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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1989)
Page 8E The Battalion Monday, August 28,1989 BAAWWNNNN- FIRE, ‘Burning desire’ displayed at Aggie bonfire since 1909 By Michael Kelley Of The Battalion Staff Bonfire ’89 will mark the 80th year of one of Texas A&M’s best- known traditions. Built upon a strong love of school, bonfire has be come a symbol of an undying spirit for Texas A&M, as well as for that “burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u.” The first bonfire was built in 1909 and consisted of nothing more than junk burned by students who were excited about the football game against their rival — the University of Texas. The fire was a welcome ad dition as it provided warmth to the cold November and December nights. By the 1920s, the building and cc r> Duilt upon a strong love of school, bonfire has become a symbol of an undying spirit for Texas A&M, as well as for that “burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u.” burning of bonfire before the Thanksgiving football game against UT became an A&M custom. The fire consisted of trash, boxes, tree limbs and lumber scraps. The speeches and yells that ac companied the lighting of bonfire usually ended as the fire burned out. The most notable characteristic of bonfire in this era was the placing of a stolen outhouse atop the structure. Otherwise, the early bonfires were not considered very memorable. In fact, the first bonfire picture to ap pear in The Longhorn, the A&M yearbook, was in 1928. Bonfire ’35, however, changed the way bonfires were built. A local farmer complained to the Commandant of Cadets that the ca dets had carried off his log barn as material for the fire. This led to the first all-log bonfire, built with non-stolen materials, in Fall 1936. The bonfire that year was just 12 feet tall, and was constructed using a grove of dead cottonwood trees lo cated near present-day Easterwood Airport. The college provided saws, axes and trucks to help with the pro ject. In 1946, the first centerpole was raised. The next year, two logs spliced together started the cen terpole tradition that is used today. The early bonfires were located on the Gen. Ormond R. Simpson Drill Field north of the Memorial Student Center. When the MSC was constructed in 1955, however, bon fire was moved to its present-day lo cation on Duncan Field for fear that the building would ignite from the flying embers of the fire. Bonfire ’69 was the largest ever burned in the United States, stand ing 109 feet 10 inches tall. By 1974, because of local residents’ fear of their homes catching fire, the height of the stack was limited to 68 feet. Two students have lost their lives while working on bonfire. In 1955, James E. Sarran died af ter shoving two other cadets to safety when a car swerved out of control as they were working. Wiley Keith Jopling died in 1981 when he fell under the wheels of a tractor. Numerous injuries have been reported by bonfire workers over the years as well. To avoid such accidents, safety classes are mandatory for students who work at the cut site. Those who work in the perimeter around the stack must wear fiberg lass helmet liners known as “pots”. Also, students who have not pre viously worked on bonfire must wear a white tape stripe on their leg. This “virgin stripe” is used to help the more experienced builders keep an eye out for possible accidents their newer counterparts could en counter. In 1963, bonfire was not lit. As a show of mourning for the death of President John F. Kennedy, students and administrators decided to re move all logs from the stack. Students supervise bonfire con struction at the site. Each year, eight students serve as senior redpots, working to ensure that the bonfire gets built. They earn their status by apprenticeship as a junior redpot the previous year. The “head stack” is the highest ranking senior redpot, and he acts as liaison between University officials and the students. He serves as the suident representative on the Uni versity Bonfire Committee, a newly formed advisory group consisting of staff members from various depart ments of the University’s administra tion. The head stack has the final word in decisions that affect the construc tion of bonfire. Other redpots work as “stack pots,” who are in charge of all activ ities that occur on Duncan Field; “truck pots,” who oversee the trans portation of the logs from the cut site to the stack at Duncan Field; and others who coordinate activities with the Corps and civilian students. The junior redpots serve in the same position they will fill the fol lowing year as a senior. They learn their duties from their senior “dad.” The redpot juniors carry out the ac tual work that goes on dealing with bonfire. They are the main solicitors of funding for the bonfire, mainly getting donations from former stu dents. “Brownpots” are below the red pots in the chain of command. They help the junior redpots coordinate with the Corps and civilian living areas in getting student help for cut- site and at the stack. vpc rail Their main function is to coordinate with Corps outfits and ‘non-reg’ resi dence halls. The “crew chiefs” help the yellowpots as floor representa tives in the halls. The “climbers” are in charge of axe handle stations at the cut-site. At Duncan Field they handle the use of rope swings, lights, and any duties where climbing is needed. Two female groups help with an nual bonfire construction. The Women’s Bonfire Committee is part of the official bonfire chain of com mand. It consists of women who work at the concession stands on Duncan Field, and they provide lunches and water to those at the cut site. The other female group, inde pendent of the official bonfire com mittee, is the “Reload Crew.” Spon sored by the A&M Mother’s Clubs, its members provide cookies for those working on the bonfire. Bonfire funding is provided by donations, sales of paraphenalia, and by holding a Bonfire Benefit Bash dance in the fall. Each year, H.B. Zachry Construc tion Company provides a crane to help during “push week,” the final week before bonfire is lighted. “Go Aggies” and “Beat Texas” are painted on the arm of the crane used at the site. The San Antonio company also donates the services of two operators and a maintenance person. Some other things have changed since the first bonfires. The outhouse that is placed atop Bonfire ’69 was the largest ever burned in the United States, standing 109 feet 10 inches tall. By 1974, due to local residents’ fear of their homes catching fire, the height of the stack was limited to 68 feet. the bonfire is now built by the soph omore class of the Aggie Band, and the Austih city limits sign that is placed outside the outhouse is do nated by a Hearne resident. The logs wired to the center pole and stack are cut down by students at the cut site. The cut site over the years has been land that was being cleared for cattle ranching or strip mining. All students are encouraged to help in the construction of this proud Aggie tradition. Bonfire ’89 will burn on Friday, Dec. 1 at “dark-thirty.” This usually means about 8 p.m., but no actual time is set for the lighting of the fire. Yells (Continued from page 1) round the Aggie Band in a perime ter so that nobody breaks their ranks during the march to Kyle Field. The yell leaders and drum majors carry torches in order to light the way to yell practice. Once the Aggie Band reaches the stadium, it marches the length of the playing surface, countermarches, and returns to the north end zone, where it plays its traditional military songs. After the yell leaders go to the 50-yard line, and the junior yell lead ers do a “class set” of push-ups for the football team, yell practice be gins. At midnight yell, Aggies practice yells, sing the “Aggie War Hymn” and “The Spirit of Aggieland,” listen to “grode stories” told by the yell leaders, and have “scoring” practice by kissing their dates when the lights go out. Yell practices before out-of-town football games are held Thursday evenings at the Grove across from Albritton Bell Tower. At the Thurs day night yells, the yell leaders an nounce where a Friday yell practice will take place, so that Aggies can as semble the following midnight in the opponents’ hometown to show their Aggie spirit. When the Aggies win a football game at home, the yell leaders are thrown in the Fish Pond, and an other yell practice is held on the steps of the YMCA building. When the Aggie football team is “outsco- red,” however, a yell practice is held in the stands to prepare for the next game. The yell leaders are elected to their positions by the students dur ing the spring student body elec tions. They are advised by the Uni versity Yell Leader Committee, consisting of seven faculty and staff members and 13 students. This com mittee selects a head yell leader out of seniors who have been chosen through an application process. The yell leaders each serve a one-year term. Drive-thru window for takeout 696-3411 Steaks for Your Evening Dining Domestic and Imported Wines and Beer Served Soups Made From Scratch Sandwiches On Your Favorite Breads Crisp Green Salads With Super Dressings Escargo—Quiche Cheese and Meat Plates of Every Kind 10;00 aun.^g-oop.m 1 Shrimp Salad Closed on Sundays Audiology Richard L. Riess. Ph.D. Cardiology' Dr. J. James Rohack Dermatology Dr. David D. barton Family Medicine Anne Barnes Dr. Art Caylor Dr. William R. Kiser Dr. Walter J. Linder Dr. Richard A. Smith Dr. Kathy A. Stienstra Dr. Robert Wiprud General Surgery SCOTT& WHITE 'CLINIC, COLLEGE STATION 1600 University Drive East Serving The Brazos \hlley Internal Medicine Dr. Valerie Chatham Dr. Alton (iraham Dr. David Hackethorn Dr. Michael R. Schlabach Obstetrics/Gynecology Dr. James R. Meyer Dr. William L. Rayburn Dr. Charles W Sanders Occupational Medicine Dr. Walter J. Linder Ophthalmology Dr. Charles W Akins Pediatrics Dr. Day he M. Foster Dr. Mark Sicilio Dr. Dan Ransom Psychiatry Dr. Steven Kirk Strawn Psychology Dr. Jack L. Hodden Dr. Patricia E. Tolciu Radiology Dr. Luis Canales I'rology Dr Michael Ft. Hermans 201 Live Oak Located Behind Dr. Frank R. Arko Dr. Dirk L. Boysen Otolaryngology Dr. Michael J. Miller Health Education Sally Scaggs. RD College Station La Quinta Motel -X s Call 268-3322 For Appointment RRR1 .