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Allord SCompany Realtc OPINION ay, March 27, 2000 THE BATTALION Page 9 A BURNING QUESTION The Bonfire Commission recently reported it has reached a reasonable conclusion in its investigation. As the release date for the commission's findings nears, the administration, students and alumni are faced with a question that will have a profound impact on Texas A&M. Two viewpoints are presented here with the intention of initiating discussion before its release. 2000 Bonfire will advance spirit T he term "Aggie family” is often used to describe the feeling of camaraderie on Texas A&M University’s campus. But like most families, the Aggie family has its dark secrets, and, unfortunately, activities at Aggie Bonfire ac count for a number of them. Bonfire is a source of controversy on this campus, and probably has been since the first one was lit. And when the 1999 Aggie Bon fire collapsed, anti-bonfire factions were given their strongest rea son to oppose the tradition. Unfortunately, it would be one thing if the collapse was the only reason to ban bonfire. Whispers of fights, drinking, sexual assault and other conduct that conllicts with the Aggie spirit were considered part of the bonfire tradition. . If next year’s bonfire is to be built — which it should be — then it goes without saying several changes must be made. The obvious improvements to rules and reg ulations must be set and followed. If necessary, the very design of the stack can be changed. But to truly'grow Irom the bonfire tragedy, the very meaning of bonfire must be changed. No longer should it stand for the “burning desire to beat t.u..” but should symbolize the spirit that bums inside of all Aggies. 2000 Aggie Bonfire is the perfect opportunity to advance this’' ^ tradition. Originally it was meant to remind Aggies everywhere of their burning rivalry with University of Texas. However, it grew into more of an event in and of itself. The true meaning of bonfire was lost as. it became representative of Aggies’ burning desires to drink and party the night before the football game. It is said that one is known by their rival, meaning the greater rival a person has, the greater that person is. While UT and A&M do each other honor, it is time for bon- ij fire to mean more than that. The collapse was per haps the greatest tragedy faced by this campus. Bonfire should represent the overcoming adver sity. It should show the spirit that lit the way in the darkest of days of Aggieland. Building next year's bonfire will be the greatest testa ment to Aggie perseverance. Some people would argue that as long is the collapse is fresh in the student's minds, the bonfire will continue to be built safely, but it is only a matter of time before the collapse becomes a distant memoryl Maybe so on any other campus, but not this one. As rooted in tradition as this school h, it would be impossible for to let an event that was traumatic hide into obscuri- 300MMATES , $200(deposit. $200-$250/mo. 2196. t in brand new 3bdrm/2ba mob*' or Jesse. e needed end of May. Cali™ ) +1/2bills. 696-3104. >AP! 2bdrm/2bth new mob! Is. Tammi 485-0746. eded for house near campts ent plus utilities. Call nmer sublease 4bdrm/2bth dnA 1, '4billS- Pamela 764-7892. The building of 2000 Aggie onfire should unite Aggies the way the col 1 apse of ^ j 1999 Aggie Bonfire fofihmtght the Aggie family together. This means no more alcohol on the cut ij and slack sites. No more potty-pots, no more ; corps-lira tern i ty-dorm fighting, no more haz- soon as possible, lor luHyk 5 ? mg, HO more SCXUal US- $200/ma+1Ms '“T sault. Bonfire needs to be built with behavior that portrays the Aggie spirit: unity, devotion to each oth er and perseverance. No :e needed! 3bdrm/3b.rid U p«f m0r£ th ^ P ainful '5-1216. toother Aggies. The collapse was felt by Aggies all over the world. It is only fitting, that from now on, that all Ag- gies should be able to share in the pride and spirit of bonfire. Gig’em, and see you when it bums. jmmer only, 2bdrm/2bth Call 696-8184. te needed for summer of '00. Walk-in closet, w/d, $300/iw 128. seded, Summer sublease, ments. 2bdrm/2bth, furnisried, mt, only $300/mo. 694-2371. 3bdrm/2bth, $290/mo+1»iils. ir, 4bdrm/3bth house close to 6285/mo. +1/4bills. 822-9586»f] ler sublease. 3bdrm/2bth, at location, W/D. $300 +113# 694-2225. 2bdrm/2bth, spacious rooms, 1 et, $265/mo. +1/2bills. April lOF e- $273.33 includes rent! rthOf ©tamu.edu SERVICES E SCORE GUARANTEED! i- al instruction. 7764-0080. sive Driving. Lots-of-fun, Uy* nsurance discount. M-T(6)^ Fri.&Sat.