Depending on what the forrest drought #'s are for the county, and if they they fall into the STATE burn ban regs, the judge might not really have any authority over the issue anyway! They might have to petition the State.

hahahah gorilla style bonfire, hahaha the imagery. guerilla? I'm sorry man, that made my day, I'm not ragging on you.

Anyway, maybe the judge is really a redass Ag who wants this to rally together the spirit of Bonfire amongst the current student population AND to get more of the young people in the area to VOTE. He's really a hero. I bet none of you thought of it THAT way.#$!@

If you read the first 6+ pages of the link I posted regarding the requirements for the permit, the purpose of the permit application is to have each of the agencies you mentioned (fire, sheriff, etc.) review the proposed plans and give feedback. When you apply 45 days before your event, each agency that might have an interest in the event is given copies of your plans. A meeting is then scheduled to review the plans with all interested parties present no less than 10 days prior to the event.

They shouldn't have to have sit-down planning meetings with every Tom, Dick, and Harry of Brazos County. They draw up their plans and then submit them for approval. If the plans are done correctly, there shouldn't be any loopholes for the different agencies to dispute.

However, I am a realist and know that if some no-name doosh can feel a little more powerful by being THE GUY that stopped Bonfire, they're probably going to jump at the opportunity. So although it wasn't REQUIRED to have these pre-planning meetings, they would probably have been a good idea to try to appease all the guys with LMS.

With the vast resources of the Aggie Network, if there was a focused effort, I believe that acceptable plans could be made for crowd control, traffic control, fire, etc. It would just be a matter of getting stuff done instead of talking about it. I know the students that work on SB are very passionate, so I know they're not just throwing in the towel.

I'm going to be very disappointed if I don't get to see bonfire my senior year.

ttt

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I'm going to be very disappointed if I don't get to see bonfire my senior year.

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Imagine how the Class of 2000 felt.

Did they ever catch the folks who lit the stack last year?

You guys forget that there are a LOT of people that don't want to see any bonfire burn, and I'm talking about current students. No one wants to see what happened in 99 happen again, and if someone is determined to stop bonfire, it's not because they're a ******bag, it's because they don't want to see students die. The judge isn't just out to get SB, he's trying to keep people safe and alive. That's not a bad thing.

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wow.............

wow. New army.

The new SB design is safe, has been designed by and Aggie engineer with a P.E., and has been signed off by him. It is built to his specs every year.

The Texas Constitution

Article 1 - BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 27 - RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY; PETITION FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES

The citizens shall have the right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good; and apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances or other purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/txconst/articles/cn000100.html

Discuss amongst yourselves . . .


---------------

Remember them . . .
www.FallenAggies.org

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Section 27 - RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY; PETITION FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES

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While both the Texas and federal constitutions guarentee the right of assembly, there is a long history of requiring parade permits, agreements to insure security and fire protection, and other restrictions that the courts have upheld in order to insure public safety.

It sounds to me like the judge may indeed be using power that is legitimately within his purview to strike down an off-campus bonfire that is genuinely opposed by a large segment of those who elect him.

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You guys forget that there are a LOT of people that don't want to see any bonfire burn, and I'm talking about current students. No one wants to see what happened in 99 happen again, and if someone is determined to stop bonfire, it's not because they're a ******bag, it's because they don't want to see students die. The judge isn't just out to get SB, he's trying to keep people safe and alive. That's not a bad thing.

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Bonfire killled 12 students in 1999 because it was built with hand-me-down engineering that had no professional supervision, in fact, not even a set of blueprints.

I happen to know, from diligent investigation, that the organizers of Student Bonfire have built their structure in concert with a professional engineer, who is often on site providing supervision. The have cracked down on horseplay, hazing, and absolutely prohibited alcohol.

In short, they have eliminated the most obvious dangers.

Nevertheless, the perception remains among many that the students we carrying an adolescent, bullet-proof mentality into building a dangerous project.

When the country judge saw an opportunity to shut down a project that many, of not most of his voting voting constituents opposed, he jumped at it.

Unfortunately, Student Bonfire has never been skilled in public relations. There has long been a bunker mentality among those who built Bonfire. From the days of battling the biology professor on campus, to today's scraps with country government, there has been a sense that "they're against us."

That, plus inexperience in the ways of the political world, led to this end.

Student Bonfire, as built recently, was safe. The organizers never effectively got that point across.

I was fortunate enough to attend the last two Bonfires' in '97 and '98.

