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It was about the student's desire to beat the hell out of tu.

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this is funny.

ttt and whatnot

I'll be there to watch it burn!

Ill be there as well....

ill FINALLY be at stack tomorrow

Seriously, before this starts to sprial out of hand...

I feel VERY strongly about my opinion on this, and because of that I (and many others who feel the same way) tend to come across as abrasive on the topic.

Such is not my intent.

There is plenty of room on all sides of this issue for opinion, and everyone is entitled to theirs. Bonfire continues to be a divisive issue - not because of a majority/minority opinion - but because there is little grey room. You either support Bonfire off-campus or you don't.

My only request for those who think this isn't Aggie Bonfire is to go out one time. Go to a stack, go to a cut, go watch the thing burn - whatever. Experience one of their events - just one time.

Yeah, it's not exactly like it used to be. You can't climb 60 feet in the air onto stack, you don't get to tackle the load pot, you don't get to walk across campus to work, etc. This Bonfire belongs to the class of '08, and I'm pretty sure there's no more than 3-5 people who were even on campus in '99 who are working excessively on this fire.

Whether you built fires in the late 60s that ended up over 100 feet off the ground or your only on-campus experience was 1999 - you make Aggie Bonfire what it is to you. These fish aren't getting to build Bonfire the same way I did when I was a fish - but it's their Bonfire.

Whether your fire was 1969, 1980, 1999, or 2004 - the fact remains that though the Bonfire that each built was very different - Bonfire is still building Aggies.

Just take one trip out and you'll know what I mean.

bump

Is it possible to discuss this subject rationally without making personal attacks on someone that has a differing opinion than yours? (re: bigsteve)

To be honest, I probably wasn't going to go- but with all these idiots putting the effort down, I'm going to make a point to support it and show up. Hopefully, I'll bring some others who originally weren't going to go as well.

We'll be there - just like last year and the year before that.

I injured my ankle a couple of weeks ago. On Saturday night I was climbing stack and fell while climbing it and landed hard on my ankle. I still climbed back up and spent the night working the hell out of my ankle bouncing off of logs.

Sunday morning I woke up and my ankle is the best it has been in a month. Does that count as an un-injury? The restorative health properties of Bonfire should be bottled and sold at GNC.

I support the students efforts to keep the tradition alive. It's not how tall the stack is that counts, but the tradition and efforts behind it. Good job AGS.

BTHOtu

Let the ashes fall to earth once again and burn holes in my jacket!

It's interesting how a thread can change your perspective on things.

I grew up in College Station and was a student at Consol in '99. I attended a few Bonfires as a kid and watched every other one on TV. It was a great tradition. Riding past the site and seeing construction in progress was great during the fall, and there was nothing like seeing it burn. My favorite part was the reading of the Last Corps Trip.

Immediately after the collapse, I thought continuing Bonfire on campus was a good idea, provided it could be safe. When Dr. Bowen decided to indefinately suspend it, I was heartbroken, but not surprised.

Over time, I decided that off campus bonfires were a bad idea. The way the topic divides us, like in this thread, seemed to go against everything Bonfire was about. It was a far cry from the experience I had as a kid. Besides, I don't think the risk is worth displaying our "burning desire to beat t.u."

Just today, I told a classmate I supported the return of on campus Bonfire, provided it was safe, but that I didn't support the idea of off campus bonfire. However, after reading this thread, I see a lot of good points, and I might go watch it burn just to see what it's like.

Threads like this are rather disappointing. Whether or not you support an off campus bonfire, people have their reasons for feeling as they do.

Ag, that is my point. Don't condemn it without seeing it. Then if you think it is bad you will at least have real reasons.

Fact is I doubt that the University ever lets it back on campus.

For those helping each year, it is a valued experience. I can't se that those not working are impacted one way or another.

Last year several thousands of us watched it burn. It was a special night. My son and I plan on being there again this year, just as we were the previous two.

Bonfire is gone forever, Ags. I love bonfire as much as anyone. I'm '03 and the only bonfire I ever saw burn was my senior year of high school and I'm so thankful that I just happened to get a chance to make the trip up for it.

As much as I admire what certain sectors of the student body are doing to continue one of the great traditions that defined us as a student body, I cannot give my support. It's not that I dont want to keep the tradition alive as bad as many of you its just that the things bonfire represented are gone forever.

