I heard rumors a few months ago that A&M was thinking about bringing Bonfire back on campus and then found out they haven't even looked for a site, much less figure other details out. At this point, I have lost ALL respect for Texas A&M. They just want to make themselves look good and as far as I'm concerned, they don't have tradition. What Texas A&M doesn't realize is that Aggie Bonfire will ALWAYS, I repeat, ALWAYS be built and burned every year by the Student Bonfire organization, it just shows how little A&M cares. All my donations and support go to Student Bonfire ONLY. Build and burn the HELL outta Bonfire!

Its no small thing to bring something back from the dead. Harder still to do it right.

While I agree that Bonfire in its true spirit will burn bright for as long as there are passionate Aggies to build it (and perhaps let it build them?), I'm gonna have to ask you not to speak poorly of the place thats given so much to me and others. If you have a fight to pick, pick it with the captain and crew, but leave the ship out of it, as a passenger I've still got something invested in the old gal.

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Current A&M President Elsa Murano announced last month that she intended to spend the next few months initiating a dialogue about the possibility of returning the beloved tradition to campus.

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"This is a complex issue that must be closely examined, but we are not working under a specific timeline, particularly since the settlement was just reached not even a week ago," A&M spokesman Jason Cook said last week.

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http://www.theeagle.com/local/Bonfire-issue-may-get-reignited

Although I respect your thoughts about Texas A&M Fitch 10, they haven't given or even showed me anything. When they put Bonfire back on campus, I'll start to have faith in Texas A&M, until then, no. What many don't realize is that A&M has lost my support but Aggie Bonfire continues to be built and burned every year. Bonfire WILL burn brightly every year!

But I see where you're coming from and I do respect it. I was around when Bonfire was on campus so I know what it is, what it means to thousands of Aggies and that's why it hasn't died, it's alive and growing. Aggie Bonfire will always burn; built by Aggies for Aggies, hence Aggie Bonfire. Bonfire is for the students to begin with. I don't expect many people to understand because they weren't around when Bonfire was on campus, so they only know of the accident, and maybe a brief history of the tradition.

Your opinion is yours, mine in my own.
And so we're clear I'm still praying to see it on campus and done right before my time is up, hell, I'm hoping to be a part of it, but Bonfire alone doesn't make this place what it is. Though Bonfire goes a helluva long way, its the people who embrace the Aggie Spirit and make the traditions and Aggie family their own that make this place what it is.

Fitch, you're right, but Bonfire did amplify that spirit 100 fold

Hell yeah it did! Then the bus lines promptly killed it, lol

No matter what you're view is, the best thing we can do right now is continue to increase efforts in Student Bonfire and get more Ags involved. It's definitely heading in the right direction.

BTHO Bonfire 2009. See you in the woods.

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they haven't given or even showed me anything

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And just what in the world were you expecting them to do during pending litigation?

Howdy I have to side with Fitch here. As much as I find the administration's treatment of Bonfire to be a travesty and as much as I might find fault with the decisions that those running this school makes, Texas A&M University has been my home since I arrived as a freshman. A&M is more than its administration, more than Bonfire, more than you and more than me. With all due respect to your opinion and your right to have and express it, I must say that I find your attack on this great institution to be in bad taste. Please, respect my home and the home of all Aggies.

Earman11- I love Aggie Bonfire with all of my heart and will ALWAYS support and donate to Student Bonfire. Student Bonfire is growing every year and I've heard it's grown faster than what the Redpots predicted. Student Bonfire has shown the true Aggie Spirit! I will most definitely be there for Aggie Bonfire this year!

Guitarace 010- please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm not attacking A&M, they are a fine institution and great college for education. I have just lost respect for what they call tradition. Student Bonfire shows tradition by making sure it's safe and that Bonfire happens each and every year. I have lived here my whole life, so I grew up with A&M and Bonfire. Hell, my brother goes to A&M. I'm sorry if you were given the wrong impression. Without A&M, I would have never grown around Bonfire. So I respect that and you. Build the hell outta Aggie Bonfire! See you all at Bonfire this year!

To me, Aggie Bonfire is not so much about the burn as it is the cut. It's about going out away from the books and stressors of campus (and helping with stress by using an axe.) It's about getting your hands dirty with fellow Ags. It's about working together to kill a tree, clean it up, and move it. It's about getting to know a bunch of great guys and gals while working many hours.

