Published Tuesday, November 18, 2008 6:05 AM
A&M should not restore Aggie Bonfire
Eagle Editorial Board
Texas A&M University has many rich traditions, probably more than any other university in the country. They are part of what makes the school such a great place.
There is one tradition, however, that ended so tragically nine years ago today and should never be brought back: Bonfire.
When the stack collapsed in the early morning hours of Nov. 18, 1999, it forever ended any pretense that a student-built Bonfire could be constructed safely on the A&M campus. Even with professional supervision, the dangers would simply be too great to risk another tragedy.
The lawsuits against A&M and several present and former administrators have been settled, but the pain of that terrible night -- to the families and friends, to A&M as a whole and to the community -- will never go away. The wonderfuland moving Bonfire Memorial serves as a constant reminder of our sorrow.
With the conclusion of the lawsuits against A&M, some campus administrators, including President Elsa Murano -- who wasn't yet a member of the A&M family in 1999 -- have hinted that it might be time to revisit the idea of a campus Bonfire again.
They are wrong.
Students on campus now weren't here when Bonfire collapsed. They have developed other, safer ways to show their burning desire to defeat the Longhorns of The University of Texas. Their memories don't include working long hours into the night on Bonfire.
We understand the nostalgia many old Ags feel for Bonfire. They look back on Bonfire as a defining moment of their campus careers, the camaraderie they built and the leadership lessons they learned. But this isn't about them. It is about a whole new generation of Aggies for whom Bonfire isn't even a memory.
We know old Ags miss the spirit and the atmosphere Bonfire generated.
We also know there are grieving families who miss their loved ones who were taken in such a horrible fashion nine years ago. And there are others still struggling with grievous injuries sustained in the collapse of the Bonfire stack.
A serious injury to a student working on a non-sanctioned bonfire this fall shows that, even with a host of caution and safety measures, building a bonfire is a dangerous job.
A&M officials know this, and for them to even consider bringing Bonfire back to the campus is a dangerous notion.
Let us be content with the good memories of Bonfires past. And let us never forget the names of those who died so tragically nine years ago: Miranda Denise Adams, Christopher D. Breen, Michael Stephen Ebanks, Jeremy Richard Frampton, Jamie Lynn Hand, Chris-topher Lee Heard, Timothy Doran Kerlee Jr., Lucas John Kimmel, Bryan A. McClain, Chad A. Powell, Jerry Don Self and Nathan Scott West.
God bless them and all those who love them.
Comments
[comment]
16 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Saturday, November 22, 2008 9:16 PM
Comment Title: Bring it back.....
I grew up in B/CS. I graduated from TAMU. I remember Bonfire from when I was 5 years old. I'm very sorry and give my most sincere condolences to the victims' families, but BRING IT BACK!
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Posted by:
Dallas Ag '88 On:
Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:17 PM
Comment Title: Aggie Joke
Great. Another Texas Monthly cover on the way! "Aggies Bring Back Bonfire, not another Aggie Joke"....Bum Steer, for sure.
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Posted by:
Loser Police On:
Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:34 AM
Comment Title:
I agree! People who want the stupid bonfire are losers.
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Posted by:
oldsalty On:
Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:39 AM
Comment Title: Finally
Dont bring it back! We have beat Texas without the bonfire for the last few years. Use the 2 million pounds of trees to help rebuild homes for the Texas coast!!! People are getting hurt building the bonfires!!! A&M will run and hide from the responsibility for another 8 yrs if it falls again. And dont give me the students that died would of wanted it back crap, if they knew that anyone else could get hurt or die from another bonfire they most certainly wouldnt want it brought back. Times have changed, we are trying to go greener these days. Burning all those trees would only send us backwards!!! Start a new tradition! Get a staff together and start something new! Female cheerleaders is a good place to start.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 8:52 PM
Comment Title: Oooh Pleeeeaszzzze!
For those that feel it's too risky or too dangerous... It's fine for your opinion to be announced but don't expect everyone to follow your foot steps and shame on you if you blaspheme those that DO WANT this tradition to be started up again. As in all things in life, there is a certain amount of risk involved. This risk can be minimized and those that participate assume that risk because work on the bonfire is voluntary, NOT compulsive! An example of learning from mistakes and moving on to a safer program is the NASA Shuttle program. Perhaps you can broaden your mind and allow those that want the tradition continue the freedom to do so. Or are you one of those left wings that everyone can do what they want as only long as it fit's your world view. GO BONFIRE!
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Posted by:
Twisted Sister On:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:15 AM
Comment Title: NO MORE
Enough is enough! We do not need Bonfire to come back. EVER!
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 8:31 AM
Comment Title: Come on city council, outlaw it too
Yeah, no to the bonfire. The 2nd hand smoke might float over the city and give all cancer.