Think about the reasons that we all want bonfire to burn again. Everyone knows its not just about the event before the game, or even about stack and cut. Anybody who knew anything about bonfire knew it was simply about us. It was an expression of unity and desire by the entire student body, even those that only went to watch it burn and did not participate in building it.

I believe that all of those people who represent and support bonfire today do so because they want bonfire to return to its proper status and meaning on our campus. But I'm afraid that it can never happen, especially not using the current methods.

Off-campus bonfires, while promoting the same ideals of the on-campus bonfire, simply cannot bring the tradition we hold dear back to us. This thread shows us that these fires are harming our student body rather than helping it. Bonfire today is no longer about Aggie unity and passion but is itself a source of division among the student body. Bonfire is now the source of a serious fracture within both the student and former student communities.

I'm sad that it has turned out this way, but even a group as closely knit as our cannot whether a storm as grave and tragic as what happened in 1999 and come through it unscathed. Whether we like it or not, bonfire has changed us. It is up to us now to come back together as Aggies instead of clawing at the past and try in vain to remain unchanged by one of the most catastrophic events to ever affect us as a group. I wish the 12th Man would come up with a new expression which would allow us all to move on. Something that would again fulfill all of the roles that bonfire used to fill for us. I am not creative enough to come up with an answer for us, but hopefully that person, whether student or administrator (I think it will need to be a student), is out there. Hopefully some semblance or remembrance of bonfire will be preserved, but I simply cannot support the divisive nature of "bonfire" as it currently exists.

BTHO tu

I only see it dividing a handful who have objections. People can be student bonfire neutral. When has there ever been an activity that 100 percent support. Less than half even buy sports passes.

The only reason this is dividing at all are the ones who object to what students do off campus on their own time with their own money.

That is not really anyone's concern.

Bonfire is the expressed desire of every Aggie to beat the ever living hell out of tu. It is a spirit and the only way you can kill it is in your heart. It is not an Administrative thing. I work for a university and now days every damn thing involves legal affairs. University Administration worries more about the legal liabilities and how they affect students, faculty and staff. Bonfire will never be back on campus but it LIVES!!!

Go there and be counted Aggies!!!! Burn Baby Burn!

Gig 'Em!!

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The only reason this is dividing at all are the ones who object to what students do off campus on their own time with their own money.

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IMO, this pretty much proves that what they are doing is not Aggie Bonfire if this is how you describe what they are doing.

Liquid Courage <-- laughing! I support the student bonfire and want to see it continue until the admin gets it back on campus. I only wish I could be there to watch it burn. Gig em!!!

hell yeah, burn the hell ags and BTHOtu!

They call it Student Bonfire. That is what it is.

Let it go.

I'll be there again this year with 5 or 6 friends.

BTHO tu

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The only reason this is dividing at all are the ones who object to what students do off campus on their own time with their own money.

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IMO, this pretty much proves that what they are doing is not Aggie Bonfire if this is how you describe what they are doing.

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Considering the "old" Bonfire was done on students' own time almost exclusively with funds the leadership raised and resources they got donated, I fail to see much of a distinction (other than the fact that the University provided the stack site)

[This message has been edited by Keegan99 (edited 11/15/2004 10:33p).]

I wonder if Bill Byrne could or would influence any decision to ever un-suspend the ban on bonfire. The bonfire always brought exposure nationally, espn. National exposure means more exposure to a bigger pool of potential recruits. Fran loves traditions... Time will tell. bthotu

wow, that was a delayed double post

[This message has been edited by AGnCS (edited 11/15/2004 11:54p).]

I can see the point that if you are not in favor of student bonfire, you should at least be neutral toward it and not against it. However, the perception exists around the state and country that even though the SB is not university sanctioned, it is still associated with Texas A&M and that is a big risk for all of us.

I know every precaution is being taken in regards to safety, but we all believed that prior to 11/18/99 too. Heaven forbid that another unexpected tragedy occurs ... not only will it be awful for the injured, but it would be the biggest black eye TAMU will ever suffer. And trust me, the naysayers will be back wondering why the administration didn't do anything to prevent it.

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Considering the "old" Bonfire was done on students' own time almost exclusively with funds the leadership raised and resources they got donated, I fail to see much of a distinction (other than the fact that the University provided the stack site)

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The University spent thousands of dollars annually towards Bonfire. In addition to having an advisor on staff, the University paid for maintenance and rehabilitation of the site, paid for security and emergency personnel during the building of Bonfire, paid for security and traffic control the night of the burning and trash cleanup afterward, the logistics of the event setup for the yell practice, etc, etc, etc.

