Student Senate meeting minutes from 11 Mar 2009. Section VII B.

http://senate.tamu.edu/sites/default/files/Minutes%20-%2020090311.pdf

quote:

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B. Off Campus Bonfire
i. Jeremy Stark – Head Civilian 2009 Student Bonfire
ii. Jurek
iii. Questions
1. Loveless – Factor of Saftey
a. 880 lbs test wire
2. Jess Fields – Admin talking about bringing back to campus. Concerns?
3. POINT OF ORDER - TESTA
a. RE: Student Bonfire is not affiliated with TAMU
4. Boehm – has the executive committee considered going to a private firm
for more eyes to the job.
a. RE: Professional Engineer designed our Bonfire
5. Luu – Is the “GREEN POT” position the highest position a female can
hold?
a. RE: No

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It seems nothing was really accomplished?

The fact that Student Bonfire was allowed to make a presentation is an accomplishment. Since it came in as "Special Presentation", not a piece of business, there was really no voting or conclusions that were supposed to come about. Instead, a presentation has been made, which gets the ball rolling if any Student Senators want to write legislation supporting Student Bonfire in the fall. Small steps...

I see this as a good step.

It was nice when there were people in leadership positions on campus who still had a set... if that's coming back we are on the right track.

I made a prediction several years ago about the "off-campus" Bonfire that currently exists...and I feel like so far, I feel like I am on track to being correct.

Keep in mind, being correct is not important, as I dont care if I am correct or not. However, its just something to watch for.

As of right now, the '99 collapse happened about 10 years ago. The kids that are going to be fish this year were in the 2nd or 3rd grade at the time. It is very likely that they have no memory of the Aggie Bonfire that was on Campus.

This trend will continue and the incoming fish (as well as the current upper-classmen) will become more and more removed from the On-Campus Bonfire.

At some point, the off-campus Bonfire will be as common place to everyone as the On-Campus one once was.

Dont misunderstand me...I am not saying everyoen will attend, or that it will every be as big of a deal to everyone (although it might), but it will be viewed less as renegade and more as main-stream. You will hear people say, "Thats the way its always been!"

So, my prediction was that if Bonfire doesnt come back to campus....the off-campus Bonfire will eventually and "completely" fill the void that Bonfire has left (if for no other reason, everyone will view it as mainstream and common place).

Again...just a prediction.

thats actually a really good prediction... after seeing the way attendance has been going, im curious to see what it would be like if we could get stack site back in CS and get a successful burn for a year or 2

Brazos County will never allow any Bonfire to burn within its borders again. Robertson County loves us. So, while I agree it would be ideal to have it closer to campus, the fact of the matter is it's not going to get as close as we'd like.

Coop, I'd be interested to talk about why that is sometime. call it a natural curiosity

Aggie99- you make a very good point! I never thought of it that way. Well, for those that are familiar with Student Bonfire...everyone who was around when Bonfire was on campus can explain that it was once on campus and is off-campus now because of the collapse. They would probably view it as a very strong tradition because not even a collapse as tragic as '99 can stop this tradition. That's why I love Bonfire and support 120%. Aggies love Bonfire and will do whatever it takes to make sure it's built and burned EVER YEAR; especially for the old Aggies to bring back memories of Bonfire to show they the tradition they worked on when they were at A&M, that they thought was lost, is actually alive and well and growing!

Fitch,

Dixie Chicken, Monday night, 9 pm

I'd be there if I could. At the moment I'm just south of Paris, TX, up to my elbows in fence posts, calvings, hay, and chainsaws. I'll be back the June 18th thru that weekend, any chance that'll work?

Aggie99,

It seems your prediction is coming true. I noticed it this year at the Lechner reunion when they had pictures from Student Bonfire in the slideshow, something that would not have happened when I was a student.

Commando2004- What do you mean? Why do you think his prediction is coming true? What were the pictures of from Student Bonfire?

Fitch10.. what town are you in that is south of Paris?

I misspoke, more west than south. At any rate, in Honey Grove, Sash technically.

TxReb, I'm gonna be in CS thursday/friday night. Chicken?