November 10, 2002 5:21 PM

Tevya would LOVE this place

I've only lived in Texas for about five and a half years, but one of the first things I learned was the value of tradition. No, not tradition in the sense of "We do it this way because that's what we've always done." No, this is TRADITION- "It's what makes this place what it is." Nowhere is that feeling stronger than at Texas A&M University. Being an Aggie is one of those "if you have to have it explained to you, you'll never understand" scenarios. Since I'm not an Aggie, I won't even bother trying to explain or understand, but I do have a tremendous amount of respect for A&M. For one, it is the exact polar opposite of my own college experience, which was extremely liberal and chemically enhanced. A&M is Conservative, insular, and hide-bound, which in most cases would be a bad thing. The thing I've noticed about Aggies, though, is the bond between them, no matter where they are or how long they've been away. That sense of community and shared experience is almost tangible.

At most schools, if one tradition disappears, most students will simply find another or have another beer. At A&M, the 1999 tragedy that cost them their beloved Bonfire is all the more reason to bring it back. The Administration has balked at the idea of bringing Bonfire back because of safety, cost, and liability issues. Students, though, want none of that. They want Bonfire back, and they are going to great lengths to have it- even if it means doing it off-campus.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- The sounds of buzzing chain saws and toppling trees filled a nearby forest Saturday as Texas A&M University students and alumni worked to revive their bonfire tradition, on hold since a deadly collapse in 1999.

Wearing colored hard hats signifying leadership positions and wielding axes and machetes, the volunteers searched the woods east of College Station for dead elm trees to cut down and eventually burn. They plan to light a 10- to 15-foot-high, off-campus bonfire November 24.

"You can still feel the spirit of bonfire out here. You can smell the dirt on your pants, pick up an ax again. It's an amazing feeling," said Luke Cheatham, spokesman for Unity Project, the group behind the effort....

bonfire.jpg

"Our concerns primarily are one of safety -- safety for our students and for anyone else who might be involved. No university representation will be authorized for any such activity," A&M spokesman Lane Stephenson said.

An investigation blamed generations of administrators and student workers for letting the tradition evolve into a massive, dangerous construction project.

Changes planned for the tradition included the elimination of "cut" -- the gathering of trees by volunteers who sometimes have been injured in the process. But in February, then-A&M President Ray Bowen announced the bonfire would not resume at all because of ballooning costs, legal liability and the lack of a safety consultant.

Robert Gates, A&M's new president, has not indicated whether he will revisit the bonfire issue.

The volunteers say they want to prove that the bonfire can be done safely.

I may not understand or necessarily agree with the determination of Aggies to have their Bonfire. It seems like a hell of a lot of trouble to go through for what is essentially an over-sized weenie roast. I do admire their dedication and desire to restore a cherished tradition. That would seem to be a fitting memorial to those who died in 1999. Besides, what is so wrong with the idea of young people working together towards a common goal? That would seem to be something that society would do well to celebrate and support.

Also...the Aggie football team DID beat Oklahoma yesterday....

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on November 10, 2002 5:21 PM.

Everybody wants to rule the world was the previous entry in this blog.

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