- Fri(6pm-8pm) J n-2:30pm). Inside BankoW! r. $25/cash. Lowest price a** Dr., Ste.217. 846-6117. 3 -0017). Joe Shumacher is a senior journalism major. Pro Bonfire means ending tradition A Is a writer, cadet and die-hard Aggie, this is the most challenging column I have ever chosen to write. The position for ending the tra dition of Aggie Bonfire is the hardest case to make because it seems to go against an event that lias been an integral part of the Texas A&M ex perience for 90 years. 1 lowevcr, it is time to examine its history and admit that the rift between what bonfire symbolizes and the structure itself has be come so wide that it is best not to build it this year. This viewpoint will also be the hardest for all Aggies to consider because it is about sacrifice, listen ing to your gut feeling and choosing what is right for the long term. The Pro Bonfire perspective should be to close the book on the tradi tion. If the tradition is to remain revered, November’s collapse should be the final chapter in bon fire history. A&M students, alumni and administration need to realize that by sacrificing bonfire, the positive aspects can be kept, and the negative banished. This may seem like a blasphemous proposition, but we must uphold the Aggie tradition^ of honor, integrity , respect for students who have gone before us and doing what is right above all else. How do die ideals of bonfire and honor conflict'? First, because we have to take responsibility for our mistakes. It is irrefutable that we broke diemles set forth to ensure safety. It is a fact that the stack was 59 I Let when it fell, as well as tliat there were students drinking and general disregard for safety. There arc countless factors that could have led to die collapse, if we are serious abotitlt/oiding acci dents in die (future, we hav e to admit what we did wrong and end bonfire. ffbonfirebirrns in2000,1 have no doubt that it will be flawless. It will be engi neered perfectly , cause otttyjninor injuries and posdflft be a fitting memorial tor the 12 victims of the collapse. But k is only naturaMhat astime progresses die negative aspects of bonlirewill return. It is great tohavHefiy ideals of how bonfire will change forever, but expecting all future bonfireworkers to retrain from hazing, drinking and being careless is ludicrous. By continuing die audition the message given gil'in the long tenn would be that of driving on as if nothiagive* h@|§lhed. RebinTding is me easy choice to is what we’ve bt^n doing for 90 years. A far greater statement etf iespect for the Mien is to permanently end the tradition rather dian temporarily honor diem wkli a bonlifiln their memory. One of the most memorable stories I was told my fish year was about an afternoon at cuttsite "back in the day” when a sophomore in the corps pushed a freshman out of the path of a falling tree. Tjhe sophomore gave his life for his friend because he tSWli gut feeling, and he has come to be a Sy mbol of what an Aggie is. Immediately after the collapse, the gut feeling that most of us had was that bonfire would never Bum again. As time has passed, we have begun to forget and ignore that instinct. ft seems that we are trying to replace that origi nal instinct by justifying the epRtinualiori/||y call ing i t a memorial for the 12 or using the word “‘tradition’ as a crutch to keep it. There arc too many variables in the building hf the structure. WcdWe it to future generations Mstuderits to end bonfire so that they do not have to go through the prttt'Skidjwef yve have. ' Bonfire has t wp sides — the fire itself and die symbolism ofcomradefie, teamwork and leadership fktfRftleiflTfit. Which is Ifyou be lieve in the symbolic part o: thing to do is put bortfi There are structure's flaws,and ending it is die only way|o msm another accident will not claim more lives. The symbolism at tached to bonfire, however, can remain for as long as we believe in it For each student and alumnus, bon fire plays a different-sized role in their lives. We all. however, share a heightened version t Spirit which, as interpreted on the wall of die MSC. says " Greater love hath no man dian this, that a man lay down his fife for his friends (John 15:13).” The time has come, no matter how painful, to act ac cording to what we believe. Actions speak louder than words. So, Aggies, look inside yourself and lay down that part of you that makes up physical part of bonfire. Mariano Castillo is a sophomore international studies major. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHAD ADAMS/The Battalion 3 to live? www.housingl01.nti TRAVEL perts. www.raildeals.com Cell; l discount offers, rail Pink Palace and more, i.com TUTORS tor- Math, Biology, istios, Botany and more. 18. EIGHT LOSS O-lbs. in 30 days. 800-571-1 it to lose weight, try an al s althyway. Free counseling F HER LEASES ooms With All Bills P*' little to TAMU & BW The Horizon y 979-779-7091 Scales of justice unfairly tipped when judges give party affiliation T he concept of “checks and balances” created by this country’s ore^t#* ^ 0un ^ n 8 fathers is very simple — the judicial, exec utive and legislative branch es of the federal government must maintain a separate and equal balance of power. In particular, the political forces that dominate the executive and legisla tive branches are to stay out of the courts. This precaution is appropriate because it limits any jp To 30% o«i Free ^ attempt to sway the law to the advantage of cer- tion. Credit Cards, Che* Apparently, the state of Texas does not agree with this line of thinking. Unlike their federal counterparts, who are appointed by the Presi dent and approved by Congress, all Texas state judges have to campaign within a given district. Many declare a party affiliation — mostly Re publican, of course. Just like every other elected official, they must first win their party’s prima ry, then move onto the general election. What is baffling is that few people see this as ^serious undermining of justice. In every top- level position within Texas including the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Ap peals, the Republican Party reigns. Just like state legislators and the governor, state judges in Texas must worry about appeasing their party, cam paign contributors and constituents. The lingering thought of re-election is always in the back of their minds. The entire concept of “checks and balances” is non-existent at this point because these judges are es sentially politicians with gavels. Is this system dangerous? Yes. Should it be changed? Absolutely. That is why presidents, senators and representatives are elected by the public and federal judges are appointed — in the end, the “ster ile” thinking of the courts could trump any of the politically-driven motives of the other two branches. An appointed United States Supreme Court judge does not have to worry about getting fired, upsetting constituents or winning re-election — he or she can impar tially focus on the law and decide the cases he or she is presented with accordingly. Without this setup, the mandated integration of schools in Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education and the overturning of Plessy vs. Ferguson would have never taken place. Basically, justice and politics mix as well as water and oil. A perfect example is Sharon Keller of Austin. As a Republican running for re-election to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Keller made it clear that she likes the conserva tive attitude the court has had in recent years and wants to kill off any attempts at returning to the time when it was “an activist, lib eral court.” “The thing that I think is more important than how I work and my experience ... is that I’m con sidered the leader of the conserva tive wing of the court ... I have very strong conservative creden tials ... and what’s important is the balance of the court,” Keller said. Balance in the court? Keller’s statement is extremely hypocriti cal — how can the highest crimi nal court in the state be perceived as “balanced” if Keller and her conservative cohorts promote jeff smith/the battalion their biased agenda in their rul ings? How would their rulings in cases differ in comparison to those of a moderate and impartial court? One can only wonder. Of course, there are many arguments against this critique. It has been said that even in states that have executive-appointed state judges, there is a bias present because a Republican governor will more than likely appoint all-con servative judges to the state’s courts. This think ing could then justify the existing system in Texas bringing about the same results. This argument is erroneous in that there would be one glaring difference — the appoint ed judges would essentially owe the executive who appointed them nothing. Therefore, they have no reason to listen to him or his political agenda — the governor’s influence dies the mo ment the judge is sworn into office. Meanwhile, Texas state judges continue their current course of imbalance in the courts. One can only hope that eventually the pow- ers-that-be will come to their senses and fix this glaring error. I * David Lee is a junior economics and journalism major.