Bad bull from the Batt:

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"I'm not in any way directly comparing the two or saying they're the same, but in some ways, I see Chilifest as a replacement to Bonfire," said Mark Kristen, president of Kristen Distribution, which provides beverages as well as support for the event. "It's becoming an event that everyone looks forward to every year. There's so much camaraderie that comes out of it. It doesn't matter if you're in a fraternity, the Corps, a current student, former student or whatever; strong bonds are made over the two days that might not be formed otherwise."

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Two days of drinking, puking, dancing, and eating Chili while listening to a few washed up country artists vs. months of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears building a huge stack of logs. Which built-bonds are stronger?

To those outside of the "bonfire community" there is a fairly significant correlation. Chilifest has become the "event of the year" just as Bonfire once was. In high school and college I had lots of friends go to Bonfire that weren't even Aggies just because it was a fun event to attend, usually involving great parties.

For those people that didn't paticularly work on Bonfire (or work at all), Chilifest can very much be a replacement, an event that has national recognition and draws tens of thousands of attendees.

Mr. Kristen sees it as a replacement for revenue, I bet.

This is the dumbest quote I've ever read in the Batt. (Outside of Mail Call, that is.)

Also the correlations between what really happens at Chilifest and what really happens at burn night are a little salt-in-the-woundish.

you mean what really HAPPENED at burn night... since SB has been building Bonfire, the drunken party that was burn does not happen anymore

Yes, I meant happened.

For what Bonfire really was to the people who built? not a chance

For an excuse to drink? doesn't take much to get a college student to drink - I knew some who drank at Replant

Of course this guy is going to say that, he's making money off of it and would love Chilifest to have the crowd pull that bonfire had back in the day. Unfortunately, wash-ups don't bring in big crowds.

I got in trouble for drinking (a bit excessively) at replant.

Man, I had to quit drinking. I'd much rather say I am boycotting Miller Lite...

From a former Chilifest Chair/Volunteer, that could be the dumbest statement I have ever heard.

No way in hell does Chilifest replace Bonfire.

[This message has been edited by mts6175 (edited 4/9/2005 11:27p).]

Well I think I just drank my last Miller Light this weekend.

That's bull****.

2K

Yes, I have been boycotting Chilifest for many years now and now I have another reason to do so. I will also add Kristen Distributing to that boycott list as well as Miller Lite.

For many people, Bonfire was a one night event. They showed up and got wasted. That is what they do at chilifest as well. (Imagine that, an event started by frats that is basically an excuse to get wasted).

For the rest of the Aggie Community, this is in no way close to a replacement for Bonfire and is completely insulting to even hint at the fact that it might be close. This Mark Kristen guy is obviously not an Aggie and has just slapped 90 years of tradition in the face.

You may not agree, but that is how I see it...and that is how I will take it. You dont have to agree, and that is fine.

its not the same trad not for it

I've been saying it for a while, and people keep saying I am crazy (but they said I was crazy when I wanted to returf the Church St. Lawn), but I am very VERY serious. Bonfire can be a replacement for Chillifest. We know Bonfire takes a royal crap on it anyway, but why not do so in the spring as well.

There is no reason why a few old ags couldn't invest a portion of their donation that would grow. We take the small concert concept and grow it. We won't incur venue expense as we will approach bars, clubs and whatnot with a laundry list of bands and performers that have already expressed interest in helping Bonfire.

We make the entire frickin College Station community gag for us. We have what they want (bands and a captive audience), and we will give said venue the opportunity to share those for one night if they give us what we want...

-Attention
-Entrenchment (in the business sector, a handshake means a whole lot more in this town than a handshake)
-and Money

I'm not kidding. Personally, I would like nothing more than to level Chillifest, crush those slimy leeches passing a hangover off as a Tradition. They don't deserve the students time or attention, but students do. And if for no other reason than that, we have every justification and opportunity to cut that tumor off at Wellborn and let it dry out and fall off.

