Texas A&M will not bring back bonfire ritual after collapse killed 12 in 1999, president says

 

Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh stated on Tuesday the school will not bring back the Aggie Bonfire customari Welsh stated on Tuesday the school will not bring back the Aggie Bonfire customarily held the night before the school’s then-annual football game versus the University of Texas.

“I determined that Bonfire, both a magnificent and sad aspect of Aggie history, should remain in our beloved past,” Welsh added.  On November 18, 1999, 12 people died and 27 others were injured when a stack of bonfire logs toppled, following which the 90-year tradition stopped.beloved past,” Welsh added.  On November 18, 1999, 12 people died and 27 others were injured when a stack of bonfire logs toppled, following which the 90-year tradition stopped.

Nearly 25 years after the old bonfire ritual came to a terrible end, a committee suggested the university “reinstitute the yearly Bonfire tradition with an engineer-designed, contractor-built bonfire on West Campus,” the letter from the president said.

The group was formed last fall to identify ways to honor the revival of the university’s football rivalry with the University of Texas this year. TexaThe group was formed last fall to identify ways to honor the revival of the university’s football rivalry with the University of Texas this year. Texas A&M discontinued playing UT yearly in football following their 2011 game, in part because Texas A&M relocated to the Southeastern Conference. Following a 12-year hiatus, the “Lone Star Showdown” will return on Nov. 30 once UT officially joins the Southeastern Conference.

Despite the committee recommendation, it was ultimately decided “after great consideration” that the practice would not be reintroduced, Welsh added.

“I have determined it is not in the best interest of Texas A&M and the Aggie Family to bring Bonfire back to campus,” he added. “I heard from many of you, as well as former students and friends of the university on this matter, and I appreciate you for your honest, insightful input. While the input varied,back to campus,” he added. “I heard from many of you, as well as former students and friends of the university on this matter, and I appreciate you for your honest, insightful input. While the input varied, the bulk of folks who reached out were not in support of reinstituting Bonfire.”

Most students who favored bringing back the campus bonfire underlined the collaborative experience of organizing and creating it themselves, but the committee underscored that it needed to be an engineer-designed and contractor-built project, the letter said.  The event was advertised as the “world’s largest bonfire,” drawing thousands to the College Station campus. The stack of 5,000 logs was 59 feet talldesigned and contractor-built project, the letter said.  The event was advertised as the “world’s largest bonfire,” drawing thousands to the College Station campus. The stack of 5,000 logs was 59 feet tall when it collapsed.

A commission that reviewed the disaster ruled that “organizational failure” contributed to the accident. Decisions made by university administrators and students over many years “created an environment in which a complicated and dangerous structure was allowed to be erected without proper physical or engineering control,” the panel found.which a complicated and dangerous structure was allowed to be erected without proper physical or engineering control,” the panel found.

A commemoration gathering will be place this year on the 25th anniversary of the collapse.  “We will continue to hold them and their families near at that event and always,” Welsh added.