So I left a little letter on Dr. Gates door after a night of putting up flyers. It was a polite letter thanking him for his service to A&M and explaining a bit about ASB from my perspective. Yesterday I recieved the following e-mail in response. I don't know how he found that e-mail address...


Thank you for your note relating to the off-campus Bonfire.

For what it is worth, I do not consider you or your
colleagues "rebels or renegades". I believe you are exactly what you say - dedicated, devoted students who treasure the traditions of this great university
and do not want to see them disappear. It is a
sentiment I share.

Your activities have not "generated some ire" on my
part, though I continue to worry about the safety of those who participate despite the safety training you require.

While the Texas Attorney General's office has
insisted that I make no decisions about the future of Bonfire while the litigation continues, I look forward to a dialogue with and among the entire university community about the future once I am free to act.


RGates

That's why I don't understand the ire towards prexy among current students.

Dr. Gates is a sharp guy, loves everything about A&M, and wants what's best for the school and students.

I suspect any ire toward Prexy among the current student population relates to the fact that you can't expect 5 blind guys to describe an elephant the same way, and they will occassionally argue over who is right.

_________________________________________________________
The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the State. --Tacitus

quote:

---

Yesterday I recieved the following e-mail in response. I don't know how he found that e-mail address...

---

You are aware that he was Director of the CIA, aren't you? He could probably tell you what color underwear you are wearing right now.

The Govenor has yet to reply to my message to him about pardoning the Greypots. Time will tell.

Good bull, leaving a letter to Dr. Gates. He is a very sharp man and I hope that when discussions begin regarding on-campus Bonfire, he heavily involves ASB people.

Can you imagine the headlines in 2009:
Texas A&M Contracts with ASB to build on-campus Bonfire.
Group to get $65,000 to build stack on West Campus.

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

That is good bull and about as much of an outright endorsement of ASB that he can give.


And I do believe he could know if your are really redass, or wear boxers or briefs....

Gates is a very sharp guy. I've heard him speak on two occassions.

On the first, he came here to lobby the legislature. He was on the same stage with Faulkner, and the difference in stature between the two men was embarassing to the 'sips in the room.

On the second, he came here to give a speech at the Headliner's Club. The topic was national security. Let me give you some personal advice. If you want to sleep soundly at night, do not ask Gates for his specific opinions on terrorism and national security.

_________________________________________________________
The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the State. --Tacitus

It is a shame that a leader like Gates isn't free to act. We are very lucky to have him as president.

We need to be ready for the "dialoge" whenever the time comes. Me thinks ASB people should join BCS to shift its focus before it is time for the dialoge.

Most importantly we need to do this safely, and always be aware of it. It is easy for ego's to get big, and kids to think they are immune from danger. We can't let that happen. Safety first at Aggie Bonfire.

In my reply back I thanked him for capitalizing Bonfire. This note was a very nice suprise, extremely encouraging.

During my tenure with BC we had several meetings with Dr. Gates. Believe me, he knows the value of the Bonfire tradition to this university. I won't say this with absolute certainty, but instead it's something I believe: If the state's lawyers had not stepped in at the last second, the Bonfire question would have been resolved several years ago and I think you'd be pleased with the result.

(In the future, you might be careful about posting the text of emails from the president when he hasn't specifically authorized you to do so. However, I'm sure he knew his response would be circulated.)

As for the attitude of others down the chain of command, remember that there are still holdovers from an era when some in the administration believed students would never respond positivly to any kind of university guidance regarding Bonfire.



[This message has been edited by DualAG (edited 11/29/2005 6:30p).]

I asked his permission if he would mind if I shared his comments. He said "no problem."

Most admins would have said nothing, this man has courage. I can't wait for the day for him to be at Burn.

what is 'prexy'?

I think it's an old nickname for the university president.

He was my favorite candidate for president when we were looking to fill the job and he continues to show why I liked him for the job. He has the proper perspective to do what is right for the University without having his vision clouded but that is tempered by the knowledge of what traditions mean to this university and its students.