Texas A&M University is one of the most beautiful college campuses in the US, and one that has been hailed the friendliest campus in the world. While ambling through campus, people you do not know will greet you with "Howdy!" or "Hello!" I don't know how many times I was in a rotten mood walking to class and three or four people I had never seen before, heading my way would call out a "Good morning!" or a "Howdy!" to me. Well, it's just plain rude to not respond, so of course I did, and by the time I made it to class, I was out of my funk. Incredible what that feels like, and it feels good when you are one of the greeters, too, because you know you just put a smile on someone's face. When I transferred to UM-St. Louis, I didn't realize how different it would be. No one that I didn't know would even look at me, much less say "Hello." I felt sorely out of place, I had taken the habit of greeting folks for granted. I didn't graduate from Texas A&M University, but I did attend, and that makes me an Aggie. There's an old belief and saying that goes like this: "Once an Aggie, always an Aggie". There are 'ex-students', but there are NO ex-Aggies. None. Believe me when I say that if you go into a job interview and tell the interviewer who happens to be an Aggie that you are an ex-Ag, you're probably NOT going to get the job. Aggies take being an Aggie very seriously. They are also serious about their traditions. TAMU is STEEPED in traditions, one of which I'll share here.

Bonfire, pronounced Bonn'-farr. Aggie Bonfire is THE signal for the final football game of the regular season against t.u. (a.k.a. University of Texas - Austin Longhorns), A&M's chief rival. Bonfire symbolizes A&M's burning desire to beat t.u. The Aggies cannot stand the Longhorns and vice versa. We refer to t.u. students as T-sips, and generally think they are weak in mind and spirit. We wear Maroon and Silver, the Longhorns wear burnt orange and white - blech! The schools are arch-rivals in every sense of the word. Something that is quite well-known within the Lone Star State. The Bonfire is lit the day before the game if it's at home, and 2 days before the game if it's in Austin. Former students and their families, as well as many families of current students storm College Station in the days leading to Bonfire. No matter that it's almost always the week of Thanksgiving, when traditionally, students head home for the Holiday. The population in College Station swells during every home football game anyway, but TONS of people show up for Bonfire. The building of the Bonfire takes several weeks and when complete, it will stand approximately 55-60' tall and 45' wide. In the latter stages, during what's called "Push" (the final week-10 days), students work around the clock to complete the stacking effort which includes wrapping the lower tiers with wire to hold them together. Student leaders, known as Red Pots (for the red helmets they wear), organize the whole thing from designing the build (with input from civil engineers and construction experts) so it collapses in on itself as it burns, to cutting the logs, to stacking the some 8,000 logs in tiers, to lighting the Bonfire. People from the student body help with all stages of the build. This tradition began way back in 1909 and until this year, the only other time that Bonfire has not been lit was in 1963, out of respect for President Kennedy's death. This year's Bonfire has been cancelled because something went terribly wrong and the stack collapsed at about 2:30 AM Thursday, November 18, 1999, killing 12 Aggies and injuring several others. The stack was approximately 2/3 complete, standing about 40' tall. Bonfire not only symbolizes the burning desire to beat t.u., it also symbolizes the loyalty and undying love that Aggies carry for Texas A&M and for other Aggies too, I think.

One thing about Aggies that I know to be true is that in the face of tragedy, Aggies do NOT quit. They will band together and tough it out. I received an e-mail the other day that contained a message from the UT student body president who was part of the UT delegation that went to A&M for a memorial service. In his message, he says that he was incredibly moved by the show of support by Aggies and called the A&M community a 'true family'. There were 20,000 Aggies and friends gathered in Reed Auditorium and during a moment of silence he heard a rustle behind him. He looked and saw 20,000 people putting their arms around the shoulders of the people next to them. After a couple of moments quiet, someone began to sing Amazing Grace and the rest of the auditorium joined in. Needless to say, he was very moved and amazed to be part of such an incredible moment. The fact that this comes from a Longhorn says quite a bit to an Aggie. Maybe some of those T-sips ain't so bad after all.

The Aggie family lost some very fine members this past week. May they all rest in peace. Gig 'Em, Aggies! Whoop!