I have an honest question for the ASB leadership and anyone else who'd like to weigh in...do you consider Student Bonfire to be THE Bonfire? From looking at the ASB website, it seems that you do, but I am wondering what's to stop another group of students (for example, the Corps or a bunch of frats) from starting up their own off-campus bonfire and also calling it Bonfire.

I'm not asking the question to be disrespectful in any way, I am just wondering what makes this particular bonfire the rightful heir to the Bonfire tradition. Was ASB founded by dead Redpots or some other group?

Again, honest question--I don't know much about ASB other than what I have read on the website and in the paper so would be interested to hear what everyone has to say on the matter. Thanks!

Every dorm and outfit that continued to pass down leadership positions has fallen in line under ASB.

I think that gives them the mantle of authority.

Some that stopped passdowns also picked back up under SB.

Wow...so what percentage of the dorms and outfits are now doing that?

as far as dorms and other participants, all chiefs chairs and other leadership has been and continues contact with pre-99 equivelants to thier position... ie greys-reds, browns-browns, chiefs-chiefs.

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Wow...so what percentage of the dorms and outfits are now doing that?

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If I counted correctly, there are 8 Yellow Pots this year.

Which other one would you select?

Just my 2 cents. To answer your question no it is not THE Bonfire. Student Bonfire is NOT the FIGHTIN TEXAS AGGIE BONFIRE. The honor of that designation belongs to the fire that, hopefully, will one day be burned back on campus in the near future. Now this takes nothing away from the awesome job that the guys have done. From the 1st days of "the unity project" to attempts to take over the student senate. This organization has done what it has set out to do, Keep the tradition and memory of Bonfire alive. The leaders are not the Red Pots. They are the men and women who eventually be the red pots when Bonfire returns to campus. This is basically like preperation for when it can truly be called FTA Bonfire. Participants are not just learning how to build but they are learning how to lead, organize, fundraise, and maintain a leadership infrastructure that will be able to transition from off to On campus almost seemlessly. So although you may not be building the "true" Fightin Texas Aggie Bonfire, take pride in the fact thatyou are keeping the fire burning and keeping the tradition alive. again just my 2 cents.

Actually, what could be more representative of the spirit of Aggie Bonfire than working against all odds and "the 800 pound gorilla in the room" and still getting it done - and to this point, getting it done much safer than it ever was on campus?

It didn't start on campus, nor did it start with the approval of anyone on campus.

Also now, with the success and safety that SB has had, many will continue to support THIS as Aggie Bonfire if the administration tries to reinstate it on campus in a "Bowenfire" fashion.

just my $.02, but the things this current group of Ags are accomplishing exceed even the dedication of prior generations. To keep Bonfire not only burning, but growing, in the current political environment and without the support of Administration is nothing short of incredible. I used to think Ol'Army was dead, but it is very much alive in these current Aggies. Just amazing!

As an Ag who never got to work on pre-99 Bonfire, Aggie Student Bonfire is the only Bonfire I know and therefore the only Bonfire there is to me.

I would have given anything to work on Bonfire my senior year in highschool but we never made time because, after all, it will be there when I am a freshman. As we all know, I was mistaken.



[This message has been edited by slim-jim (edited 11/16/2005 7:22a).]

IMHO, the only thing that keeps us from being "The" FTA Bonfire is adminstration approval and the benefits that are reaped by such.

I think it is more appropriate to say that we are THE Fightin' Texas Aggie Student Bonfire. We're are the FTA Bonfire for the students... look at how Slim said it.

The same heart and sweat and tears are poured into it. When you get down to the meaning of the organization, it's one in the same. THe "the" is lost in the details if you look at it in any other perspective.

I have answered this question for the past 4 years and have come to the conclusion that you have just got to see it for yourself.

Former Redpot Bruce U. was a skeptic for many years until he came out in '04 and his feelings changed. I'll never forget when he said, "Man, this even SMELLS like Bonfire!" I couldn't agree more.

For those of you who got to experience on-campus Bonfire(s), I challenge you to come out to Aggie Student Bonfire and see for yourself. There is nothing like it in the entire world, and that makes it Bonfire.

For those of you who never got to see an on-campus build or burn, take our word for it. It's just like pre-'99, only safer and off-campus.

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

I have said it a thousand times, and will say it again. What these kids have done is way, way harder than what we did back in the day.

Shoot, all we had to do is show up and build it. They've had to start the whole thing from scratch, in the face of stiff opposition and many obstacles, from funding to logisitcs to burn location to many other things I don't even pretend to know about.

This isn't just a bonfire. It's BONFIRE...hell, it's BONFIRE SQUARED.

That is all.

Bruce is obviously a much better expert on Bonfire than probably anybody on this forum, and yeah...it's the smell that gets you.

Bruce is a tool.

