Ladies and Gents,
Dr. Bowen't decision was right. What is wrong, is that many people don't seem to be able to leave their college days behind. Bonfire is a UNIVERSITY tradition, so when a univeristy official, who is properly placed in charge, makes a decision, that's it. This whole "let's go off campus and to heck with what the administration has to say" attitude is what got us in trouble in the first place.

Bonfire was a tradition that was supposed to unite the students and "to symbolize the burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u..... and the undying spirit that all Aggies have for Texas A&M" If that's the deal, and it is, how is this bickering back and forth accomplishing that? This thing has gotten Aggies so turned against each other that is is long past the point of being worth it.

Bonfire is a THING, it is not a way of life. Who in the heck cares what the "symbol" is, so long as we can all get together for the purpose of winning a football game and showing the love we have for a university? A symbol is just that, a symbol.

For those who are current students, debate away, have at it. For those who are former students, how about we set a good example and actually respect proper authority? Your attempts to go off campus just prove the point of the bonfire report. I'm not sure why that is so hard to understand.

This post will upset some Aggies. Dr. Bowen made the right decision about Bonfire. It is not worth for someone losing their life and being injured by this "tradition" of Bonfire. I remember one of the guys in our dorm was killed at the cutting site when a traitor ran over him.

I am in favorite of doing away with Bonfire forever.

Thanks
Gig'em Aggies

I agree, as a former student (class of 1997!)I am appalled by the lack of respect most of these postings have for those with differing ideas. Bonfire was a great tradition, but let's evaluate what it stood for and take those same ideas and spirit and apply them to something that will truly carry on the traditions of unity and burning desire. Building a new bonfire on site or off-site is grasping to keep something that has passed. Fighting for a cause is just and good, but lets not fight against our fellow ags.

We tell the world we are all aggies and unified, but we let a decision about a tradition, that like it or not lead to 12 deaths, divide us internally.

By definition, if something is built, then it has not passed. As for unification, it seems as if the majority (according to the student and former student polls) support continuing bonfire, so the lesser percentage should unify with the greater percentage to continue the tradition. Also, since the position of President of the University is not an elected position, he does not speak for the majority of Aggies when he does speak.

-Will D., '92

www.aorbonfire.com

Will,
You're wrong in your thoughts that the minority (if we are, and I doubt it) should change their view and support the majority. Why? I don't belive in what you belive in. I'm not going to argue about it, we can differ without sending nasty grams, etc.

What I still have a problem with is this. Nobody say Dr. Bowen speaks for you, but he DOES speak for the University. There is a system in place that puts one person in charge. If you don't like it, fine, change it via the Board of Regents, the Governor, etc, but the rules were set long before the bonfire accident, so we have to go with them.

Once again, I'd just state, that what is built is NOT the point. The tradition was to demonstrate some unity of effort in a football game, that's it. Bonfire, yell practice, whatever, NOT important. The thing has become more important than the ideal, and THAT is a problem.

I wish we agreed, but we don't, but that really doesn't matter. We do need to set examples as former students, that we don't run universities (or countries) by opinion polls. If we did, we'd all be in a world of hurt. Popularity of an idea doesn't make it right. I KNOW we've all been down that road before.

I agree with you EMSmith on your points (although not on your views of bonfire). My statement, "...so the lesser percentage should unify with the greater percentage to continue the tradition...", was facetious, stated to counter the unreasonable arguement of the previous post regarding "not fighting against fellow Ags..." because it "divide[s] us internally."

This statement was not reasonable because there are at least two different views here, and while red-ag has the right to his/her opinion, I have the right to mine. The post inferred that as an Aggie, I (and the people who share my views), should not express them because my views only divide us internally. In any situation where views differ, people will be divided. But that is more of a debate than a fight, and that is what this forum is here for.

Farmers Fight!

-Will D., '92

[This message has been edited by WillD (edited 2/12/2002).]

Even our family is divided on this issue. My father in law and my husband feel that the students should rise to the occassion and build another fire. They agree it should probably be off campus,we all agree no one in their right mind would cover it from a liability standpoint.They are steadfast in those views but now realize that a renegade fire as a tribute to the deceased students is in actuality a memorial to the very thing that took their lives. They
backstep and say it is not for the fallen but to hold dear the comraderie that was forged through building Bonfire.If a handful of students can pull off RW&B out in a matter of weeks, don't tell me Aggies can't come up with another tradition to build the same comraderie and unity. It is time to take off the blinders and move FORWARD before the class of '03 graduates. Their class lost so many students and nothing has been done to give them a purpose. They are still wandering through the haze of November 1999.