I'm sure the cost of paying all the law enforcement folks must have been incredible.

[This message has been edited by AGnCS (edited 11/16/2004 12:20a).]

goin to help on stack tomorrow night for the first time and am crazy excited. see you when it burns whoop!!!

WOW! Bigsteve, you really don't want anybody having a bonfire unless it is exactly like the one you have created in your fantasy. Get real man, no bonfire was ever exactly the same. Go back to the origins and you will see that they are closer to what is happening now than any you ever saw. Just because new army is not having theirs exactly the way you had yours does not make it any less important to them. And to be honest, it is about them, not you. Live in your self pity if you wish, but let these students live in the here and now. If bonfire never returns to campus so be it. But I will surely support it no matter where it is. The only thing that would change my support is if they decided to forgo the safety measures they have taken to insure the safety of the workers.

Nothing is 100% safe. Just by living you are taking a chance of dying. The less you do, the less you live. I choose not to live in fear of things that may very well not happen. Do I choose not to fly because I might die in a plane crash? Do any of you choose not to drive to College Station to watch a football game because some fellow ags may have died on the road in years past? Get a grip people. If you live your life based on somebody else sanctioning something you are a hollow person void of any substance. The spirit I feel as an Aggie has nothing to do with the current administration in place. It is about all that embodies being a Fighting Texas Aggie. Administrations come and go. Their support of particular events will be swayed by liability and public support like wheat swaying in the wind. Is your spirit determined by which way the administration sways? If so, I pity you. Your spirit is empty.

I will be there this year. My kids will be there. I hope you will be there as well.

BEAT THE HELL OUTTA tu!

until I read this thread, I did not know anybody opposed the student bonfire, i still havent seen any current students oppose it.

And I seriously doubt every student took part in each one of the bonfires that took place.

you could have a burning passion to beat the hell outta tu, and only attend the burn...that doesnt make you any less unified.

Anyone who thinks bonfire is coming back to campus is kidding themselves...

Pat there are DEFINITELY current student students who oppose student bonfire. They are not a majority, but that is becase the majority is those people who could care less (probably 70% at least). Now to clarify...when I say oppose I am not saying we walk around holding signs or anything. We just don't think it needs to come back.

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I wonder if Bill Byrne could or would influence any decision to ever un-suspend the ban on bonfire. The bonfire always brought exposure nationally, espn. National exposure means more exposure to a bigger pool of potential recruits. Fran loves traditions... Time will tell. bthotu

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The idea that bringing back Bonfire, a tradition that led to the deaths of 12 students, would bring any kind of positive press from national media is a joke.

[This message has been edited by aggiedave05 (edited 11/16/2004 3:36a).]

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I only see it dividing a handful who have objections

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That's not true. I took a lot of flak in the dorm for not supporting KTFB back in the day. I knew many others who were out there that night who did the same. Currently I will NOT support any Bonfire that is uninsured and I refuse to do so in the future. I still have old buddies who give me crap over that point but I refuse to budge from it.

I'd love to be out there. I'd love to be convinced the culture has redeemed itself. But until I see that the event is insured I can't bring myself to support it.

Quit putting words in my mouth. I am not opposed to students getting together somewhere out in the country side around a pile of logs and talking about beating tu. Hell, we did that just about every weekend (Beer Bust) when I was at A&M in the corps. Upperclassmen would cook,...fish would push,...good times.

I remember Bonfire "back in the day" and very much want to see it returned to campus. It is one of the unique experiences that is A&M. Nothing like it in the world.

On the other hand, I absolutely cannot condone the gathering of students to cut and assemble your "bonfire", despite whatever safety measures have been put in place. It is as safe as the stack was in 1999, and I don't think that margin of error is good enough anymore.

I'm not trying to say you're a good Ag or not by attending or working on this project, I just don't think you should consider this a adequate replacement for the real thing...because it's not. It's a pep rally...and that's OK...it's just not Bonfire.

Sorry if that upsets some people and this is just my opinion.

Beat the hell out of tu....!

[This message has been edited by Bigsteve (edited 11/16/2004 9:20a).]

[This message has been edited by Bigsteve (edited 11/16/2004 9:22a).]

Good Job AGGIES!! Build it safe and Burn it!!

and BEAT THE HELL OUTTA t.u.