...as far as the potential return of Bonfire goes?

From what I've heard from Lew and Chris, Gates was in favor of bringing Bonfire back to campus. If the lawsuit hadn't outlasted his entire presidency, he probably would have.

Gate was indeed as open-minded on Bonfire as is/was possible with litigation continuing...

I agree with the above post...

Dr. Gates understood why Bonfire was unique and the reason behind it..much like he understood the need to stay true to Aggie Traditions while moving A&M forward.

He is a good man and I know he will be missed by most of us who are Pro-Bonfire.

I hope that the next President of Texas A&M will be a willing to listen and as open-mided.

Dr. Gates was determined to make a decision on the resumption of Bonfire during his first year in office. I briefed him regarding Bonfire Coaliton's research on other university bonfires.

A couple of days after the briefing, lawyers for the Texas A&M System and the State of Texas sat down with him. Shortly thereafter, he announced that no decision would be made until termination of litigation.

Dr. Gates never committed to bringing the tradition back, but he did want to make a decision. He did lift prohibitions on the sale of Bonfire goods at the Aggie Mom's clubs, and one year later, in commercial stores.

Now we're back to square one. Although Bonfire wasn't coming back anytime soon, prospects now look dimmer than ever.

[This message has been edited by DualAG (edited 11/8/2006 1:54p).]

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Although Bonfire wasn't coming back anytime soon, prospects now look dimmer than ever.

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I'm not sure I agree with this.

Perry wants it back, and the Regents are all his appointees.

Well, I hope you're right.

Perry says he wants it back, but I've seen him expend no political capital to get it done. Yes, I understand the problems with litigation.

Perry is a politician and a Texan. His lips are moving.

[This message has been edited by DualAG (edited 11/8/2006 2:39p).]

It depends on the next president. I think Gates would have brought it back after a lot of soul searching and discussion amoung the Aggie family. Last year I left a letter at his door, he found my e-mail address (not my A&M e-mail) and wrote me back with this reply.

Mr. Weil,



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 tone and what he said in the last paragraph makes me think he would have done Bonfire proud.

Expending political capital to address or expedite the litigation would not be perceived by outsiders as anything by good ol' boy politics to save TAMU's ass. He has to be hands off until the courts settle it.

It totally depends on who the next president is. The next president may not care about Bonfire at all, or worse may not be as hands- off about ASB.

The President doesn't operate free of oversight.

The Regents and, by extension, the Governor are in charge.

Gates talked to our organization last week and the question of Bonfire came up. He basically told us would you rather have the memory of what it was live on or would you want a company to come in and build it that was not legally allowed to let any aggie work on it. All in all, he sounded like he was sure it wasnt going to come back

Who cares? Keep building it OC.

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would you want a company to come in and build it that was not legally allowed to let any aggie work on it.

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am I the only one that would be redass enough to run the construction employees off and borrow their equipment if this should occur?

...because it seems like it would go much smoother as an Aggie Family.

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He basically told us would you rather have the memory of what it was live on or would you want a company to come in and build it that was not legally allowed to let any aggie work on it. All in all, he sounded like he was sure it wasnt going to come back.

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That sounds like an indemnification issue.

One of the biggest hurdles to be overcome in brining Bonfire back to campus will be finding an insurance policy the university can afford.

The only/best way I see Aggie Bonfire returning to campus is if A&M rents an on campus field to Student Bonfire Inc.