Who decides what is THE Bonfire? I would say the students do. The admin certainly shouldn't, try as they might.

As a former student, former (pre-99) crew chief and current random message board lurker, I throw my hat in on the side of this being THE Bonfire. Of course, I think it is an improved version of it. Like barney said, this is a much more difficult task than any Bonfire we ever built.

Barney, can I use this as part of my signature?

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This isn't just a bonfire. It's BONFIRE...hell, it's BONFIRE SQUARED.

That is all.

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a bunch of frats

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Ha, ha, ha. That's a good one.

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all chiefs chairs and other leadership has been and continues contact with pre-99 equivelants to thier position... ie greys-reds, browns-browns, chiefs-chiefs.

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Are you sure about that?

Knock yourself out, NSG.

You can pay the copyright fee when I come to stack tonight or tomorrow. My fee is a warm Schaefer or the cash equivalent, which is about 3 and a half cents.

hah!

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but I am wondering what's to stop another group of students (for example, the Corps or a bunch of frats) from starting up their own off-campus bonfire and also calling it Bonfire.

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This question was settled in '02.

I know that my son and I almost drove over for Bonfire in 98 and then decided to wait till 99 to share HIS Bonfire with me. I know that as he worked at cut and stack in 99 and I got almost daily phone calls and e-mails filled with the excitement of Bonfire. The night they painted their pots, the splinters in the shoulders from _ing longs, the oh so dirty clothes that were not be be touched--the no shirt all night at stack, and then the frantic call just short of three in the morning. I know we shared instead tears, long sad walks around a wall of flowers and poems, a vigil in Austin, the vigil and the cloacked drums of the march over to Kyle for burn, Jamar Toombs leading the team to hug the injured workers at yell, the dipped flags of the longhorn band, and those maroon and white ribbens on so many around the state.

There was so much hurt. Somehow, although he never worked on the later Unity Fire, that first trip, that first lighting of just a pile of wood, was a major, major healing process for both of us--him more than me.

We were at the next two together also, and I have seen the project grow each year.

The original Bonfire changed--the stacks of my days in the early 70's were not at all like the wedding cake. My dad's Bonfire in the 30's was more of a single layer teepee.

Locations changed also. As did who worked on it. IN my day there was no way any of the few women on campus would have been allowed past the perimeter guards.

Yes, Virginia, this IS the REAL AGGIE BONFIRE. It is as beautiful and filled with spirit as ever. It is different but oh so beautiful.

Yes, everyone hopes that someday this will return to Campus, but a return to Campus is not the only way.

Barney is right. It is Bonfire to the nth degree.

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This question was settled in '02.

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How? If I knew what you were talking about I would not have asked the question in the first place.

Paladin,

In the Fall of 2000 and 2001, various groups had their own small bonfires, but nothing that brought together any number of dorms, outfits, or people. Hotard built a big one, but it really didn't involve many people outside of the dorm.

The night in 2001 that Bowen announced that there would not be a Bonfire in '02, there was a meeting out at Reed Arena for those who cared to build a Bonfire. Meetings started in the Spring and during Spring Break '02, the group went to some private land and built a scale model bonfire, wired it, and took pictures for our publicity. We even met with a man who had a great presentation about laying the logs on their sides and building up in that way.

Meetings continued and we learned of a group of Dorm leaders who were also interested in building an off-campus Bonfire. We met with them, split up responsibilities, found land, and organized a cut-class. You see, we had to have a Bonfire in 2002, or the class of 2003 (the last class with Bonfire experiecne) would graduate with no successors who knew how to build.

Through some act of God, it got built, we re-learned how to build Bonfire, and it was amazing. I saw grown men cry, former Redpots offer us their pots, and Aggies of all ages replace some hard memories of '99 with great ones of '02. It has grown every year since and this year promises to be the biggest.

You see, every dorm, frat, team, crew, outfit, apartment complex, etc. had the opportunity to start and build their own bonfires. Only when we all came together and worked in a unified fashion did we really build Bonfire. Short of an assembly of former-Redpot grad students, I can't think of anyone now who is more qualified, seasoned, experienced, and driven to build The Bonfire than the leadership of Aggie Student Bonfire.

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

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all chiefs chairs and other leadership has been and continues contact with pre-99 equivelants to thier position... ie greys-reds, browns-browns, chiefs-chiefs.
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Are you sure about that?

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For the most part yes. In fact, I can't think of anyone in a leadership position that hasn't talked to pre '99 leadership from their group, but there may be a couple. I mean, how are we even supposed to know what color pots we're supposed to have without consulting someone?

That's good stuff, thanks for the history lesson...I was out of the country for most of 2002 so missed a lot of that stuff.

