Bonfire Coalition schools the Class of 2008

By: Erin Price

Posted: 6/8/04

Rachel Wright was in the eighth grade when Bonfire collapsed on Nov. 18, 1999 and barely remembers hearing about it on the news. She said she had no idea what Bonfire was really about, but now that she has a brand new outlook on the Aggie Spirit.

Wright, an incoming freshman biomedical sciences major, was one of the many new students who stopped at a table set up by the Bonfire Coalition for Students at her New Student Conference this summer.

Roger Abshire, BCS president and senior political science major, said many new students, like Wright, do not know what Bonfire is really about and that he hopes to educate them on the tradition.

BCS is a University recognized organization whose goals include exemplifying the Bonfire spirit and ensuring that safety is the primary concern of all Aggies with regard to the return of Bonfire, according to the organization.

"We want the new students to know as much as they can about Bonfire," Abshire said. "The more they know, the better educated their decisions will be in the future regarding Bonfire."

Laura Laubach, public relations coordinator for BCS and a senior English major, said there has been enormous support from new, current and former students for the program.

"We have had people tell us how glad they are that there are students who still want Bonfire back on campus," Laubach said. "We basically want the new students to know who we are and what we do."

Laubach said there is a large number of people, including current students, who have never heard of Bonfire.

"Most of those who don't know about Bonfire are from out of state or out of the country," Laubach said. "That is why it is important that we are out there."

Jack Hildebrand, student body president and senior accounting major, said his class never witnessed a Bonfire and that it is important to educate students on the tradition.

"(BCS) has been doing a great job working hard this summer to educate the new students on Bonfire," Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand said that when Bonfire is brought back to campus, the younger classes will need to know what the tradition was truly about.
Abshire said new students can join BCS in the fall and help promote Bonfire's return to campus.

BCS will have tables setup by Rudder Fountain on June 16, 23, 25 and 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and also throughout the fall semester.