First of all, for those of you who dont know, the Fall Activities Council (created by Schuyler Houser) is the group in charge of determining what will take the place of Bonfire next fall.

I have heard a rumor that the Council has decided on an Old Army Bonfire, built from scraps of wood donated from throughout the community. The scraps will be bulldozed together into a pile and then burned. Am I wrong, or was the point of Bonfire to build unity among students? This activity is total bs. The students arent doing a single thing for this. A t-sip could come to CS the day the pile is burned and be involved as much as any Aggie could. What do the people on this Fall Activities Council think they are accomplishing?

produce evidence or go away

Maybe i'm wrong, but didnt the first bonfire consist of a pile of trash? If so, why are some Ags too good for it? We (Ags in general) screwed up with the bonfire in 1999 and I feel that starting with the Ol' Army Bonfire can be a great stepping stone to getting cut and stack back to campus. Remeber people lost their lives the way we did it in 99, some things must change and as we learn and become more responsible we can get our other traditions of cut and stack back too!

Here's the info I've received on it:

Next year's MSC LEAD Staff is working on a temporary, alternate program for bonfire. It is going to be
named Aggie RELOAD and is going to be a couple of weeks of building shelters out in a field on campus.

There will be concerts, events, etc.. each night to entertain everyone participating. It will culminate the
week of the t.u. game with everyone tearing down their shelter to have an old army bonfire with all of the
scraps. It will be an awesome program that will build unity for all Greeks, Corps, student organizations,
and dorms. This week it is up for a vote with the Fall Activities Council. Please vote for Aggie RELOAD at
vote.tamu.edu, it will be an awesome program.

Sincerely,
Jason Guilbeau
Incoming Director of Leadership Training

dr. southerland said tonight that FAC is looking at the trash pile bonfire idea...theres evidence

There are safe alternitives to what the Fall activities council has to offer. They only serve as a mockery to the memory of what was the bonding expierence of Bonfire.
Yes, Bonfire began as a trash pile. It changed. It became a bonding activity that the entire University partook in. Heck, classes were canceled in order to concentrate the student body on building stack. It changed into a bonding expierence that brought Aggies from everywhere together for a common cause.
There was competition between dorms and non-regs and Corps etc., but we all came together for the final night to watch it burn.
There are valiant efforts for an off campus Bonfire that are valid, safe, and do-able. Do a little research, talk to friends, and you can find a group of students with a plan, a purpose, and the resources to make it happen. These efforts will not discrace Bonfires of the past, but honor them.
The Fall activities council, wether intentional or not, is taking the focus off of Bonfire for a few more years until either the Bonfire Coalition brings it back or everybody forgets about it. WE MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!

Cut, Load, Unload, Stack, Burn.
It can be done.

Opie,

You've got my support. What'S UP with this other stuff? On capmus fire is gone for now, so lets not have some crap event and pretend like it is still here. It will return, but until the REAL thing comes back, just take it elsewhere where students can actually build some unity.

Whatever happened to the FAC?

Damnit commando, you got me all riled up for nothing. I didn't read the post dates until after I read through the thread.

WOW! I read this and didn't look at the posters until I saw my name pulled out. I thought the ideas sounded familiar...

In April of 2002, we were planning for the fire 7 months to come. Simultaneously, some Northside leadership was meeting and plotting while a small group (calling themselves "Unity Project" to avoid any flack) of CTs and Southsiders were getting together. We all had to function with some degree of secrecy because RAs and other dorm and Corps leadership were being threatened if it was found that they had any part in a "Rebel Bonfire" group. At some point we all got together, pooled resources, changed the name to Student UP,and made Bonfire 2002 a reality.

The relationship between (S)UP and BCS was VERY strained at that time because of a myriad of reasons. They boasted University support, political connections, and validity; while (S)UP claimed to just want to build Bonfire to keep the knowledge and tradition alive. BCS and (S)UP were often confused with each other because both wore pots and some of the colors they wore were similar. BCS boasted that they were to have nothing to do with an off-campus Bonfire; but were pictured in the Batt acting as "security" for the fire in Magnolia.

BCS eventually lost support as it's management couldn't produce the results it promised. (S)UP and BCS reached a quasi-pact, agreeing that (S)UP (then changed to ASB and later to SB) would build it and keep the tradition alive while BCS would garner support with the administration for its return to campus.

The truth of Bonfire's undying spirit is evident in the 8 years of (S)UP/ASB/SB's survival and success. I am happy to have been a part of it, but the greatest thanks goes to the tens of thousands of Aggies who helped make it happen.

Good flash-back. Good bull.

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


[This message has been edited by opie03 (edited 11/29/2009 7:37p).]

I agree with opie03. I support but don't support the BCS. I support their cause of returning Bonfire to campus but they haven't shown any success and to be honest, I'm getting tired of hearing about all of this. For several years students have tried really hard to get it back on campus and the university hasn't budged. I would rather see the effort and time go into making Student Bonfire bigger each year, although they have been VERY successful these past years. I support Student Bonfire 110% and with all of my heart. The tradition is very much alive and growing for old Ags and the new generation of Aggies to come. I would rather see the time and effort go into Student Bonfire and have it show than to put effort into dealing with the university and may have happen, may not.

Good memories Opie. Saw you couldn't make it in this year because of new family obligations (congrats). You would have been impressed with this year.

I'd nearly forgotten about FAC too. And anybody remember the "BTHO Rotter" at Midnight Yell Practices in '02?

http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/11/25/Opinion/No.Substitute.For.Bonfire-515028.shtml

Thanks, Mr. I saw the pics/videos and it gave me chills (like every year does). I was only allowed one 300 mile mid-week late night trip to College Station this month.

As for missing out, I rarely got to be front row for the whole event anyways. IIRC, I would either be involved with lighting it (and helping to lead yells), running the sound, parking, ticket sales, and/or money management each year. The worst and best part about not making it this year was realizing that all the above can and do happen without me there.

Everyone involved, you did an amazing job. Keep it up. BTHOB '10.

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

quote:

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http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/11/25/Opinion/No.Substitute.For.Bonfire-515028.shtml

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Hey! The FFF wasn't totally worthless. I got some snacks out of it.

wow... i started getting pissed until i saw the date on this

the best thing about the Farmer's Fight Festival...

is that it never happened again.