I was struck by something someone said earlier about ASB having the look, smell, feel, etc. of Bonfire. I am guessing that the university won't let the Aggie Band, Yell Leaders, Coach Fran, etc. participate in any official capacity, so I am curious about how you have adapted the ceremony in their absence. Bonfire was always the biggest, baddest yell practice of them all...what's the story these days?

This year, there is an 11th hour effort to get a Former BQ band. There is a speaker lined up, but that is going to be a surprise this year for those that attend.

Last year, there were a few former Yell Leaders at the Bonfire and they lead yells. The year before, there were a few football players in attendance. In '02 I was too busy leading yells, messing up the War Hymn, and walking around Bonfire to know who was there.

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

As far as the question of contact with pre-99 leadership from the various groups, here's the best knowledge I have after spending most of the last two years speaking with members of it all:

Walton and Moses have uninterrupted lines, and their original pots. Crocker is in the process of tracking down and retrieving their original pots if possible, and finally re-established the T, M and C lines this year. Moore Hall I have no knowledge of. Hotard's pots were burned by their leadership in '04, as the dorm has been closed down. Shuhmacher is attempting to get their leadership re-established, cut under Moses this year, and had several of their old men out to Cut this fall. OCA has direct contact with multiple dead Yellowpots that have been both visible and working this fall, especially Cokeman. FHK got lines going again in the last couple of years, but I don't have any knowledge of their contact with pre-Stack99 leadership. Dunn's Yellowpot was passed this year to Jake, and several Corps outfits have shown up (and the Corps is notorious for have contacts with former members of their outfits) with Buttpots. Hart additionally has their pots and all their lines going again. McInnis has been cutting under Crocker in an effort similar to Shuhmacher to get a Yellowpot line going again.

The Browns were passed to from the Misery line via Hans '96 who has provided both positive comments and support, along with his experiences on Bonfire the four years he participated. Additionally, other old Browns were out and about this year observing things and shared both their approval and advice while they were out with us.

Every major non-reg on-campus participant in old Bonfire has lines passed from their old leadership, and the ones without Yellows have either made contact or plan to contact their old leadership. OCA, the Off-Campus reps have passed lines and direct contact with their old Yellows (I think Cokeman is what, '92?). The only major group that participated in pre-99 that doesn't currently is the larger portion of the Corps of Cadets. Some outfits, both CT and BQ have been out, and participation has increased yearly from the Corps.

So my question is this: who else would build Bonfire? Who is left? Frats and sororities? The larger portion of off-campus Aggies that don't participate in much as it is? Who's organized enough to do it? The lines and the pots are where they are, and nothing's changing that anytime soon.

for what it's worth, we (fhk) have been talking to deads since '03 and have been slowly but surely starting back up some onle fhk traditions that died out. our lines were uninterrupted in the regard that we have not had a year without fhk leadership positions, however, the lines have been in a different capacity since '00. the lines on the current pots begin with the class of '04 ('01 being their crew chief year).

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The only major group that participated in pre-99 that doesn't currently is the larger portion of the Corps of Cadets.

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I think Keegan would disagree with you.

Not really. CT numbers are still way down from what they were in '99 earlier.

As a former ct mom, I can say that the Corps has made it difficult but not impossible to participate--largely by scheduling other corps activities to conflict with Bonfire activities. In spite of that some outfits still have a pretty good participation program, some don't.

Last year they had to run early busses back from burn because of an early curfew for the corps--I think the brass had it a restricted weekend--prehaps it was corps brass weekend, but I don't remember for sure.

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...OCA has direct contact with multiple dead Yellowpots that have been both visible and working this fall, especially Cokeman....

...OCA, the Off-Campus reps have passed lines and direct contact with their old Yellows (I think Cokeman is what, '92?)....

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Cokeman is class of '92 and was OCA YP for Bonfire '91. I am class of '93 was OCA YP for Bonfire '90.

We have been in contact with the new crop of Hogs, but have not yet passed our line. Considering how late in the game we got involved last year, and given communication delays with getting in touch with all the other guys in our line who we are still able to reach, it was decided amongst all the deads to become more involved this year in an observational role before making a decision in regards to passing down our line. Both Cokeman and I have been out there quite a bit this year, Cokeman more than me for those keeping an eye on the time clock (cha-ching!), and are acting as the eyes and ears for the rest of the old OCA deads, with the agreement having been made between the deads and the new kids that we would make a decision regarding passing after work on this year's fire is done. So while we are out there, and have been extremely impressed with the work the crew as a whole has been doing, we have not yet passed our line.

Just wanted to make that clear.

DYG
http://hogs.tamu.edu

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So while we are out there, and have been extremely impressed with the work the crew as a whole has been doing, we have not yet passed our line.

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Damn straight. We're doing our work and Walton's too.

Hope to meet you at burn, olyeller. I'll be one of the '02 guys running around with Disney and the other new OC Hogs.

Daniel Eggert II '02
http://oc.studentbonfire.com