It's a shame what happened back in 1999, but it's great Aggies are still upholding one of A&M's best traditions. I hope one day it is allowed back on campus. Even if it doesn't, the way off campus bonfire has been growing is awesome. I just wish I were still around to take part.

On campus or Campus doesn't really matter...

What you really need is the presence of the Aggie Band, the Football Team, and the Yell Leaders...

Elsa Murano personally met with parents of the deceased Aggies, getting their thoughts on Bonfire returning to the Texas A&M Campus.

I'll ask again. Just what in the world were you expecting the university to do during pending litigation?

This year makes a lot of sense to bring it back, 10 yrs since the fall.

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I'll ask again. Just what in the world were you expecting the university to do during pending litigation?

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the most salient point in this thread.

I mentioned this point on the thread dealing with the date of the Baylor game and I think it deserves mention here as well.

Since A&M has scheduled the game at home against Baylor to take place on the Saturday before the t.u. game, the current burn date, I say what we need is a large scale student demonstration in support of Bonfire at the game that weekend. If the game is early all we need is for every student involved in Bonfire to wear shirts inviting people to come to Burn that night. If the game is late in the evening, then we should, in a respectful manner, make known that Burn will take place that night and incourage people to come out and support one of the oldest tradditions in Aggie history instead of watching a game that is being played on a weekend that Aggies have never played football on.

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If the game is late in the evening, then we should, in a respectful manner, make known that Burn will take place that night and incourage people to come out and support one of the oldest tradditions in Aggie history instead of watching a game that is being played on a weekend that Aggies have never played football on.

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Complete wrong thing to do, and will not have to happen. If the situation arises that the game is at night, Burn will be moved.

I am an Ag who never seen bonfire in its original form. I too wish there was something that bonded campus like I am told the old bonfire did.

But Aggie Spirit has survived. It will survive without bonfire. It has survived losing football seasons. It will survive the cynicism of our generation.

And while part of me also wants bonfire back, I also understand the arguments against it. Cost, student study hours, safety, and the environment. We lost something large, but we will survive.

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I am an Ag who never seen bonfire in its original form. I too wish there was something that bonded campus like I am told the old bonfire did.

But Aggie Spirit has survived. It will survive without bonfire. It has survived losing football seasons. It will survive the cynicism of our generation.

And while part of me also wants bonfire back, I also understand the arguments against it. Cost, student study hours, safety, and the environment. We lost something large, but we will survive.

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It is that kind of apathetic attitude that is causing the loss of Aggie Spirit on campus.

If you don't like the way things are going, do something about it. You're not stuck to what somebody else determines your life will be, unless you let them.

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Complete wrong thing to do

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Actually your lack of support is the wrong thing to do. Letting the university push us around show a lack of spirit and spine.

Please don't talk to me about lack of support without having any clue who I am.

Tell me something: how is telling people to skip the football game to go to Burn going to IMPROVE Bonfire's image? And I'm not talking about in the eyes of the administration; I'm talking about in the eyes of other students.

Second: how many people do you think would actually do that? I love Bonfire more than anything else I've done at A&M, but you know what Bonfire is? An AGGIE tradition. And Aggie's support their team, regardless of how convenient it is.

You wanna talk about solutions, how about moving Burn? How about using the fact that there's a football game that weekend to improve attendance to Burn even more than last year due to Ol' Ags and parents being in town? How about not taking the position that the world revolves around Bonfire because unfortunately, it doesn't. And expecting people to change their plans, spend their money, and abandon their team cus you tell them to will do nothing positive for the future of Bonfire.

I feel like freakin SquareOne here, so let me clarify: Bonfire will be organized, led, built, and burned by students this fall, as it should be. But expecting people to skip a football game because we can't come up with a better plan to account for Burn is not the solution. There's nothing Old Army about that.

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It is that kind of apathetic attitude that is causing the loss of Aggie Spirit on campus.

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I was as hardcore as they get, but for somethings, you just got to as the beattles say "let it be".

and there is something Old Army about breaking tradition and playing on the Saturday before t.u.?

is there something Old Army about the administration turning its back on one of the oldest Aggie traditions?