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Posted by:
Aggie12 On:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 8:18 AM
Comment Title: I agree with no more bonfire
Great post by the person who stated that Bonfire should not come back to campus. As stated there are other traditions that should keep the spirit of aggieland in tact without having to rely on just one tradition, which in my opinion is outdated anyway. For those who think the spirit is dead here just because there in no bonfire, you are no better than the people who say they are not ag football fans just because of a few bad seasons. Both of you are fake ags in my opinion because the spirit of this school goes far beyond burning a bunch of wood before one football game.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 7:56 AM
Comment Title:
Aggies sound like the Catholics who didn't want to give up Latin Masses or the Mormons who don't want to give up polygamy. What do they all have in common? All three are cults.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 7:54 AM
Comment Title:
To the third poster: get a dictionary and look up the word "sarcastic." Then look up the word "obtuse." See if your picture is next to it.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 7:39 AM
Comment Title: Bonfire should not be on Campus
I do not believe that just because it is a so-called tradition that it needs to be brought back to campus. Out of respect to the families that lost a loved one and the Bonfire memorial should be a reminder that despite such traditions, they all have a place in our lives. There are many other traditions (no, ring dunking is not a tradition despite what some think) that students can take part in to keep the Aggie Spirit alive. If we believe that the Spirit of Aggieland is predicated on the making of a bonfire, then I guess I under-estimated a bunch of Aggies. The spirit of Aggies does not hinge on one single tradition, but rather on the many ways we show our spirit. I agree with the editor. Keep the Aggie Bonfire off campus. I think the president is showing disrespect to the families who lost a loved one by bringing Bonfire to campus.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 4:50 AM
Comment Title: Sarcasm
To the third poster - Look up the word sarcasm, re-read the first post, then report back.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 7:23 PM
Comment Title:
I don't understand why this isn't put to a vote on the campus. This is one of the oldest traditions at A&M! Personally, I thing the ring dunk is more dangerous! (Not to mention, I don't think it's a real tradition. Especially if you research its beginning.) But that's a whole other topic altogether. Anyway, I don't see why it shouldn't come back. The students are doing it off campus, which is probably more dangerous! Bring back a REAL Aggie tradition! BRING BACK AGGIE BONFIRE!
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 6:20 PM
Comment Title:
To the 1st poster - my goodness & I might get in a serious wreck going to work, but that will not stop me from working!! Why don't you dig a underground home & live in it, so no harm will come to you??? Oops - that won't work, it might cave in!!! We live in a world full of danger. It is quite obvious you are not one that has the "true" Aggie spirit! What in the world are you doing living around Aggieland? Did you even read your post, after you wrote it? ALL your comments are (sorry to say) defintely from someone that stays locked in a closet! Be careful - an airplane might fall from the sky & land on you!! May ALL Aggie traditions live on... Poster you need to find another place to live!!!!! I will have to admit - I have "never" read such "stupid" comments!!! Don't walk to get your mail anymore, a speeding vehicle might hit you...!!! Geez - you are something else!!!
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:12 AM
Comment Title: Totally Disagree
Yes, it's true that all of the students here haven't been a part of building bonfire on campus, however, their brother's have... their sister's have... their parents have. They've grown up with bonfire very much being a part of their lives. The Spirit of Aggieland has taken a tremendous blow since the bonfire collapsed 9 years ago. Bonfire brought people together, formed life-long friendships, and truly embodied the Spirit of Aggieland. We all know that morale on campus is low right now because of our football team. Bonfire used to pick people up in times like this - build their spirits. Every time I walked by or drove by and saw Bonfire being built I would get goosebumps. That's not there anymore. I miss it. Thousands of people miss it. Bringing back bonfire would be an enormous undertaking, and, yes, there would be a large risk. But where would we be in the world if we didn't take risks? This would be a sad world to live in. Bring back bonfire. Do it right. Bring back the Spirit of Aggieland.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 7:25 AM
Comment Title: Agreed
I agree completely! Bonfire was dangerous. It carried less than .01% chance that you could get killed or seriously injured, and that is just too high. But we shouldn't stop there. I think Aggie football needs to be removed. Filling College Station and Kyle Field with that many people can in know way be safe. How many people have been killed over the years travelling to and from football games?? Unacceptable! And with the way the football team has been playing lately, depression must be at a dangerous level. Sky diving? Are you kidding me? Shame on Bush Sr for setting such an example. Equestrian? More than a dozen kids have been killed in equestrian events in the last 18 months; that needs to go. A&M needs to get rid of the Corps, too. Cause God knows the military can be dangerous. I'm not trying to make light of the death of those Aggies. I was close friends with many of them. But let's be honest - the danger level is not what would keep Bonfire off campus. It is the costs. Keep it off campus and let students continue to learn from such a powerful learning experience.
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