I've never gone to the off-campus one since I have been here. I didn't want to. I didn't want my memories of Bonfire...on campus with students, alums, AND the football team...to be cheapened. Maybe that's a bit harsh...but that's how I feel about it.

I was disgusted at the opening ceremony for the Memorial...when our idiot of a Governor got up there in front of those families and talked about Bonfire coming back when the lawsuits hadn't even been settled yet.

I would love nothing more than for it to return to campus. But I just don't see that happening...at least not right now.

quote:

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You guys forget that there are a LOT of people that don't want to see any bonfire burn, and I'm talking about current students. No one wants to see what happened in 99 happen again, and if someone is determined to stop bonfire, it's not because they're a ******bag, it's because they don't want to see students die. The judge isn't just out to get SB, he's trying to keep people safe and alive. That's not a bad thing.

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Yes, because over the last few years we have had major life threatening accidents.....oh wait nevermind no we havent.


I think alot of yall missed the point of what bonfire was and still is. Its not about a fire burning, its not about burn night. Its a statement about aggie tradition, about unity, about spirit. Its sad that some of you were never taught and now try to preach sermons.


Yes i am class of '08. My mother was 79, my cousins were 94 and 98. I saw the last fire on duncan, i saw the last on campus fire. I could say gig'em before i could say mama. Dont insult me with the new army jabs, they dont work. I have pictures and memories of this campus before alot of ags ten years my senior ever set foot on this campus. It's not a claim im better than anyone, but i dont want to hear the "you dont know what your talking about new army" speaches again.

____________________________________________________________
Proudest member of the Fightin Texas Aggie class of 08 Beat the h*** outa tu A-A-A Whoop!!!. May bonfire forever burn in our hearts.....and may the Twelfth Man ever burn it in memory and in hope for the future.

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I've never gone to the off-campus one since I have been here. I didn't want to. I didn't want my memories of Bonfire...on campus with students, alums, AND the football team...to be cheapened.

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I understand what you're saying. But to a certain extent, the builders of Student Bonfire improved on certain things that went on when the fire burned on campus.

• They hired a professional engineer and built their stack to his specifications. That, to me, is what an engineering school like Texas A&M is all about -- doing things right.
  
  
• Despite all of the anti-drinking campaigns that went on in the 1990s, the Student Bonfire folks finally eliminated alcohol from the event. I took my family last year and did not see one container of alcohol, nor one instance of rowdy behavior. If anybody snuck a bottle in a sack, it was well hidden.

So, while I agree it's not the same if the band and the football team aren't in attendance, give the students credit for doing some things better than in the days when it was an approved, on-campus tradition.

[This message has been edited by DualAG (edited 9/13/2006 5:01p).]

I'd rather die building bonfire than live in a world where there isn't one. New Army can go to hell.

I'd rather nobody die, or get seriously injured, and still have a Bonfire. I believe that can be done. I believe it has been done in the past few years, but the general public doesn't appreciate all of the improved safety measures.

It's not about some mythical "new army."

Many reasonable people still believe it's a dangerous project built by a group of devil-may-care post-adolesents. Saying your'd rather die building one doesn't help one bit.

That sucks. I really like Bonfire.

"BURNT ORANGE: THE SCHOOL PAYS OFF OUR LAWYERS FOR $1, FREE TICKETS, AND I SLEEP WITH T-SHIRT SIP DYLAN MACKAY!"

to hell with the university administration and all the new army 2%ers. Just have bonfire off campus and be done with it. university administrators and new army dont have the cahones nor the wherewith all to support a tradition that still belongs on campus.

Cypress - Area Bonfire! Any Ags who want to come to my parents place are welcome!

Ireally like this Idea...

A Bonfire Muster for each local club until the Return...

Of course, I'll be on my honeymoon!

I would think you could easily keep this in an appeal for long enough to get it finished. then you could get a jump start on next year. A good lawyer could lengthen out an appeal so bonfire went off before it could be stopped...

ttt

You're right, obviously if there have't been any accidents in the past two years there NEVER EVER will be. ever.

You can talk all you want about the no-alcohol policy but I know for a fact that's a load of crap. I've been out to SB build and burn, and I've seen a ot of accidents waiting to happen.

I want Bonfire back just as much as anyone, but I'm not so rabidly obsessed with bringing it back that I'm going to ignore the risks and dangers.

do you have any examples stacy or just generalisations?

Yes, please support that statement. If you have valid data, SB will take it very serious.

I don't know what it was like back in the day... but the guys in my hall that were involved in bonfire are not doing the tradition justice. Constantly teetering on the edge of failing out, destroying the hall and disrespecting the custodial staff.