Do what you want be it red a**, 2%, or somewhere in between. It's your call. I'll be at burn. If that means missing a game then such is the sacrifice for upholding tradition.

The point is, we can't control the administration. Throwing a fit over something you have no control over is pointless and childish, not to mention bad PR. And you seem to have a pretty big problem with turning your back on tradition, but you make no mention of the fact that you'd be turning your back on the University. Let's not forget which came first.

This is a non-issue though. I feel pretty confident in saying that Burn will not take place during a football game. Trust me.

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Trust me.

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Knowing what I know who Coop is, I would trust him. Burn will be changed. It is a lock.

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and there is something Old Army about breaking tradition and playing on the Saturday before t.u.?

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While it might be a tradition, it started in 1996. So what about the more than 50 year "tradition" where we do NOT have an off week before playing t.u.?

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is there something Old Army about the administration turning its back on one of the oldest Aggie traditions?

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I am not sure how the Admin has turned its back on a tradition, it is still working everything out now that the litigation is/has wrapped up. Once it is all figured out bonfire will come back to campus and this will all be irrelevant.

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Do what you want be it red a**, 2%, or somewhere in between. It's your call. I'll be at burn. If that means missing a game then such is the sacrifice for upholding tradition.

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Burn will be moved so you can go to both and be super red ass and we all win. Even if it is moved to Monday I can see a lot of former students hanging around the extra day.

Thanks and gig'em!

[This message has been edited by sicou2 (edited 3/25/2009 4:49p).]

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and there is something Old Army about breaking tradition and playing on the Saturday before t.u.?

is there something Old Army about the administration turning its back on one of the oldest Aggie traditions?

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What the hell are you talking about? We haven't always played the game the weekend of thanksgiving nor have we always had an off week the weekend before the game.

Hardly a tradition there, much less "one of the oldest."

[This message has been edited by NoACDamnit (edited 3/28/2009 12:13a).]

Off campus bonfire blows and will never compare to the real thing.

Just because student bonfire is not on campus or supported by A&M does not mean it is not still Aggie bonfire. Aggies still go out there and pour blood sweat and tears into making something that is bigger than the individual. I wish it was still Ol'army bonfire, but it's not, it will never be back, what we have is probably the best thing we will ever get. It is better than nothing, and we still hold true to many traditions from Ol'Army. It saddens me to think of all the 2%ers now and days, i wish people would support student bonfire like Ol'Army. Having the entire campus unite for one great cause is something i would have wished to see, and something that stirs emotions in me, even though i have only just the past year found the Aggie in me. it's off campus, wah wah, blah blah, i would love to see stack from my dorm, and walk late at night to stack some logs and have some fun. So don't come on here and talk **** about student bonfire, we are trying to keep a badass tradition alive, even though it isnt what it used to be. I would love for half the people who talk **** to come out and work their dam ass off. I hope it doesnt come back to campus, cuz if it does, it will not be student run, it wont be the same. Student bonfire is the closest thing we have, maybe come out and see how it is, give it a go. otherwise stfu.

[This message has been edited by Funk12 (edited 3/31/2009 9:09p).]

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I hope it doesnt come back to campus, cuz if it does, it will not be student run, it wont be the same.

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That's what I would be afraid of. But hopefully it can be close enough to what it used to be to produce the same results in the experiences of the students living it. And as long as there is that chance, it's worth fighting for.

well C5Aggie03, until you experience Student Bonfire, you have no business talking like that about Student Bonfire. It's because of people like you and that attitude that are a disgrace.

Funk12- thank you from the bottom of my heart. Im glad there is someone else out there that sees what I see. The tradition of Bonfire is alive and well and it's people like you that understand Bonfire...thank you! Like all things involving Bonfire...unless one has experienced it, they won't understand it. I grew up around Bonfire and attend each and every year, and am proud to attend one of the oldest and well respected traditions in the world. Thank you very much for your support and I hope to see you out there this year! Build and burn the Hell Outta Aggie Bonfire!

Nice agtag Rook?...Oh wait I don't have one either

NoAC. One of the oldest tradditions would be bonfire. But thanks for playing.

anyone know where i can find Chip Thiel's speech? I have no luck, and I know it was on here once.