Additionally, let's formalize the Kristen Distributing boycott. Angle:

"We as students charged with protecting the pride and Traditions that have been passed down to us,
as Aggies working to honor the legacy, history and camaraderie of Bonfires past,
and in some instances seeking to carry it into the future,

take exception to recent statements made on behalf of Kristen Distributing, an alcoholic beverage distributor, that sought to parallel the Tradition of Bonfire with an event sponsored in part by Kristen Distributing, apparently for the sole purpose of leveraging the heritage of Bonfire to profitable ends for Kristen Distributing.

The statement was made with gross disregard to the sacrfices of Bonfire participants. These same participants, who so passionately and honorably contributed to the Tradition Kristen Distributing seeks to employ have acknlowledged the shortcomings of Bonfire, among which includes the dangers of alcohol as a tool of "community." These sacrifices, this passion, and finally, this warning were summarily dismissed by Kristen Distributing to better serve its objective to increase profit and visibility. We encourage all concerned Aggies, parents and community members to express your concern and disappointment construvtively and openly."

The idea about the laundry list of concerts is great... but there are a couple concerns:

A) We need money. Try getting bands good enough to pull it off... they're not cheap. Not in the least. We've already looked into it. Yes, you gotta spend money to make money... but you gotta have some dough to invest first.

B) You gotta be careful here. Bonfire CANNOT be associated with a drunkfest. We already are controversial enough without adding fuel to the fire of criticism. Consistency of image is really important. We have a no alcohol policy on site... we can't be associated with excessive alcohol use that events like Chilifest promote.

C) Good luck coordinating it. Until people realize that Bonfire is not just Building the Hell and burnin it down so we can do it again... it rests on our ability to Fund the Hell outta it... then we are fighting an uphill battle. Sure we can get people to come out the night of but there is a heck of a lot that is entailed in event planning and as a young organization, we don't have the resources to coordinate it. Maybe in a few years.

I mean, I completely see what you're saying but before we jump on any bandwagons, we need to figure out what is realistic for us at this point in time. Maybe in a few years we can branch out to doing something bigger than what we've done... like a spring concert series or something.

If anyone has any suggestions about how to accomplish this in a controlled way, e-mail the bonfire account at info@studentbonfire.com. We're here and waiting to listen for advice.

I think my messages there center on one key point: "You can ***** about it, or you can fix it". The energy expended on the former would certainly do a number on the latter.

Maybe I could even rephrase it "If you aren't going to offer a solution, don't waste everyone's time *****ing". This isn't really directed at anyone here personally, but generally, there certainly are a large number of folks, Aggies and otherwise, content with discontent and spreading it.

We don't HAVE to put Chillifest out of business, but carrying around (and spreading) anger with them won't help any. Unless we are using that message to leverage our anger to Bonfire's benefit. I believe my two suggestions, though far-fetched, are pretty good examples.

They are, like I said... if anyone has advice to fix the problem... just say so.

quote:

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Bonfire can be a replacement for Chillifest. We know Bonfire takes a royal crap on it anyway, but why not do so in the spring as well........

Personally, I would like nothing more than to level Chillifest, crush those slimy leeches passing a hangover off as a Tradition. They don't deserve the students time or attention, but students do. And if for no other reason than that, we have every justification and opportunity to cut that tumor off at Wellborn and let it dry out and fall off

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As a former Chilifest chairman that SUPPORTS Bonfire, I really take offense to your comments FtnTXAg03. What has Chilifest, it's volunteers, or it's organizers done to piss on Bonfire? Absolutely nothing. The owner of a beer distributor that supplies beer to Chilifest says something, and now all of a sudden it's attack Chilifest? Pretty piss poor additude.

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passing a hangover off as a Tradition....won't incur venue expense as we will approach bars, clubs

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WTF do you think you are going to do if you try to turn bonfire into a freaking festival like you are talking about? Not to mention, you taint the very concept of Bonfire by attempting to move it to Spring. Think about the history of Bonfire and what it means, you going to change its purpose to mean we'll beat tu's Tennis team every year?

And speaking of idiots, you don't want to associate Bonfire with alcohol? There is no way to avoid that connection if you even come close to "approaching" a bar or club, nor if you turn it into this great family venue you are talking about.