There need to be some real leaders that will make freshmen want to be involved. In its current condition (in my experience) Student Bonfire is not very positive.

That isn't to say that it was never good, or it couldn't be a positive thing in the future, but right now it is hard for people without rose colored glasses to see the good.

I would love to see what bonfire was really about in the past, because I refuse to believe that this thing that I've seen for the past two years is the same thing that so many people have raved about for so long.

I would love to see student bonfire reach the levels that oncampus bonfire did, but I don't know that it can happen without some serious attitude changes.

sorry, dbl post

[This message has been edited by TMoney2007 (edited 9/13/2006 10:21p).]

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Stacy You can talk all you want about the no-alcohol policy but I know for a fact that's a load of crap. I've been out to SB build and burn, and I've seen a ot of accidents waiting to happen.

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For the record, I was talking about burn night. I saw absolutely no alcohol, quite a change from the days of old when some families were treated to the sight of a drunken 18-year old female student being put in an ambulance with her shirt soaked in vomit.

If you have any evidence of alcohol or other rule breaking at cut, why don't you give SB's management a chance to root out the offenders.

Isn't there something in the Aggie Code of Honor about "not tolerating those who do"?

Don't keep this to yourself.

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I want Bonfire back just as much as anyone, but I'm not so rabidly obsessed with bringing it back that I'm going to ignore the risks and dangers.

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Well, I suppose you can be part of the problem or part of the solution. Right now, by refusing to admit that things can change, but instead posting unsubstiantiated allegations on the Internet, you're part of the problem.

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TMoney I would love to see what bonfire was really about in the past, because I refuse to believe that this thing that I've seen for the past two years is the same thing that so many people have raved about for so long.

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Well, my friend, have you ever thought about doing anything about it? Have you considered giving a hand to SB, or if you don't get along with that crowd, instead devoting some time to BCS?

No, what's happened in the last two years isn't anything like before. There's no band, no yell leaders, no head coach, no football team. However, one of the SB folks was trying to put together an alumni band a while back.

Do you suppose you could help?

[This message has been edited by DualAG (edited 9/14/2006 3:10a).]

yall just didnt follow the rules, period.

i dont see why yall are angry.

i would love to see it burn, but the judge made the right decision.

as has been said, all ags in the county need to vote.

we all make an effort to vote and it has proven TEXAS A&M victorious in many a poll, why not do the same with this more important issue?

Register and vote the guy out. Take away what is most precious to people like judge sims, "power".

I believe all the people who are just saying that SB did not follow the rules should read Opie03's post towards the bottom of page two. It gives some insight into why the deadline was not met. It is very hard to meet a deadline in Brazos County when you site is not in Brazos County 'til after that deadline.

so are there grounds for a legitimate appeal? can't some good Ag lawyer do this pro-bono?

THANKS Dr Bowen ... more damage to the school than the presidents in the 100 yrs prior



Excellence First ...

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I believe all the people who are just saying that SB did not follow the rules should read Opie03's post towards the bottom of page two. It gives some insight into why the deadline was not met. It is very hard to meet a deadline in Brazos County when you site is not in Brazos County 'til after that deadline.

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Good point. Judge Sims was selective with the facts when he granted the interview to KBTX.

Questions remain:

1. Would it have been prudent for Student Bonfire to sign binding contracts for police and fire protection in Brazos County while they were negotiating to build and burn Bonfire at a non-Brazos site?

2. When the out-of-county site fell through, did sufficient time remain to negotiate and sign those contracts with local agencies?

3. Why a mid-August deadline for a student organization? Local officials who govern college towns become quite adept at such timing. It's not just street repairs that are scheduled when the students go home for the summer.

Did you notice that the newspaper articles about Bryan's new ordinance that allows neighborhoods to exclude more than two unrelated tenants from neighborhood housing began to appear in mid-May of 2005? Much of the public debate occurred over that summer, absent input from the important party that would be targeted.

4. For those of you who write SB off by saying: "They missed a deadline," what is your opinion of Student Bonfire? Are you of a mindset to forever preclude resumption of Bonfire because you believe it can never be built safely?

5. Is our county judge of that mindset, and is he using an arbitrarily established deadline to accomplish a pre-determined agenda?





[This message has been edited by DualAG (edited 9/14/2006 7:40p).]

in reply to dual:

1. the contracts that are required demand a specific loactation and date, therefore cannot be signed without a site to ahve them at.

2. had a site already been located (which was not the case) it would have been very difficult

i will leave the rest to conspiracy theorists and those addressed in the question