it be placed anyway? Besides, there's too much liability with the state sponsored issues... no matter how much the cause may pull at their heart strings, I doubt that many successful individuals in the higher ranks would want to stick out their necks. Note the most recent court rulings.

I know it is hard to think it, but money talks.

That said, I am glad that the spirit is being kept alive by interested students like the OP and by Student Bonfire. My undergrad career would have been much different if I wouldn't have gotten involved.

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Where would it be placed anyway?

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Between 2818 and Research Pkwy on far west campus by the Bush School.

or

In the Research Pkwy & John Kimborough loop right near there.

or

The huge patch of land undeveloped between the F&B Road and FM 60 and 2818 west of campus.

or

All the empty land between George Bush and W. Luther.

or

Lets build it on the golf course.

stay off the damn golf course!

FHK is a horrible place, we need more dorms like Crocker.

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FHK is the most amazing place, we need more dorms like it.

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fify.

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FHK used to be an amazing place.

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fifm

FHK is 3 dorms and Crocker is only one, and yet Crocker is the pinnacle of greatness.

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Between 2818 and Research Pkwy on far west campus by the Bush School.

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There's buildings going in there.

quote:

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or

In the Research Pkwy & John Kimborough loop right near there.

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The area across from Reed is under construction, so that's a no-go... and I'm pretty sure that there's a new horticulture building going on the other side.

quote:

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or

The huge patch of land undeveloped between the F&B Road and FM 60 and 2818 west of campus.

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Buildings going in there, too.

quote:

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or

All the empty land between George Bush and W. Luther.

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Oh, you mean where the A&M equestrian breeding barns and pastures are?

quote:

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or

Lets build it on the golf course.

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Hah. It'd be a better use of their greens!



Good try. But:




Campus master plan (see p. 214/229) http://www.tamu.edu/campusplan/pdf/Final%20Master%20Plan%20book%20file.pdf

There is a very unused (and newly torn down) Dairy.

The master plan is still largely unaccomplished and will be for quite some time. If the university were to recognize Bonfire once again, the fact that there ARE all these undeveloped areas shows that there could be a place. Just because something is "planned" to happen, doesn't mean it will.

Also, the argument "buildings are going there" doesn't really mean anything. Before buildings can go there, there needs to be funding and a need for them. I worked for the Association of Former students for awhile calling Old Ags asking them if they would like to donate more to the university and I was surprised at how many said no, until an official position on bonfire was taken or until it was brought back. Bonfire back on campus would bring in quite a bit of funding for the University to put those buildings on campus.

It won't be back due to the people still trying to sue the university.

That has already been established... the whole question is always about the "if"

It's not coming back.

Bonfire off campus is the only solution. Let the tradition continue using that method. With the blood sucking lawyers an on campus bonfire will never return.

It's very likely that one day in the not to distant future where large spread apathy will creep into the collective minds of the student body.

"Bonfire" you'll say.

"Isn't that what they have off campus every so often the week before thanksgiving?" They'll say.

My first year in the Fall of 03 there was talk here and there about Bonfire, but I noticed in the years that followed and as my time at A&M wore on, talks about campus Bonfire as it was ceased to be near as prevalent.

I think ASB's only hope is to take the new idea and version of bonfire and run as far as they can with it...if the idea is that this is around to keep the coals warm so a Bonfire can return to campus and people will be familiar with it because off ASB, then I think that's really defeating the purpose and cheapening the efforts of those working so hard to create something new...really, that's what they're doing.

While I've been working on Bonfire I haven't felt it was something to "keep the coals warm." It is continuing something great in the only way we can. Bonfire coming back to campus would be amazing, but it really has little to do with the way ASB seems to run. Now I was never a pot or anything (obviously) but I doubt those guys sit around and yell about how ASB is just a placeholder.

good thing that's not what said they were doing

[This message has been edited by Gloss2011 (edited 7/22/2008 7:37p).]