With all the events swirling around A&M football during these past few months (or years, depending how you look at it), there are those looking into the way we as Aggies are versus the way we as Aggies have been in the past.

Our own Louie Bellina (sp) of the M&W report made note that one of the 2 reasons we are the way we are presently is the absence of Bonfire and the culture it brought to our campus.

It should come as no surprise to any of us reading here that the culture on campus has changed and that Bonfire is one of the contributors to where we are.

I guess this doesn't "beg" the question, but I'll ask it anyways. To all of those working tirelessly in efforts to keep the tradition alive, do you feel you should play any role or bear any responsibility to restoring the positive culture or "vibe" that Bonfire brought to campus?

I guess this doesn't "beg" the question, but I'll ask it anyways. To all of those working tirelessly in efforts to keep the tradition alive, do you feel you should play any role or bear any responsibility to restoring the positive culture or "vibe" that Bonfire brought to campus?



To answer your question, I ernestly believe that bringing positive culture to campus is the main reason that we still build today. When you have students that come together and get dirty, scratched up, and tire out together it creates a bond that is indescribable. And all the while this is done because they WANT to be out there without receiving payment. Where else in the free world can you go and see a group of students put 45,000+ man hours into a project and not receive one dime from it, while they make lasting friendships and learn lessons about people skills and working in a dynamic environment. God I love Bonfire!

What is popular is not always right
What is right is not always popular

But what Louie was saying was the the lack of Bonfire is contributing to what we have today, so is ASB really "re-contributing" to all of A&M, or just those who participate?

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so is ASB really "re-contributing" to all of A&M, or just those who participate?

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Was Bonfire, while it was on campus, contributing to all of A&M or only those that chose to participate?

Based on Looch's remarks Bonfire being on campus contributed to the entire culture of A&M. I think many would agree that after the collapse, culture and attitudes on campus were forever changed. And obviously, not everybody on campus participated.

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Based on Looch's remarks Bonfire being on campus contributed to the entire culture of A&M. I think many would agree that after the collapse, culture and attitudes on campus were forever changed. And obviously, not everybody on campus participated

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Before the collapse, Bonfire was a universally accepted thing among everybody. (I'm not talking about pro or against or anything...just that it was accepted as part of our culture). After the collapse, you had strong feelings about it...both ways. Enter SB and how you have people torn on whether to support the university or support Bonfire. You had old bonfire guys who supported it, ones that didn't...you had current students supporting it and ones that didn't. This lead to an overall confusion on what to think for new students.

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This lead to an overall confusion on what to think for new students.

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this statement scares/worries me...

Honestly, I think that it's not as scary as one might think.

1) SB is still recruiting successfully. I know that when I was directly involved in 02-05, there was an increase of participants every year. Maybe someone from SB can confirm if the increase is still ongoing.

2) As time progresses (read: we get farther away from 99), the more accepting people will come. When I say people, I mean the 70k that would watch it, but not participate. As long as A&M keeps putting images of Bonfire in advertising settings, the students won't forget. (Case in point, the Spirit video at the games).

I think that the combination of these things will result in bringing the "spirit" back to campus. Once 20k, 30k start showing up...the snowball will have begun and it will be unstoppable. Regardless of the size of the actual stack, you will start seeing 70k for Burn again...

I think the hardest thing to overcome as far as brining the spirit back to campus is people not being able to see it going up from their dorms, or on their way to class or driving down Texas.

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I think the hardest thing to overcome as far as brining the spirit back to campus is people not being able to see it going up from their dorms, or on their way to class or driving down Texas.

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I agree this is quite likely the largest stumbling block for SB. Unless A&M decides that they would 'hire' a firm (Student Bonfire) to build Bonfire on campus (such as suggested by Bowen), I doubt that it will be back on campus.

I think that SB, given a few more years, will have the assets and momentum to get a dedicated burn site and begin to build up a tradition of burn night that is the same for each person, each year....

Two points here

1. People have been talking about how much better A&M was "back in the day" for a century now. Saying things were more redass in YOUR time than how it is currently is a tradition. Things weren't as great "back then" as people say nor are they as bad now as people say.

2. People GROSSLY overestimate the effect Bonfire had when it was on campus. The number of people that worked on it was a minuscule percentage of the student body and the people that worked on it regularly were an even smaller slice of that - and largely this group was shunned by the student body at large.

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Harry Potter just like the Smurfs and many other things are simply witchcraft made G Rated on the outside but underlying it is still witchcraft and is against the will of God.

Yes, that's a real quote. No, I didn't say it.

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and largely this group was shunned by the student body at large.

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That, my friend... is Bull Sh*t.... and you KNOW it.

As Jim implied, there may be a time when the court cases are settled and the student body is able to request the return of Bonfire to campus. When that time comes, the administration will need a viable contractor with experience and a proven track record to have build Bonfire; and Student Bonfire will be there.

SB has an assembly of proven leaders, strong management, a compitent and seasoned board of directors, and 1,000+ trained student (and former student) workers/volunteers; not to mention the design, equipment, and process(es) required to build Bonfire. In it's 6 year existance, SB has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of Bonfire and continues to break previous years' fund raising goals every year.

In short, SB is the most capeable entity out there when it comes to doing what they do. This proficiency is validated and reinforced every year.

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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

i heard that the cases and litigations were wrapped up about a month ago.

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That, my friend... is Bull Sh*t.... and you KNOW it.

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Obviously I don't know it or I wouldn't have said it. You really don't think the hardcore Bonfire guys weren't looked down upon by a huge chunk of the student body?

If that's the case we had different experiences while at A&M.

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In short, SB is the most capeable entity out there when it comes to doing what they do. This proficiency is validated and reinforced every year.

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No matter how well the construction is run if things like what happened at burn last year with the browns happen again there's no way in hell the school will let SB anywhere near campus in any capacity.

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Harry Potter just like the Smurfs and many other things are simply witchcraft made G Rated on the outside but underlying it is still witchcraft and is against the will of God.

Yes, that's a real quote. No, I didn't say it.



[This message has been edited by NoACDamnit (edited 10/3/2007 5:49p).]

That, my friend... is Bull Sh*t.... and you KNOW it.
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Obviously I don't know it or I wouldn't have said it. You really don't think the hardcore Bonfire guys weren't looked down upon by a huge chunk of the student body?

If that's the case we had different experiences while at A&M.

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I'd have to call Bull$h!t too. I was not as involved in Bonfire as I would have like to be, but I did participate a CUT one time...and I loved it! I respect those who made the time to be a part of BONFIRE and I never got the feeling that other students (with a few radical exceptions) ever looked down on the 'hardcore' students. Sometimes I thought they were a bit over the top, but I never looked down on them for that.

I don't know if looked down on is the term, but definitely looked at in a different light.

My observations were that Bonfire provided a different experience for different people. Those that worked on it had a vastly different perspective/experience than those that just wanted to watch it burn. Neither one is right or wrong, but there was a marked difference.

Scott Coker '92

see terry? this thread didn't go nuts on you after all

We were looked at in a different light, but we liked and encouraged that perception. We burned Bonfire so we could build it again the next year not for any desire to win a football game. Although we wanted to win that too.

opie03, have you gotten anyone to seriously do PR or Marketing yet? I think it could really help out public perception of your organization. I have a little experience in the field, and although I live in Houston, I might be able to help out a little.

TxElsie, send an e-mail to info@studentbonfire.com and detail how you can help out. For personal reasons I have been less involved with this years Bonfire and can't say that I know the intracacies of the marketing plan.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.