Pretty bad bull to try and spin this off on people who raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity as if a beer vendor's comments are thier fault. Lose the chip dude, all of you. No one from the Chilifest organization made these comments, and in fact, are very stern supporters of Bonfire and all this school's other traditions as well.

[This message has been edited by mts6175 (edited 4/28/2005 12:22a).]

I think you mis-understood his post about Bonfire in the spring.. A concert in the spring.. Bonfire in the fall.. It would be obsurd to think Bonfire could be moved to the spring.

Whoa, Clyde. I don't think I should even bother mentioning that my point was extreme to illustrate action over griping, because I assume that you would have already noted that if you were interested in reading and not finding a reason to be angry. But then you so lucidly illustrated where your interests lie with your in-depth analysis there that someone would even suggest moving Bonfire to the spring. And furthermore, I would assume that you, being of so profound an insight into the depth and breadth of event promotions and management, might gather that Bonfire itself would never consider compromosing any of its standards, which they have so carefully guarded to this point.

An most certainly, they wouldn't be compromised at the hands of an outside factor speaking in connection to and profiting from Bonfire interests. I would suggest, humbly and in deference to your vast knowledge and experience, that you focus your overwhelming energy at:

a) your sponsor who like it or not speaks for you as long as you let him
b) the person specifically (not some organization who never said or did anything against you) whose opinion angers you so much (pending careful consideration and review of said opinion)
c) all of the above

And since turnabout is fair play, the non-sequitor quote...

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As a former Chilifest chairman that SUPPORTS... FtnTXAg03... freaking... Bonfire... dude

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The chip is with Miller Lite.

Miller Lite is associated with Chilifest, whether you like it or not.

There is an undeniable connection. However, while the actual event may have turned into a drunkfest sponsored by someone with a screwed up vision, you can't deny that Chilifest gives back and should be praised for doing so.




With all respect to the above comments, Bonfire is not meaning to spite anyone... not the current leadership, that is. While we might be disappointed in the comments of Mike Kristen, we would be foolish to even attempt to try and out-do an organization who has quite successfully given back for years... we need to focus on developing and acquiring our resources before such a grandiose event could even occur.

And, we'd be fools to spend money competing with Chilifest. You've got the market cornered on cold beer, chili, and good music in the Spring in Aggieland.

That being said, I am all for Bonfire having a laundry list of performers, but in order to do so, we must first be established enough to have those resources... and even when we have those resources, we must learn to utilize them efficiently. Going head to head with Chilifest is not necessarily an efficient way to utilize said resources.

MTS, I can see where you could have taken offense, but you're not going to win in an argument about this with FtnTxAg. He's quite passionate about Bonfire and has a way with words... I don't know if you should his orignial opinions personally. I believe he is upset at the correlation between Kristen and Chilifest, not Chilifest itself and I am sure that he appreciates that Chilifest people support Bonfire. Not to put words in his mouth though, but knowing him, that is what I'd gather.

Northside,

I appreceate and thank you for your attempt to clear FtnTXAg03's thoughts up with me, but let me point out some of his kind words:

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Bonfire can be a replacement for Chillifest. We know Bonfire takes a royal crap on it anyway.....Personally, I would like nothing more than to level Chillifest, crush those slimy leeches passing a hangover off as a Tradition. They don't deserve the students time or attention, but students do. And if for no other reason than that, we have every justification and opportunity to cut that tumor off at Wellborn and let it dry out and fall off.

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Tell me, what is so clear in any of your posts FtnTXAg03 that would make me interested in hearing or even considering your opinion on this matter now? You just called me a "slimy leech" and personally attacked a student activity that I have been a part of for 10 years.

You may have beef with Kristen, but again, no need to attack an organization that has done nothing to you. And I will say this, you want to boycott Miller Lite and Mark Kristen, fine go right ahead. Chilifest doesn't believe it is a "replacement for Bonfire" and never will. However, Miller Lite has supported us for many years and Chilifest will continue to cultivate that relationship as long as it is benificial for it to do so.

Bonfire should take on Farm Aid. That'll show'em.

Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.