I was just reading an article about the burn band and there was a quote that irritated me.

quote:

---

"We institutionally discourage participation in this activity, which is in no way sanctioned by the university, nor does anyone participate in it in any official university capacity," said Lane Stephenson, spokeswoman for Texas A&M.

---

I understand that the university cannot officially sponsor bonfire or support it due to the legal battles ongoing. But at the same time for her to say it is "institutionally discouraged" is an entirely different matter. This comment follows the hazardous activities letter which those of us on campus remember. For those who didn't receive one, the letter was a not so subtle reminder that the university did not support bonfire and a suggestion that students not participate in student bonfire.

Bonfire is not the only problem. I'm not sure if rules have changed elsewhere, but in fhk if a fish is doing pushups, upperclassmen are written up for hazing. This and other changes lead to believe there is a sizable element in the current administration that neither understands nor supports many of the traditions that have made A&M great. With that attitude amongst the university's leaders, I am worried whether bonfire will ever move back on campus and for the future of the university in general.

Am I making something outof nothing? or does anyone else see what i see

Non-Aggies in the Admin...?

Others see it, too.

[This message has been edited by TexasRebel (edited 11/16/2007 7:56a).]

This is nothing new. Some dorms are better off than others on campus, depending on the GHD. It is very disheartening that the University goes out of its way to convince people not to participate in long standing Aggie Traditions becuase they aren't tapping it with their "tradition wand" anymore.

They openly discourage bonfire by scheduling other activities at the same time. In '05 Rodney Carrington was at Reed. This year, there is a basketball scheduled at the same time. Don't remember if there was anything else last year or not.

quote:

---

It is very disheartening that the University goes out of its way to convince people not to participate in long standing Aggie Traditions becuase they aren't tapping it with their "tradition wand" anymore.

---

Sue, many on campus and Ags young and old would debate whether what's going on off-campus is a tradition or not.

quote:

---

Sue, many on campus and Ags young and old would debate whether what's going on off-campus is a tradition or not.

---

I've heard it said that if an Aggie does something once, it's new and different. However, if an Aggie does something twice, it's a tradition. :P

quote:

---

Bonfire is not the only problem. I'm not sure if rules have changed elsewhere, but in fhk if a fish is doing pushups, upperclassmen are written up for hazing. This and other changes lead to believe there is a sizable element in the current administration that neither understands nor supports many of the traditions that have made A&M great. With that attitude amongst the university's leaders, I am worried whether bonfire will ever move back on campus and for the future of the university in general.

---

I think what you're seeing is a result of the fact that we live in a risk-averse world and in the wake of a well publicized tragedy or scandal there tends to be a knee-jerk reaction to eliminate risk rather than manage it. A&M administrators are not immune to these tendencies, even those who are former students. Yes, they sometimes overreact, but I don't think their position on Bonfire falls into that category.

I am not the university's legal advisor, but if I were, I would tell them (1) not to allow a campus bonfire while litigation relating to the 1999 collapse is pending and (2) to actively discourage student participation in an off-campus bonfire. I don't say that because I lack an understanding of the importance of Bonfire, I say it because I know that if we screw this up in the short term, Bonfire will never come back.

Now, you will no doubt counter that by saying that the off-campus bonfire is an important means of keeping the tradition alive until it returns to campus. I don't disagree. But, don't expect the university to pat you guys on the back and tell you you're doing a good job. They can't. In fact, the university has to tell you that you're wrong for having an unsanctioned bonfire. It's the legally smart thing for the university to do if they ever want to bring back the tradition.

We live in the real world, and unfortunately the real world occasionally sucks. It won't be easy to keep the tradition alive, nor should it be. Will you rise to the challenge, or will you complain bitterly about the unfairness of it all?

quote:

---

We live in the real world, and unfortunately the real world occasionally sucks.

---

Understatement of the century right there.

quote:

---

In fact, the university has to tell you that you're wrong for having an unsanctioned bonfire.

---

No, the university doesn't have to say anything as long as both Student Bonfire and Texas A&M continue to be completely separate.

In response to Paladin's post, the question I pose to you all then is:

With Student Bonfire doing their "thing" (continuity of the tradition by current students, real world implementation of safer and more responsible building plans and practices, etc.) and the University doing their's (protecting the university while saving all potential shreds of promise for another on-campus Bonfire using legal pathways, even at the cost of the off-campus fire, etc.), is this the best/"most promising" course of action for return of Bonfire to campus by both parties? If not, what you each of you think can or should be changed to better serve these means?

(edit for grammar)

[This message has been edited by DoctorSnoball (edited 11/19/2007 11:42a).]

I understand your point paladin, but I don't think the university needs to go as far as it has in its discouragement. I don't expect a pat on the back or any recognition, but the university should remain neutral on the matter, rather than fighting it. To answer Snoball's question, although I don't think this is the best course o action, I believe that it is as good as we will be able to obtain for the recent future. Hopefully it will change someday. The best thing I can think of is encouraging those who work for student bonfire to dedicate their moments in the spring and when not in the woods to the Bonfire coalition for students. Our organizations need to work together, albeit on an unofficial basis.

Makes perfect sense to me that the university publicly discourages student participation. The last thing they need with some litigation still pending is being seen as supporting the off campus event. A crafty lawyer can spin "no comment" to de-facto support. Think of it as a speed trap during a doughnut & coffee break.